 
"Flowering Woman - Moontime for Kory", is the story
of a girl's rites of passage into womanhood. It deals with the
issues of sex, pregnancy, passion, menstruation and adulthood in
a most beautiful, delicate and profound way," according to
Publishers Weekly.
Kory's first "moontime" or menstrual period is
celebrated by her mother and the village women. They help her
feel special about her body and its natural biological changes.
The wise village grandmothers remind Kory of the sacredness of
being a woman and the responsibility of
 bringing forth new life. Through their
kind and loving words, they set Kory on the path to adulthood and
give her gifts that will enhance her unique talents and
abilities.
This book - the first of its kind on the market - offers a
sweet story that celebrates menstruation. "It's meant to be
shared and it lends itself to discussion," says Librarian
Joan Duke. "it brings back some of the ancient values of
other cultures into our modern-day world."
"Many parents and teachers," says Barclay,
"haven't known how to talk to their children about basic
biology. We're so cut off from the normal, natural functions of
life that we can't offer our children healthy explanations for
their biological changes. When parents are uncomfortable
discussing topics of aides, pregnancy, menstruation and sex with
their children that "uncomfortableness" is what the
kids pick up.
"Most tribal cultures are more connected to the natural
rhythms of life. They have a profound respect for nature, God and
life itself and tend to impart these deep values to their
children in their everyday way of living."
Ms. Barclay's career started as a teacher in a small Inuit
village in Arctic Alaska. An experience she says helped her to
see the connection we have to vast cycles of nature, life and the
cosmos and the simplicity of birth-life-death that everything
shares.
"Women have forgotten how to nurture themselves,"
Barclay continues. "We're all so busy with children,
marriage, church and career that we forget about ourselves. The
tradition of "moontime" or our monthly cycle offers
women a time to be still, rest, pray, meditate and
 regenerate. Tribal cultures consider
woman's time as a sacred, and powerful pathway to greater
understanding God, self and family. In many languages the word
for God, sacred, moon, blood, menstruation, and taboo are the
same word.
At least forty percent of the women in our culture suffer from
PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome). There are over 150 minor to major
symptoms ascribed to PMS...headache and irritability to acts of
violence. The cause of PMS is still unknown. The so called
"hormonal imbalance" during a woman's menses or
"moontime," according to Native American traditions
opens the intuitive side of the brain to wisdom and insights that
benefit the woman, her family and her tribe. It is hence the
"cure" not the "curse," explains Barclay.
After reading "Flowering Woman - Moontime for Kory,"
a Seattle business woman wrote us saying: "I was feeling so
bad, I wanted to leave my office, go home, eat bonbons and watch
the  soaps. I went home, laid
down on the couch and was quiet. I thought I fell asleep, and
awoke in an hour with a brilliant idea. I went back to the
office, put the idea into action with a phone call and made a
very lucrative sale. Taking time out for my "moontime"
not only helps me and my business, my husband and children say
that I am easier to be around."
A single father wrote saying, "Your book is the answer to
my prayer. My daughter is 8 going on 18. I didn't know how to
talk to her about becoming a woman, much less approach the issues
of sex, passion and pregnancy. Your book gave me the language
that I needed to talk to my daughter. Reading and discussing your
beautiful story together has deepened our relationship."
Author Shinan Barclay believes that there is a connection
between many of the issues that are facing people and the planet.
"There are many crisis situations that face us. Aides,
pollution, teen pregnancy and suicide, battered women and
children. Our status seeking, materialistic lifestyles cause a
great deal of unnecessary stress. We all need to re-examine our
personal and collective values. We need to learn how to nurture
ourselves, each other and the planet. One way women can begin to
do this is to just allow themselves some time, even an hour or
two each month, to do something that deeply nurtures them,"
Barclay concludes.
 There is a
growing body of research that indicates PMS can be greatly
lessened, if not eliminated entirely, by a woman observing and
honoring her "moontime."
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