by Donáh Ollila

Why are we trying to control what nature has created? It is one thing for us have the option to control pregnancies, women have been doing this since the beginning of time. Even when we did not have the option of the pill, we used herbs.

There use to be a time that we honored our menstrual cycles. We saw it as a gift from the mother. It allowed us to create new life. It was an honoring that we had left the hour of the maiden and entered into the second cycle of life – the mother. Then when this cycle ended, we entered into the time of the crone, and became the wise women of the village. During our cycles, we went to a place called moon lodges. This was a time to move inside of ourselves and be still. Women took that time off from daily chores and taking care of others. We went to the moon lodge to rest and connect to our intuitive selves. It is during this time that we received visions from the world beyond. These visions came to us in dreams, and were messages to bring back to the villages. Our menstrual cycles were considered sacred.

We once understood that our cycles followed the cycle of the moon, and was what connected us to the earth. When we came upon our cycle, the moon entered the phase of darkness. The phase of darkness in the sky is called new moon. This new moon signified a time to plant seeds, and new beginnings. Now, we are banning it. Have you ever noticed that during your moon time (cycle) you have more dreams? These dreams may actually be Spirit whispering in your ear, answering your questions, or showing you new possibilities. I am sure that many of you aware of being irritable. The irritation that we experience is our intuition telling us what we have ignored all month long. It is the voice of our hearts speaking our truth. We are required and need to take the time off to listen.

However, now medicine has found away to take that sacred moment away. Do you really think that medicine knows what is best for our hormones? How many women have suffered postpartum depression, the baby blues, or PMS? These are all medical mysteries, but not to the feminine. More women are sharing their stories of depression after childbirth, or harming their children. They are considered crazy. A hormonal imbalance is leaving doctors puzzled. One of the side effects of the birth control pill is severe depression. Give a woman more hormones that is already hormonal, and what do you think you are going to get? Crazy!!!! I, myself have suffered from severe depression after taking birth control pills. I remembering being hysterical, calling my doctor, only to tell him that I wanted to slit my wrists and die. I did not hate my life or my children, but I was Crazy!!! I begged him to take me off.

We need our menstrual cycles to bleed upon the earth to reconnect to spirit. I am afraid of the repercussions of not only adding hormones to control our cycles, but also limiting our monthly moontime. Our cycles cannot be anymore controlled than the weather. Women have the moon, the stars, the sun, and the galaxies living within them. Our cycles are part of the natural order of things to assist in the creation of life. There is absolutely no way that medicine and science can test this drug enough for every woman, and assure us that we all are safe. We are all too different. I truly believe that we are creating a new kind of Crazy!!!!

Instead of shutting ourselves off, we should be turning ourselves back on, and learning how to listen once again. I invite you to take time for yourself during your cycle. Even an hour will make a difference. Honor your moontime. Do not dishonor it. You just might be surprised by the newfound creativity that sparks within you. You just might find peace. Let me know what happens.

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Donáh Ollila is a Movement and Awareness Coach from Charlotte NC. Find out more about her, her classes and her herbal infused body products at www.donahspassions.com