Past Ritual Co-creators, Companions & Collaborators
Being allowed present for life change is a grace given by the humans we serve.
Here are some thoughts of lives I have been fortunate to be present for, hold and walk with during transition.
These are their words, and theirs’ alone.
Beginning Ritual
creatorS: A & J
SEASON: Summer 2021
There is no one on this earth like Ras Cooper. She is pure sunshine and calm all at the same time. We hired her as our postpartum doula and while her rates were similar if not below others in Austin, she offers SO much more. She will pour her love, energy and passion into everything you're going through in the process. Her package included meals that followed the 40 days diet...and not only were they locally sourced, incredible and enough to share with my family, they were gorgeous and customized to our family story. She always dropped off surprise gifts leading up and after that always had a unique quality that made me feel seen, provided a handmade ring sling that I'm still using 9 months later, small batch beauty products she made herself, and a healthcare perspective that was unique to her experience prior to becoming a doula. Beyond that, she helped me navigate extended family planning and scheduling, getting our dog acclimated for the change, setting up our house to ensure we were prepared for everything before the baby came, and extended her time to emotionally support me leading up to the delivery.
We signed up for a number of overnight sessions over 6 weeks, and she often spent our visits coaching us through emotional issues we were navigating with the adjustment but gave us quiet when she saw that's what we needed. She loved on our pup, our baby and our home, and I often caught her giggling with our newborn who was cocooned with her in a way that gave me ultimate trust to get the rest I needed with him in her arms. When we were ready, she helped us transition to crib/bassinet training on her nights as well. Lastly, she is the reason I was able to breastfeed as successfully as I was - she worked with me lovingly on my latch, got me prepared for a freezer stash and more.
She is a treasure I hold dear and there is no way I would go through this experience again without her. No one will take care of you like Ras will, period.
creatorS: I & R
SEASON: SPRING 2021
Working with Ras was life-changing and I mean that in the most sincere way possible. When someone first suggested that we work with a postpartum doula for our second child I thought maybe it was unnecessary but I couldn't have been more mistaken as I now know that the difference between working with Ras and having gone at it by ourselves is that of surviving and being fully equipped to continue on the next chapter of our family journey.
Ras brings such incredible purpose, intention, experience, knowledge, and empathy to her work. There wasn't a single question or point we discussed that she didn't have context for. I can't express how secure this helped us feel in such a transitional state. Each member of the family was treated as an individual and had very personalized care. Especially as a second time mom, I know how important (and rare) it is to feel seen after you have a baby. Ras did that and so much more for me; validating me in my motherhood and giving me a safe space to process trauma, to vent frustrations, to speak about dreams. I will forever be thankful for her and her work.
creator: j
SEASON: FALL, AUTUMN 2020
At my first meeting with Ras I showed up a woman in pieces. Fragmented bits of trauma, fear, self-doubt, and anxiety plagued my being. It wasn’t birth that I was afraid of – to be honest, I knew I could do that. I was afraid of not knowing how I was going to conduct myself in the world as a strong, confident woman and mother. A woman who has been bullied, lied to, stereotyped and resigned myself to solitude to protect the parts of me that were left. I had no community and no direction to look. My family lives far away and any close relationships I had formed in my area had been burned to the ground through painful means. In the middle of a pandemic and pregnant I was not going out looking for friends. So, back to that day, when I met Ras on zoom for the first time…
She looked me in the eyes through the computer screen and seriously made me feel seen. I’m here to take care of you…baby is good, baby is gonna be held and cared for, but YOU are who I am here for. So often, mom gets overlooked as people oh and ah at the arrival of a beautiful new life. Yet, Ras told me up front her goal, her job, her purpose as a postpartum doula was to make sure that I, me, Jennifer was cared for. As a woman, a Latina, it made me so uncomfortable to hear her say those things. It’s not my way to let anyone do anything for me. I’m good alone. I don’t need help. I got this. I couldn’t look her in the eye without my face burning at her promise to care for me. I really just wanted someone to do my dishes and do a couple loads of laundry when the time came. It seemed greedy to ask for anything for me…but she made me understand that taking care of me is taking care of my girls, my family and ultimately, a complete necessity. So, even though my face burned and my heart ached at someone telling me that I was seen and worthy of some love – I accepted Ras and her words into my life.
Little did I know the doors she would guide me to open and the ceilings she would help me shatter. After the birth of my baby girl, Ras came to my aid in more than my physical needs (although she absolutely did that too). She connected me to ALL the resources. Therapist, books, podcasts, instas and communities of other woman like me. Woman who were also on a healing journey and ready to walk alongside me in harnessing and finding my inner Diosa. For the first time EVER in my life, I felt like I could unapologetically sit in my authenticity. I recognized that I am already everything I feared I couldn’t or wasn’t as a woman and mother. She didn’t convince me that I was this woman – she led the way for me to discover it. Humbly and honestly, every step of the way, she was true to her word to care for me. In turn, that helped me care for everyone around me the way I never could with the brokenness I held before. In all honesty, it transformed my way of being, my life and journey of motherhood into a story of healing and recovery. Her light, her compassion, and her ability to hold space for those she cares for is beyond any expectation I ever had.
cREATORS: C & S
SEASON: SPRING 2020 (MARCH)
Rasalin is amazing!
My first birth was extremely traumatic, and I suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Rasalin was kind, caring and shared in our time together. She became more than just a doula, she became a friend.
I felt confident and in control with the birth of my daughter. She never made me feel like my choices weren't my own, and even when I changed my mind she supported me through it all.
COVID made things very hard, as my daughter was born days before the world shut down, but Rasalin always reached out, gave space and grace and was kind in everything she did.
When breastfeeding became difficult she was there to support not only me but my partner. She made sure to include him in everything and it helped us together and I felt more supported and cared for during my pregnancy.
She embraced the aspects of our lives and was so adaptable and easy to talk to. She made everything comfortable and I never felt belittled or silly for my questions and choices like I had been before she came into our lives.
I have issues reaching out for help, I hate being a burden, and when I gather enough mental fortitude, and I can finally send a message, Rasalin was always understanding and never judgy. She treated us, me, with the most grace and kindness I've ever experience. She's knowledgeable, adaptable, caring and I felt protected and safe making choices that were best for me and family with her there to support me, and 100% be on my side in all my decisions. She never tried to take over, she was a calm presence and a pillar of strength and support.
cREATORS: m & i
SEASON: SPRING 2020 (MARCH)
I found Rasalin through GALS (Giving Austin Labor Support). When Rasalin reached out to me I immediately felt comfortable and safe. We talked on the phone and set goals, and she helped extinguish any fears that I had. She is well versed in mental illness which was essential to me. She made sure that we had everything we needed in order to welcome our son into the world.
During my pregnancy she gave us stretches and tools to help provide relief. She cleansed my car with herbs to aid me in making peace with my past and to move forward to the next chapter of my life. She also gave us resources to take classes to further our knowledge in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and in breastfeeding.
Rasalin helped me keep an open mind so that I could prepared as best as possible going into my birth. I ended up having to be induced at 36+1 weeks due to pre-eclampsia and hypertension. I labored for 21 hours and she was there through it all. During my birth she provided aroma therapy, massage, and cool cloths. She also helped me establish a good breastfeeding and pumping schedule which was quite the journey.
The amount of love and support our little family of 3 received from her is immeasurable. I cannot recommend her enough and I am eternally grateful for having her in such a vulnerable and pivotal point of life. Rasalin was more than our doula, she became family.
cOLLABORATOR: lM, rn
SEASON: Winter 2019 (January) while volunteering for Giving Austin Labor Support
LOCATION: Seton Medical Center, Main
I am a Labor & Delivery nurse at Seton Medical Center and have had the pleasure of working along side Rasalin. I was hoping y’all have some way of recognizing her or giving her a major shout out, because she is a straight up ANGEL!! She was here helping with a patient, when another patient dealing with a very difficult situation came in. Without missing a beat, Rasalin happily jumped in and helped to emotional support the patient while we were able to care for her medical needs, I could not have imagined a better support person to help this woman walk through a difficult situation. I wish we had the pleasure of working with Rasalin every day!! I cannot thank her enough for her dedication, passion, and enthusiam.
COLLABORATOR: LS, RN
SEASON: Winter 2018 (January)
LOCATION: SAINT David’s Medical Center, South
Rasalin is compassionate, authentic and fierce. She is a wonderful person to help guide and support any person or family. I met Rasalin while working as a Labor & Delivery nurse and couldn’t more highly recommend her a human or care provider.
cREATOR: E
SEASON: Summer 2017
I met Rasalin through a mutual friend at a birthday dinner. Immediately, I was drawn to her energy and her obvious passion for her work. Upon discovering that I was pregnant, Rasalin offered her services as a doula and a lactation consultant to me without hesitation. After my son was born, I struggled with my milk supply coming in and became very frustrated with not being able to get him to latch. Rasalin was the first person I reached out to. She was available to come and assist immediately. I remember her coming through the door with a bag full of remedies. The air in the room instantly became calm and she encouraged me with her compassionate words. Her expertise was apparent and she helped me move through the difficulty I was experiencing with my milk supply quickly. She moved with confidence in her work. She not only helped me to begin expressing breastmilk, but she helped me to get my son to latch on again properly. She explained to me how breastfeeding works in the body and I have not forgotten what she was able to teach me. It was obvious that Rasalin wanted to empower me to be the best mother I could be. Rasalin and I had several other visits in the months following the birth of my son. She checked up on us often to make sure we were doing well. One time, she even helped me by giving me and my infant son a ride back from the mechanic since I had no one else to take me back home. Rasalin’s support during that time of my life meant the world to me. I would recommend her services to anyone who is in search of kind, genuine (and humorous!) support during such a tender and challenging time of life.