Tribute to Jeannine
by Deb Puterbaugh, the first Hygieia College Student

She changes everything
she touches..
And
Everything she touches
Changes.
It is 1975...I have driven from Carmel Valley over the Golden Gate to
Cotati.in the Mustang my parents gave me as a graduation present, I am not
thinking about going to the university they want me to go to, I don't want
their mid-class life in suburbia, I want something different... I want
passion.
It a full moon..
Every cell of my young body is open with the anticipation of meeting HER..
I have been meditating " TM" and practicing yoga senesce I was 15...
I found Prenatal Yoga and Natural Childbirth in the bookstore in Pacific
Grove.
I remember the afternoon ..I read it cover to cover. And then I realized I
could buy it!!!
Lusting after the pictures of the pregnant bellies.I had baby fever
bad..The same trance like state had taken me over when I read Spiritual
Midwifery..I was gone!!!
I parked the car , I could hear the drums beat. Smell the sent of sage.as
I approached the circle, women with babies wrapped in their shawls, on their
hip, swaying to the drum, chanting .I burst into tears ..some how I knew
this. Like a salmon swimming home. I was home..
Our eyes meet.
There is a recognition that goes beyond this life time.
The drums beat..
She changes everything she touches.
Thus began a friendship that would survive a lifetime..
She was my teacher..
But she would never let me be JUST the student..
JP was never one for followers.
The question always was.
What Do you think?
And if you tried to pretend you didn't know, she would ask.
"What would you say if you, did know?"
She would always put the student "back on themselves."
She was not about BEING the Midwife, she was about empowering the women to
be her OWN. to draw out the natural knowing of each women and man to the
needs of their family.
This self empowerment ran true thru all JP did.. from Birthing to Breast
Feeding ..Intact Genitals to Home School. Home Grown Veggies. Homemade
Business, Home Death..she was all about being HOME.
And yet she was a world traveler, she loved to travel..
We traveled often together and I had the privilege of holding the babies,
as she sang the songs, spoke the words, passed the yarn and beat the drum .I
sat by her side in many a circle watching her weave her healing magic. I
might have sat with you.she loved to do yarn magic.I remember one summer I
had an wrist full of yarn bracelets, all full of prayers for healing ..
JP touched so many lives.
Yes, she did attract some very strong beautiful souls to her..
I think/feel the gift she gave was in truly SEEING the person.See could
SEE you! And you felt it. You became your true self in her presents.and that
is a total GIFT.
We all have VERY long stories of who we are ..JP could listen with her
midwife ears drawing out your natural knowing ..drawing YOU out. This
ability to be with another to truly hear them. This is Magic.
And this is who JP was.She spoke her truth
And she gave space for others to speak theirs.
She wove the web of myth and metaphor easily
Hers was "word medicine".
And to the very end she spoke it..
Her last words to me were soft and kind
She said" I am ready to fly free.." and she DID..
The Magic now, "SHE is so close !!!!
We talk often and her message is still the same.
"You teach to learn."
"EX spurt is a drip under pressure."
JP work was and will always be about:
YOUR NATURAL KNOWING..
Just ask your self.If I did know what would I say???
Because you do too know!!!
As I reflect on the years we shared together ..
I am forever in ahw of the meriquals.the
Lovers the Births the stories..
Mormonism .she moves to Utah
(My MOM was born their)
The magic of this relationship. is and will always be a scared gift..
I know we will meet again..
Thank you JP , for the Questions..
for your fearlessness.
Your gentleness. and your laugh
Your beautiful long white hair. Your eyes so bright.
and for teaching me how to do the laundry.
And clean my stove.
Blessed BE Blessed DO xxxoo Deb P

www.guardianofthehearth.com