Re: Placentaphargy

Karen Szala-Meneok (a7526003@MCMAIL.CIS.MCMASTER.CA)
Mon, 3 Oct 1994 23:35:22 +0059

Lee's mention of communes jogged my memory of "Spiritual Midwifery"
published in the late 1970s by the wife of the leader of the Tennessee
commune called "The Farm" her first name was Ida Mae or Ina Mae (last
name simply escapes me...). She also mentions placenta consumption and
ubilicus severing by the father's teeth if I'm not mistaken....?
David Hicks' "Tetum Ghosts and Kin" (Island of Timor) makes reference to the
disposal of placental and ubilical material ritually but no mention of
consumption.... How about checking out HRAF... There is a wealth of material
there I believe there is a sizable section of birthing ritual....
Karen Szala-Meneok
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario Canada