Menstruation

[EvieLee]

Does menstruation (if you do of course) play a signficant part in your path? Besides the part where it's painful, do you have different spiritual experiences or do certain rituals when your menstruating? What does it mean to you?

I don't menstruate, so this aspect of womanhood has escaped me. I was celebrated in my maternal family when I started at 11, and mourned for my period when it stopped (even though I consciously sort it), but have never felt connected to it.

[Philosophia]

Good questions!

My menstruation is very short and painless so I can't "plan" a ritual around it. It does play a part in some spiritual messages when I use a bit for full moon ritual (kept within a small vial in the fridge) and smear it on a small candle. I also use it to affirm my femininity, protection, and banishment.

It doesn't really mean a lot to me but I use it take notice of cycles within my life, i.e. depression and passionate peaks. I like to take notice of my emotions around this time as well and record the moon phase and anything else that happens.

[Fairy_Princess]

When my who is spitting the old red rage, you don' wanna see how vicious I can get. I feel Hyppolyta after Herc was done with her....

[RhaevynEmber]

I've timed my menstruation to come during the full moon. I dont do anything special but during the full moon rite I acknowledge what is happening and the physical things that make me a woman as well as the spirital things. It's more about me adjusting to moving myself into the next phase (Mother) and although my son is almost three I dont think the phases change as soon as you give birth, It's a process for me anyway. So I use this time to work a little more on myself then any other time in the month. :wave:

[~Owl~]

When my who is spitting the old red rage, you don' wanna see how vicious I can get. I feel Hyppolyta after Herc was done with her....

???

You...are twisted.

*shakes her head*

I really don't celebrate mine, because I'm too busy washing down a bottle of Midol and Valium with Bourbon... although I know of many other women do,and esp. in Native American, and the old Gaelic picts...

hmmm...come to think of it, I guess I do kinda celebrate it. I don't remember anything for the next 4-5 days, but hey...who's counting?

Notice, the boys have scattered like the wind all of a sudden?

*cackles*

[EvieLee]

Great answers! I don't suppose one would feel much like celebrating a period (unless that someone didn't want to be preggers) but I would think it would be a good time for reflection and self-analysis, yes?

[Philosophia]

Great answers! I don't suppose one would feel much like celebrating a period (unless that someone didn't want to be preggers) but I would think it would be a good time for reflection and self-analysis, yes?

Yep, it is. It's also a good time for a cleansing as well.

[Willow Rosette]

Im going to be the black sheep here but I celebrate not having one LMAO. I know as women we are supposed to embrace it I did nothing but bitch and moan and swallow the motrin. Now that it is gone and I am in control of when it comes back I kinda feel like I am more in control over me vs. being taken over by a wave of misery.

So yea I celebrate not having it.

[Lauren Michele]

I get very bad PMS. But once I menstruate I am back to my old self. I am nearing 40 and I am noticing a change that my periods are much shorter than they used to be when I was younger. I dont mind getting my period. I dont experience any pain at all, I never did.

[EvieLee]

Yep, it is. It's also a good time for a cleansing as well.

Oh, I didn't think of that, that makes sense. lol. :)

Im going to be the black sheep here but I celebrate not having one LMAO. I know as women we are supposed to embrace it I did nothing but bitch and moan and swallow the motrin. Now that it is gone and I am in control of when it comes back I kinda feel like I am more in control over me vs. being taken over by a wave of misery.

So yea I celebrate not having it.

That's a very good point that I can relate to. I took control of my period due to the old evil endometriosis and was relieved when I didn't have that pain in my life anymore. But now that I'm older and feel myself becoming more clucky I'm conflicted to have the two hurldes against my having kids (the depo and the endo).

[RainInanna]

I think my perspective about it may change having become a mother now. However, I haven't had one since April so will have to see when things get regular again.

[Autumn Angel Mardi]

No mine just comes at the start of the month, I bought a new mooncup to deal with it better :)

[RainInanna]

So it returned today (almost 3 months since the last). Tonight I meditated in the tub with candles & incense lit, spent some time praying and reciting the Charge, considered how I am an expression of the Goddess, how I am creative even as I choose not to bear another baby now, my role as a mother and an expression of the Divine. I also spent time focusing on the pleasure of the candles & incense, perfume that was a gift from my mother, and one of my favourite books.

If nothing else this time of the month is a nice touchstone for making time to re-recognize the ongoing connection with the Goddess, much like sabbats and esbats can help us re-align with Her.

[EvieLee]

That sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing. :)

[alwaysfallingup]

I'm so happy to have my cycle back! I've posted some about this before in other forums (once in the recent "Blood Magick" thread), but here are my feelings...my period coming back after several years of not having one because of scary health problems shows me that my body is healing and coming back into balance. That healing and balance came in conjunction with my making a profound connection to Goddess and learning that my body is sacred. So, I DO celebrate my cycles...as a connection to the Goddess and a return to health and well-being. It's a physical reminder that I am growing and learning and connected once again. So, hurray periods! :woot:

[bigolalaskan]

I envy you Belladonna. As I age, they come heavier and more frequent. I'm waiting until payday to go get my hormones so I can get off this horrid 7 days on 10 days off cycle again.

If my mom is any example of what I'm going to do, I've got another 10 frickin years of this . . . I'm tired of it .... And those around me are tired of my going off on a hormonal rampage every couple of weeks . . .

Celebrate, no. However, as gross as it sounds, the fluids are strong magic and some stain their runes and wands with it to tie these items specifically to the owner.

[Tanya]

I don't have painful ones, right before it, my breasts get really swollen, and it kinda reminds me of them... and my femaleness...

My daughter noticed recently, and so now i'm even more contitious of it. I like to tell her it means "I could make a baby, but this month, I didn't." I find it kind of a life affirming thing... that I know I am still ripe with potential.

no midol or burbon....

[Jayble]

Mine have become lengthy and erratic, but I am always happy to have the "not pregnant" confirmation. I like some of the ideas in this thread, though. How do you go about cycling with a particular phase of the moon?