rites surrounding menstruation and sexual relations between husband and wife? - Page 2

[nicolelynn]

Originally Posted by holyhelianthus 

I have been thinking on this particular practice a lot lately as I have had a growing interest in the older laws of the Old Testament. Umsami could you maybe explain the why of this practice besides because it says so in holy scripture? I do understand that that reasoning is good enough but I am wondering if there is any ideas as to the why.

I'm guessing I am the only one who finds this particularly beautiful? Sacred sex, sacred fluids and all of that. I wouldn't make a Sunday dinner out of it but I can see it being a part of a very powerful ritual. But I'm odd like that.

I do find it interesting, not repulsive. Maybe a picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church? Christians throw that idea around flippantly, but my friend shared in our prayer meeting the other day that she was really pondering that God wants to be intimate with her in a passionate way. Perhaps partaking of that Eucharist causes your spirit to meditate on that fact. And that marriage and sex is sacrament just as the Eucharist is, each have equal power mystically speaking.
 

[SubliminalDarkness]

This is really interesting! I don't really want to add anything because I don't know how much of what I've heard is heresay and how much is actual doctrine. I was raised LDS(Mormon) and as far as I understand there aren't any specific rules about sex between a husband and wife. 

[PatienceAndLove]

Originally Posted by nicolelynn Also, I believe for protestants the marriage ceremony and paper from the state are over emphasized. Marriage before God IS the marriage bed. Sex is much more spiritual than we give it credit for, we are taught to fear it outside of marriage. I can't tell you how many Christians still have issues with sexual repression even after they are married because of this. On the contrary, DH and I read a book together before we were married called Sex 101. I was amazed that a "Christian" book encouraged discussing sex openly before marriage. It GREATLY helped DH and I to discuss and pray over this event and prepare for it spiritually and psychologically, rather than keep in hush hush until our wedding day. You rarely take part in other spiritual sacraments without learning, discussing and praying about and preparing for it.

I am a firm believer that God created sex, and religion has done a huge disservice by keeping it so hush hush and shameful.

For me, I feel no conviction about intercourse during menstruation. On the contrary, it draws me closer to DH knowing he is willing to share this with me, that I can always come to him even as I can now always come before God because of Christ...and never feel ashamed about the state of my body. I am in perfect union with him, just as I am in perfect union with Christ as His Bride. Scientifically, it also reduces cramping, headaches and releases endorphins. I don't think I am sinning if God is giving us these gifts. Also, in the New Testament Paul instructs us to "not deny each other except for a season of fasting and prayer"...he did not add in there, "and during menstruation".

DH and I were virgins when we got married, and I gave him my promise ring on our wedding night. In general I think the promise ring movement is skewed, but it was very much symbolic and a ritual for me that night. We also prayed together before our first time.

Again, those are just my personal musings from my faith path...I don't mean to judge. In all I am much more tolerant of all paths, even Christians that I don't agree with. I realize we each feel the need to do things different or even similar things for entirely different reasons. Such as my close friends who are Quiverfull, and DH and I who believe all Christians should adopt and not have biokids...yet we realize God has called us to each of these things to grow our faith in entirely different ways.

In the Catholic Church, it is taught that until the marriage is conssumated, the sacrament has not fully occurred.

There is a fantastic book called "The Good News About Sex and Marriage" and "Holy Sex" that talk about the sacredness of sex.  I think there is a loss of sacredness when it comes to the marital embrace.

Thanks for the lovely thoughts!

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by SubliminalDarkness 

This is really interesting! I don't really want to add anything because I don't know how much of what I've heard is heresay and how much is actual doctrine. I was raised LDS(Mormon) and as far as I understand there aren't any specific rules about sex between a husband and wife. 

There were. For a few decades there oral sex was out of the question. It was one of the questions in the temple recommend interview "do you have oral sex?". Yeah. And sodomy is pretty much an unspoken no-no. BDSM is the same. Also no cursing. But it's so hard to know what is doctrine and what is LDS culture. The oral sex thing was obviously considered doctrine to the church at one time. 

[SubliminalDarkness]

Originally Posted by holyhelianthus 

There were. For a few decades there oral sex was out of the question. It was one of the questions in the temple recommend interview "do you have oral sex?". Yeah. And sodomy is pretty much an unspoken no-no. BDSM is the same. Also no cursing. But it's so hard to know what is doctrine and what is LDS culture. The oral sex thing was obviously considered doctrine to the church at one time. 

I guess that's the thing.... I remember hearing that birth control was prohibited, but then learned later that it wasn't actually doctrine coming from the general authorities. it was just something people interpreted into the beliefs, kind of like caffeinated sodas. 
 

[rhianna813]

The religion is Thelema and the main ceremony where the eucharist is offered is the Gnostic Mass. The crackers are made in a kitchen - no they are not mass produced. These particular wafers (completely baked) are only consumed by the Priest himself and usually made by him. The blood is usually his own (prick of the finger) but can also be a minute drop of menstrual blood OR menstrual blood/semen from sex. Any menstrual blood would be obtained from a willing donor: his wife or lover. It is very common for this to also be the Priestess in the ceremony.

These wafer crackers are not given or consumed by the congregation. They are given different wafers. And yes I asked because I was not cool with those ingredients being given to people without their knowledge.

But related... I only had a small peak at some of text talkng directly about using the mixture of menstrual blood and semen in magic or ritual. To me it does seem to be related to concept of Heiros Gamos (sacred marriage).

Rhianna
 

Originally Posted by elisheva 

Rhianna - I have no words. Well, I do, but they aren't tolerant and inclusive :) Which religion is this part of? Where are these crackers made? For the love of all that's good, where to they get the  "supplies"?

[monkeyscience]

Originally Posted by SubliminalDarkness 

This is really interesting! I don't really want to add anything because I don't know how much of what I've heard is heresay and how much is actual doctrine. I was raised LDS(Mormon) and as far as I understand there aren't any specific rules about sex between a husband and wife. 

The current Church handbook states that "The Lord’s law of chastity is abstinence from sexual relations outside of lawful marriage and fidelity within marriage. Sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife." (found here) It also says, "Married couples should also understand that sexual relations within marriage are divinely approved not only for the purpose of procreation, but also as a way of expressing love and strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife." (here) There isn't anything about the specific timing of intercourse allowed, and nothing about any specific rituals involved.