Enter the Red Tent
The concept of the Red Tent reaches back to ancient traditions where women gathered during their moon cycles in sacred spaces set apart from daily life. These spaces, often called menstrual huts, moon lodges, or Red Tents, existed in cultures across the world. In many of these societies, menstruation was regarded as a time of deep spiritual connection and renewal. These communal spaces offered sanctuary for rest, reflection, and shared wisdom. Mother goddesses were central figures in these gatherings, representing fertility, creation, and the sacred feminine. Deities like Inanna, Isis, Demeter, and Artemis were honoured through rituals and prayers, embodying the cyclical nature of life and offering strength and guidance.
Historical and religious texts, including biblical references, speak of women’s tents as places of retreat during menstruation or childbirth. While the accuracy of these accounts is debated, the idea reflects the enduring presence of women-centered spaces across cultures. In indigenous traditions, such as some Native American practices, women’s lodges served as places of empowerment, not exile, where women supported one another and connected with the rhythms of the earth.
Today, Red Tent gatherings have been revived as intentional spaces for sisterhood, connection, and empowerment. They respond to the isolating pace of modern life by offering a place to slow down, reflect, and be witnessed within a supportive community. Held in homes, community centers, and spiritual spaces, these gatherings often include rituals, storytelling, meditation, and movement, nurturing a reconnection to inner wisdom. They also honour major life transitions such as menarche, motherhood, and menopause.
In a world that demands constant productivity and often disconnects us from natural cycles, Red Tents provide a vital pause. They remind us of the power of gathering with intention, embracing cyclical wisdom, and reclaiming sacred time for rest and renewal. Rooted in ancient practice yet reimagined for today, the Red Tent continues to offer a space for healing, storytelling, and community.
You might have seen The Red Tent as one of my recurring gatherings, and if you are not sure what it is or what my version looks like, read on. My Red Tent is a space for sisterhood where the same group comes together each month to build connection and create something our own. It offers a chance to step out of the roles the world asks of us and explore what we truly need. It is a space to investigate what we carry and what we need to work through together. My offering centers on telling our stories. Each gathering, we select a topic to explore. We share what is real for us and offer one another support without judgement. All beliefs are welcome, but my Red Tent is pagan focused. I call on the mother goddesses and ancestors to sit with us in the circle, grounding us and holding space.
This year, I’ve invited a co-host to join me. Emily Sprang is a licensed therapist who brings a grounded, clinical lens to the emotional work we often brush up against. When the conversation turns intense, she helps us stay steady. Her presence creates room for both insight and support, offering tools we can carry with us after we leave the circle. If you are looking for a space where your presence matters more than your performance, this is one of those places. We meet on the last Friday of each month at The Healing Society. Tickets for the public are $27 and $23 for THS members. You can find the event page and tickets here or message me directly at oh.ethereal.oracle@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
