Raven Lang Part 3 of 3: Midwifery, Boundaries, and the Weight of Change

In this closing chapter of her three-part interview, Raven Lang reflects on the evolution of midwifery and her own transformation along the way. She remembers the simplicity of her early birth bag—herbs, string, and attentive listening—and contrasts it with later years when acupuncture and Chinese medicine informed her practice. From dramatic resuscitations to the quiet power of community birth traditions, her stories illuminate the breadth of what it meant to serve as a midwife in changing times.

Raven also speaks candidly about the pressures of money, licensure, and patriarchy, which fractured once-unified circles of midwives and reshaped the work into something more medicalized and fearful. In response, she emphasizes the necessity of boundaries, protecting one’s own energy, and reclaiming midwifery as a calling rooted in curiosity, courage, and reverence.

This conversation weaves together memory, poetry, and hard-won wisdom. It is both sobering and hopeful—a reminder that midwives are not only attendants at birth but gatekeepers at life’s thresholds, holding space with resilience, integrity, and love.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Dr. Miriam Lee — pioneering acupuncturist and midwife who helped legalize acupuncture in California
• Dr. Susan Chen — OB/GYN and Chinese medicine teacher
• Dr. Kreavy — physician reference during Raven’s practice years
• Dr. Resnick — physician mentioned in Raven’s reflections
• Marshall Klaus — physician and author who influenced Raven’s thinking on medicine and power
• Nathan Riley, MD — contemporary OB who supports midwives, and Blyss’ friend and colleague
• Linda Bennett — one of the Santa Cruz midwives and Raven’s colleague. Listen to her episode here.
• Kat and Kitty — early collaborators at the Santa Cruz birth center
• Grandfather Semu & Grandmother Sisi — elders who presided at ceremonial community births
• Gregory Bateson — anthropologist, referenced in Raven’s stories
• Dave Brubeck — jazz musician connected through family lineage
• Robin Lim — midwife and author of Placenta: The Forgotten Chakra. Find it here.
• Mayway Herbs Podcast — series where Raven later shared Chinese herbal teachings. Listen here.
• The Lama Foundation (Taos, NM) — gathering place for early midwives
• “The Voice of Labor” poem — an anonymous blessing gifted to Raven at a midwives’ gathering (full text below)

Herbal Wisdom

• Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) — used traditionally to slow postpartum bleeding and tone the uterus.
• Dried Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) — mineral-rich, restorative, and supportive for lactation and recovery after blood loss.
• Trillium (“Beth Root,” Trillium erectum) — historically called “birthroot,” valued as a uterine tonic and hemostatic.
• Ginseng (Panax ginseng) — strengthens vitality and qi, sometimes included in hemorrhage protocols.
• Yunnan Baiyao (云南白药) — a renowned Chinese formula for stopping bleeding, carried in many birth bags.
• Pollen Type A (Typha angustifolia pollen, Pu Huang) — a Chinese remedy specifically for uterine bleeding, especially effective when charred.

The Voice of Labor

An anonymous poem, gifted to Raven at a midwives’ gathering

Let my touch move through you as the time draws near.

Gentle at first my call you will hear,

Let go and come freely to bathe in me,

Sink deeper and deeper into my belly.

Feel my caresses become strong and fierce.

Don’t turn away. Glide into the darkness.

Let my waves rush and ease over you.

Let my fury unfold as I make my way through.

Though my dance becomes harsh, my love is your guide.

Though my valley is fearsome, you will see through my eyes.

I know the way well. You are never alone.

Your path is well lit for this new journey home.

So come into my womb and surrender your fear,

For the great transformation is once again here.

Thank you to all the elders, donations and volunteers that have made this project possible.

Together, we can preserve the wisdom of elder midwives for generations to come. Give today and be part of this legacy.…please visit bridgemidwives.com for more information on how to donate.

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