cycle – Maui Goddess Project

As women, we all experience the rite of passage into womanhood at some point in our early adolescents. We bleed for the first time and it is our initiation into great responsibility, beauty and sacrifice… the gift of creating life & healing the Earth. Our society has shifted out of honoring this time for women and now we are slowly going back into honoring our moon cycles and celebrating in ceremony. I met Arielle after a long wait and she knew she wanted to photograph her experience deep in the jungle honoring her moon cycle. I was so supportive of this having a daughter and wanting all young women to not feel shame around their bleed time. Arielle was so peaceful and beautiful when she had blood on her fingertips, her third eye and then offering it to the river. The Earth in that moment became still with us and it felt as if it was honoring Arielle in return. We saged our bodies and our surroundings. She drummed softly as the waterfall rushed on. As I watch fellow women reach deep within themselves to share these potent stories, I am honored to pass them along to empower all of you. Do what you can to honor your cycle. Rest, dance, be free and remind our young maidens to embrace this gift and cherish it. It is one of our gifts to heal each other and the Earth. Arielle works with herbs to help with our cycles and emotions during that time. Check out her salves at Mahina Medicina or reach out to her on her Instagram at @mama.mahina.

I Honor the Goddess in You ~ Arielle

Much Aloha to You Always

This project has so many ways of blessing those who participate as well as me. I received a sweet message from a mama wanting to honor her daughter Maci who recently started her first moon cycle. I thought this was such an amazing idea and co-creating the images to honor girls at this time in their lives with Maci was wonderful. As she got ready, we spoke of the moon cycle being the ultimate gift from the universe as it allows women to then also procreate and give life. We talked about the huge responsibilities that come with all those choices and how to honor her body through the cycles. She wore hints of red and I gave her a lotus to work with as this is always a symbol of pure awakening. Maci was so sweet as we walked around and captured her on her journey into womanhood. Thank you Ame for using this project as a means to honor her at this time. It was such a profound moment for me.

I honor the Goddess in You Maci

Much Aloha ~ Desiree