The menstruality cosmology that we share in these articles, as well as our books and courses has formed over forty years of our deep commitment to the cycle, as well as research with thousands of students across the world.
People often ask if what we teach is ancient wisdom. While the Red School menstruality cosmology we share is a modern body of knowledge that has formed over our collective 60 years of deep commitment to the cycle—a body of knowledge that has evolved at this time for these times and will continue to evolve as more and more people practice Menstrual Cycle Awareness—we want to express our profound gratitude for the teachings we’ve inherited from Indigenous culture, including reverence for natural cycles, retreat at menstruation and menstruation as a visionary time of expanded consciousness.
One of the ways we honour Indigenous cyclical intelligence is by amplifying the voices of Indigenous teachers on our podcast, and to honour today as World Day of Social Justice day we’d like to share three of these special episodes with you:
The Magic of Maori Menstrual Wisdom and Rituals - with Hinewai Waitoa
Hinewai is doing powerful work to reclaim Maori menstrual wisdom. In her words: “colonisation took so much of what was magic about Maori culture when it came to things like menstruation practices. We are still reclaiming our sacred ways here in Aotearoa”.
Hinewai is a māmā to three and the creator of Waikuranuku Indigenous. Her reclamation journey has unfolded over the past fifteen years and she now holds space for kōhine - girls, wāhine - women, and whānau - families, to reconnect to the natural rhythms and cycles of the womb.
Some of the highlights of our conversation include how Hinewai is currently preparing her tamahine - her daughter - for her menarche rite of passage, and what Hinewai keeps inside her kete ikura - her menstrual cycle basket. You can listen to Hinewai here >>
Indigenous Cycle Wisdom and Menstrual Rituals - with Dr Cre Dye
In this conversation, we explore the cycle wisdom Cre has learned, unearthed and received through her indigenous menstrual cycle research and her relationships with her Grandmothers, especially her Granny of hidden First Nations descent.
Cre has served her local, national, and international communities for over twenty-five years as a mental health therapist, yoga teacher and university professor. She is also Red School’s Menstruality Justice and Inclusion Educator, facilitating inner change for social change on our Menstruality Leadership Programme.
Some highlights from our conversation include; why women gathered together in Moon Lodges in many indigenous cultures to listen to their dreams, and a wide range of indigenous menarche rituals, including the Anishinaabe rite of passage known as the Berry Fast, the Navajo Kinaalda ceremony and the Hupa Flower Dancers coming-of-age ceremonies. You can listen to Cre here >>
How Your Menstrual Cycle Awakens Your Medicine with Asha Frost
Asha Frost is an indigenous healer and author. She is an Ojibway woman who was raised in a menstrually positive culture. In our conversation we explored how her menstrual cycle inspired her book, ‘You are The Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom, Ancestral Connection, and Animal Spirit Guidance’.
Some of the highlights of our conversation include how the bear medicine supports Asha to rest and integrate when she bleeds, and why Asha’s blog, ‘Dear white woman who wants to be like me’ went viral in 2019, as well as how it guides white folks to acknowledge the harm colonisation has created, and act in ways that respect all indigenous cultures. You can listen to Asha here >>
