Menstrual Magick, known by Witches as Moon Magick, is a subject that appears to basically be ignored on the internet. Why is everyone so uncomfortable when it comes to talking about menstruation in this day and age? Why is it still something that is not openly discussed by Witches, or just woman in general? I really don't understand. Menstruation has been considered taboo since before Christ, even the bible states :" A man is allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness" -Lev.15:19-24. Uncleanness? Is urine or feces any more clean?

Even commercials on TV (in Canada & America anyway) try to sell all sorts of pads and tampons, but when they show you how absorbent they are, they use the colour blue instead of red? Why? To make it more sanitary? All it does is cause confusion to little girls live in places where they don't have the benefit of learning about their period from their parents, or teachers, and make insecure women all over the world feel like it's something dirty. Would it really be so offensive to show the actual colour of menstruation? Would people all over the world rise up and swarm in front of the makers of menstral products, holding up signs protesting that they're offended to see womans menstral blood dipicted in it's actual colour?  The thing that huge companies are charging big bucks for you to buy to absorb? I'd even settle for pink. After all, blue is considered a male colour, and pink is for girls. Anyway...

The day I first started my menstrual, or as Witches refer to it, moon cycle, was like something right out of bad episode on a teen TV show. It was complete with every stereotype you can think of. I had spent the entire summer in boats, and ships, so when on my first day of high school, I was wearing nautical clothing. A red & white horizontal striped shirt, and, of course, pure white jeans. I knew nothing...and I do mean NOTHING about getting my period. I had some cramps and felt like something was going on 'down there', but I didn't know what it was. I went to the washroom between orientation classes, and saw blood all over my white pants coming out of my vagina. I thought I had caught some kind of horrible disease from being on ships and was dying!

I ran out of the school, screaming at the top of my lungs "I'M DYING!!! HELP MEEEE!!!!, and practically broke the 4 minute mile running home to my mom (who was head nurse in a hospital) hoping she could cure me somehow, before it was too late. I was so scared I was crying hysterically. She could have helped me much more by telling me about it BEFORE it happened! I mean, she was a nurse. You'd think a nurse would tell you about these things...especially if the nurse was your Mother. But you must keep in mind that this was over 30 years ago. There were NO commercials about feminine products where I lived, nor was it taught about in schools...or talked about by mothers and daughters, at least in my home.

My mom told me absolutely nothing, except that it happened to every girl. She didn't even tell me it was going to happen again, but I'll spare you that story. So I just thought it was some one time thing. She didn't tell me I could wash the blood off my jeans and under wear with cold water, so I threw my favorite brand new pair of pants away, and had to buy new underwear all time because they always came out of the laundry with stains on them.

Do you know what our entire conversation about menstruation was? Nothing! She just handed me some money, no explanation and said "Go to the drug store and buy some "pads". She didn't even tell me what "pads" were "Just ask the cashier. She'll know what you mean." she said, she didn't come with me, show me how to use them, or even tell me what they looked like! Back then 'pads' were larger than king size delicatessen hot dog buns, and came in giant boxes located in the very back of drug stores, and when I asked the lady cashier where they were, she gave me this dirty look, and just pointed in the general direction without saying a word. I kept thinking, how much worse can it get? It did.

After walking around the back of the store for about a half an hour, the snotty cashier stomped up to me, and without even looking me in the eyes, handed me a giant box, and stomped back to the front of the store. At first I thought she handed me a box of diapers as it was so big, but it said "Pads" on it, so I was wrong. The box was so big, it didn't even fit into the bag the nasty cashier cramed it into, not even caring that she broke the bag in the process. I'll will NEVER forget that woman's face, or how truly horrible, dirty, and ashamed she made me feel. At that point dying seemed like a better thing to happen. At least someone might have showed me some sympathy for what I was going through. I was only 10 years old to boot!

Back then pads were kept in place by a ridiculous elastic contraption that went around your waist, and had one elastic coming down the front, and another one in the back with little plastic 'things' on the end. You attached the giant pads sort of like how you wear garters and long nylons, only front to back. But the instructions were so complicated, I couldn't figure out how to attach the enormous pad to the plastic thing. I just tied them with a nautical knot I learned in the summer and connected the know with saftey pins. It was a complete disaster.

I couldn't wear pants as the enormous 'hot dog bun' VERY clearly showed through, and would slide to one side instantly. So I had to wear a skirt with a sweater tied around my waist because the knots showed through the skirt. It was so uncomfortable you couldn't even walk properly due to the enormity of the pad, I learned about tampons 6 years later by buying them myself, as they were so much smaller, but what I didn't know, was that in those days people thought only "loose" woman (sluts) wore them. And cashiers always gave me dirty looks, or just wouldn't look at, or talk to me when I bought them. It was a nightmare! Something no young woman should ever have to go through, or feel ashamed about. And NO ONE talked about it. And by the looks of things, it hasn't changed all that much over 30 years later. The only difference is that it's taught in schools here, they've made enormous strides in pad size and absorbency, and you aren't considered a slut if you wear tampons.

How can it be that a natural biological process by which, in terms of nature, was how a female attracted a male for copulation, a completely natural thing that happens to every woman on the planet every month for the next 40 years or so years, since the beginning of time, isn't something we talk about as openly as we do about sex?  And even though Witches and Pagans are supposed to see it for the natural part of a girl turning into a woman, that is supposed to be celebrated with a ceremony, Why is menstruation still such a dirty word? Why isn't there tons of different types of ceremonies all over the internet like spells are? Why isn't one of the most potent forms of magick plastered on every web site?

How come asking your boyfriend to pick you up a box of tampons, or pads is one of the worse things you could ask of him. "There for my girlfriend." They always seem to say to the cashier. Like the cashier thinks they're for him? Grow up!! Here's a perfect example of just how uncomfortable self proclaimed Witches and Pagans are about talking about it. On my last forum (the cabin), I posted about menstrual magick. I simply asked "How many people performed menstrual magick?" I could actually feel how uncomfortable everyone was! And you know what? I was the only person who knew anything about it! One person decided to post a rant about all the horrible cramps and things she got when she had hers, but didn't want to know anything about it. If you suffer enormous discomfort on your moon cycle, I have just 2 words for you EXERCISE REGULARLY!

When I first began having my moon cycle I suffered such incredible pain and discomfort, I had trouble even walking at times. It was so bad that I actually got a note from my doctor that gave me a 3 day pass from school for the first 3 days of it, as I basically couldn't function during that time. If I wasn't hunched over in pain, so bloated I thought I would explode, I was crying hysterically for no reason, and nothing helped. The only thing that came on the market was something called Midol. It helped a bit, but not nearly enough for me to be able to do anything more than lie in bed for 3 days suffering horrible discomfort.

But when I became a fitness instructor, I noticed that I stopped having ANY problems with my moon cycle 3 months later, and so did every single person I ever asked in the fitness club. Not ONE fitness instructor, of any age, suffered any discomfort whatsoever, AFTER they got into shape. And for some reason every single time I lived with other women, we'd all eventually get our moon cycles at the same time. The moon and it's effect on water has something to do with it, which is probably where  the name "moon time." originated.  One person on my forum shyly posted "I'd like to hear more about it." "What would you like to know?" I responded. No one posted after that! That was the end of the string. A rant about discomfort, a question, but no conversation whatsoever! I still can't believe it! These weren't kids, these were adult woman. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Your menstrual cycle isn't some filthy, disgusting thing that you should feel ashamed of, that makes you want to go hide in a corner until it's over. Not at all!  It's a natural, beautiful part of being a woman that is supposed to be celebrated by Pagans and Witches. And it's not going to stop for several decades, so GET OVER IT!

It's a beautiful right of passage into woman hood. It means that you are able to bear children if you wish, and are no longer a little girl. It means you're a woman, and should feel damn proud of it! You should celebrate it every month for the miracle that it is. I love the colour of menstrual blood so much I even use it in paintings. Now that's what I call a personal touch!

See it for what it is, as the beautiful part of womanhood the Universe gives to all women. And since all Witches and Pagans are supposed to treat their bodies like temples, only laziness is preventing you from getting the regular exercise that prevents all those horrible things that woman who aren't in shape suffer from, in some cases very severely. That's  a minimum of 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3 times a week. I suggest 1 hour 3 times a week, including some yoga.

And don't even bother with the "I don't have time" excuse. If you don't have 20 minutes you can spare 3 times a week, you need to seriously think about what kind of life you're leading, and why you aren't following the wishes of the Goddess, Universe, Ancient Ones, Power's that be, or whatever you want to call them, as well as every doctor on the planet, and aren't treating your body with the respect it deserves. You are also breaking the Rede, by harming yourself.  If you have time to watch TV, you have no excuse either, as you can do both at the same time. Just like walking and chewing gum.

Regular exercise has the side effects of helping you live a longer, and much more productive life, and takes away the suffering you only experience when you don't treat your body as the temple it is, by not getting enough regular exercise, and eating properly while were on the subject. You may be squeamish about it, but as you can see, I'm not. So I've put information about menstrual magick on my web site and, even how to collect it...gasp!

Honor your bodies, honor your moon time. You should feel empowered when you get it, not feel embarrassed or dirty. You should be talking about it, and sharing stories with your friends. How would you rather feel about it? Check out the "Rites and Rituals" section or click the link for an example of how to perform a puberty menstrual rites ritual for a young woman in your life, or for yourself. No matter what age you are. If you feel ashamed, or dirty when you're menstruating, this ritual might make you feel the way you should, special and empowered. Also read my essay "Moon Blood Collection and Magick", for more information. It's definitely NOT for the squeamish. It's for woman who are mature enough to feel completely comfortable with their bodies, and the beauty and mysteries that come with it..or at least want to feel that way.

Please, if deep down, you really do feel like there is something about your moon time that makes you feel ashamed, or perhaps know of others that do as well, use my the ceremony I created, tailor it to suit you, and get together and celebrate it...no matter how old you are. It's beautiful and empowering, not dirty or something that shouldn't be talked about openly. You're a woman. Celebrate your womanhood!! Celebrate your moon cycle!!!

I truly hope this has made you feel differently about your special moon time

Beautiful blessings to all the wonderful women out there who read this...Celeste Moondancer