Celebrating Menstruation

Red Tent

Not talking about the book – the Menstrual Hut/Moon Lodge/Red Tent was traditionally a place where women would go while menstruating. While some believe it was done to separate the women who were deemed “unclean” others believe it was a time when women took the opportunity to celebrate, relax, share knowledge and be with other women.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ39pZC6DRs (YouTube vid on a red tent)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_and_menstruation
http://www.mum.org/MenstHut.htm
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Tents-in-every-neighborhood/122438694447745
http://www.starofishtar.com/index.php?id=57
http://www.deannalam.com/deannalam.htm
http://www.turkishmoon.com.au

Menarche Rituals

The first menstruation (Menarche) has often been an important milestone in a young woman’s life, and many cultures have a special ritual for this. It is still practised in today’s society too (though not often)

http://groups.msn.com/SacredOakTree/yourwebpage41.msnw
http://www.mothering.com/community_tools/teen_voices/first-moon.html
http://www.birth-sex.com/mysteries.html
http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=3834
http://www.tryskelion.com/adulthd2.htm
http://www.wisewomantradition.com/healingwise/2006/04/menarche_ritual.html
http://www.ritualwell.org/lifecycles/adolescence/firstmenstruation/
http://ezinearticles.com/?First-Menstruation-Rite-of-Passage-Ritual&id=97074

Other Menstrual Rituals

You can also celebrate your menstruation long after you’ve had your first flow!

http://www.earthmamagoods.com/menstruation.html
http://www.shamanism.dk/Artikel%20-%20Blessed%20by%20the%20moon.htm
http://www.spiralrhythms.org/tantric/rituals/01_rituals.shtml

Commercial Menstrual Celebration kits

http://www.womanwisdom.com/store/reclaimingbox.html
http://www.celebrategirls.com/kit.html