Awakening to the Wisdom of MenstruationThis book helps you:Understand how cultural attitudes affect women's healthIdentify the different phases of your periodLearn natural ways to relieve menstrual symptomsDevelop your ability to process premenstrual feelings constructivelyUnderstand the menstrual altered state of consciousness and how it supports your spiritual and psychological developmentCreate space in your life for self-renewing retreat each month"Re-integrating a truly feminist, woman-honoring perspective on menstruation means turning a whole system of thought upside down. It means saying that a cyclical change in feelings and body sensations is valuable and interesting; it means saying that the emotions women experience premenstrually carry useful information and should be paid attention to; it means acknowledging that a menstruating woman has access to sacred energy, and that if she wishes, she should have space and time to explore this dimension of experience.The ramifications of such a shift would be truly radical. For many reasons, including ecological and cultural survival, I believe the system of thought which has caused women to adapt to a non-cyclical reality needs to be turned upside down, for the good of us all.We menstruate more now than at any time in human history. Girls are starting to menstruate earlier due to protein-rich diets and hormones in food; women are less likely to die young; we have fewer children and therefore spend less time not menstruating. Increased work and family stresses, in addition to more periods, mean that women are more physically and psychologically vulnerable to negative attitudes to menstruation. So it is more important than ever that we investigate ways to make our periods physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy."Contents IncludePart One: Beliefs and Attitudes1: A Brief History of Bleeding: Menstruation in Western Culture2: Moon, Blood, Earth and Snake: Eternal Archetypes of Menstruation3: Sacred Power: The Beliefs of Menstrual-Positive CulturesPart Two: Reclaiming the Cycle4: Healing the Wounded Woman5: Menstrual Power and Menstrual Symptoms6: The Sabbath of Women: Spirituality and MenstruationPart Three: Rituals and Recommendations7: Conscious Menstruation: First Steps8: Going Deeper: Rituals, Practices and Meditations9: Natural Remedies for Menstrual SymptomsPart Four: Waking up to the Power - The Stories of Three Women10: The Scientist - Wendy Alter11: The Educator - Tamara Slayton12: The Priestess - Hallie Iglehart AustenPart Five: Living Your Power13: Menstruation, Relationships and the Family14: Bleeding with the World
