Pre-modern science, the way mankind (and, mostly the “man” half of that equation) viewed women getting their periods was grounded in mysticism and skepticism. Ochre residue suggests that the remains were painted ceremonially before being positioned in the coffins, and a huge feast was prepared to celebrate the passing. In the previous two articles, an examination into the facet of Ashaucha and the facet of austerity and self-purification associated with Menstruation in the Hindu tradition was undertaken and it was shown how inspite of menstruating women entering a temporary period of Ashaucha (ritual impurity), the process itself is very beneficial and purificatory in nature. There was even a sort of reverence given to women during menstruation by native peoples. That moon and power stood for the same thing is also pretty revealing. It’s crazy that half the population menstruates and yet we don’t talk about it… And we feel inadequate for things so natural and common as pain and pms. • Terms • Privacy Policy. If you haven’t joined, please sign up for a free membership account and share your thoughts and feelings with us inside our member-only forum. I am proof you can too. If you’re like me, you’ve probably pondered how other societies have dealt with menstruation (especially ancient ones that didn’t have pills to stop periods altogether and super absorbent feminine hygiene products with convenient plastic applicators). Religion. It is clear there was already a belief in some kind of afterlife prior to c. 3500 BCE when mummification began to be practiced but no written record of what form this belief took. Celtic QuestAmong the Celts, at least the Irish Celts, the coming-of-age ritual was very important … This is exactly what inspired me to create the Cycle Harmony website. The pharaohs actually instructed their priests and priestesses to ingest the stuff in order to enhance their connection to the spirits. But when we see with a different perception, then the same ritual would look like making feel women impure, weak etc. Perhaps most fascinating of all, is that many tribes believed women were more powerful, spiritually, during their periods – and that they even had special intuitive powers. My goal at Cycle Harmony is to make your healing journey easier. Throughout Egypt's history beliefs and practices were constantly changing though the themes of fertility, rebirth, death and resurrection generally remained constant. Notes: (1) Spelling according to Erman/Grapow, beginning of the century (2) As you see, in ancient times … Hi, This is Jing. While women might have been restricted from cooking or sleeping with men during her period, this had nothing to do with shame. We’re here to support one another! "When a girl gets her period for the first time, she's given a hard-boiled egg to swallow whole. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Moon Time: Harness the ever-changing energy of your menstrual cycle, by Lucy H. Pearce, Her Blood Is Gold: Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation, by Lara Owen. Imagine if your dad broadcast your first period all over Facebook. As I mentioned in my other post about ancient menstrual rites, a lot of the belief in a woman’s capacity for other worldly powers stemmed from her ability to bleed, oftentimes profusely, without dropping dead. Although its origins may be traced to the remotest eras, Greek religion in its developed form lasted more than a thousand years, from the time of Homer (probably 9th or 8th century bce) to the reign of the emperor Julian (4th century ce).During that period its influence spread as far west as Spain, east to the Indus River, and throughout the Mediterranean world. I am proof you can too. Simple graves in the Predynastic Period in Egypt (c. 6000 - c. 3150 BCE) evolved into the mastaba tombs of the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 - c. 2613 BCE) which then became the grand pyr… Native American Menstrual Rites and Rituals. Your email address will not be published. 2.2 Christianity. Native American puberty rituals were big celebratory events for a village. Your email address will not be published. History of Dance. Ancient Egyptians believed that a first menstrual flow meant that the girl was becoming attuned to the Great Goddess. This is why ancient cultures did for women, when she becomes the Energy source of creation, the first menstrual cycle. As with many cultural advancements and inventions, the 'cradle of civilization' Mesopotamia has been cited as the birthplace of religion. 2.3 Islam. Deemed impure, they are sent to … On October 20, I attended a workshop led by Barbara Marciniak, one of the high priestesses in the United States who serves in the ancient fashion as oracle and sybil. Plus, when a girl would hit puberty in a Native American tribe, it was nothing like the shame and secrecy we experience today. Native American Menstrual Rites and Rituals In fact, in many North American native tribes, menstruation involved a strong oral tradition, rituals, ceremonies and more. 1.1 Synchronisation with the moon. I suffered and healed myself. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. The first burials may have taken place as long as 50,000 years ago, but the oldest known intentional burial site is Qafzeh in Israel, which dates back almost 10,000 years. The remains were placed in coffins with various burial items, such as garments, trinkets, and food. The Greeks weren’t any less weird, and part of every spring planting ritual involved spreading menstrual blood mixed with wine over the field in a kind of sympathetic magic meant to increase the fertility of the soil. In fact, in many North American native tribes, menstruation involved a strong oral tradition, rituals, ceremonies and more. These sometimes bizarre ancient childbirth rituals were held in order offer protection to mother and child. Start with my FREE PERIOD GUIDE. If you have questions about this essay or about menstruation or menstrual hygiene in general, don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail. In fact, many Native American women were treated with an amazing amount of reverence when they were menstruating. It was sinful not to have sex. Imagine if your boss actually let you take a few days off to relax, meditate, and pursue your creativity in a tent? The ancient Egyptians had a tendency to merge new beliefs with the old ones rather than simply replace them. Regarding the restrictions placed in ancient Persia, Robert writes: “Women in ancient Persia were confined to an isolated portion of the house, known as ‘dashtanistan’, during menstruation, and had to remain there until twenty four hours after the cessation of the menses. Since women tend to mense together, these lodges were often quite full and the women inside we encouraged to engage in some serious “girl time” by discussing female issues and indulging in creative pursuits like storytelling and arts and crafts. Copyright © 2018 — CycleHarmony • All rights reserved. They incorporated menstrual blood into their curative and beauty regime. Although most … White cloth , a new born baby etc in purest form, we dont touch. She is kept in a … For example, seeing as the moon did seem to bring periods, many ancient cultures called it their “moon time.” I might start calling it my moon time. In Maori beliefs, tapu is the most important personal spiritual attribute, said to derive from … Required fields are marked *. Not surprisingly, today the period is something that many men turn a blind eye to, while women are much more open to discuss amongst themselves – just as we are right here on this blog. With tombs dominating the archaeological record, it is especially known for its treatment of the dead. Some Native American tribe members would call upon menstruating women for their advice, insight, guidance, or to connect them to higher powers. Last updated on March 23, 2018 By Shannon F. 6 Comments. Keep up the good work, soo important. Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Last updated on March 5, 2019 By Shannon F. 27 Comments. Muchas Gracias Jingtastic! In Blood Magic: The Anthropology of Menstruation, editors Thomas Buckley and Alma Gottleib explain that while the vast majority of documentation around menstrual mythology is … Ancient history as a term refers to the aggregate of past events from the beginning of writing and recorded human history and extending as far as post-classical history.The phrase may be used either to refer to the period of time or the academic discipline. Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read more about Rites of Passage into Womanhood in Native American Cultures. The gods and goddesses of Kemet embody a rich vocabulary of religious, mystical, and magical tools which were used to explore the frontiers of human spirituality. During the heaviest four days of their period, wives would leave their homes and go to this separate menstrual lodge to commune with other women. Menstrual huts were also big amongst the Native American tribes. I hope you’ll join us in this initiative. Long before the advent of the maxi-pad and the pill, many ancient cultures used menstrual blood during rituals. 2.1 Judaism. Start with my FREE PERIOD GUIDE. All you need to do is to sign up for a free account – and share your thoughts, feelings, experiences, challenges and triumphs. Of course, everything began to change with the decline of Goddess cultures and the rise of patriarchal societies across the globe. My goal at Cycle Harmony is to make your healing journey easier. Copyright © 2018 — CycleHarmony • All rights reserved. Ancient cultures that understood this were known to use menstrual blood as a drink for people who were ill and as a salve and as a way to revive people, animals and plants that were in a state of decline. Heck, some tribes even approached women during their periods for spiritual guidance or with special requests or prayers. Again, not too shocking a logical leap when you consider the fact that their women would bleed for days without dying. Courtship rituals have existed as long as the concept of romantic love. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Jing Jin and her community. The ancient Egyptian religion expressed the complexity of the relationships between humanity, the world, and the divine, with an inventiveness and subtlety that is without parallel. The sacrifice was to Shangdi, or the Supreme Ruler of the universe (the heavens), the Supreme God of the ancient Chinese, and was held on the day of the winter solstice. I suffered and healed myself. Moon Time: Harness the ever-changing energy of your menstrual cycle. All the women of the tribe would gather to teach these young women to control their newly acquired powers and to create that special bond they naturally have with the Earth and the Moon, of course. Your email address will not be published. They ovulated with the full moon, when feminine energy is at its fullest, and menstruated at the new moon, when feminine energy is at its lowest. Medieval Europeans burnt toads to ease heavy flow. 1.2 Sacred and powerful. Rites of Passage into Womanhood in Native American Cultures, Menstrual Rituals And Rites Through The Ages. (In those early American Christian fundamentalist sects, if a woman wasn’t pregnant, she wasn’t in her natural state.). In ancient times, women were very connected with moon cycles and in tune with lunar energy. I mean, we women tend to sync up to each other and to the moon with our mensing… That’s something that still freaks a lot of guys out, and the ancient Greeks, Hindus, Romans, Celts, Egyptians, Arabs, Chinese, and native Australians and Americans all had their theories as to why. Other cultures, most notably Native American tribes, approached the menstrual period as a sort of rite of relaxation for their women. Anything that is pure we give more security. Your email address will not be published. • Terms • Privacy Policy. Tiantaishan Mountain-the plac… Hi! Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. No fire was to be kindled in the house during that period, and they were to remain at least fifteen paces away from any fire or any … Those of us women who are in the menstrual phase of our lives may be wasting one of the most precious resources we have for healing world conflict: our menstrual blood. In modern, Western-influenced societies, a ‘date’ may be regarded as a form of informal courtship ritual. Menstrual Rituals And Rites Through The Ages - Cycle Harmony The recipe’s pretty simple – find a toad, burn … Worship of Heavenly Bodies, which can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty (BCE 1027-221), is also referred to as the Border Sacrifice, specifically, the Southern Border Sacrifice, as it took place on the country's southern border. Some tribes actually believed that women were the embodiment of a holy person during their periods. Hi, This is Jing. Such bathing and laundering of clothes is required for the person contaminated by the niddah or the zava. Of all of the different approaches and attitudes towards menstruation, the Native Americans had it right in so many ways – well, in my opinion. Thank you Isabelle. The Greeks were a little less icky about it, using the blood to fertilize their crops. And, when you take science out of it, can you really blame them? Tapu. In many North American native tribes, menstruation involved a strong oral tradition, rituals and ceremonies. Such rituals exist to allow couples to get to know each other, and to allow an intimate relationship to develop. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Jing Jin and her community. Kerala- For the first three days of menstruation, the girl has to remain in isolation. “See you” inside . Thank you for this post, I’m a Finnish menstrual blogger and am writing about menstrual rites in different cultures. From the earliest moments of known human history, dance accompanied ancient rituals, spiritual gatherings and social events. The earliest burials in ancient Egypt were simple graves in which the deceased was placed, on the left side, accompanied by some grave goods. These early humans buried their dead very deliberately in a cave. Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It’s an ancient ritual that sees Nepalese women shunned from their families every month while they are menstruating. The seclusion and sacred rituals were mainly made for the menarche, the first menstruation of women, as a welcome to their powerful being. We look forward to sharing this wonderful journey with you. For much of human history, pregnancy and childbirth was an extremely dangerous period in a woman’s life. 1. While women might have been restricted from cooking or sleeping with men during her period, this had nothing to do with shame. Menstruation is a natural cyclic biological phenomenon and has been considered and practiced in ancient times as period of isolation for mentruating women. Her Blood Is Gold: Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation. Doesn’t sound too horrible if you ask me. I am incredibly appreciative to have found your post, as well as become further enlightened in embracing a deeper understanding of my body during this very special occurance, I wish to embrace more positive energy and a stronger intuitiveness, indeed!~, Dear Renee, Welcome to our tribe! The Celtic religion, women and menstruation: a letter from a site visitor (Another reader objected to several of these points; her letter follows) A visitor noted the lack of information about Celtic belief on this site and e-mailed me the following letter, summarizing some of her research. Early European settlers noted that the Cheyenne and Apache tribes were particularly open about menstruation – often announcing a girl’s first period to the entire village with pride. For normal menstruation, only a waiting period is prescribed in the Bible, though bathing is part of the purification ritual for those who have been contaminated by the menstruating woman or who touched the bed or chair which she contaminated. Menstrual Women Were Honored It turns out that many ancient cultures like the Egyptians, and even the Greeks, would use menstrual blood in rituals. Required fields are marked *. Here’s a list of five fascinating sexual rituals once as commonplace as praying to Mecca or trimming the tree for Christmas. 2 Religious views. … Thank you also for criticism and ideas. It has a nicer ring to it than my “monthly gift.”  The actual word “menstruation” comes from the Greek root word “men,” which means month, and “menus,” which means both moon and power. While a lot of these rites and rituals continued, the men of the households became less and less involved. This website is a great initiative! Fascinating information Jacqueline. … Thanks for sharing! Unlike the European American Christians who ultimately drove Native Americans off of their lands, and largely away from their rituals, menstruation was by no means a biblical curse to the Indians. While women might have been restricted from cooking or sleeping with men during her period, this had nothing to do with shame. Ancient Egyptian religion, indigenous beliefs of ancient Egypt from predynastic times (4th millennium BCE) to its decline in the first centuries CE. When religion developed in Mesopotamia is unknown, but the first written records of religious practice date to c. 3500 BCE from Sumer. Others believed that women’s bodies were purifying themselves during this time. Warning: If you don’t want to be grossed out, skip this paragraph. 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