Kipukamaluhia Moon Lodge
In 2005, during a three-month intensive/retreat, Tatiana Berindei built a beautiful moon lodge here at Kipukamaluhia. We gathered a truckload of tall guava saplings, and Tatiana carefully wove them together in the traditional way, to create a wickiup.* It lasted for several years and eventually the guava saplings slowly decomposed.
During those years, many women bled and sang, wrote poetry and journaled in the moon lodge and had powerful dreams for the collective.
In 2010, as I watched the moon lodge slowly disappear, I began planting a circle of Panax trees, with the vision of creating a living moon lodge. In the center of the circle I planted a small Bodhi tree, which at the time was about twelve inches tall.
Last November, two wonderful sevadars and I tied the tall panax branches together—to create a dome/roof around the Bodhi tree, which is now at least thirty feet tall.
* “The wickiup was constructed of tall saplings driven into the ground, bent over, and tied together near the top. This dome-shaped framework was covered with large overlapping mats of woven rushes or of bark that were tied to the saplings. Relatively easy to construct and maintain, a typical wickiup was some 15–20 feet in diameter. The terms wickiup and wigwam both mean “dwelling” and derive, respectively, from the Fox and Abenaki languages. By the early 21st century, wickiup had become the preferred term among many Native Americans because wigwam was believed to play into a stereotype. –https://www.britannica.com/topic/wickiup
Last week I bought two Red Hibiscus plants, several red Ti plants, a Bleeding Heart vine and two beautiful Prince Kuhio vines, which will grow around the Panax trees and bloom bright red and pink. I gathered nearby rocks to create an entry path to the moon lodge and this morning we shoveled red cinder onto the path.
I finished planting the Hibiscus and Ti plants and the Prince Kuhio vines today — on the New Moon.
Blood of the Ancients
It's the blood of the ancients
That runs through our veins
And the forms pass
But the circle of life remains.
–Charlie Murphy and Ellen Klaver ©
Elsa cut bundles of wild cane grass and Keri laid it down in a circular pattern, inside the lodge.
GRANDMOTHER MOON: THE FEMALE ENERGY
It is said that Grandmother Moon watches over the waters of the Earth. We see this in her regulating of the tides.
Grandmother Moon controls all female life. Much of the water life spawn according to the cycles of the moon.
It is said that Grandmother Moon is especially close to women because she governs the woman’s cleansing cycle, the natural cycle of menstruation known as the moon time.
Just as Grandmother Moon watches over the waters of the Earth, it is said that women watch over the waters of the people. Water always comes before new life.
MOONTIME
It is said that the moon cycle is a gift to women. It is a time to cleanse herself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The moon time is considered a time of power, second only to the ability of the Great Spirit to give life. That is how strong that power is.
Women can ask Grandmother Moon for direction in life, for wisdom, and for help for her children and others. Grandmother Moon can give her healing and balancing energy to women.
Some teachings say that when women are on their moon time, the Creator comes closer to them.
When women are on their moon time, their power is at its strongest and this is acknowledged in that they do not prepare foods or medicines, take part in ceremonies or use the pipes and other sacred items. The moon time is a ceremony of life for women and a time for renewal. The moon time is the time for women to relax and take it easy. All the chores are done by other family members. It is a time for women to think about themselves, their families, their relatives or anyone they think needs help. It is a time of reflection.
TEACHINGS ON THE MOONTIME
In the past, when a young woman had her first moon time her aunts or grandmothers would take her to a small lodge where she would be close to the natural world. The young woman is sacred at that time. She is now able to give life. She would be given the teachings about her new life from her mother, grandmothers or aunts. She would be taught about her role as a woman in the community.
–https://mushkiki.com/programs-services/moontime-and-grandmother-moon/