1st Day of Period - Green Day
Ever since I read the Red Tent, and got my period I would think, “Darn it! I wish there was a red tent I could go to!” After discovering many other women craved the same thing, I came up with a business, modeled on the red tent concept.
Besides being a business owner, I am a wife, mother and sister. I want my daughter and all daughters to grow up in a society that embraces our moon days and stages of womanhood, rather than shaming this natural part of life. Not only do I want my daughter to be part of a nurturing community, but I also want my son to be part of this supportive culture. Let’s not forget about our sons, fathers, and brothers; they need to be educated in how to support their friends and family members who experience these cycles in life.
Susan Landa - ecofeminist entrepreneur - Moondays.
Red Tents or Moon Gardens
In many cultures around the world, when a woman is menstruating, she is shunned and ostracized by her society.
However, there have been cultures that celebrate the connection of woman and her natural cycle.
In fact, rather than a menstruating woman being an object of disgust, some cultures view her as almost divine during this period of her cycle.
For instance, in Native American tribal culture, the tradition is not that a woman is unclean while on her 'moon cycle'. Instead, she is seen as possessing a great abundance of sacred energy; the act of menstruation and blood are considered holy, as the woman is in her most powerful and creative state.
Her energy is seen as so divine that old traditions were such that no one could even touch a woman on her cycle, for they would not be able to handle even half of the energy transferred from this touch.
In her book The Red Tent, author Anita Diamant depicts the red tent as a place women went in biblical times when they were on their moon -- to take time out, nurture themselves and be with other women.
While red tents are not as common as they were in the past, there are many empowering organizations that are revamping red tents during our modern times. Red tents are sacred spaces created for women to be able to authentically be themselves and connect with one another without being in a judgemental atmosphere.
In a Red tent, women from all walks of life are able to share their stories freely, overcome the fears and stresses that are heightened during menstruation through supportive sisterhood bonding, and creates a safe space for women to rest and practice self-care. There is great value in embracing your menstrual period, both psychologically and physically.
If there is not a red tent nearby or one that is accessible, it is a great idea to have a spa day or some form of time out to rest and recuperate if possible. Self-care for our mothers, daughters, and ourselves should be a priority and part of our lifestyles as we deserve it.
Penis to Vagina Sex
For those who are comfortable with menstruation sex, these are some of the best days to enjoy penis-to-vagina penetration!
While no day of your cycle is totally risk-free, on "green" days you are least likely to conceive! Green days include the days after ovulation has ended and when you are menstruating.
Because you can’t be sure exactly which day you ovulate, it is best to give yourself a few days as a buffer zone. Several days before and after your period can usually be considered “green” or safe.
If you have engaged in the tantalizing forms of foreplay outlined in the other days of the EcoSensual Calendar, you are probably ready for some good old-fashioned vaginal intercourse! However, try not to go at it too quickly:
If you and your partner have refrained from vaginal intercourse for the red days, the man should take care not to ejaculate in his partner's vagina. Sometimes a man's sperm is more potent the longer he has not had sex with his partner.
Practice some of the tips from the previous pages with your partner to help avoid that "accidental quickie":
Pace yourselves. Go slow. Listen to your breathing. And, after the initial release, take a moment, look into each other's eyes, bask in each other's affection, re-vamp your engines, and go at it again.
Please note that sperm are very enduring little buggers. They can stay alive in the vagina for more than a few days. They exist in pre-ejaculate. And they are more potent after an extended period when a male's penis has not entered his partner's vagina.
So if the female is really not wanting to be pregnant, she should not have her partner ejaculate inside her even in her Green Days.