Sonja
Hristina
Bjelić
Where poetry, performance, birth + theory intersect
Scholar / Teacher
I am pursuing an interdisciplinary PhD in Balkan Studies at the University of Ljubljana. My area of focus is auto and performance ethnography and analysis of birth practices in southern Serbia. In addition to doctoral studies, I also teach writing at the City University of New York.
I am developing a curriculum for an interdisciplinary workshop titled "Birth In Context: Language, Power, Psyche, Body" that focuses on the intersections between poetry, theory, performance, and birth. Using a dialogic, poetic and intuitive-based approach, the workshop will explore birth and reproduction within varied contexts: systems of power and oppression; the field of psychoanalysis; systems of language. From an ancient and mystical understanding of the body, and with direct engagement of poetic imagination, we tap into our innate capacity for associative and meditative registers of understanding.
Poet
I completed an MFA in Poetry from New York University in 2019. I have been working collaboratively with other writers using long form poetry as an exercise in accessing the subconscious through intersubjectivity. At present, my personal work and ongoing project explores identity, family constellations, love, war, psychoanalysis, and the potential and fallibility of language.
Birth
As a birth doula, as well as student midwife at The Matrona, my vision is to support life givers in achieving a gentle, mindful, dignified, and emotionally fulfilled birth. By following a birther-led model of care, I meet you where you are while also helping to facilitate your own journey into harnessing
power, wholeness and direction within yourself.
I will stand with you at the liminal spaces of birth and support you in connecting with your inner knowing and instinctive body. As an eager learner, I’m passionate about sharing knowledge in a collaborative learning process that emphasizes imagination, intuition, lived experience and critical thinking. I’m educated within a Quantum Paradigm, under the venerable Whapio Bartlett, that recognizes the energetics of care and the shadow impacts of wounds within the birthing space. I offer deep-level excavation (moving beyond comfort measures and birth plans) to tune into your evolving needs.
HypnoBirthing®
HypnoBirthing® is a childbirth technique and philosophy that focuses on fear release and deep relaxation to help you achieve a gentle and relaxed birth. Beyond being an evidenced-based childbirth education class, HypnoBirthing® focuses on the relationship between mind and body, exploring how our thoughts shape our experiences, and consequently our births. Through breathing, visualization, and self-hypnosis, HypnoBirthing® guides you in how to birth instinctively and without fear.
Classes are held on Zoom weekends at 11:00 AM EST/17:00 CET. The program meets once a week over the course of 5 weeks for 2.5 hours each class.
To enroll in an upcoming
HypnoBirthing® series, see my schedule of upcoming classes and submit an enrollment form.
Click here to learn more about
HypnoBirthing® .
Classes are held on Zoom weekends at 11:00 AM EST/17:00 CET. The program meets once a week over the course of 5 weeks for 2.5 hours each class.
To enroll in an upcoming HypnoBirthing® series, see my schedule of upcoming classes and submit an enrollment form.
Click here to learn more about HypnoBirthing® .