Jeannine Parvati Baker

Jeannine Parvati Baker (June 1, 1949 - December 1, 2005) was a yogini, midwife, herbalist, published author and poet, as well as a noted mythic astrologer. She was also an international activist on the matters of homebirth, freebirth and newborn rights issues such as circumcision.

Born in North Hollywood, California, to Jewish and Native American parents, Ms. Parvati-Baker migrated to Northern California during the late 1960s. She practiced as a spiritual midwife in Sonoma County, California for over ten years before moving to rural southern Utah where she continued her practice.

A pioneer in the new frontier of women's studies and feminist women's health, Ms. Parvati-Baker's first book, Prenatal Yoga & Natural Childbirth, was the first text in the Western world on the subject, written during her studies with ashtanga yogi Baba Hari Dass. She followed this work with Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal as her Master's thesis in psychology at San Francisco State University, and later Conscious Conception. Ms. Parvati-Baker was the founder of Hygieia College, from which she matriculated over 500 students through a self-study program and apprencticeships.

A keynote speaker at many professional conferencess, Jeannine Parvati Baker was also awarded a lifetime achievement recognition for her activism by the International Symposium on Genital Integrity.

She died at home with her family present in Utah after battling Hepatitis C.