Today is actually the first day of embroidering in this amazing space we created! This has been like giving birth to a magnificent motivation: inspiring to connect to our own nature, and to our mother earth. Since June 28th there has been a lot of work setting up a cozy space that invites to hang out and be. This space is a very unique experience, that really makes you feel you want to be here and be part of this collective. Is a space designed to invite introspection, communication of the “untalkable”, and explore creativity.
Tender lights, natural flower essences scents, beautiful and pristine white tissues with red stains move in the air, relaxing music, nice green and happy plants, a great window, a meditation mat, a sofa and some embroidered blood stains hanging on the wall…
This space has brought amazing conversations around menstrual blood taboo, and femininity. I have been able to see all kinds of reactions the moment the visitors realize these are menstrual blood stains and prints. There is a very clear dismantled taboo rising in every single conversation, and this brings a lot of reflection. Shame, disgust, hurtful memories, surprise, wander and interesting faces show in the conversations held by this space.
13 moons feels to have a life of its own, so many hearts and minds are participating backstage to make this possible. The way this started manifesting seems magical, too many coincidences to be true. From a random email saying “Jimena, you should apply to this”, to a random conversation after breakfast that ended in a video of myself talking about this project, to a webpage that suddenly manifested through very skilful mind and connected heart, to all the support Artspace hands to this process… Is really outstanding, I have personally never experienced anything in my life that manifested and materialized in such an impeccable, organic, organized, fast, and clear way.
I have learned a lot from different cultures, and feel fascinated to learn about rites of passages different cultures have. This conversation starts bringing a lot of ideas about the multiple ways in which humankind deals with wombs, blood and fertility.
There is a beautiful jewish ritual called “Mikvah”. Just hearing about it made me feel I really want to be invited into one of those. Is a bath women do after their menstrual period, where prayers are made and women share important time to ritualize the cycle, and the way menstrual blood cleans. I will definitely digg in more into this topic. This tradition also has a practice called “Nida”, where partners sleep apart when the woman starts bleeding, there is a conception of impurity or being unclean, and this is what drives the motivation to sleep apart.
Hearing these ideas of “unclean” and “impurity” bring some disruption to my mind, as I really think that this bleeding moment is a very sacred one… Suddenly by writing this I realize I am stuck in the dual perception of what is good or bad… Why is the word “unclean” bothering me? Seeing beyond good and bad, beyond concepts, I can realize that there is something being cleaned in that stage, without being bad or good, is just a moment for cleaning and deburring. Interesting to see that jewish tradition acknowledges this and gives space for women to go into introspection at that moment.
Yesterday in the first speech and stitch session a woman that has Indian ancestors talked about Hindu tradition and the passage rite they do when a girl gets her first menstruation. Her talking surprised the group, as we realized how full of shame our westerner societies respond to this natural and beautiful moment. There is clear evidence of how this shame and taboo has brought habitual patterns in our societies that do not allow a natural and relaxed relation to female cycles. In Hindi tradition they celebrate this fertility moment for the girl that becomes a woman. Once her first period has finished, and she feels brand new, they normally do a party to celebrate. Family and friends congratulate the woman and they all celebrate fertility from joy, not a single drop of shame or disgust! Is pure joy and celebration. Shocked with this amazing conception, I asked her if she felt any shame on that day. She said no, it was an amazing party and she felt great. All westerner women in the circle accepted they have definitely felt shame, just the idea of this party feels weird in our minds. Once again, clear symptoms of disconnection from our nature.
Ok, after thanking and honoring these amazing cultures and traditions that teach the importance of this moment, I get back to my mat and get to embroider some stains! This what I am here for 🙂
July 17, 2023
