It was often referred to as “the curse” by our mothers and grandmothers, but today a growing number of girls and women are seeing menstruation in a new light –– moonlight, to be exact.
Thanks to Women’s History scholars and the Women’s Spirituality Movement that took root in the 1970’s, we know that in other cultures and times, the monthly bleeding of women was called “moon flow” and the monthly period, “moon time,” a time when women would go into retreat to rest and to access their inner wisdom.
Women were thought to have magical powers. It was awesome that every 28 days –– 13 times a year –– in rhythm with the moon’s cycle, their bodies released the nutrient-rich blood that lines the uterus.
Imagine a being who can bleed and not die in the process! Furthermore, she could give birth to new life and provide ideal nourishment from her own breasts. A girl’s entry into womanhood was a cause for celebration.
Archeologists have uncovered evidence that in early societies women were highly respected and held positions of leadership. They were landowners, farmers, magistrates, community organizers, teachers, healers, midwives and priestesses.
So, what happened? Even in a country as progressive as the USA, we still don’t have a woman president. And it wasn’t that long ago that women had to fight just for the right to vote.
Hemitra Crecraft, who refers to herself as a red web celebrationist, is a leader in the movement to restore women’s rites of passage– from menarche (first menstruation) to menopause (cessation of monthly periods). She offers the following explanation.
“4.000 years ago Nature, once revered as our Earth Mother, became an object of fear. And women, because of their close association with Nature, were also feared and resented. Menstruation was labeled ‘unclean’ and it was important to hide your periods."
"For generations in recent times, girls have been taught in a dry, clinical way about their fertility cycle. Menstruation is something you have to put up with rather than appreciate."
"To make matters worse, science has developed drugs with potentially dangerous side effects to limit bleeding to only a few times a year. This abhorrence and rejection of our bodies and our fertility cycle has disempowered us. It’s not surprising that many studies reveal that a girl’s self-esteem diminishes at puberty.”
Crecraft recalls sharing a joyful celebration with her parents on the day of her first menstrual bleeding – quite unheard of in her generation. Since the early 90s, she has led celebrations to honor girls entering into womanhood.
“It is a turning point for the young women who are initiated at these ceremonies,” says Crecraft. "They say they feel different about themselves afterwards. They feel more connected to a larger web of life, to the sacredness of their own bodies, to the cycles of nature and to the circle of women who honored them.”
Crecraft envisioned a menstrual health program that would provide missing links in teaching girls about their cycle and its spiritual significance – that would be relevant to girls all over the world.
“I wanted it to be upbeat, easy to use, creative and inspiring.” Thus she developed “Coming of Age: from Bud to Flower,” consisting of workbooks, DVD, and other resources for home study.
The kit is a practical and entertaining resource to explore: the “coming of age” experience of young women throughout world history; the wonders of your body and the cyclical nature of life and fertility; your thoughts and moods during different phases of the moon cycle and how to honor them; lifestyle and dietary choices that promote healthy menstruation; risks and benefits of different sanitary products; feminine shapes in nature and art, and much more.
Hemitra Crecraft adds, “I believe so strongly that when the ancient truths about our monthly cycle are understood and lived by women and girls the impact will be far reaching.
I envision fewer reproductive health issues over time. I see girls maintaining their sense of aliveness and courage – growing into strong women and taking their place of leadership in a world that is starved for female sensibility.”
-written by Lucille Balukian, a free lance writer residing in Chester Co., PA
