The red tent written by Anita Diamant is a historical fiction book about woman, woman hood, menstruating, history, includes biblical figures and shares a harsh yet beautiful story.
The time of the book refers to people being nomadic. The red tent is a place for woman, a place to bleed, a place to recover, a magical place.
I want to share some quotes & notes from this book with you. it was intense to read this book, although I recommend it.
the more a daughter knows about details of her mother’s life – without flinching or whining – the stronger she is
As woman we collectively go through so much, as a daughter it can be beneficial for development and power within.
the new moon, all women started to bleed. they sang welcoming songs for her.
Back in the days woman bleed with the cycle of the moon, during full moon, ovulation. during new moon, bleed. the moon is feminine energy. The idea of having a community with a red tent, sounds divine.
the red tent was also used after the wedding night and after childbirth (1 month of rest).
A reminder for our current world, to take rest after pregnancy and childbirth. It is a magical process and the shift from carrying to a new reality, can be intense.
Rachel had miscarriages again and again, this made her sisters so afraid and persuaded her to drink an infusion of fennel seeds that closes the womb.
There are natural ways to refrain from pregnancy, an invite to do more research, to find answers.
also abortion was done in the red tent. to drive off. herbs began to work and violently tore the cramps caused, when the blood began to flow, clotted and dark.
To live in a world where abortion is not accessible and safe. While this is a practice that goes back to hundreds of years. It is not just about unwanted pregnancies, it is about the safety of woman, interpret this in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual sense. Men should not interfere with woman bodies and practices.
After the birth of a boy women rest from one moon to the next, but the birth of a life giver required a long time of isolation from the world of men.
in the red tent we know the truth, in the red tent where the days pass like a pleasant stream as the gift of Innana through us no longer pulls and cleanses the body of the death of the previous month and prepares it to receive the life of the new month; women give thanks for rest and recovery for the knowledge that life comes from between our legs and that life costs blood.
Woman are magical beings.
the ceremony for the first menstruation: dark in the evening, strong wine, dark and salty. palms and soles with henna, red line from my feet to my sex and drew a pattern of dots from my hands to my navel. Buy around my eyes (so that you will have foresight) and perfumed my forehead and armpits (so that you will walk among flowers). so nice so sweet. not eating themselves but used their fingers, massaged my neck and back, sang all the songs. outside lying naked in the earth and spreading arms to embrace the earth. to give back the first blood to the land. Mother innana. Queen of the night.
How wonderful to celebrate your first menstruation rather then to shame, if this is something that happened in the past or if woman were always shamed for it. I have no clue. but that does not take away the fact that this is beautiful. May menstruation be seen as a gift of life.
death is not an enemy but the foundation of gratitude compassion and art.
Beautiful and deep.
miracles of the moon ☽ 