Menstruation Goddesses

Since the dawn of humankind, women have bled.

Imagine how humans perceived this mysterious flow of blood that occurred on a regular basis for no apparent reason. Without knowledge of the human anatomy or reproductive system, humans may have believed it was magic. Some archeologists theorize women were held in high esteem because of this mysterious blood phenomenon and also for their abilities to bear babies.

As humanity evolved, humans began to associate natural occurrences, such as weather, animal behaviors, plant life, and bodily functions, with divine higher powers we now call goddesses and gods. Cultures worshipped dozens and dozens of deities for their powers over every aspect of life. Many cultures worshipped goddesses who ruled over menstruation and its association with womanhood, feminine power, the cycle of time, and reproduction. By honoring their Menstruation Goddess and thus the sacredness of their period, women may have appreciated their body and may have even enjoyed their periods.

Now imagine we modern-day women thinking of our periods as divine. Would our moon time become more meaningful? More easily tolerated? Would it help us feel more connected to with divine within and around us? Perhaps we can learn from our ancient sisters who worshipped a Menstruation Goddess and find new meaning in menstruation.

In this article, we present a few Menstruation Goddesses and the ways their followers worshipped them.

Incan Goddess Mama Quilla

Mama Quilla

Mama Quilla is the Incan Goddess of the Moon, Marriage and Menstruation, and the Protector of Women. Mama Quilla was seen as the regulator of women's menstrual cycles. Her followers observed and recorded the waxing and waning of the moon to calculate the days of the month to track their cycle and to plan their annual rituals. Temples throughout Peru were erected to worship Mama Quilla, and priestesses officiated the rituals.

Greek Goddess Artemis

Artemis

Artemis is the classical Greek Goddess of the Moon, Hunting, Childbirth and Menstruation. Artemis is also known as the protector of women. Artemis is often depicted as a Huntress who independently traverses the woods under the moonlight. She is sovereign and answers to no one. Many Artemis temples flourished throughout Greece and were presided over by women. Young girls often were schooled at the temples until puberty. In ritual, girls sang and enacted plays for Artemis, sometimes stripping naked to symbolize stepping out of childhood and into womanhood. In ritual, Artemis followers dedicated their finest clothing to Her when their menstrual periods began. 

Roman Goddess Mena

Mena (also known as Dea Mena)

Mena is the Roman Goddess of Fertility and Guardian of Menstruation. The first part of her name, Men, means month. The words menstruation, menarche, and menses are all linked to Goddess Mena. In Roman culture a menstruating woman was considered sacred and powerful with increased psychic abilities and power to heal the sick. Mena was worshipped in temples run by priestesses, and honored in rituals.

Hindu Goddess Kamakhya

Kamakhya is the Hindu Goddess of Desire and Menstruation. She’s known as The Bleeding Goddess. Kamakhya’s temple is situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. Every year in the month of June, the Goddess is said to menstruate, because at this time the river runs red for three days, and is believed to be the menstrual blood of the Goddess. Kamakhya's blood time is celebrated annually at her Temple in the Ambubachi Mela festival and attended by thousands to receive Her good fortune and to honor feminine power.

Egyptian Goddess Isis (left), Isis Knot (right)

Isis

Isis, is the Egyptian Goddess of Fertility and Motherhood, and Patroness of Women During Menstruation. Her followers made talismans of red cord called the Isis Knot, also known as the Tyet, and it was used as a symbol of protection, fertility and the Goddess herself. The Knot is also linked to blood, possibly representing the red lifeblood shed during menstruation or childbirth.    

Isis also known of the Goddess of Magic.

In the Egyptian Book of the Dead, Spell 156 says:

You have your blood, O Isis

You have your power, O Isis

You have your magic, O Isis.

Tantric Hindu Goddess Matangi

Matangi

In Tantric Hindu traditions, Matangi is the Goddess of Speech, Music, Knowledge and the Arts, (similar to Saraswati.) She is also a Goddess associated with pollution and the lower castes of society. Matangi is the wild and ecstatic outcast Goddess who embodies the "extraordinary."Matangi transforms the taboo into sacred. Though Matangi is not directly associated with menstruation, in some Matangi worship rituals, female worshippers offer their bloodied menstrual cloths, representing a "pollutant", and also the eternal and infinite nature of the Divine Feminine. 

Menstruation Goddesses of the past can help us today by reminding us of the magic of our body and blood. So during your next period, honor yourself with a ritual bath surrounded by candles, music and flowers. Appreciate your body and its myriad miracles. Then dance under the moon. Toss your bloody pad or tampon into a fire and howl like a beast. YOU are a Menstruation Goddess and your period is a symbol of your Divine Power.