Rite of Passage :Reclaiming our Menarche (First Blood)
Saara and Raya warmly invite you to this special Rites of Passage Ceremony for Women.
A Rite of Passage is defined as a ‘ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life’, and we are opening this exciting space to gather in sisterhood and deeply celebrate our lives, our milestones, achievements, beauty, and truth. Acknowledging ourselves and each other is powerful, this is an opportunity to fully embody our journey from our past through to our present.
During this session, we will journey together to explore the transition we made from childhood to adulthood, by the marker of our first menstruation, also known as Menarche.
Many of us were never given the opportunity to fully celebrate our bodies nor received the understanding of how much insight and wisdom can be found by paying attention to our cycles and feminine .. Amongst many, these were times of confusion, discomfort and anxiety. When the day finally (or all-too-soon) arrived, how was it for you? Was it a time of celebration and joy, or a time of disgust and embarrassment? Why?
In many cultures across the world, a woman’s first bleed is revered as a sacred turning point and so continue to celebrate their traditions. This threshold is physically recognised and celebrated by her family and community. From lavish puberty and first bleed ceremonies in Sri Lanka, to 2 day ritual/festivals to celebrate puberty rites in Ghana (Dipo), to the six month long immersions into womanhood culminating in a 4 day ritual practiced by Native American Apache and Navajo communities. These ceremonies ensure a positive self understanding - physically, spiritually, socially and mentally, that is empowering and timeless.
Across much of the west, however, this has been largely forgotten and ignored. A vast landscape of societal influences has disconnected women from the power of their menstrual cycle. Much of the deeper significance of menstruation has been blurred and buried. This no longer has to be our story, or the collective story, or the story of our future generations. A woman’s commitment to connect with her womb, cycles and to reclaim herself can bring about a radical change in every part of her life and can clear the path for future generations her life will impact.
Today, there is a resurgence of these ceremonies taking place for young women, and we are inspired to bring this forth to women that may not have had the opportunity to celebrate in such a positive way (and even if you did, perhaps there have been situations or patterns formed in or since your teenage years that separated you from your womb innocence and truth throughout the journey of life).
We invite you to take part in your menarche ceremony at this session. We will gather to go deeper into these tender teenage years, and reinitiate ourselves into becoming the powerful, wise, sacred women that we are.
Journeying this process, we will use the following healing and celebratory practices:
- Dance, movement and embodiment practices
- Reflection activities
- Sharing circles
- Yoga and meditation
- Energetic release techniques
- Ritual practices
- Cacao Ceremony
- Womb healing
This is an opportunity to reimagine a new relationship with your menstrual cycle, and if you are facing womb/pelvic health issues this is a beautiful way to initiate or supplement your healing journey.
It is never too late to make these acts of devotion to your body, mind, spirit and soul, it is possible to retrospectively visit these initiatory times with the wisdom and the awareness you have now and create deep healing on all layers of your being.
Location
We will gather at Neals Yard Meeting Rooms, Convent Garden, WC2H 9DP
Timings
We will be starting at 1.30pm and finishing at 5pm.
Cost
£40
Tickets