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19/02/08: "Honouring the Sacred Cycle..."
Submitted by Trinity Bourne on 19 February, 2008 - 09:37.
Moontime is a name given to the ‘menstrual period’ of the female cycle. It feels to me a beautiful description and speaks of the natural cyclical rhythm of this sacred time. It is often referred to in this way in Native American and Druid circles. In such bygone cultures it has been honoured by male and female alike, acknowledging the fact that we are all influenced and effected by this profoundly beautiful act of nature. It seems society has lost perspective and true understanding of this natural cycle. You might be interested therefore in this personal sharing...
Shedding of blood during the sacred female cycle was once commonly considered a time of purification and rejuvenation. Sadly, as patriarchal energies began to overpower the world, feminine energy became increasingly disrespected much to the detriment of the natural order of things. In my view the divine male and female energies are meant to compliment one another, working together harmoniously in a sacred dance of divine unity. Embracing both in their authenticity is essential for spiritual evolution.
It is the most natural thing in the world for a woman to rest during her Moontime. The divine feminine is a receptive vessel, a holy grail that often selflessly transmutes the energy of those around her. Women are receptive by nature and particularly absorbent of external energies around this sacred time.
In cultures of days gone by, women would have been relieved of their work and afforded the time to spend either alone in peace and quiet (or with other women) in a safe, nurturing environment free of projectional or negative energies. This time would be used to reflect and invite universal life force energy to wash through their being allowing the light of the soul to shine ever brighter as she acts selflessly as the loving centre of her family and daily life.
The shedding of blood is highly symbolic of shedding any accumulated negative energy during the previous weeks. It is an opportunity to let go of that which no longer serves. It is a time to reflect on what we are ready to release, what we are ready to receive and what lessons we have learnt.
In honouring our Moontime we often find rebalance and purification of our state of being. If we miss this time of recentering, then we may spend the rest of the month out of sync to the sacred rhythm, never quite catching up with ourselves. Thankfully we are offered the opportunity once monthly!
If we don’t normally do it, then this is the time to think of ourselves first and foremost. If we have children, if at all possible, get someone else to watch them for a day or two. If they go to school make the most of that time. If we can’t find someone to watch them, make the most of the evening. Basically start right now and make the most of what you are able to do... commit to the moment. The rest will follow.
If you have a partner or close friends tell them how you feel about this sacred Moontime and discuss with them how you might work together in helping to honour this.
Do whatever makes your heart sing: dance, play music, meditate, write poetry, tend your plants, read, take a bath, enjoy a gentle walk in the woodlands. It may be that you simply wish to rest and do nothing.
It can really help (if you don’t already) to eat a healthy diet. Some women find taking a vitamin B supplement beneficial, as well as essential fats. From personal experience heightened emotional imbalance and depression can be eased by the Agnus Castus herb, which can be found in any good health food store in the form of tincture, capsules etc. It’s well worth looking into different options that help to naturally rebalance hormones, although I would say that one of the most important things is to take time to replenish and rest.
One last note worthy point... It can be helpful to rename your time of the month or ‘period’ to something more beautiful (this helps to let go of negative associations with menstruation). Many women choose the word ‘Moontime’ in honour of the cyclical nature of the monthly cycle and in respect of the introspective energies of the moon.
I wish you all the best in your unfolding journey as you honour the sacred cycle.
With Love
Trinity
Sharings
Submitted by michelle on 20 February, 2008 - 18:39.
Oooh this SO resonates with me Trin. 
I'd like to share a conversation I had a few months ago in one of my meditations I get that last quite a few days. I have a past life that is very connected to me, her/my name is Tiana, she/I was a druid priestess. During one of my monthly cycles she made it quite clear how cross she was with my choice of contraceptive. All my arguments about pregnancy, pmt, etc fell on deaf ears as she explained the following.
"The moon and our cycle are as one in our hearts, if we surrender to the beauty of luna and our mense we are enfolded in the very essence of our roots. Woman is sacred in her strength to carry another life, not only within her body but emotionally, spiritually, magically too. The magic in our hearts is encompassed in our bodies, honour the magic of life. Honour the magic of birth and death every time a woman bleeds. The blood is sacred and should be revered, not stemmed. To stem the flow of life stems the flow of spirit. Be as one with life and death, and we can be as one with the quintessential wholeness of our being".
So began a 3 day conversation with myself! A girly chat with someone who was hundreds of lifetime's old, and was also a part of me, or I her.
The result is that every month I give thanks for my beauty in being, I give thanks to the honour I have been given, the gift of life, of womanhood. I take a walk in the moonlight and stand on the hill and become one with all things female. I feel the doe and the vixen in their total acceptance of how nature intended them to be. I feel the plants seeding, I feel the earth extend her love for all things reach my very soul, and I feel honoured. And I let the tears fall freely.
Motherhood comes on many different levels, not just in conception and birth but also in nuturing those around us, so all children, not just my own, are in my heart. Once a month it's wonderful to appreciate what a gift that is.
Thanks for a wonderful sharing Trin.
With Love
Michelle x
Mother Earth inspired my journey into Womanhood
Submitted by Trinity Bourne on 20 February, 2008 - 22:58.
Dear Michelle,
Thank you for joining me here and sharing in this. I can certainly imagine your Druid heritage
There are many things that have been forgotten in this world. As I embarked on a path of natural fertility awareness when I was younger I felt overwhelemed with sadness that the knowledge had not been passed down through my mother and the generations that preceeded her. In hind sight, I am thankful that I was so 'alone' in my journey into womanhood, for it taught me to go within and tap into the eternal source of all knowing. I took great inspiration from Mother Earth, as there seemed to be noone there to turn to. The trees, animals, the gentle breeze and the earth beneath my bare feet all whispered secretly to my heart.
I am pleased to hear that the wisdom of your ages is shining through and not letting you get away with any less than you are ready for. I feel that pmt (as well as countless other challenges) is a result of the modern way of life that leaves little (if any) room for honouring of the sacred cycle.
In Love and Light
Trin
Harmony - male and female unity
Submitted by Trinity Bourne on 20 February, 2008 - 23:12.
I am touched at your post Chris .
It is so important that we recognise that men and women are equally part of a beautiful and perfect whole. They are of complimentary nature. Should they choose to dance together in divine union our experience is one of profound harmony.
There are opportunities to reflect this harmony in everything we do. It flows through the fabric of our existence. You illustrate the necessity for harmony so well with your memories of rowing in a team. In my experience the same is true in every moment... harmony invites the facade to fall away, to unveil our true divine nature.
Ever with Love
Trinity
Miasms
Submitted by michelle on 21 February, 2008 - 13:23.
Trin it's wonderful you found out at such an early age. I was 38!
Attitudes towards reproduction and all it entails is one of society's great miasms. Little by little the truth has been lost, slowly trickling away over generations that it's not noticed in a lifetime. It was only when I experienced the core belief from another age (may have helped that it came from such a strong feisty character) that I felt the beauty once again.
Wishing the world their own 'Tianas'.
With Love
Michelle x
Moon lodges and sweat lodges...
Submitted by Trinity Bourne on 21 February, 2008 - 21:40.
Indeed Michelle!
In certain natural cultures it may be accepted that a woman would step down from her childcare responsibilities and making of food etc., whereby Grandma or friends would automatically step in. This modernised world is rife with separation consciousness where many people live divided, self contained, remote controlled lives. Even living in a town or city surrounded by millions of people can be a lonely affair.
I heard about the Moon Lodge in the Native American culture, where women would retreat and gently celebrate higher consciousness together. Women who work and live together naturally tend to moon at the same time, which is handy. I was also fascinated to hear that the sweat lodge was the male version of the Moon lodge, since men don’t have the luxury of shedding during Moontime, they too needed time to let go and cleanse. These days women do go into sweat lodges along with men. Might have something to do with the 9 to 5 lifestyle.
Moon Time
Submitted by angel on 23 February, 2008 - 09:44.
When I think of Moon Time I think of the seasons of Mother Nature. She has time to rest during the winter and a springtime to cleanse. The cycle of a women is there for the same reason. I heard that Native American women used to wear purple to signify that they were in their sacred phase. When I think of purple it feels very holy and special.
The moon pulls on the whole of Mother Nature and controls the tides. People are mainly composed of water so the moon affects us too. Women who are more in keeping with nature often get their Moon Time on full moon or new moon. 
The sun doesn't shine to get something in return. It just shines!
Guys take note too!
Thankyou so much for this profoundly beautiful sharing Trin!
Of course we live together and so I'm just as influenced by your monthly cycle as you but I can say I've never previously viewed it in this way - your post has helped me understand much more and from a positive perspective rather than a negative one.
It seems to me that society looks upon this sacred event frequently from the perspective of inconvenience! We have our deadlines and schedules and it seems nothing can be allowed to interrupt. I wonder how many companies and families alike are negatively effected by not honouring the cycle in the way you suggest?
Earlier in my life, rowing was one of my key passions - I especially loved to row in eights. Of course great strength and fitness is essential but that would equate to zilch if there was no rhythm, harmony and flow between all the members of the crew.
We learned to respect and feel one another's uniqueness. It helped us blend together and create something that was much greater than the sum of the parts.
To me, such respect for divine harmony is truly what living is all about.
Thankyou for enlightening me. I'm sure my life will be greatly enhanced!
Chris