Women have been gathering together, sharing their stories, since time immemorial. Gathering together at the time of menstruation and giving birth is a common experience across cultures. First Nations in North America called the space for this gathering a Moon Lodge. In the Middle East in the pre-Christian era, the space was called a Red Tent.
In 1997, Anita Diamant came out with the fictional book, The Red Tent, describing that women in the pre-Christian era in the Middle East were required by law to take refuge together while menstruating or giving birth. This gave them an opportunity to offer mutual support and encouragement to each other, handing down traditions and teaching big life lessons to the younger generations.
This struck a chord with many women who read the book, and who longed for a similar sense of female community, belonging, sharing and inter-generational learning. In our modern times, we are quite disconnected from each other, and women often don't have this sense of community, even within their families.
Hence the popularity of new moon gatherings and red tent events among modern women. ALisa Starkweather is a forerunner of this modern movement, and her website, Red Tent Temple Movement, has more great information to explore. She is also featured in this documentary film that has been made about the movement.
This struck a chord with many women who read the book, and who longed for a similar sense of female community, belonging, sharing and inter-generational learning. In our modern times, we are quite disconnected from each other, and women often don't have this sense of community, even within their families.
Hence the popularity of new moon gatherings and red tent events among modern women. ALisa Starkweather is a forerunner of this modern movement, and her website, Red Tent Temple Movement, has more great information to explore. She is also featured in this documentary film that has been made about the movement.