Moontime explanation

	Information on Moontime Traditions - Contributed by Sue Leland
	For health reasons, pregnant women do not go into the sweat lodge. Moontime (menstruating) women do not participate in the sweat lodge ceremony either, and generally refrain from entering the ceremonia grounds during their time of bleeding. To those unfamiliar with native traditions, this may seem like a form of discrimination, but it is not. According to moontime teachings still followed by many Native American nations, the energy of women "on their moon" is very powerful and does not mix well with the sweat lodge ceremony. In ancient times, moontime women were afforded a place of retreat known as a moon lodge. Here they rested, released their blood to the earth and harnessed the powerful visionary energy that comes with moontime. The information that came from the dreams and visions of moontime women was seen as sacred and used as a source of inspiration and prophesy for the entire community. While we do not have a moonlodge to offer, we value moontime women highly and encourage them to tap into the power of vision that comes to them each month. For more information about moontime traditions, click on any of these links:
	Coming of Age (Article by Sue Leland previously published in Medicine Song - 1993)
	http://www.cyberport.net/ads/brooke/bme5.html http://horace.ls.net/~janet/TwnFires/moon.htm http://www.eisweb.com/womankind/programs.html http://www.blackthistlepress.com/catalog/songs.html http://edgecity.com/shinanagans/moontime.html http://www.wolflodge.org/women/girltalk.htm http://www.voiceofwomen.com/sabbathart.html http://www.edgecity.com/shinanagans/pms.html