First Menstruation

"Menstruators" sit in a sacred area outside -- either out in the open, in a hut, or even a tepee depending on the space created by the individual sanctuaries -- to discuss their "firsts" among each other, aiding each other to normalize what is happening, and honor the person/s undergoing their first menstruation. First-time menstruators wear in red clothing surrounded by red decorations such as flowers, blankets, pillows, and ribbons. Altar(s) inside the sacred area may often have bowl of mixed blood dropped from the hands of bleeding people*, in addition to symbols of fertilization. It is also typical to give gifts to the one being honored with things such as emergency hygiene products, chocolate, books, plants to sow into the ground, etc.

*to say "women" excludes the transgender men and nonbinary folks who ought to be included in this process because this is about them too 💕

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