Blood, Bread, and Roses: How Menstruation Created the World - Softcover

Judy Grahn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0807075051 ISBN 13: 9780807075050

Publisher: Beacon Pr, 1994

Synopsis

"Blood, Bread, and Roses" reclaims women's myths and stories, chronicling the ways in which women's actions and the teaching of myth have interacted over the millenia. Grahn argues that culture has been a weaving between the genders, a sharing of wisdom derived from menstruation. Her rich interpretations of ancient menstrual rites give us a new and hopeful story of culture's beginnings based on the integration of body, mind, and spirit found in women's traditions. "Blood, Bread, and Roses" offers all of us a way back to understanding the true meaning of women's menstraul power.

Foreword by Charlene Spretnak

"[Grahn's] intriguing excursion through folklore, myth, religion, anthropology and history bespeaks a feminist conviction that male origin stories must be balanced by a recognition of women's central role in shaping civilization."
-Publishers Weekly

About this title

About the Author:

Judy Grahn, a poet, is author of "Another Mother Tongue," "The Queen of Wands," and "The Queen of Swords," among others.

From Publishers Weekly:

In native and prehistoric cultures around the world, a menstruating woman carried out rituals in which she was secluded--not allowed to see light--but emerged triumphantly at the end of her period. Grahn ( Another Mother Tongue ) believes these rites taught women principles of separation and synchronic relationship (reinforced by women's awareness that the menstrual cycle was in rhythm with the moon's phases). This "menstrual logic," she adds, was transmitted to men, who extended it. Stretching the evidence thin to fit her theory, Grahn uses menstrual ritual and "menstrual consciousness" to explain the orignis of mathematics, astronomy, marriage rites (the bride's dress in Europe was once red), cosmetics, cooking and mourning customs. Her intriguing excursion through folklore, myth, religion, anthropology and history bespeaks a feminist conviction that male origin stories must be balanced by a recognition of women's central role in shaping civilization.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Beacon Pr
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0807075051
• ISBN 13: 9780807075050
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352