The Alchemical Dance of Mother and Infant: A Blueprint for Co-Creative Dyadic Unity During the Prenatal and Perinatal Period

This theoretical dissertation considered the biological and psychological
importance of the dance between mother and infant from conception through the
bonding period. It proposed a unifying dance metaphor of pre- and perinatal motherinfant alchemical dance to provide a psychological term describing their first
organizing co-creative dynamics. The process of alchemical dance is postulated to be
Nature’s blueprint for the initial creational unfolding of human development. The
function of this dance patterning was to create new life, organize infant embodiment,
enhance mother-infant unity, and infuse a sense of belonging in relationship. There are
different characteristics between prenatal and perinatal dance. The theoretical
construct was based on multidisciplinary scientific theories, joined with ancient
philosophies, gathered from quantum physics, psychoanalytic theory, developmental
psychological theory, prenatal and perinatal psychology and infant programming,
biology and affective neuroscience, and from knowledge of the divine feminine, ancient
dance, and alchemy. The use of metaphor was the primary methodology. The
dissertation advanced a theoretical framework for prenatal and perinatal psychology.
Implications placed new value on creating educational programs for conscious
parenting during the pre and perinatal period, based on the principles of alchemical
dance.
KEY WORDS: Prenatal and perinatal psychology, theory, dance, neuroscience,
pregnancy, parenting, mother infant bonding