Sacred Retreat : Using Natural Cycles to Recharge Your Life

Restoring our biological cycles to heal ourselves, our culture, and our planet • 2017 Nautilus Gold Award • Shows how, just like the tides and the moon phases, both women and men have biological cycles of growth and renewal necessary for healthy bodies and minds • Explains how the seclusion of women during menstruation and of men during vision quests offers a cleansing process for body and mind to awaken innate creativity and sensitivity, re-attune us with the deeper rhythms of the body and nature, and restore harmony between the divine feminine and divine masculine • Reveals how the need for sacred retreat was forgotten when the divine feminine was suppressed by patriarchal culture All of life is interwoven into a living system of cycles, from Earth’s seasons to the enzymatic pathways that provide energy to a cell. Waxing and waning from times of growth to times of rest, renewal, and healing, cycles map the most auspicious time for everything in life. Both women and men have biological cycles of active growth and quiet renewal, led by our hormones. By understanding how everything in life moves in cycles, you can become more aware of and comfortable with your own cyclic nature, something that has been forgotten by the modern world’s linear views of time. Drawing on the wisdom of ancient cultures, the natural cycles of life, and her own groundbreaking research, Pia Orleane, Ph.D., offers a template for how we can restore balance to our emotions and health, ease tensions between the sexes, and heal our fractured culture by honoring divine feminine consciousness and re-embracing natural cycles, including our innate need for rest and retreat. She explains the biology of how our bodies operate by hormones released in cycles and shows how balanced hormones help eliminate anger, depression, insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue. Exploring ancient traditions and rituals surrounding blood and sacred retreat, she explains how the seclusion of women during menstruation and of men during vision quests offered a cleansing process for body and mind, alone time to clear suppressed emotions, awaken our innate creativity and sensitivity, re-attune us with the deeper rhythms of the body and nature, and restore harmony between the genders and balance between the divine feminine and masculine. Outlining the sacred retreat process, the author explores dream cycles, divine sexuality, and practices for reconnecting to nature, increasing creativity and intuition, and clearing suppressed emotions. She also looks at the benefits for women and men of separate sleeping during menstruation. Through this wisdom, we can restore our natural cycles, allow the divine feminine to once again blossom alongside the divine masculine, and, with the return of balance, heal our world and our hearts. Title Page Epigraph Acknowledgments Foreword by Barbara Hand Clow Opening Remarks by Cullen Baird Smith Introduction Chapter 1: The Cyclic Nature of Life LINEAR TIME: A MODERN CONSTRUCT ALL OF LIFE IS RHYTHMIC CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS AND OTHER HUMAN CYCLES FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH, WE NEED TO HONOR OUR CYCLICAL RHYTHMS THE IMPORTANCE OF BREATHING CORRECTLY SOCIAL CYCLES AND NATURAL CYCLES BENEFITS AND BALANCE DERIVED FROM THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Chapter 2: Biology and Healing CONSTANCY IS NOT NORMAL HORMONES AND HOW THEY FUNCTION THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND ITS PHASES THE MASK OF NORMALCY THAT WOMEN WEAR A CLOSER LOOK AT PMS ADDITIONAL FACTORS LEADING TO IMBALANCE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: A FEAR OF DEATH AND A REVVED UP LIFESTYLE Chapter 3: Religion Replaces Spirituality THE MAKING OF A SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN THE ILLUSORY CONSTRUCT OF CONTROL THE FURTHER DEMOTION OF WOMEN THE FURTHER MANIPULATION OF WOMEN’S NATURAL CYCLES A NEED FOR NEW CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS THE LARGER ROLE OF RELIGION IN ALL OF THIS Chapter 4: Blood Mysteries WOMEN’S AND MEN’S VIEWS OF BLOOD MENSTRUAL BLOOD’S LINK TO POWER ACROSS CULTURES LIFE OR DEATH? SEEKING BALANCE Chapter 5: Clearing, Cleansing, and Divine Sexuality DIVINE SEXUALITY IS DRIVEN UNDERGROUND HONORING OUR NATURAL SCENTS A WINDOW INTO INDIGENOUS WISDOM MENSTRUATION AS A TIME OF CREATIVE RENEWAL Chapter 6: The Power of Words THE ENERGY AND POWER OF WORDS TERMS THAT DENIGRATE THE FEMININE CYCLE TERMS THAT HONOR THE FEMININE CYCLE Chapter 7: Deep Listening THE POWER OF LISTENING TO OUR INTUITION A RETURN TO THE ART OF LISTENING THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF A SECLUDED RETREAT INTUITION: A PRESENT FROM THE GODS Chapter 8: Relationships of the Heart WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH YOURSELF? OUR CURRENT, FLAWED RELATIONSHIP MODEL A FALSE VIEW OF THE PERFECT MATE GUIDELINES FOR CREATING A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP WHAT DEFINES A “FAIR FIGHT” DETERMINING WHAT WE WANT IN RELATIONSHIPS OTHER MARKERS ON THE ROAD TO A HEALTHY, FULFILLING RELATIONSHIP TIME-OUT TO PROCESS ONE’S EMOTIONS THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS THE SACRED TRUST OF PARENTING Chapter 9: Dreaming Cycles DREAM BELIEFS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE POTENT DREAMS DURING MENSES MORE INSIGHTS INTO THE DREAMING WORLD Chapter 10: Creativity Cycles EVERYDAY CREATIVITY A POWERFUL, CREATIVE TIME FORCES ACTING AGAINST OUR ABILITY TO BE CREATIVE Chapter 11: Menopause Magic and Andropause Awakening ANDROPAUSE: THE MALE EQUIVALENT OF MENOPAUSE? CREATIVITY IS AN ONGOING PART OF LIFE A CLOSER LOOK AT ANDROPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE MENOPAUSE AND ANDROPAUSE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN DISGUISE Chapter 12: The Water We Are THE IMPORTANCE OF FLUIDITY NAVIGATING LIFE LIKE A RIVER ANDROGYNOUS WATER: AN ELEMENT OF UNITY RESPECT AND UTILIZE THE RIVERS OF LIFE Chapter 13: Welcoming the Divine Feminine THREE WAYS TO RESTORE THE DIVINE FEMININE TO OUR LIVES AND TO OUR WORLD THE NEED TO LIVE LIFE AT A HUMANE PACE OTHER CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS TO DECONSTRUCT TECHNIQUES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE THE VOICE OF THE DIVINE FEMININE Appendix 1: The Research ABSTRACT Appendix 2: Blood Rituals around the World A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPIRITUALITY AND POWER OTHER ABORIGINAL AND INDIGENOUS RITES RELATED TO MENSTRUATION THE WEST’S WAY OF BEING IN THE WORLD Appendix 3: Taboos Surrounding Menstruation DID TABOOS ABOUT MENSTRUATION ORIGINATE WITH THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH? SEPARATION TABOOS, AND TABOOS PERTAINING TO FOOD AND FIRE TABOOS RELATED TO TOUCH, WATER, AND EARTH Endnotes Bibliography About the Author About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company Books of Related Interest Copyright & Permissions Index This book show us how to begin restoring our biological cycles to heal ourselves, our culture, and our planet. Just like the tides and the moon phases, both women and men have biological cycles of growth and renewal necessary for healthy bodies and minds. All of life is interwoven into a living system of cycles, from Earth's seasons to the enzymatic pathways that provide energy to a cell. By understanding how everything in life moves in cycles, the author posits you can become more aware of and comfortable with your own cyclic nature, something that has been forgotten by the modern world's linear views of time. "Restoring our biological cycles to heal ourselves, our culture, and our planet Shows how, just like the tides and the moon phases, both women and men have biological cycles of growth and renewal necessary for healthy bodies and minds. Explains how the seclusion of women during menstruation and of men during vision quests offers a cleansing process for body and mind to awaken innate creativity and sensitivity, re-attune us with the deeper rhythms of the body and nature, and restore harmony between the divine feminine and divine masculine. Reveals how the need for sacred retreat was forgotten when the divine feminine was suppressed by patriarchal culture. All of life is interwoven into a living system of cycles, from Earth's seasons to the enzymatic pathways that provide energy to a cell. Waxing and waning from times of growth to times of rest, renewal, and healing, cycles map the most auspicious time for everything in life. Both women and men have biological cycles of active growth and quiet renewal, led by our hormones. By understanding how everything in life moves in cycles, you can become more aware of and comfortable with your own cyclic nature, something that has been forgotten by the modern world's linear views of time. Drawing on the wisdom of ancient cultures, the natural cycles of life, and her own groundbreaking research, Pia Orleane, Ph.D., offers a template for how we can restore balance to our emotions and health, ease tensions between the sexes, and heal our fractured culture by honoring divine feminine consciousness and re-embracing natural cycles, including our innate need for rest and retreat. She explains the biology of how our bodies operate by hormones released in cycles and shows how balanced hormones help eliminate anger, depression, insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue. Exploring ancient traditions and rituals surrounding blood and sacred retreat, she explains how the seclusion of women during menstruation and of men during vision quests offered a cleansing process for body and mind, alone time to clear suppressed emotions, awaken our innate creativity and sensitivity, re-attune us with the deeper rhythms of the body and nature, and restore harmony between the genders and balance between the divine feminine and masculine. Outlining the sacred retreat process, the author explores dream cycles, divine sexuality, and practices for reconnecting to nature, increasing creativity and intuition, and clearing suppressed emotions. She also looks at the benefits for women and men of separate sleeping during menstruation. Through this wisdom, we can restore our natural cycles, allow the divine feminine to once again blossom alongside the divine masculine, and, with the return of balance, heal our world and our hearts"-- Restoring Our Biological Cycles To Heal Ourselves, Our Culture, And Our Planet Shows How, Just Like The Tides And The Moon Phases, Both Women And Men Have Biological Cycles Of Growth And Renewal Necessary For Healthy Bodies And Minds. Explains How The Seclusion Of Women During Menstruation And Of Men During Vision Quests Offers A Cleansing Process For Body And Mind To Awaken Innate Creativity And Sensitivity, Re-attune Us With The Deeper Rhythms Of The Body And Nature, And Restore Harmony Between The Divine Feminine And Divine Masculine. Reveals How The Need For Sacred Retreat Was Forgotten When The Divine Feminine Was Suppressed By Patriarchal Culture. All Of Life Is Interwoven Into A Living System Of Cycles, From Earth's Seasons To The Enzymatic Pathways That Provide Energy To A Cell. Waxing And Waning From Times Of Growth To Times Of Rest, Renewal, And Healing, Cycles Map The Most Auspicious Time For Everything In Life. Both Women And Men Have Biological Cycles Of Active Growth And Quiet Renewal, Led By Our Hormones. By Understanding How Everything In Life Moves In Cycles, You Can Become More Aware Of And Comfortable With Your Own Cyclic Nature, Something That Has Been Forgotten By The Modern World's Linear Views Of Time. Drawing On The Wisdom Of Ancient Cultures, The Natural Cycles Of Life, And Her Own Groundbreaking Research, Pia Orleane, Ph.d., Offers A Template For How We Can Restore Balance To Our Emotions And Health, Ease Tensions Between The Sexes, And Heal Our Fractured Culture By Honoring Divine Feminine Consciousness And Re-embracing Natural Cycles, Including Our Innate Need For Rest And Retreat. She Explains The Biology Of How Our Bodies Operate By Hormones Released In Cycles And Shows How Balanced Hormones Help Eliminate Anger, Depression, Insomnia, Anxiety, And Fatigue. Exploring Ancient Traditions And Rituals Surrounding Blood And Sacred Retreat, She Explains How The Seclusion Of Women During Menstruation And Of Men During Vision Quests Offered A Cleansing Process For Body And Mind, Alone Time To Clear Suppressed Emotions, Awaken Our Innate Creativity And Sensitivity, Re-attune Us With The Deeper Rhythms Of The Body And Nature, And Restore Harmony Between The Genders And Balance Between The Divine Feminine And Masculine. Outlining The Sacred Retreat Process, The Author Explores Dream Cycles, Divine Sexuality, And Practices For Reconnecting To Nature, Increasing Creativity And Intuition, And Clearing Suppressed Emotions. She Also Looks At The Benefits For Women And Men Of Separate Sleeping During Menstruation. Through This Wisdom, We Can Restore Our Natural Cycles, Allow The Divine Feminine To Once Again Blossom Alongside The Divine Masculine, And, With The Return Of Balance, Heal Our World And Our Hearts--,Restoring Our Biological Cycles To Heal Ourselves, Our Culture, And Our Planet--provided By Publisher-- "Restoring our biological cycles to heal ourselves, our culture, and our planet Shows how, just like the tides and the moon phases, both women and men have biological cycles of growth and renewal necessary for healthy bodies and minds. Explains how the seclusion of women during menstruation and of men during vision quests offers a cleansing process for body and mind to awaken innate creativity and sensitivity, re-attune us with the deeper rhythms of the body and nature, and restore harmony between the divine feminine and divine masculine. Reveals how the need for sacred retreat was forgotten when the divine feminine was suppressed by patriarchal culture. All of life is interwoven into a living system of cycles, from Earth's seasons to the enzymatic pathways that provide energy to a cell. Waxing and waning from times of growth to times of rest, renewal, and healing, cycles map the most auspicious time for everything in life. Both women and men have biological cycles of active growth and quiet renewal, led by our hormones. By understanding how everything in life moves in cycles, you can become more aware of and comfortable with your own cyclic nature, something that has been forgotten by the modern world's linear views of time. Drawing on the wisdom of ancient cultures, the natural cycles of life, and her own groundbreaking research, Pia Orleane, Ph. D., offers a template for how we can restore balance to our emotions and health, ease tensions between the sexes, and heal our fractured culture by honoring divine feminine consciousness and re-embracing natural cycles, including our innate need for rest and retreat. She explains the biology of how our bodies operate by hormones released in cycles and shows how balanced hormones help eliminate anger, depression, insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue. Exploring ancient traditions and rituals surrounding blood and sacred retreat, she explains how the seclusion of women during menstruation and of men during vision quests offered a cleansing process for body and mind, alone time to clear suppressed emotions, awaken our innate creativity and sensitivity, re-attune us with the deeper rhythms of the body and nature, and restore harmony between the genders and balance between the divine feminine and masculine. Outlining the sacred retreat process, the author explores dream cycles, divine sexuality, and practices for reconnecting to nature, increasing creativity and intuition, and clearing suppressed emotions. She also looks at the benefits for women and men of separate sleeping during menstruation. Through this wisdom, we can restore our natural cycles, allow the divine feminine to once again blossom alongside the divine masculine, and, with the return of balance, heal our world and our hearts"-- Provided by publisher