I was just blown away by an amazing documentary, Cellular Echoes: Environmental Influences in the Journey from the Womb to the World, by Colorado infant massage instructor and trainer Deanna Elliott.

If you’ve never entertained the idea that cells record memories, even as early as conception, get ready to rethink your reality: “The most important functions of the cell, for the purpose of this film, are the gathering and storage of data from the environment in which they reside. In regard to the human infant, these functions are active from the moment of conception,” said Elliott.

The documentary explores imprinting in animals and humans during the first six stages of development: preconception, conception, gestation, birth, and into the early years.

Americans give lip-service to expressions like “it takes a village.” In the film,  Sobonfu Somé, an African tribal elder, talks about the importance of the community to the future success and happiness of every child. Maybe this is why missionary friends have told me that the African tribal people they met were so incredibly happy in spite of being so poor.

For her film, Elliott tapped a veritable “who’s who” of scientists, authors and experts on birth wisdom and culture: Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of The Magical Child; Dr. Bruce Lipton, cell biologist and author of Biology of Belief; Dr. Jaap van der Wal, embryologist; Michael Trout, Director of the Infant Parent Institute in Champaigne, Illinois; Dr. Thomas Verny, founder of the Assoc. of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health and author of The Secret Life of the Unborn Child; Dr. William Emerson, Pre- and Perinatal researcher; Dr. Robert Miller, D.V.M., founder of Imprint Training for baby foals; Barbara Marx Hubbard, evolutionary researcher; Sobonfu Somé, tribal elder from the Dagara tribe in Burkinafaso West Africa; Deanna Elliott, infant massage instructor-trainer with Infant Massage USA.

Here’s a quote from the video: “The one most important factor during pregnancy that is going to immunize the child against any future problems in the mother’s desire for a child. That desire—passion for a child—is going to carry that child into the future like a wonderful blanket that envelops the child and protects it against nature and negative influence.”  Dr. Thomas Verny, author of The Secret Life of the Unborn Child.

Cellular Echoes producer Deanna Elliott graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in education and has many years of teaching experience in both this country and third world nations. She is also a graduate of the Boulder College of Massage Therapy and a certified instructor and trainer for Infant Massage USA. Her non-profit organization, Foundation of Global Unity, is a vehicle for teaching people about the human transitions of birth and death. Find more information online at www.cellularechoes.org.

Visit Patti’s blog at www.familyfieldguide.com for more great features! Plus, don’t miss Jenny Kung’s latest Chinese Boat Wisdom.