The practice of truly seeing and acknowledging the newborn's being—their cries, their smallness, their existence—as the deepest form of love.
Rabia taught that being truly seen by God was the ultimate comfort. In early bonding, this translates to the power of genuine witnessing. A newborn cannot speak, cannot perform, cannot justify their existence. Their only currency is being. When a caregiver truly witnesses this being—looks into their eyes, acknowledges their distress, says 'I see you'—something sacred occurs. The child is being known not for what they do but for who they are. This witnessing is especially crucial in the preverbal phase, when the infant cannot articulate or defend themselves. Rabia's tradition of standing naked before the divine mirrors the infant's exposure and need to be received as they are. A caregiver who practices witnessing—who resists the urge to fix or optimize and instead simply sees and honors—creates the psychological soil for secure attachment. The child internalizes: my existence matters, my being is enough, I am worthy of attention. This foundational mirroring becomes the lens through which the child will later see themselves and relate to others.
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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