In the gathering dusk of the New Moon we came
together. Women came from of many walks
of life some singly; three generations from one family; fast friends from a
far; local women with generations of roots buried deep in the soil; transplants
seeking community; some claiming their womanhood, other questioning; some
strangers, others old friends, we all gathered as The Red Tent opened its
flaps.
The circle was held in tenderness and
compassion as one spoke and then another and another of their experiences of
being Woman. And so the Sacred
Conversation we call the Red Tent was begun.
It is a powerful time, whenever people of
any gender gather to share their stories; a time when deep truths and honesty
come forward. In some cultures this is a
time to pass along the teachings, perhaps centuries old. In others it is simply a time to relax and
grow friendships. But in the
semi-darkness, with or without a fire, we give ourselves permission to move
through our customary public veneer and enter into an intimacy that can be
nourishing and fulfilling.
Perhaps it is a fantasy that women gathered
in the Red Tent in ancient times to honor their monthly flow by resting from
their community responsibilities and sharing their stories, their commonality,
their heartfelt love of one and other and themselves. Certainly there are cultures that have
struggled to maintain a similar tradition and others that have resurrected
it.
We chose the New Moon for our Red Tent
gatherings because it is a traditional time in the moon cycle for rest and
rejuvenation. Now, when the moon and sun are aligned we turn
from the brightness of the outside world for a few hours and shine a light
towards our internal world.
Our conversation lasted long, holding us closer
as night fell and the lighted lanterns and candles mirrored the star-studded
darkness above. Some women spoke with words,
others spoke silently with their hearts.
The stories were powerful: some of triumphs over social expectations,
others asked for strength, still others were declarations of standing tall in
our own presence. All of our stories
were moving.
Recognizing that when we share our stories
we are changed, we also noted that by listening to and holding each other’s
stories close in our hearts we are also changed.
We ended with a song that gathered the
energy giving each of us a gift of Red Tent community to bring home where it
can grow and flower.
I offer gratitude for the blessing of sitting
together under The Red Tent!
The Red Tent gatherings here in London,
Ontario will continue monthly on a Monday close to the New Moon. They are open to any woman-identified woman of
any age regardless of her born gender.
They are also open to women-born-women of any age who question their
gender identity. Please check the
ANNOUNCEMENTS page of my website for upcoming dates and focus topics.
If you are not near London, start a Red
Tent in YOUR neighbourhood. It’s
easy. If you want support in organizing
one, contact me and I will send some guidelines. But, truthfully, there is no right way or
wrong way to make a Red Tent. Each one
is different and unique to the women who make them.
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