Words and photography by Xara
Modeled by Solin
This article is part of the “The Wawa Complex” issue
Content warning ⚠️ : This piece features blood and nudity images.
Celebration of menstruation means
eradicating shame. In re-earthing blood,
she is re-programming shame into pride.
To be a woman who bleeds.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.mykalimag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7278.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.mykalimag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7289.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
She created a culture that embraced menstrual huts and moon lodges
and viewed womanhood and periods as divine and sacred.
Every 28 days on full moon day – she is celebrated by the whole community.
They called her Tapu – the sacred period,
Patriarchy later transformed her name to Taboo.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.mykalimag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7335.jpg?resize=1024%2C696&ssl=1)
She viewed her body as an extension of earth.
A pure celebration and gratitude as her womb became a conduit
between the stars and the land.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.mykalimag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7355-2.jpg?resize=704%2C1024&ssl=1)
She experienced her womb, blood, and milk as ecstatic, blissful,
healing, and orgasmic.
An experience that has been torn out by patriarchy.
She is a wealthy natural resource for her community.
Her pleasure is neither a commodity nor a reward.
Her pleasure is their power
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.mykalimag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7290.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)