Moon Time Guidelines for Women
Our Female Power:
Moon Time
In cultures around the world, recognition of maturity in women begins with
the onset of menstruation. At this time, our bodies take on the power to reproduce our own kind, to ensure the future or our
people, whoever they are.
As women, we step into the powerful circle of the 28 day lunar clock, keeping
time with the reproductive cycles of all living things around us, the plants and trees, the tides of the sea, Mother Earth
herself. For this reason, Native people call the time of menstruation a woman’s Moon Time.
Taking
Care of Ourselves
Native teachings, as well as those from Eastern traditions remind us of
how important it is to our health, general vitality, and longevity to quiet ourselves during this time and to rest completely.
Our female bodies are doing extra work gathering the energy and life-force within our wombs so that a child can be created
there. This is released as we bleed, and yet we give little thought to how we can make up for energy loss. Native grandmothers
tell us that we are damaging and aging ourselves unnecessarily by not attending to our natural cycles or taking care of ourselves
with rest and nurturing during this time.
Traditional Women’s Ways
Traditional people understand the higher sensitivity that women have when
they menstruate, that these feelings are very meaningful and part of the cycles of a woman’s life-giving body.
In Native villages, the women would go to a menstrual hut or “Moon
Lodge” during this time. It was considered the time that a woman was at the height of her spiritual power, during which
time the most appropriate activity was to isolate herself, rest, meditate, and gather wisdom.
This place became her questing place, a place of protection and nurturing
where she was not required to cook, to clean, to take care of others, to go to a job or any other activity. Others brought
her food and saw to her needs.
For young women, this was a time to receive teaching from the grandmothers.
A mature woman’s sole purpose was to call vision for her people, to open herself to whatever the Great Spirit wished
to send through her to serve her family, her community, her world. When she came out of this time she felt cleansed and refreshed
and ready to return to the outside world carrying her vision.
Taking Care of Others
Concentrated female Moon Time energy, during ceremony and prayer, can easily
overwhelm the communication of others with animal or other spirits.
Therefore, during Moon Time, a woman keeps her distance from men, their
medicine bundles, and ceremony circles. She does not touch or prepare foods that will be consumed by others. Women also did
not soak in rivers, creeks, or mineral hot springs at this time, as the power of a woman’s Moon Time blood could seriously
overwhelm the spirit of that water. Whoever used that water afterwards could become unbalanced and experience illness.
In the modern urban world, many women don’t think of our connection
to the Moon and Spirit World. We lead our hectic lives; denying even to ourselves this most natural event.
Here at Iron Circle Nation, the old ways prevail. If you are experiencing
your Moon Time, or anticipate it soon, we will ask you to follow our Moon Time guidelines.
