By Julia Minnear (Wildfyre)
The Magic of our Monthly
Cycles
The subject of menstruation is often swept under the carpet and ignored.
But for a woman and a witch (or Druid), the cycles of fertility can be
a valuable source of power and creativity.
History & Background
Across many cultures menstruation is surrounded by special customs, taboos
and traditions. In some of these cultures menstruating women are separated
from their usual home and tasks. Common taboos at this time are that of
cooking, having sex, washing clothes, and other daily activities. The
touch of menstruating woman may be enough to poison food and ruin crops.
These taboos are not just found in tribal cultures, but are also held
by many mainstream religions.
Many researchers have wondered why menstruation might be considered so
dangerous. The anthropologist Mary Douglas suggested that menstruation
was ‘liminal’ or on the threshold; as a bodily fluid it belongs
neither inside nor outside the body. It is considered to be ‘matter
out of place’ and therefore threatening.
It may also be that men have feared menstruation because they don’t
experience it themselves. Menstrual blood signals fertility not death,
it can be predicted but not controlled, it is cleansing but staining…
Even in Western culture there are still prohibitions on menstruation.
Television advertisements promoting menstrual products use blue dye to
represent blood, and products are branded ‘discreet’. There
is a general overall sense that in-depth and honest discussion of menstruation
should be avoided in general conversation. To many, it is still considered
to be dirty, smelly and disgusting.
It may be that these fears represent the nature of human society - of
the desire to control the forces of nature, instead of honouring them.
Men have long been the dominant figures of authority, so perhaps that
fear can be reflected back onto a culture or religion and its traditions.
Mary Douglas’ idea of the ‘liminal’ can be seen as an
important magical concept. Liminality or the ‘threshold’ has
always been surrounded by superstition, myth and intrigue. The crossroads
for example are well referred to in folklore as places abound with spirits,
ghosts, gods and other otherworldly creatures. As an area where different
paths meet they are regarded as points of no place, belonging to neither
direction. The times of dawn and dusk are commonly magical or supernatural
moments in myth and folklore, as the transition periods between night
and day.
Menstruation and the Moon
Within more traditional societies the supernatural aspect of menstruation
may also be perpetuated by the connection between the menstrual cycle
and the 29 day lunar cycle. Many aboriginal cultures have strong associations
between menses and the moon; and the terms are sometimes interchangeable.
The association between women and the moon also becomes apparent in anthropological
accounts. Native Yurok women of NW California call menstruation ‘Moontime’.
They say it is the time when a woman is at her most powerful, and the
act of retreating from mundane chores allows the woman to concentrate
on meditation concerning her life’s path. The book ‘The Red
Tent’ by Anita Diamant is a fictional account of the life and traditions
of the Biblical wives of Jacob. In the book the women honour pagan deities,
and once a month on a new moon all the women retreat together into the
‘red tent’; a tent set-aside for menstruation. Researchers
have found that women who live and work closely together often begin to
cycle in time with each other. This is thought to be due to the amount
of light a woman is exposed to. Light regulates rhythm. In tribal societies
where there is less artificial light to disrupt, most of the light comes
from the sun and the moon. Without disruption, menstruation is found to
occur most naturally on the dark of the moon. Ovulation then corresponds
to the full moon. Yurok women say that if a woman becomes out of cycle
with the moon, she should sit in the moonlight and ask the moon to balance
her.
Magical Menstruation
Within Witchcraft or Druidry, paying attention to our blood cycles and
the way they affect us can be a great resource for magical work. Pagans
recognise the threads between menstruation and the power of nature and
fertility, and thus all traditional menstrual prohibitions are generally
thrown out as male-dominated constructs.
Yet whilst we may be happy to carry on with life as normal, menstruation
still offers a good time for inner reflection, honouring our bodies and
reconnecting to the most sensual and feminine aspects of ourselves. The
days before our period, when we’re feeling moody or weepy, are perfect
times to explore to the far edges of our feelings and emotions.
As well as this, I have found that astral projection and lucid dreaming
become easier during menstruation, and it’s always a good idea to
keep a diary or day-to-day journal whist you‘re menstruating. Pay
attention to fluctuating moods, headaches and bellyaches. Remember to
note down the moon phases so you can see if your body regulates itself
to the changing phases. Another way to honour ’moontime’ is
to set aside a special necklace or piece of jewellery to wear only when
you’re menstruating. Dark blood-like stones or goddess figures in
jewellery can be a great reminder menstrual power.
Ouch and Mmmm
As a woman and a witch, it can also be helpful to learn about different
herbs, oils and teas and how they can help us through cramps and aches.
Among other things, stomach cramps can be relieved by yoga stretches,
hot baths with essential oils, exercise and massage.
Eating foods that are rich in iron is particularly important. Iron is
an essential nutrient that women often lack during menstruation. A lack
of iron can result in irritability, tiredness and lack of energy. Red
meat is a good source of iron (if you eat it). For vegetarians, things
like green leafy veg like broccoli & spinach, apricots, pumpkin and
sesame seeds, and nuts are particularly good sources. Eating fruit and
vegetables rich in Vitamin C helps the body absorb more iron.
Some soothing teas:
Raspberry Leaf - eases cramps by strengthening the muscles
of your uterus
Ginger tea - helps to warm and soothe your body. Good
with honey.
Chamomile tea - warms and relaxes you!
Good Moon-time reads
- ‘The Red Tent’ by Anita Diamant
- ‘The Mists of Avalon’ by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Others:
- 'Blood Magic: The Anthropology of Menstruation', ed. Thomas Buckley
& Alma Gottleib
- 'Blood Relations', by Chris Knight
Gorgeous Websites:
Yoni.com: www.yoni.com
Pink Slip: www.scarleteen.com/pink/index.html
Women's Environmental Network: www.wen.org.uk
