The Mother of Creation:

I still remember the first time I heard her whispered about in hushed tones—her body labeled "unclean," her cycles called "dirty," her power blamed for every temptation and weakness. I was twelve, sitting in a circle of girls at school, passing around a single pad wrapped in plastic like it was a contraband item. We giggled nervously, eyes darting to make sure no boy was listening, then slipped it into our bags and carried on as though nothing had happened.

But something inside me stirred. Why should a perfectly natural rhythm—one that marked the miracle of new life—be shrouded in shame? Why should the woman who brings us into the world be blamed for the world’s sins?

Over the years, I learned that this shame has ancient roots. In many cultures, a story was told about Eve—"the mother of all living"—who was cast as the cause of mankind’s downfall. Her curiosity and her choices became the shorthand for every fault, every flaw, every failing attributed to women thereafter. And as patriarchy spread, it twisted that tale into a weapon: menstruating women were "unclean," midwives were "witches," and female leaders were warned to stay in their place or face dire consequences.

**But the truth is far more powerful.**

### The Miracle of Her Body

When a girl’s cycle begins, her body is speaking in the oldest language of creation. Each month, her womb prepares a safe haven for new life—whether or not that life arrives. Menstruation is not a curse; it’s a sign that her body is whole, healthy, and ready to bring forth the next generation.

In the quiet hours before dawn, I imagine the countless women throughout history who have tended fires and fields, babies and elders, all while their bodies pulsed with the same sacred rhythm. They carried baskets of fruit, plowed the soil, delivered children, and healed the wounded. Their cycles were not a weakness—they were a source of resilience and renewal.

### The Healer and the Nurturer

Long before hospitals and pharmaceuticals, women were the healers of their communities. They knew which herbs soothed fevers, which roots eased pain, and which rituals soothed the spirit. They were midwives, guiding new souls into the world. They were wise women, counseling the brokenhearted and the grieving. They were teachers, passing down traditions of compassion and courage.

I think of my grandmother, whose hands were always warm and sure. She breastfed my mother, then my cousins, then me, passing on more than milk: she passed on strength, immunity, stories of survival. When I fell and scraped my knee, she wiped away the tears and whispered, "Your body knows how to heal. I’ll help you remember."

### The Queen Bee of Our Hive

In a beehive, the queen is not a tyrant—she is the heart. Without her, the hive falls into chaos. With her, thousands of bees work in harmony: collecting pollen, tending young, defending the nest. So it is with women in our families and communities. When women are honored and protected, everyone thrives. When they are silenced or shamed, the whole world feels the sting.

I’ve seen it in my own life: when I stand up, speak out, and share my story, others find the courage to speak theirs. When I mentor a young woman who doubts her worth, she blossoms into her own power. When we protect mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, we protect our future.

### Rewriting the Narrative

We cannot change centuries of myth overnight, but we can start with our own words and actions. Here’s how:

1. **Talk openly about menstruation.** Teach boys and girls the biology behind it—no whispers, no shame.

2. **Celebrate real bodies.** Share photos of cycles, scars, and stretch marks. Tell the truth about what it means to create life.

3. **Support women’s health.** Advocate for free menstrual products in schools and shelters. Back maternal health initiatives around the world.

4. **Honor the healers.** Uplift women’s voices in medicine, education, politics, and art. Learn from their wisdom.

### A Call to Honor Her

Today, when you see a mother holding her child, a friend sharing her story, or a sister rising into her power, remember the source of all creation. Speak her name with respect. Protect her body and her spirit. And join me in reclaiming the truth:

The female is not the cause of sin—she is the wellspring of life. She is a healer, a nurturer, a queen in her own right. When we honor her, we honor the very essence of creation.

Let’s share this story, this truth, on Vocal and beyond. Let’s light a fire of respect and hope that no myth of shame can ever extinguish.