Approaching parenthood with yearning and unknowing rather than expertise, honoring the infant as a mystery that cannot be fully known or controlled.
Rabia's spiritual life was characterized by intense longing—a perpetual reaching toward the Beloved that could never be fully satisfied. This concept reframes the early parenting period as a spiritual practice of sacred longing rather than a problem to solve. Parents often approach infancy with task-oriented anxiety, desperate to decode the baby's needs, predict behaviors, establish control. Rabia's longing teaches a different posture: remaining present with not-knowing, with wonder, with genuine curiosity about who this person is and what they need. This vulnerability to the infant's mystery—rather than attempts to master the infant—creates conditions for genuine meeting. Infants respond to authentic presence more than to parental expertise. When parents release the need to know and control, they access intuitive responsiveness. This stance also protects children from being treated as extensions of parental will, honoring their autonomy. Rabia's longing becomes a model for humble, devoted attention that characterizes secure attachment.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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