Gandalf?

Anyone who’s talked to me recently is well aware of my Lord of the Rings read-through. It’s a fantastic time, so don’t deny me the exuberance. Gandalf is like the fellowship’s apocalypse doula. Ever since this was pointed out during DONA birth support training, I can’t help but bring it up all the time. This analogy is especially helpful when I try to explain to men what the role of a doula is in a birth. After all, many of our loving male counterparts aren’t as immersed in birth talk and terminology as the ladies and all feminine associates. They deserve an answer that makes sense, and Gandalf is such an easy and concise example.

However, plenty of people, as it has been brought to my attention, have not even seen Lord of the Rings. gasp. Let me give the briefest, most conservative explanation for the laypeople in the audience, to enlighten you to the joys of Gandalf and Co.:

So Gandalf is a big powerful wizard, and Frodo (main character) is a teeny little British hobbit who kinda longs for adventure but not hard enough that he’ll do it of his own volition. Due to circumstances involving a conniving uncle, Frodo ends up with the devil’s favorite magic ring that facilitates all his evil magic. It’s a very corrupting piece of jewelry, and anyone who handles it becomes a wretched nasty thing, so the influence of the ring kinda power-scales to the bearer. If Gandalf possessed the ring basically the temptation would be too much and he would become evil Gandalf. So Gandalf helps Frodo, beloved volunteer, dispose of the thing. And now we get to the doula stuff– Gandalf cannot bear the ring himself, but he can provide tools and support to the ring bearer. He helps them network to local resources (friends), provides physical support (protection from nasties), and has knowledge to facilitate the journey Frodo chooses (even to Moria).

Thankfully I haven’t really spoiled much, especially since Gandalf is not the main character. Can I claim Gandalf as a patron saint? I don’t think Catholicism has a patron saint of birth doulas. I nominate Gandalf with full knowledge that he’s a fictional character, but Tolkien was Catholic so, by my authority, I let it slide.

If you had Gandalf as your doula, how would you want him to work with you? Personally, I would love the calm, measured demeanor of that cool guy. But I would make him show me how to properly use a birth ball purely for the novelty of seeing a wizard on a yoga ball.

Anyway! Peace