Welcome! My guest today is Kamalamani, a Buddhist author and psychotherapist based in Bristol, England. Her first book was published in 2012, and titled Meditating with Character.
Her latest book, Other Than Mother: Choosing Childlessness with Life in Mind is published by Earth Books. Kamalamani is a regular writer for several publications. She loves travelling, gardening, researching ancestry, and cooking for friends. Let’s hear more about her story!
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- Kamalamani began practicing Buddhism in her early 20’s, when she saw how the age-old teachings of mindfulness and loving-kindness are relevant for the 21st century.
- She has chosen not to have children, but didn’t realise until age 27, that she DID actually have a choice. She decided to see how she felt after a year of consciously choosing 'not' to have a child.
- She used to say, “I’ll have a child by the time I’m 30.”
- How she became interested in researching and talking to people who choose childlessness voluntarily.
- How making the decision to be childless gave her eye-opening insights to some internal judgements.
- How most of her family and friends have been supportive, although she believes it’s been hard for her mother, who loves children. This is a topic that is being more discussed recently about how our mothers may need to grieve the loss of grandchildren they are not going to receive.
- How Kamalamani experienced writer’s block and had to do some soul-searching about going against the grain.
- There can be a “sense of lack” that is projected if you are living as a woman without children.
- There is pressure for ALL women, whether or not they have a child.
- Her newest book is divided into three parts: The Worldly Words, A Private Decision, and Baby-Sized Projects.
- Her new book considers the environmental and ecological factors associated with having/not having children.
- How Kamalamani most expresses her creativity through writing and gardening
- She advises that we can all have more awareness in our lives, of what we do and why we do it.
- For Kamalamani, the benefits to being childless include having quiet time to write, having time to be a loving auntie, and having time to devote to friends, family, Buddhism, and meditation.
- You can reach Kamalamani at www.kamalamani.co.uk
I do hope enjoyed this episode! For more please subscribe and check out michellemariemcgrath.com Thank you!
