women’s art | The Happy Womb

There is an undeniable power in our menstrual blood.The power to shock.

Perhaps it is truly the last taboo in a seemingly unshockable world.

It is expected that we keep it hidden – we do not talk about it, we do not show it. It is therefore invisible, often even to our intimate partners.

But even those of us who feel pretty liberated, who speak openly of it, can find ourselves shocked…

I have just discovered this website – where artists from around the world make art with, or about, menstrual blood. How does it make YOU feel?

Image credit:”My First Menstruation,” 1999, Ana Elana Pena, Spain.

It is only blood!

If you cut your finger, chances are you would put it straight in your mouth. No fear, no hang ups, no disgust.

But menstrual blood…

Are YOU unshockable?

The Gorgeous Yoni Cushion was born on June 1st 2005 at a tribal Menarche Ceremony in Dorset.

It was passed around a circle of 200 or so women who held the cushion and spoke 3 words to describe their bleeding and their yoni. Young girls caressed its softness and women held its warmth to their wombs as it went around the circle.

The Yoni Cushion connects us to the ancient power of the Goddess Baubo: There is a powerful saying: ‘Dice entre las piernas’, or ‘She speaks from between her legs.” These little ‘between the legs’ stories are found all over the world. Baubo, the name of the ancient goddess from Greece, has older names such as Iambe, and it appears the Greeks borrowed her from far older cultures. There have been archetypal wild Goddesses of sacred sexuality and life/death/life fertility since the beginning of memory. (passage by Clarissa Pinkola Estes) In Greek mythology, Baubo was a female clown who managed to draw laughter from the Goddess Demeter when she was hiding away and withholding the gift of fertility from the world.

We all came from the Gorgeous Yoni and we all have a story to share.

The Gorgeous Yoni Cushion is explicitly detailed and hand-made using silks, cottons, satins and velvets, and stuffed with raw sheep’s wool. All are adorned with beading and gems. Each one is infused with fragrant flowers and herbs and signed and dated by the artist.The Gorgeous Yoni Cushion is a work of art!

What do women use their Yoni Cushions for?

* To decorate their altar space.
* As a ‘talking yoni’ in their women’s groups.
* As a piece of Art! Frames can be ordered to hang your Yoni on the wall.
* To have on their bed.
* and of course…Women can use the Yoni Cushion to show her lover how and where she loves to be touched, men use it to open communication and improve their sexual prowess. Men buy Yoni Cushions for that special woman in their life as a way of honoring her. This usually leads to deeper intimacy and discussions on new erogenous zones and increased sexual satisfaction.

Words and images courtesy of Rachael Hertogs www.moontimes.co.uk