Sacred and Powerful
Historically, a menstruating woman was considered sacred and powerful, with increased psychic abilities, and strong enough to heal the sick However, regardless of this new-age mythology Jews regarded justifiably the menstruant as impure for ritual purposes, althought today she is allowed to light ritual candles, but there are rules concerning the manner to hold the matches, the bed she lies upon and anything she sits on is impure. A 20th century Jewish rabbi referred to the herbicidal powers of menstrual blood, in regard of young lettuces, due to its toxic rot and impurity. Impurity was also recognized allegedly by traditional Mongols, who did not wish women in this impure state to visit their shrines at this time, particularly dedicated to Eternal Heaven, the Divinity,the "Sky" concept is largely not recognized by the Middle Ages, but this is indirectly rejected in the Yassa/Zasag of Chinggis Khan. According to the Cherokee, menstrual blood was a source of feminine strength and had the power to destroy enemies. In Ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder wrote that a menstruating woman who uncovers her body can scare away hailstorms, whirlwinds and lightning. If she strips naked and walks around the field, caterpillars, worms and beetles fall off the ears of corn. Menstrual blood is especially dangerous to men's power. In Africa, menstrual blood is used in the most powerful magic charms to both purify and destroy. It is scientifically full of noxious bacteria, and the incipient putrefaction of the dead embryo and expelled womb lining.
Read more about this topic: Menstruation And The Origins Of Culture/Archive 1
Famous quotes containing the words sacred and, sacred and/or powerful:
“I think a Person who is thus terrifyed [sic] with the Imagination of Ghosts and Spectres much more reasonable, than one who contrary to the Reports of all Historians sacred and profane, ancient and modern, and to the Traditions of all Nations, thinks the Appearance of Spirits fabulous and groundless.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)
“I want the necessity of supplying my own wants. All this costly culture of yours is not necessary. Greatness does not need it. Yonder peasant, who sits neglected, carries a whole revolution of man and nature in his head, which shall be a sacred history to some future ages.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“One of the reasons for the failure of feminism to dislodge deeply held perceptions of male and female behaviour was its insistence that women were victims, and men powerful patriarchs, which made a travesty of ordinary people’s experience of the mutual interdependence of men and women.”
—Rosalind Coward (b. 1953)