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 After reading Donna Moon’s article, 5 Steps To A Vibrant Life, in the Spring 2018 edition of She Who Knows, I knew it was time to take action for my body. I started with the third step, body brushing. Dry skin brushing is something that has been on my radar for almost 30 years. I have owned various soft brushes in that time but I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have actually entered into the practice. Living off-grid I don’t get to do full body immersion bathing very often and this Winter I have not been to the pool once. So, after I had purchased an absolutely super-duper new brush, complete with detachable handle for ease and comfort, I was ready to commit myself to new habits.
The first time I used the brush I can honestly say that, on certain parts of my body (namely, thighs), it was as if I was sanding a piece of wood! Small piles of dead skin built up just like sawdust as I went over and over these neglected areas and great clouds of “dust” filled the air, causing much perturbation to my husband as he worried for his lungs! That night I slept soundly and awoke feeling refreshed rather than still tired which is my usual disposition in Winter. I have been brushing regularly now for almost three weeks and, last week, I had my bleed. Usually I really do suffer with period pain but this time I sailed right through with no pain or lengthy discomfort, and no clots or sickness, just a wonderful, healthy flow and beautiful, sensual feelings that all women should be able to experience at this time of the month. Of course I can’t be sure that this was due to the body brushing, but nothing else has changed in my life, and it makes sense that sweeping away toxins and greatly improving the circulation would benefit the womb. Now, my body asks to be brushed. It cries out for the soft sweep of bristles on my skin, it is excited at the tingling feeling that each stroke creates as blood rises to just beneath the surface, and it delights in the soaking in of oils that are now massaged into its layers. How things have changed! No more living inside a crust! But rather in a body that delights in a new found freedom and lightness, and that wants to dance with the sweetness of Spring! Cheryl Tipple-Trepat
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 "In ancient times, in the time of the goddesses, long before periods gained a bad reputation, women used to gather when they were menstruating to help and support each other, sharing experiences and stories about their lives.." in The Goddess in You
The arrival of the first blood was once a reason for a great celebration: a proof of fertility, of life and of the continuation of the species. Today, however, menstruation is often seen as a nuisance... The need to reframe menstruation to girls is mainly intended to allow them to learn about their bodies, acknowledging their “physiological mechanics” and the understanding of the natural cycles of life. As an ultimate goal, the acceptance of oneself, of one's emotional, physical, psychological and intellectual abilities as a result of a full process, arising from the respect for each other's identity. Low self-esteem is at the centre of the main problems we face at a personal level, conditioning and (invariably) leading to an unequivocal need of external validation, acts of submission or harmful behaviours for the sake of group integration. Recognizing the female body as a micro-cell of the Cosmos, as a tiny-scale mirror effect of what Nature creates and perpetuates, will allow recognition and validation of the Feminine as something legitimate and autonomous – instead of the usual “alternative to Masculine” – restoring a clear stand which will enable the needed dynamics to a balanced social evolution. The goal of this book is to celebrate the body, its rhythms, Nature and Life, so that we can witness the birth of a new generation of women – healthier, more confident, socially more capable and intervening, conscious of their potential and power as individuals. Patrícia Lemos Menstrual and Fertility Educator Patrícia Lemos, author of The Goddess in You, is a Fertility Coach and Menstrual Educator, holding a Master's Degree in Public Health, and a practicing Hypnotherapist, based in Lisbon, Portugal. Passionate about education, she's the founder of Círculo Perfeito, an educational project based on a mind-body approach to help and support women throughout their fertile years. Patricia is married and mother of a 12 year-old girl. www.circuloperfeito.com/patricia-lemos Contact for Patricia is patricia@circuloperfeito.com Image credit for Patricia Lemos (credits vero-photoart). Link and more info about my book here: http://www.womancraftpublishing.com/thegoddessinyou.html |