Moon Circle by Suzanne Rouge

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Moon Time Articles by Suzanne Rouge

These articles were originally published as a series of five in The Healing Path magazine.

Moontime

There are many aspects of the Indigenous way of life that can be successfully reintroduced into our modern culture. Many of the ceremonies and rites of initiation help to define the passage of one's journey and create a sense of belonging. Women are intimately linked with the passage of time through the menstrual cycle, or moontime. So too, is the cycle of life marked by the first blood at puberty rites through the last menses at the Crone's Crowning Ceremony. A woman's journey is linked to the moon, the ebb and flow of the universe, and the ancestral chain of all that has come before.

Many speak of the changing times as the return of the Goddess - the balancing of the masculine and the feminine. Understanding the teachings of the Moon Lodge helps both men and women come to embrace the power of the sacred blood that unites us all. This series of articles features different aspects of honoring the Divine feminine to help us regain a sense of balance and right relationship.

Each stage of a woman's evolution has its own mysterious beauty and can be met with wonder and awe. Speaking from my own experience, stepping into my walk as a woman was uncomfortable. I was embarrassed and ashamed, wanting to hide the fact that I was flowing. I was self-conscious about the tell-tale signs of water-weight gain and pimples, not to mention the need to carry a purse to conceal tampons and pads. I was always aware of my scent and concerned that it would be detected by others.

These inhibitions, coupled with derogatory statements like, "She's on the rag", "PMSing" or "bitchy," developed a sense of negativity. Unlike my mother, I was well aware of what was going to happen to me. The sex-ed booklet's clinical explanation and the short conversation with my mother ("Do you have any questions?" "No.") was a significant improvement over my grandmother's experience of believing she had done something terribly wrong and was bleeding to death. Fear and misunderstandings extended into menopause, where male doctors routinely prescribed valium and other anti-depressants to help women of my mother's generation get through the mysteries of menopause disconnected and dishonoring their own experience.

I recently was privileged to experience the rite of passage for a thirteen year old girl. She was welcomed into a new phase of her development with open arms. She experienced her first fast, give-away ceremony and feast. Our group eagerly awaited the celebration of her first moon. She was poised and radiant without the slightest hint of embarrassment around her brothers or my thirteen year old son. It was healing to know that she was learning to honor herself and the miracle of life that was happening in and through her.

There are things you can do in these modern times to honor yourself as a woman. Explore ceremonies that help you to embrace your womanhood. Moss and moon ceremonies are simple to do during your moontime. Express a positive attitude about your moon. If you have a daughter, or other young woman in your life coming into puberty, mark her entry into womanhood with ceremony and celebration. Encourage her to take time during her moon for quiet reflection and pampering.

Moon Lodge

Indigenous people considered the moon time, menstrual cycle, sacred. The blood was honored as the blood of creation and the hope for future generations. The encampment housed a separate space for women who were on their moon called the Moon Lodge. A woman entered the circle during the time of her menstrual flow. She was set apart because she was considered powerful. During her moon time a woman is open and receptive to spirit. It is a time to go within and listen. Often women received dreams, visions or omens in the circle that they would share with the Wise Women and Medicine Men after exiting. Women predicted the coming of the pale skins, trains and the telephone wires long before they snaked their way across the plains. Many of the physical complaints that accompany moon time, such as migraines, severe cramping, nausea and moodiness may be directly attributed to cultural expectations and financial obligations that push women out into the world when their bodies are telling them to retreat. Pre-period signs such as water-weight gain and swollen breasts are giving us the signal that it is time to pack our bags for our monthly respite. Women need to replenish the well that nurtures the members of their community. The Moon Lodge was supported by the Grandmother Circle . Elders who had passed through the Crone's Crowning, a ceremony marking the end of the menstrual flow, would serve as mentors. A grandmother shared a gift or role within the tribe. In this way skills were passed down. When a woman entered the Moon Lodge her "grandmother" would tend to her responsibilities. If she had a family, her grandmother would take care of the children and the chores. The grandmother visited the Moon Lodge daily to bring fresh moss (used as pads), food, and to bathe and massage her. The Moon Lodge became a support group for women who cycled together. They had a space to share their joys and concerns seeking the council of the grandmothers. It was not unusual for a woman to wait for an entire cycle to pass before confronting problems that might arise in her marriage or with her children. The new moon marks the time of reflection while the full moon marks the time of action. Showing this level of patience and restraint, coupled with the opportunity to talk with others to gain clarity and perspective, strengthened the relationships of the community. There are things you can do in these modern times to honor yourself as a woman. Take time during your moon for quiet reflection and pampering. Even if you can not take a day off from work every cycle, take time for yourself when you get home. Make it clear to your family that this is time you need to replenish. If you have a relationship with an elder woman ask her to become your "grandmother" and perhaps baby sit, prepare a meal or give you a little TLC. Look into exploring ceremonies that help you to embrace your womanhood. Moss and moon ceremonies are simple to do during your moon time.

Crone's Time Away

Grandmother Growth extends her hand to the baby crone beginning to enter peri-menopause. Hormones begin to shift and change, rocking the cradle of the wise woman she is becoming. Lulling her to sleep, to rest, to enter the dream time of creation for she will soon be recreating herself. The cradle now rocks to a different rhythm. Familiar patterns of monthly cycles and flow change. A woman's former self, is not being stripped away, she is becoming something more.

The first stage of self-initiation in the crone's crowning is isolation. It is time for the menopausal woman to find out who she is apart from the roles she plays. Many women feel the need to be alone. To sleep alone so that the tossing of covers to accommodate night sweats and constant waking can be guilt-free. Alone to deal with hot flashes, to come to terms with the chaos created by hormonal changes and come to know the shadow self. Isolation is often thrust on women when children leave the nest, a relationship with a significant other is strained or broken and erratic moods alienate former friends. When a woman is able to establish boundaries and honor the changes she is undergoing she is better able to relate to others.

Isolation beckons the menopausal woman to take her crone's time away. In isolation, perhaps for the first time, she can hear the voice of her own needs and desires. Most women spend the early years of their adult life tending to the needs of others. Now it is time to tend to their own needs. A simple ceremony can be done to help loved ones understand that time alone is not a rejection of them but a claiming of one's self. Take a vacation alone, plan a monthly retreat at a religious center or out in nature. Create a space or an altar that is uniquely your own. If there is no room in your house consider a space in the yard, or a solarium. If all you can do is close the door be sure that your family or friends know not to disturb you.

For many women being alone is a terrifying experience. It may evoke feelings of depression or loneliness. We are strengthened when we recognize the companion who awaits us at the center of ourselves. Journaling to document the physical as well as emotional changes creates a time-line that serves as a guide through menopause. Self-discovery is the key so explore who you are during your time away. Seek things you have longed to do, but were afraid to try. Dance, write fantasy stories, do some form of art, or exercise that connects you with your body. Do not concern yourself with the quality of what you produce. Being creative is what opens the channel for life force energy to flow through you. Express and reveal yourself, to yourself, without the need to be recognized by others.

There are things you can do in these modern times to honor yourself as a woman. Look into exploring ceremonies of initiation like the Crone's Time Away, the Mother Earth Gourd Ceremony and the Mask Ceremony. Learn the Tslagi Dance of Life or practice writing exercises designed for values clarification.

The Shaman Death

The second stage of self-initiation in the Crone's Crowning is death - a symbolic death of the old self as transformation spins its cocoon to provide the dark void of creation. A woman's identity is forever changed once her flow has stopped. She re-defines herself and her role within her community. For some women this passage is marked by relatively mild symptoms, while others experience prolonged hot flashes, disrupted sleep patterns and emotional upheaval.

The shaman death marks the time of understanding that which is yours and that which belongs to the influences of your past. Everyone is born with their true Spiritual identity intact. We then take on our physical and psychological identities. This is referred to as your robe. It is your responsibility to clean your robe, to mend and adorn it. A person's robe is defined by their gender, birth order, socio-economic status, religion, race, astrological sign, locale of formative years, etc.... These factors all play a part in shaping personality. It is time now to sort out what belongs to you, your mother, church, career and cultural expectations. Tailor your robe to fit who you truly are and not what others have said you should be. Bringing your personality into alignment with your true Spiritual identity brings balance and wholeness to your life.

Menopausal women are often confronted with the reality of death as aging parents falter and friends succumb to heart disease and cancer. Some women struggle with thoughts of suicide during menopause. Remember that this is a passage and death is a symbolic guide. "Like depression, suicidal thoughts during menopause are potent guides to truth and joy. Explore the logic of those thoughts without harming yourself.

If you feel an urge to take a flying leap, explore what it means for you to be free of restraint. The answer maybe as simple as learning to stand on your head in yoga or doing something daring like taking flying lessons. If you feel like taking a gun to your head, you may need to learn to open the crown chakra." (Susun S. Weed) Inner guidance will help you to recognize your true self if you take time to be as still as death and listen.

The process of the Crone's journey is not an ending, but rather a beginning. This death will ultimately lead to a rebirth where the truth of your being will crown and be born anew.

There are things you can do in these modern times to honor yourself as a woman. Look into exploring ceremonies like Building A Shield or the Mask Ceremony. Learn more about your birth place on the Medicine Wheel and discern your totem animals and allies. Take time out for guided meditation or consider doing the Hanbleycha Fasting Ceremony.

Crone's Crowning

The third stage of the crone's journey is the crowning. It signifies the birthing of the new self and the crowning of the radiant wise woman. This ceremony marks a commitment to the community. The young ones will look to the crone for guidance and wisdom. The crone is the mother of all and the model of poise and cultural understanding. The woman who holds her wise blood holds the future of seven generations within her womb. Her leadership is guided by the turtle, one of the longest living creatures on earth. She has seen the changing seasons through the four directions and the cycles of the moon are now complete in her. The ebb and flow of the universe is revealed through her eyes.

The crone is all aspects of the feminine. No longer the maiden, yet always the maiden is present with her enthusiasm and wonder for life. No longer the mother, yet always the mother is present with creative inspiration. The crone is the symbol of integration, wholeness, completeness. She has the freedom to be spontaneous and the wisdom to be impeccable in her word and actions. By accepting the process of metamorphosis, she emerges as the butterfly. Her skin is translucent and soft. Her wisps of gray and wrinkles reveal her migration through life. Laugh lines accentuate her diamond eyes. Now is the time for the crone to reveal the feminine power that pulsates in her veins. The crone knows the passage through menopause. She has observed the changes in her body and embraced the hot flashes, night sweats, flooding, dryness and mood swings. When the distress of menopause reaches its peak the labor is complete and the emerging woman begins the push toward the crone's crowning. On the new moon thirteen months after her last menses, she will pass through the ceremony that marks her new role as wise woman. She is now revered as the grandmother to a community and extends her hand to the ones coming up behind her.

It is a very important time on the Earth Mother. More women are entering menopause at this point in our planet's evolution than ever before. By the year 2013 millions will have passed through the crone's crowning guided by enlightened women. No longer will the mysteries of menopause be shrouded in fear and shame. This new generation of women is moving through their journey learning about the herbs and the natural ways of coming into balance. They will bring to bear a powerful energy at the time of the "earth changes." Together the crones will move us into a new era of honoring Mother Earth and returning to wholeness.

There are things you can do in these modern times to honor yourself as a woman. Look into exploring ceremonies of initiation like the Crone's Crowning. Even if you have long since past this stage in your life you can rejoice in the ceremony and step into yourself as a powerful crone. Learn the herbal remedies and nutritional allies that will help ensure strength in your elder years. Take on leadership within the community and mentor others or contribute your expertise. Learn more about the earth ways so that you can lend your energy to these changing times.