ALUNA TEMPLE MAGAZINE Edition No3 'INITIATIONS' | Page 23

In traditional cultures menstruation (or Moon Time) was considered a very sacred time, and when
that time came the women would leave whatever they were doing and go to the menstrual lodge.
The rest of the tribe took over their duties, tended to the children and brought them meals for three
days, honouring this sacred time. This is how it is with all of nature including the moon, which is
dead or dark for three days, just as Jesus was dead in his tomb for three days.
Every month at the time of their menstruation the women would gather at their menstrual lodges
where they would reconnect with their sisters. Here they would laugh, share and reconnect.
They understood their role as women and were aware
of their connection to Great Spirit, and the gift that had
been bestowed upon them as the life givers.
They rejoiced in their womanhood and they were aware of
the magic of this time of month, and with the wisdom of life
that was accessible at this time of going within, including
the wisdom that life, in its intrinsic nature, is painful.
They used this time to pray and give gratitude for the
role that they played as a woman. They would bleed
into Mother Earth, replenishing her and giving back for
all that she had given them.
Art © Unknown

They honoured their emotional sensitivity, bringing to their awareness emotions that needed to be
confronted. Meantime all the rest of the tribe were eager to have their women return from the
lodge, with their newly found wisdom and clarity for the benefit of the whole tribe.
Puberty and the onset of a girl’s first menstruation marked the beginning of her reproductive life.
Nature decides for us when our body is physically ready to menstruate and produce life, but
menstruation alone is not enough in our western society of today to make the changes needed for
the transition from a child into a woman.
A girl’s first rite of passage was regarded as the most important, as the timing of this
menstruation and the importance of the ripeness of the initiate signalled to the other
women the need to pass on their knowledge and traditions.
All women in the tribe were proud of their role to impart their wisdom, share stories, to nurture and
to prepare the young one for their new role in the tribe.

The women assisted the initiate by passing on their
knowledge and leaving her to contemplate their
teachings, to connect with Great Spirit and to
release all of her fears and resistance before
embarking on her new role.
She would reflect on her childhood, and all that was familiar
and she would allowed herself to die from this role and be
reborn.

When the women felt that she was ready, a
ceremony or ritual was conducted.
Mirror of My Future, Reflection of My Past
© Mara Friedman

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