by Paula M. Youmell, R.N. Ablation is removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablation). This definition alone, erosive processes??, would make me shudder and stop to think about what was being recommended for my body, my precious uterus. “Stop your heavy period and restore your life” is NovaSure’s advertising hype for uterine ablation.  Wow, my life needs restoring because I bleed

by Vida “Ha, ha! Look at her, she has a disease! Ha, ha! What, does she have pain from her disease? Oh, how hilarious that she has a disease! OMG, that’s SO disgusting! How embarrassing it must be to have a disease! If she is not ashamed of her disease, then she should be!” You would never say that, would you? It sounds so absurd and repulsive, that it was hard to even write! Now replace the word disease with the word period…! For all of you that have ever made fun of a lady

by Gabriella Guglielminotti Trivel The appeal of my inner winter Last week I was waiting for my feminine cycle to start and I was doing my best to enjoy the end of my feminine autumn; at the same time I was really looking forward to experiencing my feminine winter. My winter inner season is the moment when I enjoy the most the connection with my soul and can experience delightful moments of inner peace and bliss. I have always appreciated the time of the month when I bleed, e

by Karen Tinner I wish that I could say my first blood was an encouraging departure from how menstruation is treated in Western cultures, but sadly, it wasn’t. Rather, it embodied every negative association. I had just turned 11 years old less than a week before, and had never been informed about menstruation. Although I was well-read for an adolescent, I was not yet interested in anything to do with maturation, reproduction or sexuality and no one, either at home or in schoo

How would our world be different if girls were raised to honor their menstrual time? How would our world be different if our girls had some form of celebration when they first began to menstruate. How would your life be different if you were celebrated? Join us in the virtual “Red Tent” for today’s episode of Red Tent TV. After you’ve watched the episode, I’d love to know… How have you celebrated menstruation? #sacredspaces #parenting #talkingtoyourdaughter #mothersanddaughte

by Alexis Martin Faaberg, PhD student, CIIS Introduction In my view, the Xaghra Twins figurine found on the Maltese island of Gozo epitomizes a belief system steeped in gender equality that fostered a harmony with nature to create a sustainable regenerative environment. The items left with the dead, including red ocher, some small stone objects, and figurines, as well as myths of corpulent women are some of the elements that scholars are using to interpret the past on Malta.

Lakota moon lodges provided women with a respite from their daily work, a place to learn and create together while they bled. Today’s Red Tents owe much to this legacy. Join us in the virtual “Red Tent” for today’s episode of Red Tent TV. After you’ve watched the episode, I’d love to know… What would you do if you were in a moon lodge? I look forward to reading your comments below. If you liked this video, subscribe to our channel & sign up for our free weekly episodes of Red

by Teresa Maria Bilowus “Return To The Red Tent” was first published in Starflower Living Naturally, Issue 2, July 2014 “How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you? A place for you to go…a place of women, to help you learn the ways of women… a place where you were nurtured from an ancient flow sustaining you and steadying you as you sought to become yourself. A place of women to help you find and trust the ancient flow already there within yours

by Delphine Demore, PhD It is dark inside the tent, with the light muted by the enclosure. At this late afternoon hour, the entire dwelling is tinted red and pink and orange. Soon the sun will set and the glow of the fire and burning coals will be the only light. You sit in the Elder’s chair, near the doorway. The fire is burning brightly and there is water in the clay jars at the other side of the room, to keep it cool. There is food, cooked ahead and preserved, with fruit a