The story of a Red Tent

The story of a Red Tent
A year ago my man went to a workshop, with one of my amazing teachers, about the Wisdom Of The Cycles. The evening also included information about the menstrual cycle.

Although I have shared my own understanding of my menstrual cycle and how it affects me, especially during my period, many times with my partner this workshop opened up his understanding profoundly and he came home full of inspiration.
His main inspiration was to create a Red Tent space for me where I can retreat to when I’m bleeding. Of course I loved his supportive intention as I have been claiming space to myself while I am bleeding since many moons but have never really succeeded to get his full attention for my request.
We decided to buy a bell tent and set it up on the land where we live. This would be my bleeding and retreat space when ever I need it. I’d like to add that we live in a very small home together with our to young children.
We got a gorgeous bell tent soon after that decision was made but we weren’t able to find a good spot to set it up. So I created a space on our fully covered back veranda for my bleeding days with the agreement that I would be left alone there while I was bleeding. Although a “proper” Red Tent would have been awesome this was still a very nice change in our family dynamic and I gratefully claimed that space when ever I had my period.
Of course the positive effect of having that space to retreat and dream was seen instantly and felt by everyone! I highly recommend to do the same :-)
Meanwhile I started to dream what I could use this beautiful bell tent for…
I visualised using it for coming of age programs, invite young girls to talk about periods and have soul nourishing circles in it.
Finally after almost 13 moons this vision manifested and after having a beautiful women’s circle at a little creek nearby as inauguration of my “Red Bell Tent” I have been running my first coming of age program at a public school in it passed Friday!
It felt so good to rock up at a public school and set this gorgeous sacred space up, which took me only 30min to do, and hold my coming of age program in my beautiful bell tent instead in a boring class room (no offense).
Young people absorb information on a much deeper level by feeling then just by intellect.
Entering in my Red Tent, which I prepared very inviting, had such a magical effect on them. I could see how they instantly felt comfortable and relaxed. The conversations we had in the tent were very open and honest with ease and trust. The girls could feel the sacredness of the space deep in their bones, it seemed like an ancient memory awakened, and I am sure that the experience of this day will be having a long lasting positive effect on all of them.
In fact, they didn’t want to leave and stayed their whole reset break with me in the tent until they had to go back to the classroom…
I wish that many more schools are open to invite me to come along and set my magical Red Bell Tent up on the school grounds to hold coming of age programs in it :-)
This is so much needed and very empowering work. Love it!