Monday, October 1, 2012

Meet Our Models: Shakti

Meet our newest model, Shakti
 Between my family's matter-of-fact attitude towards life, and my little brothers being in almost constant need of a diaper / pamper change, I was aware of the way of things - of the Yoni, and the Lingham, and that the union of the two (between "adults who love each other") gives way to joy and to life - at a relatively young age. And in my mind, that was just the fact and function of the universe. So when I "blossomed" at twelve, I accepted it as the way of life, and did my best to ignore the jeers of clueless boys and jealous girls. And when I started my period at 14, it came as little surprise. So while my mother cried and my grandmother bade me "Welcome to Womanhood", I took the tears and hugs and ridiculously large Maxi pads in stride, because that was just the way things worked..... except for my they didn't.
By the time I was 16 my cycles (when they came) last anywhere from 2months to, at one point, an entire year. And after being clinically deflowered for the purpose of an intra-cervical ultrasound, I was informed that I have an extremely "profound" case of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.  To absorb the fact that you may never have children is alot to handle at 16. And for me, whose passion is children, it was devastating. I took it very cynically, and adopted the idea that I was only marginally a woman because I was "broken". And it ate at me for years; until  I met one of the most enlightened souls I know. He (yes, he) was the assistant pastor of my mother's congregation at the time, and in the course of me requesting prayer for my "brokenness" he told me one of the most touching things I've ever had the blessing to hear. He insisted that I was not broken at all, nowhere near it in fact. And he told me that, he believed, I was created the way I am so that through my circumstance the miracle of motherhood might be made even more profound. That my children (whether birthed or adopted) would be living proof of the miraculousness of femininity; of a woman's ability not only to create, but to foster and to love.
That was almost 6 years ago. Since then I have married my high school sweetheart, and we are well on our way to making those words a reality, with out even thinking about it. I would be lying if I told you I kept their healing power in my mind on a daily basis. I don't. By the Grace of the Divine I've come to a place in my life where I no longer need to. And I'm just a little ashamed to admit that, for quite some time now, I had completely forgotten about everything that I went through to get where I am. And I know that I couldn't have done any of it with out the empowering guidance of those words from a near stranger 6 years ago. And looking at VLL I decided that if I could pass them on to just one other woman, who feels ( or felt) like I used to that maybe, in some small way, my "brokenness" my truly mean something. Because I know what it feels like to despise your body, but I also know what it feels like to be able to look back and smile even though it's not necessarily better. And that is my sincerest wish for every female out there who is, or ever had been hurting because of their femininity. I want you to know that regardless of what you look like, or what you circumstance is that you are a perfect living embodiment of the miracle that is all things feminine.
~Shakti

Monday, September 24, 2012

20% Off for a Nuff Nuff!

Hey there, Ladies! 
My esteemed business partner and most bestest friend had a seizure Friday night. 
We made a mad dash to the emergency vet, they ran some tests and we have pretty much been jumping between vets everyday since (thank goodness for Sunday not being a work day...)

This has left us beyond broke; and we wouldn't take it back for the world.
But, to help us pay for the next looming vet visit, a possible surgery and to just get through this month being able to pay rent we are having a NuffNuff sale! 

Everything is 20% off, just use code: nuffnuff!

If you would like to help but are not able to buy anything we set up a donation link for Nuff Nuff.  










Update: We are still taking him to the vet every week and refilling prescriptions, which is a bit expensive and stressful. BUT, slowly his red blood cell count is going up. When he was first in the emergency vet it was at 2.7, then dropped to 2.5. Now it is at 3.8! 
It needs to be at 4.8, so we have a little way to go, but we are getting there! 

Thank you SO much everyone for all of your help. Really. I can't say it enough.




Monday, September 3, 2012

Menstrual Taboos in Hinduism: Menstrual Monday


Menstrual Taboos in Hinduism 

Every culture has it's own taboos and rituals that revolve around menstruation. 
Its Monday, I'm Menstruating and I just got done whipping up some Indian food. 
So, my mind somehow went to Hinduism and menstruation. 

So, I thought I would take a peek at some of the menstrual taboos you can find in Hinduism.
This is NOT an attack on Hinduism at all. Every culture/religion has its own taboos regarding menstruation, mine included {that should be a fun Menstrual Monday}. This was just something I was interested in learning a little bit about while I ate my yummy samosa... or several of them.  
sign in front of a Hindu Temple







  1.  The law of Manu states that a Brahman, while eating, should not look at a menstruating woman.  
  2. The Vŗddhahārt-smŗti states that a wife had to be burned alive if on her husband’s death, she was menstruating.
  3. The onset of menstruation brings to a woman’s body an openness to shakti, life energy that is viewed as intentional, powerful allure in vulva and breast that can also be harmful if it is not controlled. This power when contained creates an orderly, functional, and joyous world; or when it is out of control it can literally burn the house down.
  4. Hindu women are considered to be impure during menstruation, and might pollute others who come into contact with them. To keep from polluting male relatives, a woman could not touch them for 13 days. Once married, a woman should sleep separately from her husband during menstruation. The same no-touch rule applies. 
  5. To protect others from perceived contamination, Hindu menstruating women have to use separate utensils for eating and drinking. They also need to wash their clothes separately and themselves.
  6. Cooking was prohibited for almost all Hindu women in India and Nepal during menstruation.  Girls during their menstruation are considered 'impure' and hence are not allowed to enter the kitchen. It was also believed that food would go bad if a menstruating woman handled it.
  7. In the Vyāsa, menstruating women only can lie on the ground, eat once at night, and are not able to speak or move.
  8. Menstrual seclusion rites as recorded over the last few centuries typically include three basic taboos: the menstruating women must not see light, she must not touch water, and she must not touch earth.
  9. Attending to a visitor is banned for menstruating women. Some Hindu women are additionally not permitted to wear new clothes or look at themselves in a mirror.
  10. The main taboo for Hindu women during menstruating is that they cannot worship: a girl should not visit a temple or offer prayer to God while she is menstruating. According to these beliefs and customs a girl who has periods is impure and hence, should not touch anything that shall be given as an offering to God. They also cannot take part in the religious ceremonies 
  11. It is so said that a girls during their menstruation should not touch pickles . According to the Hindu myths if they do so the pickle rots away.
  12. Basil plants are considered to be holy in Hinduism, hence girls during their periods are not allowed to touch them. They cannot even let their shadows fall on the plant during this time- if she does, according to the myths, the basil plant dies.  
While these taboos range in the level of restriction put on menstruating women from no cooking or physical touch all the way to no anything but lying down- I have to say- I am in agreement with the idea that women's Uteri have the capacity to both create a joyous world or, you know, burn houses down.

;)

Friday, August 31, 2012

Vulva's Out and About in August!

Here are all of the customer pics we got this month! 
Now: the time has come to vote on the most awesome/creative/made me smile photo.

To cast your vote just leave the pic number in the comments.


The winner will be receiving a Vulva Doodle! One that I drew on something I randomly happened upon somewhere in my house. An awesome something {awesome bc there is a Vulva on it!}

3

1
 
2


6
4
5


                                       
                                             7

Looks like #2 took it this month! 
So, I'm mailing her a Vulva Doodle I made... 
For her fridge


Vulva


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Some love for our Dandelion Breast Lotion: Recovering from a surgery gone wrong and some SERIOUS body love

I got this in my inbox and I had to share it! 
Im still all teary eyed and warm inside

"I just want to share a story with you. A few weeks ago, I ordered a mini care kit from you. 2 years ago I had breast surgery... that went VERY WRONG. After almost 2 years of recovering, I was finally ok enough to go back to normal life. But... my right breast is nothing more than a mass of scar tissue. Nothing I have used on it has helped soften the scar tissue. NOTHING. Till I started using your breast lotion. The scars will never go away and my right breast will forever be deformed... but your lotion has softened the tough, completely unelastic tissue. Enough to make it FEEL more like breast tissue. It's the best I've gotten things since this nightmare ruined my life... and I don't know how to thank you. Really. I will hopefully be able to convince you to sell more when I run out. It's really helped me... reconnect with my breasts. The breasts I have cried over for 2 years now, refused to look at, and hated. Your lotion gave me a reason to reconnect with my own body, and give it some MUCH NEEDED love. Thank you with all my heart."

This was my response: 
oh *******! I love you, you know that? It is ok if I share this? I am so happy and humbled. Every woman deserves to feel connected to her amazing, beautiful body. The scars just prove that you fought harder than most of us to lay claim to that amazing, beautiful body. That makes it even more valuable. ♥

Then I cried some more...


Monday, August 13, 2012

Meet our Models: Rae

Meet Rae





I was told to ask questions if I had them.
        (it was not for other people.)
    to wait.
        (it was special.)

I was never told it was wrong.
        (not to look.)
    it was disgusting.
        (not to touch.)

Still--
that’s what I heard.

I thought it was dirty.
        (made me tainted.)
     something to hide.
        (made me less than whole.)

I was not raised to feel this way.

First: there was my best friend.
Through her, I learned another side.
        (struggled with my identity.)
I learned it wasn't unusual.
        (felt sick and confused and dissociated.)
I learned about myself physically.
        (displaced from what I knew and unable to discuss it.)
I learned how to orgasm.
    I found I wasn't less than at all.

Now there is him.
    (a new friend, but still close.)
I know where I stand with my sexuality.
I am not bound by labels or pressures.
    (Nothing is lost.)
No magic button or switch decreases my value.

Still--
I get overwhelmed and disgusted.
The old judgments come pouring back in.
I crash.
I didn't wait.
(twice.)


Am I going to get hurt?
        (going to get sick?)
    easy?
        (losing myself?)
Am I throwing away my self-worth?

Many times I was warned of
        STDs.
    pregnancy.
        emotions.
    broken friendships.
        losing this magical thing that keeps me whole.

But, no.

Stop.



I deliberated.
I decided.
    They helped me.
    It was not thoughtless.
        (careless.)
        something to scratch an itch.

So, why do I think this way?
    Because there were two?
        Because I didn’t wait?
            (not supposed to think this way.)
    putting down a good thing because it isn’t “right.”

Wasn’t it right?
    It’s like I’ve forgotten how much I considered.
        (agonized.)
    mulled over the possibilities.
        (consequences.)

I chose.
I analyzed, calculated, and I chose.

Weren’t they
both special.
both valuable.
both memorable.
    and meaningful to me.

And haven’t I become
    more aware of myself as a person and a woman.
        no longer held back by fear of failure and the unforeseen.
more accepting of people and new situations.
conscious of my own needs.

I am not broken.

Good experiences.
Helpful experiences.
Wonderful experiences
    tainted by a societal idea:
        Multiple partners before marriage?
            That’s a “no-no.”

But that’s not the case.
They were a gateway.
(not a substitute for self-worth.)

I am whole in myself.
I am capable of making good choices.
I am able to overcome challenges.
(and, I am able to do it on my own.)

I am of immeasurable worth.
(no regrets.)