'The great mother whom we call Innana gave gift to woman that is not known among men, and this is the secret of blood. The flow at the dark of the moon, the healing blood of moon's birth - to men, this is flux and distemper, bother and pain. They imagine we suffer and consider themselves lucky. We do not disabuse them. In the red tent, the truth is known. In the red tent, where days pass like a gentle stream, as the gift of Innana courses through us, cleansing our body of the last month's death, preparing the body to receive the new month's life, women give thanks - for repose and restoration, for the knowledge that life comes from between our legs, and that life costs blood. (...) I say this before the proper time, daughter mine, though it will not be long before you enter the tent to celebrate with me and your aunties. You will become a woman surrounded by loving hands to carry you and to catch your first blood and to make sure it goes back to the womb of Innana, to the dust that formed the first man and the first woman. The dust that was mixed with her moon blood.'
From Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Red Tent is an amazing historical fiction book by Anita Diamant. It takes readers to times of ancient Jewish communities and concentrates on the life of women there. Very important tradition among them is meeting in Red Tent - a place where women menstruate, give birth and share life stories, finding mutual support.
