Milk and Lilies

Zeus had an affair with a mortal woman and from that union, Hercules was born. Because Hercules was half mortal, Zeus wanted his wife Hera, an immortal, to give the baby some immortal powers through breast milk. (Well, he had the right idea… the immune factors in breast milk are sort of like special powers for babies).

So he snuck Hercules in with the other children while Hera was sleeping and nursing. Of course she woke up, was angry with Zeus and pushed Hercules away. As she did this, the milk from one breast spurted up to the heavens and that became the Milky Way. (The word galaxy comes from the root word gala, which means milk).  From the other breast, the milk spurted down to Earth and that became lilies!

As you nurse your child, look up to the sky, smell the lilies and consider your connection to other mothers and goddesses.

Robin Snyder-Drummond, CD(DONA), IBCLC
Prenatal classes and home visits
617-435-0693