SOPHIA: The First Moon

Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash

A flutter. A rush. A dull ache that began in deep behind her belly button and spread across her lower abdomen. Sophia sat straight up in her bed, trying to comprehend dual feelings of tightness and release as moisture rushed between her legs. In the deepest part of night, with only the moon to illuminate her small dormitory, she looked down to discover dark liquid spreading in a pool beneath her body. She cried out in confusion, then caught herself for fear of waking the other girls in the room. She looked around as they stirred slightly, then obliviously tucked back into slumber.

Sophia stumbled to her feet, trying to contain the flow of liquid pouring from her. Gathering the sheets around her waist, she ran from the dorm and into the night. She let her eyes adjust and sought the Elder’s tent, which glowed softly from firelight inside. Before she could reach the opening, the Elder appeared, smiling kindly and offering her hand.

“Come inside child.”

She stepped into the warm tent, and let her eyes adjust to the dim light. A small fire burned in the center, surrounded by stones, with a harness and kettle of water suspended above it. A privacy screen stood to one side, near a bathing bin filled with fresh, steaming water. Sophia realized she was still clutching the sheets, and let them fall. She burst into tears in embarrassment and confusion, but the elder immediately shushed her.

“This is not something to cry about.”

Sophia sniffled, not understanding. But she quieted down and tried to compose herself. The Elder smiled kindly.

“This is something to celebrate. It is your first Moon Cycle.”

It had been five full revolutions since Sophia was chosen, but she had not yet learned about a moon cycle. Before she could question, the Elder let her to the privacy screen and told her to undress. She took the soiled clothes and wrapped them in a clean white cloth to be washed later. Then she handed Sophia a small jar of saponin and a sponge, and directed her to the bathing bin. As Sophia cleaned herself, the Elder explained this experience, and warned that she was to expect it every lunar revolution. Once she was clean and dressed in new clothes, including a special pair of bottoms to capture the blood, she was instructed to sit.

The Elder crushed a handful of dried raspberry leaves, placed them in a cup and poured boiling water from the kettle. She handed it to Sophia and instructed her to sip slowly. The hot liquid felt soothing going down, causing her to relax.

“You will be moved to a new place, with other girls who have also experienced their moon cycle.” When Sophia looked worried, the Elder smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “This is a good thing.” She said gently. “You are changing on the inside, so we will adjust on the outside.”

Sophia held the cup a little tighter, unsure if she was ready to receive this new experience. She dutifully sipped the tea and listened to the Elder explain the physical and spiritual connection between women and the moon. By the time her cup was empty, the pain in her stomach was a memory. The Elder directed her to a small cot with fresh sheets and a pillow. She snuggled into the sheets, hugging the pillow tightly to smother the final wisps of anxiety, and let the crackle of the fire lull her back to sleep.