Flow And Moon Cycles
Do you schedule work around your period? It’s a question that our Society explored this week. Imagine tapping into a flow state that’s synchronized with your natural rhythm - ease, surrender, growth. Natural rhythm is a skill we lost over the years. Yet menstrual practices from various indigenous cultures, including Native Hawaiian, Lakota, Chinese, Black, Indian, and Latinx, have been around for centuries.
“The moon helps us to reconnect to the rhythms of our body.” shares Priscilla Smith, co-founder of Pua Mohala. “On average, both the lunar cycle and a menstruation cycle are equal in length. The moon has four phases, as does our menstrual cycle.”
Priscilla and co-founder Momi Ramolete created Pua Mohala Healing & Advocacy Services. This female-founded community support ʻōpio (teens and young adults) through workshops & retreats on mental health and holistic healing.
In this blog, you’ll learn about reconnecting to various indigenous cultures through education and empowering our youth.
Who is Pua Mohala? Tell us about your community.
Priscilla: Pua Mohala is a healing and advocacy organization established by two indigenous mothers. Our community consists primarily of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) adolescents, ages 10-25 years old, and their supporters.
Why is it important to educate and empower the youth?
Momi: We recognize the weight intergenerational trauma places on our shoulders. We feel compelled to guide our youth to unpack these burdens through self empowerment.
What is the connection between our menstrual cycle and the moon?
Priscilla: On average, both the lunar cycle and a menstruation cycle are equal in length. The moon has four phases as does our menstrual cycle. The moon helps us to reconnect to the rhythms of our body.
Tell us about your upcoming retreat.
Momi: On June 12-13, we will be reclaiming indigenous practices to celebrate our moon cycles. We have 11 live sessions from various indigenous practitioners, educators, and advocates.
Through our research, we have discovered that many indigenous cultures have very similar menstrual practices with an emphasis on slowing down and practicing self care during our menstrual cycles. The retreat will feature menstrual practices from various indigenous cultures including Native Hawaiian, Lakota, Chinese, Black, Indian, and Latinx.
Our two keynote speakers are Native Hawaiian and will be sharing about Hawaiian menstrual practices and how to incorporate those practices in our modern times. Other sessions include Lakota womenʻs ceremonies, plant-based allies, vaginal health, ayurvedic approaches, neuroscience related to your menstrual cycle, and much, much more.
We will also be featuring Maʻi Movement, who will be sharing all they are doing to end period poverty.
Where do you plan on taking your business in the next 5 years?
Momi: The big dream is to open our own retreat center. In our work, we also noticed very few spaces for healing and wellness in the BIPOC community.
Many of the organizations we work with find it difficult to locate an affordable and large enough venue to host their retreats and workshops.
We would like to provide healing spaces for not only the ʻōpio in our Pua Mohala community to learn and grow but also for other organizations and practitioners to conduct their services and events in a safe and healing space.
On June 12-13, Pua Mohala is hosting a Mahina + Me online retreat. Through indigenous ways of knowing, explore the divine connection between the moon and your menstrual cycle. Join a community of menstruators decolonizing their period. Designed by indigenous menstruators for indigenous menstruators. Click here to reserve your spot today.
If you’re looking to surround yourself with empowered women like Priscilla and Momi, consider becoming an Oak + Pine Society Member. Click here to see if our doors are open.