Grandfather Eagle
Last August, I had a wonderful experience with Mallory, who was referred to me by her doula, Lindsey Bartell.
I appreciate how many women discover my work through the recommendations of their doulas, and Lindsey has been an incredible advocate, sending several mamas my way. I'm so grateful for her continued support and referrals!
I encourage you to check out Lindsey's work if you're interested, she offers both doula support and birth photography.
Mallory is pregnant with her 2nd child, and the past year has felt like a healing journey for her. She hoped that the henna session could prepare her for bringing this next life into this world with a peaceful mindset.
It reinforced what many women have told me previously: that their henna session often feels like a precious moment out of time – a chance to pause, reflect, and deeply connect with the profound beauty of bringing new life into the world. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of this art form.
#peacefulmindset #doula #womensupportingwomen #healingjourney #hennasession #bellyhenna #coloradohenna #pregnancyart #hennablessing #bellyblessing
Initially this mama didn’t have any ideas about the design. As she looked through my Pregnancy Design page, she was inspired by the concept of a growing family tree. What made it special was her personal connection to the idea: she mentioned that she and her husband had a tree planting ceremony at their wedding, where they combined soil from both of their childhood homes.
She was also drawn to having the mountains represented, and showed me some of the mountainous nature scenes I’ve created. Their wedding was in the mountains, and that is where she feels at home.
Additionally, a really touching symbol that came to her was from a special sign a friend created for a baby sprinkle for her little one, which read, “Our little ray of sunshine is almost here.”
As I sat with my pencil and sketch book, brainstorming ideas for nature scenes, I felt the tug of an animal wanting to be included. First came the eagle, as a kind of silhouette against the mountain. Recently we’ve had some bear activity near our home in Boulder, and I found a bear wanting to be in the sketch. Even a tree found its way in, and I really challenged myself to draw it in a way I've never done before – which was tricky, considering I've drawn hundreds of henna trees!
When she arrived, I showed her the sketch I'd prepared, explaining that the animals in it had come to me intuitively, but that the design was entirely flexible and focused on what resonated with her, especially since it was for her belly.
To my delight, she shared that both the bear and the eagle were meaningful to her. Her young daughter has recently developed a love for bears, and the eagle, surprisingly, turned out to be symbolic of her grandfather. Hearing her stories about her ancestors and how these elements unexpectedly aligned was truly magical. It's moments like these when everything just comes together that make my work so rewarding.
#sacredsymbols #eagle #bear #growingfamily #tree #magic #allnaturalhenna #celebratelife #pregnantlife #pregnantbelly #uniquehenna #pregnancyhenna #maternityhenna #bellybump #prenatal
Mallory returned when her henna was peaking in color, and we had a wonderful time photographing her in my backyard garden.
There's one shot in particular that I absolutely adore. The blue fluff seems to be flying out from her belly, and it truly felt like the wings of an eagle sending out a blessing. I'm so happy for Mallory and her growing family.
#naturalhennastain #pregnancyart #hennabelly #celebratewithhenna #hennatattoo #hennastain #boulderhenna