barefoot vegan sept_oct issue.pdf

“The red tent is a
place where women
can be nurtured by
each other, ask
questions, re-set,
and re-address
what being a women
means to them. The
red tent is
empowering.”
There is another way of describing what happens in a red
tent: It’s like popping a champagne cork and watching the
bubbles stream out. Eyes shine, smiles are from the heart.
It is joy giggles and raucous cackles and sometimes
sadness and frustration. The tent marks the passage of
time, helps us become more present in our own life
because each month we share, listen, and rest in the
moment together. The women become each other’s guides
in a way that is so natural it is as if time was lost and we
were back in each other’s houses, or sitting beneath the
stars around the mystical cooking fire with our ancient
ancestors, our great grandmothers.
The red tent as a movement of change…
For me, the conversations, discussions, frustrations and
discoveries that evolve naturally in our circle are essential
to galvanise us, strengthen us. Our society celebrates
babies and youth, but tends to neglect the special and
essential feminine issues such as menarche menstruation
menopause (and sadly old age, which affects us all). The
only way to inspire change at societal level is do as Gandhi
said and ‘be the change you want to see in the world’. I
believe that meeting with people, talking openly frankly
positively and fearlessly about subjects like these is the key
to a more balanced society.
Perhaps the most wonderful thing about red tents for me
is the post-tent glow. I have been told by many a woman
that her partner / children notice a whopping difference
between the woman that went and the woman that
returned; emerging more joyful and ‘filled up from the
inside’. When we are fulfilled and happy we radiate it out
to everyone we meet, positively impacting many more
lives than we could imagine!
Time spent in this environment restores to many
women a feeling of deep trust and sisterhood,
especially to those who say they have few good
feminine friendships. The red tent is a place where
women can be nurtured by each other, ask questions,
re-set, and re-address what being a women means to
them. The red tent is empowering. “For me it was one
of those magical times which will long remain in my
memory – the hot sunshine; the gorgeous swags of red
material and ribbons draped from bush and tree; the
song of the grasshoppers; the spectacular views over
some of the most beautiful countryside in the world;
the glorious fresh salads and tasty foods, warm loving
company, laughter and wise words of support and
wisdom…. Surely yesterday we really did touch the
absolute essence of the Red Tent – long may we grow in
our feminine community and prosper together!”
As for my story?
As a child I loved ‘things you weren’t supposed to talk
about’ and if I could get a despairing look from my
mum, then I was elated! Things haven’t changed a lot,
other than now I channel this energy into my new
project called www.womanswheel.com, feminine
empowerment through menstrual cycle awareness
workshops, eco-activism regarding the eco-alternatives
to plastic disposable menstrual products, womb healing
reiki, and hosting and facilitating red tents…all juggled
around my day job! My boyfriend Lee is author of
‘Peace and Parsnips – Vegan cooking for everyone’ and
I am very fortunate to be the other half of the
www.beachhousekitchen.com, happily experimenting
with vegan food in my spare time. For more
information about red tents do visit woman’s wheel,
and please contact me if you have any questions. BV
34 | BarefootVegan