Dearest Monthlies,

Welcome to issue #3 of The Monthly! Oh, how quickly time goes by. We hope you are all having a lovely monthly. In this month’s issue we will be highlighting Earth Day, sharing a very “green thumb” suggestion for your moon ritual, trashing the taboo of the “irrational woman”, sharing the amazing work of artist Jen Lewis, answering a reader’s question about reusable period care products and introducing you to Cycledork contributor Brigid Taylor. It’s a jam-packed issue and we hope you enjoy!

Happy Monthly, 
The Red Rebels

Earth Day 

Art by Dana Gray

It is officially spring and even though the temperature directly contradicts that claim, Mother Nature is putting all her energy into greening the grasses, unfurling petals and buds, and nurturing the return of all the wonderful creatures who hibernated through winter - humans included! 

This month the world comes together in celebration of Earth Day, also known as International Mother Earth Day. A celebration that was started in 1970 by peace activists in San Francisco has grown into an international event honored in over 193 countries and growing. Earth Day 2016 will be a banner year as the landmark Paris Agreement is scheduled to be signed by the United States, China and 120 other countries vowing to take drastic measures in the battle against climate change. 

As our sea levels rise at frighteningly rapid rates, animals are going extinct more quickly than we can stop, our seas are filling with plastic, our food industry has run amok and continues to pollute every aspect of our environment and powerful climate-change deniers lobby our government for more lenient environmental oversight, our planet has reached a turning point and many fear it is only a matter of time before we are too late to stop the depletion of our earth. While yes, the situation is dire, we have hope that with positive momentum we can begin to implement effective changes that can not only stop the further degradation of our planet, but undo the damage we have done. Just like our resilient bodies, our Mother Earth, too, can rebound if we put forth the effort to love and care for her again. 

Over the last decade we have seen a huge shift in behaviors of environmental stewards as recycling programs have become staples in communities, conscious consumers are demanding more energy efficient products and renewable energies, and the “eat local” movement has inspired an entire generation of young people to shop farmer’s markets or start their own gardens. Not all is lost, but we need to keep putting the pressure on those who can effect big change in the form of environmental policies and oversight. April 22 is a great opportunity to participate in a local Earth Day event. At many of these events you can learn more about how to contribute to positive change, spend time with fellow eco-warriors or get to know your neighbors. Check out the Earth Day Network to find an Earth Day event near you.

Photo by Joey Price

We as human beings are of the earth. We as women are in sync with it. Our natural cycles are tied to the waxing and waning of the moon and just like the turning of the seasons, we, too, experience renewing change. The earth is our home, it nourishes us, warms us, and provides for us. But did you also know that we can provide for it, too? 

Our menstrual blood is composed of the three main macronutrients that make up and nurture life: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.  If you have ever listened to advice from an avid gardner they will tell you that amending the soil with these primary macronutrients are the “secret” to a high yield. So, if you have houseplants or a garden of your own, why not give it a little fertilizer boost with your very own menstrual blood*? Here’s how to do it:

• Collect your blood (for this step it works best to use a menstrual cup but you can also soak the blood out of pads or tampons) 
• Make a “menstrual tea” by mixing one part blood to nine parts water (you want to dilute the blood or you could “burn” the plants with such a dense influx of macronutrients)
• Water daily (do not attempt to store your menstrual tea, it will smell horrible)
• Feel like a badass

Being able to fertilize a plant with your own menstrual blood is an incredibly empowering experience! As we head into spring it seems like the perfect time to give it a try. 

*If you are on a hormonal birth control I would not suggest using your blood on edible plants (houseplants are OK). Maybe you could recruit a close friend to be your supplier for your veggie garden? 

Taboo Trashing

We’ve all been asked this question at least once in our lives when we show anger or frustration: are you on your period?! That question is always thrown out as a way to dismiss our thoughts or feelings and to shut down any further discussion. You could also categorize this question as gaslighting*. 

But the truth is, we all experience passionate emotions from time to time - men and women alike - yet it seems women are the only ones who have to defend their emotions. Rhetoric is very powerful in our culture. Words like “bitchy”, “moody”, “crazy” and “irrational” have all been thrown around as ways to classify a woman’s behavior we find to be “out of line”. We see this type of classification everywhere: commercials, sit-coms, movies, even presidential campaigns. Believe it or not, we still live in a time where people do not support female political leaders because we will “go to war every 28 days”.  These ideas are not only incorrect, they are insulting and further the stereotype that women are “irrational” and reduce women to nothing more than walking vaginas (and ovaries, fallopian tubes, uteri, cervices and labia). 

Women and girls are socially conditioned to be kind, gentle, polite, smiley, meek and pleasant. Any woman or girl who does not fit this ideal is often written off using the above adjectives - with no easier default scapegoat than “she’s on her period”. While yes, some women and girls can experience strong emotions around menstruation (especially if they suffer from Premenstrual Syndrome or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), it in no way means their feelings should be written off or that they become completely incompetent. In fact, around or during menstruation some women experience emotional and mental clarity. This can be paired with feeling more empowered and confident - which in turn may make you want to speak up more about things you disagree with. 

At the end of the day, it has become all to easy to be marginalized as a menstruating person and when you are marginalized it can make you question everything you think and feel so you can “fix” it. The truth is, our emotions are beautiful; they are how we experience the world in dimensions. We do not need to suppress them, explain them or feel embarrassed by them - if we own how we feel and hold ourselves accountable when we are experiencing negative emotions then we show others how to do the same. 

No one can be happy 100% of the time so why do so many people expect women to be? Developing emotional intelligence is an important skill to harness because it can help you be the best you. If you’re feeling particularly irritated in a conversation, say so. If you are feeling angry and want to cry, cry. If someone did something to upset you, talk about it. By taking ownership over our emotions we take the power away from others and make it harder for them to label us. And I believe that, my friends, is how we undo the "irrational woman" taboo. 

*Gaslighting is a form of mental abuse in which information is twisted or spun, selectively omitted to favor the abuser, or false information is presented with the intent of making victims doubt their own memory, perception, and sanity. Instances may range simply from the denial by an abuser that previous abusive incidents ever occurred, up to the staging of bizarre events by the abuser with the intention of disorienting the victim.

Bloody Good Art

Photo by Jen Lewis

This past March Cycledork contributor Sophia Kreuz wrote an amazing piece on Jen Lewis, a Denver-based artist who dedicated an entire photography series to her menstrual blood called Beauty in Blood. After Lewis switched to using a menstrual cup she was taken with the beauty of her blood as it moved and sank through the water while she was cleaning her cup. Lewis has become a passionate menstrual activist through her art and is slated to speak at the Blood Cycle Conference this coming September. Lewis had this to say about her work: 

“Frankly, I do not think there is any place in modern society for taboo subjects, especially in as far as women are concerned. Pacifying social taboos only serves to give more power to society than to the self, and as women we have done that for far too long. The time is now to shut down the long-held shame and squeamishness surrounding menstruation. My work quashes this taboo, reclaims feminine power, and puts this subject on the pedestal it so rightly deserves. The images I capture force the viewer to think about menstruation in an entirely new way. Capturing the artful quality of this natural occurrence is my way of progressing society's view and conversation around menstruation as well as redefining some traditional fine arts aesthetic notions.”

Capturing the beauty of menstrual blood is no easy task, check out her amazing process here. 

So, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about menstrual cups and cloth pads lately. I’ve also heard people talk about how expensive they are, is that true? 

Haley S. 
Boston, MA

Haley, thank you for asking this great question! Making the switch from disposable to reusable period care products is always a good decision, in my opinion. Reusable products are incredibly eco-friendly and much better for our bodies. Did you know that over the course of their lifetime just one menstruating person throws away nearly 300 pounds of pads, tampons, applicators and plastic wrapping? Also, disposable period care products are made with chemicals that can cause irritation, infection, and toxic shock, whereas reusable products are made with non-porous and natural materials.  Some reusable products (like certain menstrual cups) can even be worn during sex*. 

But I digress, on to your question. When it comes to reusable period care products the initial cost can seem intimidating. So here’s the gist: on average, a menstruating person spends around $200 a year on disposable pads and/or tampons. The cost of a menstrual cup is around $27 and, with proper care, can last up to 10 years! Reusable cloth pads can cost $8-$13 a pad but will last, with proper care, up to 65 washes. Aside from upfront costs, switching to reusable products can take a major adjustment in learning to use and care for them and in growing more comfortable with your body (which I think is a plus). So they may not be for everyone. Each menstruating person knows their body and needs better than me so it is important to make the choice that is right for you. With that said, I think reusable period care products are definitely worth the investment! 

*Please note that a menstrual cup does not protect against pregnancy or STIs

Have a Monthly related questions? Submit your inquiry via email for a chance to be featured in our next addition of The Monthly: contact@cycledork.com

Further Reading

Why I’ll Teach My Son About The Menstrual Cycle 

I can hardly believe that my son will soon have his third birthday. His dad and I have already spent a lot of time talking about the opportunities we’d like him to have and the things we want him to learn about. From day one of our son’s life…

The Powerful Effect Of Light On Your Menstrual Cycle

Women’s cycles are very much connected with the cycle of the moon. Both are roughly 29 days (although a healthy menstrual cycle can range from 25 to 35 days in length). Additionally, with bodies that are made up of a majority of water, the moon exerts a pull…

Why Hormonal Birth Control Can Never “Regulate” Periods

When the Pill was first developed, it could not be sold as contraception because contraception was not legal. Instead, hormonal birth control had to be prescribed to “normalize” periods. “Normalize” was code for being “not pregnant” (wink-wink). Fast forward fifty years, and the Pill’s fake cover story has become a bizarre… 

Meet the Red Rebels of Cycledork

Brigid Taylor, Cycledork contributor  

I became interested in menstrual cycle awareness and period-positivity as an extension of my interest in pregnancy and birth. As I worked toward my certification as a childbirth educator, I realized that I wanted to learn more about the female body. I see our society's view of menstruation as part of the larger problem of the patriarchy's desire to control women. I support Cycledork because it does an incredible job of  spreading the message that there is nothing wrong with having periods, and that there is actually a lot you can learn about them!

I have a Bachelor's degree in history, an Associate's degree in early education/child development, and I am working on a Certificate in women's studies. I am a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and I also recently began a women's healing arts teacher training. My career goals include teaching workshops and online classes on various aspects of women's holistic health and wellness. I'm always reading and generally write every day for one reason or another. I live in Pittsburgh, PA with my partner, a college philosophy instructor and amateur genealogist, and our almost three year old son. We love taking trips to historical sites, going for walks, and engaging in deep philosophical discussions about pretty much everything.

You can find Brigid's work here. 

We encourage you to get the most out of your subscription by contributing to The Monthly’s content. Have a question you want to ask? Know an amazing period-positive artist? Want to share a story about your experiences as a menstruating person? We want to hear from you! Feel free to sen us an email, tweet us, or message us on Facebook. We look forward to sharing this space with you and building our community together. 

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