Happy Solstice

photo by Sophie Taylor-Havens

Day 31 and Before

Someone just reminded me of this photo. My very best friend, Amy took this of me when I was 14 or 15. It was very soon after this that I started to feel self-conscious of my belly.

photo by Amy North, my very best friend

Day 31 and beyond

I am really enjoying taking photos of other women and hearing their stories. It is like Christmas every day when I see my inbox with a new photo and story of a belly. As I do this, I noticed I am always looking for an opportunity to take yet another photo of my own belly.

My belly in the Red Tent, Greenfield, MA. photo by Luanne Kloster © 2011

Day 30-Celebration Belly

photo by Connor Kloster © 2011 

I did it! 30 days and 30+ pictures of my belly! 

Because I was a little shy to write too much on the blog, I wrote this note last night. It sums up my 30 day experience and my plans for the next 30 days.

I attended the ALisa Starkweather's 13th Belly and Womb Conference 30 days ago. The first night there I signed up for the henna painting group where women were painting henna designs on their bellies. I was immediately afraid to lift my shirt. My pants were too tight and well, I just don't show my belly to anyone. I wondered if it was too late for me to join the group making dream catchers. But there was this beautiful woman sitting with her pregnant belly exposed and something about her made me feel so comfortable. Unfortunately, a few minutes into it, I turned to look in the mirror at my belly design I had just painted. I was horrified at the site of my belly. Cellulite, stretch marks, flab hanging over my pants. I couldn't suck it in hard enough to feel good about my belly. I looked over at the younger, more firmer bellies and started judging each woman in the group, even the women I was close to. I suddenly realized that I was judging the other women the way I judge myself. I decided at that moment to challenge myself to take a picture of my belly every day for 30 days and record it on a blog. The rest of the conference was inspiring, empowering and moving. It made me want to do the challenge all the more.

I thought the blog was private and no one else could see it. I found out I was wrong when I received several responses from other women. Women who were inspired and who offered me encouraging words. This was followed by women, some I know and some I don't, lifting their shirts and proudly showing me their bellies. Some women even sent me pictures of their bellies. Not only did they share their bellies, but most importantly, they shared their stories.

I am honored and inspired by every woman's belly and every story I hear. My son's belly appeared in one photo and yesterday's photo actually included 3 men who felt inspired to lift their shirts and join 6 women for the belly photo.

So, after tomorrow (day 30) and for the next 30 days, I will be sharing photos and stories from anyone who would like to share. If at all possible, I would love to be able to take the picture of your belly.

Belly Love to all.
Luanne

lumoonherbals@gmail.com

Day 28 and 29-Pot Luck Bellies

Kelly, Lindsay, Mara, Jamie, Eden and Me on the bottom

On Friday I was at a pot luck party with some close friends celebrating our friend Eden's birthday. (The reason why yesterday's photo was up late.) Before the night ended, the beautiful friends you see above wanted to make sure we got a group photo...of our bellies.

There was one woman at the party that I hadn't met yet. She was watching us quietly not knowing why we would take a group photo with our bellies exposed. She never asked me why we were doing it, but instead came up to me and thanked me for showing my belly. She told me that she hadn't seen another woman with stretch marks like hers. She then lifted her shirt, showed me her beautiful belly and pointed to her stretch marks that she got when she had her first child at 16.

Ed, Carol, Sophie, Me, Carie, Susan, Tammy, Woody, Nels and Copper the dog.

When I got home on Saturday morning after Eden's party, I got the house and food ready for our annual Winter Solstice pot luck. I love our pot luck suppers where we share our favorite foods, catch up with each other, drum, dance, hug and laugh. It is always sad to see everyone go at the end of the evening. Last night before some of our friends left, a group of the women wanted to make sure they got a group photo...of our bellies! As we were getting ourselves set up in front of the tree, Ed, Woody and my husband Nels lifted their shirts and joined us. We spent the next hour listening to each others belly stories.

Day 28-Mama and Her Babies' Bellies

I am waiting for a friend to download yesterday's picture. So in the meantime, here is one from a while ago that I love but didn't post yet. Me (in the middle) and my two babies who are now 19 and 20.

photo by Nels Kloster © 2011

Day 27-Under a Tree Belly

photo by Nels Kloster © 2011

Resting under a tree after a peaceful walk in the snow covered woods.

When I spend time in nature I connect to Mother Earth. Lying under a tree and feeling the earth below me gives me a sense of peace I don't feel anywhere else.

Day 26-A Touch of Spring Belly

photo by Connor Kloster © 2011

On dark winter days, a touch of spring brings me some hope that the days will get longer and brighter.

Day 25-Belly Dancing Belly

photo by Connor Kloster © 2011

This photo makes me feel like I am a belly dancer.

Day 24-Beautiful Belly

Photo by Connor Kloster © 2011

Day 23-Let it Be Belly

This beautiful belly photo showed up on my Facebook page from my cousin Judy! Her belly comes with a story of miracles and love.

photo by Judith Fabris Kupsik ˝© 2011

"I've been following your belly blog. It inspired me to share with you my belly. Let me just say....I used to love my belly! Thought it was the sexiest part of me. Had the belly button ring and it was flat and beautiful! But I gave up the ring and gained stretch marks and flab. Would I trade anything to have the young belly back? No! With every stretch mark came love! A love that I would NEVER give for anything! My babies were worth every pound and scar! Let It Be!"

I was immediately reminded of a post Judy had on Facebook just a few days before about a conversation she had with her son, Jules.

"Good heart felt crying with my Jules tonight. Telling him and relaying stories to him of why he is here today. God bless my beautiful, wonderful and amazingly strong Mom! Thank you (words can't describe) to the organ donors! Just a great feeling to tell my son how amazing that he is here today! <3 Hey Jude..."

Here is the story I have heard my whole life of Sharon (Judy's mom) in Judy's words. I remember the first time I met Judy and her mom I had a hard time talking. I just kept looking at them in awe. I was standing in front of 2 miracles.

"When my mom was a teenager she was diagnosed with kidney disease. Undiagnosed infections were destroying her kidneys. Her first transplant was in 1972 from a young donor that had died in an accident. After months of dialysis, her life could finally go back to normal. Because of the anti-rejection drugs and being immuno-surpressed, she was advised to not become pregnant. But oops...in 1975, she became pregnant with me. Some doctors told her to have an abortion. Some said I would be retarded bc of the meds. But she would not give up. She wanted me. So, April 16, 1976, Good Friday, I was born. 4 lbs and 1/2 oz. I was the 49th child in the world to be born from a mother who had already had a kidney transplant. I was named after St. Jude. The saint of hopeless cases. I was a little sick after I was born, but I pulled thru. My mom was now slowly losing her transplanted kidney. Just when she was about to start dialysis again, she got the call that they had a kidney. In November of 1977, she received her second transplant which functioned normally till the day God called her home...33 years!

My mom had had many surgeries and other problems throughout the years. She had two heart valve replacements....the first with a St. Jude valve. That one failed in 1997 and she had it replaced with a cadaver valve from a donor. So, organ donors have played a huge part in our lives. If it wouldn't have been for them, my mom wouldn't have stayed alive and would never have had me. And if I was never born, then my children wouldn't be here either. When deciding what to name our first child, my husband, a HUGE Beatles fan, really wanted the name Julian...after Lennon's son and the song Hey Jude. I always thought the song Hey Jude was written for me. It always helped me in hard times when I listened to it. So, naming our son Julian was like naming him after me. And carrying on circle of life."

Judy and her Mom, Sharon with their St. Jude necklaces on.

Day 22-Christmas Spirit Belly

We got our Christmas tree yesterday and naturally I thought about taking a belly picture. Funny how taking pictures of my belly is becoming natural now. I tried to make it discreet but one woman stopped her car to watch. She left with a smile on her face. That made my day.

photo by Sophie Taylor-Havens © 2011

Day 21-Knitting Belly

I didn't get my hula hoop yet because someone suggested that I shouldn't buy myself anything before the holidays. I hope that person is getting me a hula hoop. So, I started knitting a pair of orange mittens for a friend for their birthday instead. 

Knitting mittens

Day 20-Hula Hoop Belly

Mara's hula hoop belly

What started off as a very personal challenge has turned into a growing belly movement. I received another beautiful belly photo! This one is from my good friend Mara. We were taking herbal classes together this past year. On one very warm day, Mara wore a top that exposed her beautiful belly. I was actually jealous when I saw her come into the room. Later that day, she was outside hula hooping with her beautiful belly. I couldn't even hula hoop in front of anyone, let alone show my belly and hula hoop. So, you can imagine how surprised and sad I was to read what she had to say.

"I've never liked my belly, but your blog is inspiring me to try to foster love and gratitude for my belly. I figure a picture of it online is a good start."

You have a beautiful belly and you are a beautiful person Mara! And I am getting a hula hoop today! Thanks for inspiring me Mara!


For the record, here is mine from yesterday.

flower belly getting ready to hula hoop today.

Day 19-Yoga Belly

Teresa's Yoga Belly
Guest belly #2

"I remember the first time I realized I was fat. I was five years old. I've always struggled with my body image... through childhood, pregnancy, and eating disorders, my belly has always been my enemy. I never thought I'd have the courage to embrace it enough to actually take this picture and share it with the world.

I just got back from yoga when I read The Belly Blogs's request for a guest belly. Yoga helps me appreciate my body. Every day I roll out my matt I know I'm doing something positive and healthy for myself. This is my yoga belly."

photo by Matt Thompson ©2011

 Teresa wrote this to accompany the picture of her yoga belly. You have a beautiful belly Teresa! I was sad to read your struggles started so young. And I am so grateful for your courage and I am honored to have your beautiful belly on my blog. I love you.

Here is my belly for the day. I was thinking about a drawing I did that I gave Teresa with two figures peeking out from behind tomb stones. I went to the cemetery to take this picture. I like to consider this a symbolic gesture to once and for all, bury all the negatives and embrace our beautiful Goddess bodies.

at the cemetery