Thank you for arriving here for this offering of First Blood, First Moon stories, in the threshold of Beltane, in these crucible time. These stories, all our First Blood stories signify (amongst many things) that new life is possible, that women are deeply embodied into cyclicity.
Thank you for your bright listening, witness bearing and leaning into this gathering of stories. Tis a holy thing to listen with your heart, your lungs and if applicable, your own womb. Light a candle, offer dandelions and rose petals for each story, for all the stories, for Us.
Womyn folx have been carrying these stories, be they mundane, ruptured and/or celebrated since the the very beginning of our strange, beautiful & challenging human dance. These stories are both personal and transpersonal.
Perhaps you will recall your own story, or the stories of someone close.
Perhaps you will tell your story into the receiving ears of a trusted one.
Perhaps you will ask a beloved about their First Blood story.
What if we filled this world with these generative, initiation stories?
I’m listening.
Enormous thanks to the womyn who shared their stories. What a joy to cast them into the world, now.
Yours in the ongoing,
Tracy
PS. A Year & A Day is free for all, and paid subscribers are welcome and encouraged to support this offering. Deep gratitude for your presence here and any support you can offer.
the STORYTELLERS:
Nina Smock lives in the Iowa Driftless Region.
Adriana Forte is a cultural architect, philosopher, and writer dedicated to bringing the cyclical nature of women’s minds into collective awareness. She aims to create spaces for provocative thinking, reflection and transformation through dialogue, writing, workshops, retreats, online group work, and one-on-one mentoring. Above all, she’s a mother to two amazing girls, a partner to an awesome guy, and an apprentice gardener living off-grid in a community in Australia. To tap into some of my written work, please follow the link above. To watch some of the conversations I’ve had that brought the cycle into culture, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@thec-lab/videos
Brianna McInerny is a coach & consultant who’s committed to your personal and professional fulfillment. She understands the urge to throw yourself on the sword for your mission-driven work, but also deeply believes there’s another way… a better way that doesn’t sacrifice your home life or your sanity in the name of your career goals. She’ll bring her deep passions for psychology, mind-body connection, physical wellness, and energy healing to the table while you intuit the way forward together. Find her @briannamcinerny on socials.
Heidi Cybele is a spiritual counselor and guide, I work with all situations, conditions, challenges, ages, backgrounds, perspectives. Nothing is too much for her. She draws those interested towards the universal presence within us all. Her monthly radio show is another emanation of this love offering. https://youtube.com/@cybele1111?si=eob_B0-MkM9IRQeD
Cielle Backstrom lives in Fairfield, Iowa, and supports folks on the path of embodied awakening. Her awakening in 2003 opened multiple inner doorways revealing just how "whole" life is and the huge range that it includes. This led her to study several tools which she uses as aids to assist her students on their path of awakening. These tools include compassionate listening, Focusing, Breathwork and energy healing.
Emmaleeya June, they/them appreciates the gathering of these stories as it resonates alongside their research in intimacy, colonizing and de-colonizing in how we've grown to be intimate with each other, how we've grown to know, and be known by each other and how colonization has shaped that. All of these blood stories have a have a shape and tone from these times, from being brought up in the world disconnected from our womb, disconnected from our blood, disconnected from our mothers, disconnected from our mother earth. These stories give shape and attention to those ways, and also give attention to what threads of resilience have been able to be continuously woven to and through us in seen and unseen ways. Emmaleeya June has roots in Colorado, Iowa & Wisconsin.
Elizabeth Jane Lovely is an artist whose experimentation encompasses the written form, oral storytelling, ceremonial chant, and spell speaking, through ritual interaction. She currently lives in a tiny part of England that does not always exist, regularly having to negotiate with the brambles and briars to access the rest of the human world.
Tracy Chipman (she/they) is a generator & connector, weaver of language & healing through art/experience. She is a poet, oral storyteller and an author, who feels most alive in the wilds, when gathering with womyn folx, sharing stories, beholding & being held, and creating space for deeper connections with ourselves and life. She resides in the traditional territories of the Ojibwe peoples, near Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin.
Lara Burrell Martinson Lara is the daughter of Alix, who is the daughter of Marcia, who is the daughter of Minna. Lara is the mother of Rose, the mother of Violet, the mother of Linden. You'll find her often in her nesting spot on a ridge resting just beyond the Oneota Valley, home of the upper Iowa River in NE Iowa. Circling with womyn folx in service to the seeds in our bellies, is one of her greatest joys.
Debrae FireHawk, spiritual counselor/psychic communicator. Artist, choreographer, singer, performer.
with huge thanks to Tim Britton for his honoring listening & editing support
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