Hi chaps (and lest I be deemed sexist, chapesses!)
I have not the slightest idea of menstrual cycles, (well I once took part in a piece of research on synchronization of cycles in student households, on the stats/number crunching end - we found no correlation - ditto another piece of research on arrests and full moons, ditto a lengthy study on violent incidents and lunar cycles in secure units of a mental hospital - no correlation - but all the women, satff and police believed there was one, even when we demonstrated statistically the contrary) but I do have one vague thought...
The Red Moons 7 day cycle is an epicycle. We might not see yet the mystic significance of the 28 day cycle, but there may be one. I believe Theyalan months have 5 weeks = 35 days? I'm not sure, as my calendar is at my friends house. Yet in our world female cycles and lunar cycles do not agree with months? Anyway, a lunar week is an epicycle within larger cycles - week, month,season, year. The Theyalans had mystical reasons for them, and the Ernaldans use that calendar, and I assume they know best. It strikes me that otherwise ones state of fertility would be the same on a given Ernaldan festival each year, whereas in fact the Loom House Mysteries may reflect this natural cycle and include slightly varying roles or chants or whatever each festival. Dunno. Not a woman, but I can see this being involved somehow?
Anyway, with magical contraception adjusting cycles, hormonal imbalances, pco, and other common gynaecological issues would be simple, and probably taught as minor common magics to Ernaldans, or under the Ernalda specialised religion keyword? Regardless the planned parenthood allowed by fertility magics would significantly increase the social role of women, who strike me a a pretty liberated free thinking and powerful lot in Glorantha. And sexism would die fast, as those who espouse it get a good kicking from justly wrathful Vingans.
YGMV, but from my brief glance at Heortling marriage customs, radical equality but separate spheres of influence strike me as normative. Besides, I see to much sexism and denigration of women in RL, and while I might stop short of Dworkin the Babeestor Gor, I can leave gender politics to he real world. In my fantasy escapism there is conflict between men and women, but it is over things far more subtle and mythic than crude sexism.
Not thought about this much, but as I want to play a woman in Fire Tribe to examine Heortling society from a different angle, and I have not done that before, I was just thinking through these issues when I returned to this list and found the Cycles debate. Sorry if this has all already bensaid, playing catch up.
:) No offence intended!
cj x
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