Woman’s blood. Woman’s power.

By: Marjory Mejia

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I want to explore the taboo of woman’s blood, unleash the sacred flow of our blood. 

Taboo:

“forbidden to profane use or contact because of what are held to be dangerous supernatural powers.” ~ Miriam-Webster

“the prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behavior is either too sacred and consecrated or
too dangerous and accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake.” ~ Britannica Online Encyclopedia

We don’t talk about taboos because they inspire fear and awe. We exclude them from our conversation and they become hidden sore spots. Taboos are kept hidden. Disguised. Distorted. Disfigured. Mistrusted mysteries of life. The true meaning of taboo connotes sacredness. Most taboos are left untouched, a reservoir of power, untapped.

Unfurling this blood taboo.

I realize that woman’s blood is taboo: uncomfortable to many, including women. I encourage you to read through these words, follow their flow and let the discomfort melt away. Underneath the color of our skin, all women bleed the same, red, deep, ancient flow of life force. It is this power what makes the blood that naturally flows through a woman during her cycle seem taboo.

There is still a lot of stigma around woman’s blood. The lingering feeling that our periods are the punishment for being women. The notion that we stain the world with our blood. I remember my first period was not celebrated, in fact, quite the opposite. It caused sadness, a child no more, I had lost my innocence. But can innocence ever be lost? Can you be innocent while acquiring experience?

Menarche, our first blood is an initiation into womanhood, a rite of passage lost to modern culture. Ah the beautiful songs of innocence and experience by William Blake. I can understand the sadness of my mother, a period ended and another one started. Transitions can be difficult. Imagine a ceremony to acknowledge some of the mother’s pain but also the excitement of her little girl becoming woman.

We have disengaged from the beauty of our bodies and the processes that run through us.

What was once powerful is now seen as a source of shame. We hide, ignore, obstruct and diminish our own blood, we think it is dirty, but it is sacred. It is sacred flow. I recently listened to these woman’s words about her own blood:

“It grosses me out.” She said about her menstrual blood.
What grosses your out about it? I asked.
“Don’t know. Associate it with pain. Injuries.” She stated.

This blood comes from the life giving space of our womb. It saddens me to hear a woman speak of her own blood in this way. And yet, I understand the pain and its emotional source.  When the blood that could have nurtured a life is lost as this flow that comes through us, we may experience pain as a primal feeling of loss for the life that didn’t become. This may sound irrational but since when is pain rational? Nothing is lost, this blood wants to flow back into the earth, not the landfills. May we offer the earth our precious blood in sustainable ways, ways that keep the integrity of the earth intact.

Feeling our shame. Healing our pain.

This pain can stem from the ways in which we dishonor our center. The shaming of this sacred power makes us:

~ Block our emotions
~ Obstruct the flow of our blood
~ Keep quiet when we know in our belly that there is energy rising seeking expression
~ Give up on our dreams to make a man, a system, or society ‘happy’
~ Forget ourselves to sustain others
~ Conform to draining schedules
~ Push ourselves when our cycles call for rest
~ Feel fed up in a system that fails to satisfy your deepest cravings, and yet stay
~ Silence our truth because we do not want to upset others

You don’t have to continue to participate in this self deprecating system..

Celebrating our ancient wisdom.

Our sacred center longs to be experienced as it is, divine and in harmony with the earth. Our healing process inspires us to:

~ See our own innate beauty emanating from within
~ Spend time in nature
~ Honor our feelings
~ Liberate our emotions
~ Express ourselves
~ Slow down to listen and trust our intuition
~ Rest when our cycles call for it
~ Live according to a rhythm that sustains us
~ Awaken to our true desires
~ Gather in circles of women
~ Reclaim our own space
~ Help reveal new healing ways of living that bring peace

Accepting our power.

We experience cycles. We are not machines, we are organic beings with sleeping cycles,  menstrual cycles, life cycles. Cycles. Women are naturally more in tune with the rhythms of nature since our bodies sexual system works in cycles. Once a month we bleed, sometimes in unison with other women when we commune together, a lost art that is being revived today.

Our blood cycles can be messy, bloody, but also life giving and cosmic. We bleed to the rhythm of the moon. There is great power in our blood. Since ancient times, women’s ability to bleed from their womb was considered sacred, powerful, magical; that is, until the wisdom and power of body, woman, nature was desacralized.

Bleeding involves a sort of depletion essential for regeneration. It is a process of self renewal. Bleeding time used to be honored in ancient culture and still is in some tribal communities where women gather to nurture themselves during this part of their cycle. In our fast pace western culture women have to work to the same speed of men who do not have this organic life regenerating mechanism. The fact that women need to rest during their cycle implies no weakness, it speaks of wisdom. Too much speed without pauses of rest can lead to shallow life experiences and burnout.

We need rituals, ceremonies, rites of passage that honor our life transitions and life processes as we grow and expand.

It is time to honor and celebrate our womb, our beautiful shakti (feminine) power. There are traditions that revere feminine power. We have much to learn, to remember from them for our own healing process. In order to reconnect with our blood power, we need to reframe the way we think about our blood.

Forget about women having penis envy. It is the other way around. Sigmund Freud got it wrong! In Metaformic theory, in Blood, Bread, and Roses: How Menstruation Created the Worldspacer , Judy Grahn attributes the development of culture to women.  Men were originally fearful of women’s power to produce blood once a month. It is a mystery to be able to offer blood to the earth. Men had to inflict injuries to touch blood with their hands and so the author says that this I how the bellicose nature of man got started, his thirst for woman’s blood, woman’s power.

When I am on my moon, I feel a special power. I know this power will also cycle and show up differently at various times of my life. For now, while I can bleed, I marvel at my body opening to spirit flowing through me in this visceral, ancestral way. If you are a bleeding woman, know that life’s mystery is revealing itself through you. Slowly befriend, honor, bless, and trust your flow, your life force. Your cycle is sacred and so are you.

With love,
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Get flowing!

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Jan 11, 2012
 16 comments
Categories: favorites
tagged as: ancient, blood, emotion, feminine, Healing, life mystery, pain, power, shame, Space, taboo, woman
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16 Responses to “Woman’s blood. Woman’s power.”

  1. spacer Angel says:
    Jan 11, 2012 at Jan 11, 2012

    So interesting, this…. I’m having so many emotions coming up in reading this post as well (as I did with the weight post over with Limitless Megan).

    a) I love reading about cycles…womens cycles, sleep cycles, lunar cycles, general cycles of nature… any of it. I’m absolutely fascinated by the way everything comes together so perfectly with all of these cycles. Miraculous, really.

    b) Having my period has always been so hard for me to deal with. There were so many months when I just had no idea what was going on, if I’d get one (and when… it was always a big surprise… and when at work and unprepared, not a pleasant one). I finally worked out a form of contraception that works for me and also limits my periods… what are your thoughts on that, since it’s unnatural?

    <3

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Angel, I am glad this post is letting emotions flow for you. Cycles are indeed miraculous! Our blood is a mystery and we are not very skilled in caring for ourselves on our moons. I know that contraception can lessen the pain in extreme cases where a physiological condition exacerbates the pain. I respect your decision. I personally choose to let my body follow its natural rhythm. I am highly sensitive so I don’t believe in the idea of messing with our body’s intelligence unless it is truly essential. I find that when I practice yoga regularly, eat healthy, prepare self care rituals, listen deeply to the spirit within and do some tantric yoga (solo) practices to cultivate and circulate sexual energy, the pain eases. Hope this helps.Thanks so much for sharing!

  2. spacer Leah Shapiro says:
    Jan 11, 2012 at Jan 11, 2012

    I also believe in and honor the sacred power of my moon cycle!
    But I didn’t always.
    There was a time I thought it was an problem to deal with and a complete hassle. It was uncomfortable and messy!
    Then I started honoring my feminine energy more and spending time in circle with other women, and I recognized the beauty and the power that come with it.

    I often think about the book the Red Tent and how they honored their cycles-coming together to nurture each other. I thought it was beautiful how they cherished the coming of age of their daughters and gave the first blood and virginity to the Earth Mother.

    Now I find that I welcome my blood. I give myself down time to relax and nurture myself. I do my best to harness the natural ebb and flow of energy throughout the month and not trying to force my way through.

    As I get older- I have mixed emotions about the day that my cycles get farther and farther apart and slowly disappears. I’m 46 now, so I feel the time is getting near.

    Thanks for opening up this conversation!

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Hi Leah,

      Yes, it has been a journey for me too. A journey of awakening the beauty that has always been there.

      I would love to read the Red Tent. I am ordering it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
      These ways of honoring our sisterhood and blood lines are still alive in many places.

      Bravo for honoring your own rhythm and being gentle with yourself. I trust that when your cycle comes to an end, you will too, honor this time of transition as sacred.
      Once cycle ends and another begins. Thank you for such heartfelt conversation. Many blessings. Namaste sister.

  3. spacer Bri Saussy says:
    Jan 11, 2012 at Jan 11, 2012

    Ah this is such a timely post I think. More and more I see women who are coming to embrace and accept their moontime for the sacred, empowering, cycle that it is! I was raised to honor and respect my blood and that honor and respect was conveyed through the use of rituals just as you suggest Marjory. It seems to me that creating space to honor our periods and whatever feelings we may have as we go through them is essential to forming a loving relationship with our bodies and our selves. Lovely!

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Hi Bri,
      What a gift to grow up honoring your cycle with ritual. Yes, creating space to embrace our sacredness is vital, necessary, essential. I love the way you
      said it: “creating space to honor our periods and whatever feelings we may have as we go through them is essential to forming a loving relationship with our bodies and our selves.” Blessed words. Thank you!

  4. spacer Jessica says:
    Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

    Interesting! I have to admit, this is a whole new topic for me — never even heard about the moon association. But I can see the connection and it gives me a reason to think something other than negative thoughts next time it comes around for me. Thanks for opening a door to new ideas….

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Hi Jessica,
      I am excited to hear how you will experience your moon next time around. Please let me know if something shifts. It is my pleasure to open the door, may you discover new gardens of beauty and healing. Thank you for sharing from your heart.

  5. spacer Megan Potter says:
    Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

    Reading your story of your mom’s reaction made me think of my mom – for her “becoming a woman” opened a door full of pain and abuse, I think idea of my becoming a woman instilled a kind of fear for me in her. I agree, ritual and ceremony are the way to reclaim that and to teach “becoming a woman” as something worthy of celebration.

    Yours,
    Megan

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Hi Megan,
      I can feel your mama’s pain. Our mothers and grandmothers went through so much. This idea and experience of woman as burden. I love this:
      “ritual and ceremony are the way to reclaim that and to teach “becoming a woman” as something worthy of celebration.” yes Yes YES! Thank you.
      May our healing bring healing to all the women of our bloodline. May it be so.

  6. spacer Nana says:
    Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

    What a new perspective! :) I am one of those that dislikes that time of the month, but you presented such an interesting point of view I had not considered! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Hi Nana,
      Thanks! May you feel inspired to see your blood in a fresh new way. A beautiful gift of the divine. Thanks for your comment.

  7. spacer Ronna says:
    Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

    I love this, Marjory.

    Just yesterday my 15-year-old daughter was complaining about a number of things and in the midst said, “And if that wasn’t enough, that BITCH, Mother Nature, has to give me cramps!” I nearly came unglued…though I didn’t. First at the language (another talk the two of us are yet to have), but more, at her anger and frustration at her own body.

    She knew this would get a rise out of me as I’ve often talked of women’s cycles, the power of the moon, our deep and intrinsic rhythm. This has always been met with rolling eyes (she is 15), but I have wondered how to inculcate an appreciation and even marvel at her own body’s capacity for regeneration, creativity, birth, life.

    It’s an age-old story: women’s shame, silencing, and even sequestering in this particular context. It’s a story that needs to be rewritten and redeemed. I’m grateful you are doing so.

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 12, 2012 at Jan 12, 2012

      Dear Ronna,

      I look forward to hearing about the talk you had with your daughter. Oh dear, I hear you. I couldn’t help but laugh. There is a lightness to your daughter’s comment. I feel that she feels the power of nature underneath her expression. And yes, her own frustration.

      She is very blessed to have you as her mother. What a powerful journey ahead of her. Children will often resist the philosophy of the parent even if this philosophy is liberating for the child. Perhaps finding another girl closer to her age who is exploring woman mysteries would be beneficial.

      Your thoughtful words are filled with love and wisdom, Ronna. Thanks for unearthing truth in your blessed work and with your own daughter, the healing of one woman heals all.

  8. spacer Grace Alera says:
    Jan 17, 2012 at Jan 17, 2012

    Hi Marjory!
    It’s never an accident that you’re on my twitter and I found you there in perfect time! I am in love with this story! So much healing energy surrounds you!

    I was brought up, raised and born from empowered women, my abuela came from a line of strong indigenous indianmexican family and I heard this sacred space as a source of power when I was young…but modern life took over me, I had that disconnect with myself, and it’s only for the last few years that I’m reconnecting this energy where we swim, to heal myself and those around me..

    Thank you for the beautiful article!

    Reply
    • spacer Marjory Mejia says:
      Jan 19, 2012 at Jan 19, 2012

      Dear Grace,

      Thanks for your kind words. Yes, there are no accidents. :) I love that you love this story and that you feel the healing energy, you touch my heart.

      I so understand modern life taking over. Recovering our roots is a process of deep remembrance. Bless your healing journey dear. Delighted to
      connect with you.

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