Radical AnthropologyDec 23

We really ♥️ this piece from John Hawks on humans looking at the stars, especially how he picks up African #huntergatherer cosmologies on the link of the #Moon to #Menstruation 🩸

Right now I'm involved in one of the MOST important papers of my life with Hadza hunter-gatherer experts on Hadza beliefs and practice around menstruation, hunting and the moon.

The key here is no one understands Hadza #Epeme--their moon-scheduled ritual for healing and good hunting--unless they also understand menstrual beliefs and practice.

#anthropology #cosmology #blood

https://www.johnhawks.net/p/when-did-our-ancestors-start-looking-up-to-the-stars

When did our ancestors start looking up to the stars?

Changes in the sky have been important to peoples throughout the world. That connection may go back much further than our species.

John Hawks
Show threadRadical AnthropologyOct 28, 2024

@DoomsdaysCW
from my perspective the only 'original' religion is #Hadza #Epeme which thrives in darkness under a sparkling ethereal Milky Way. The entities of Epeme, a dark moon healing ritual, will of course be described by patriarchal so-called 'world religions' as demons and devils.

But Epeme is two orders of magnitude older than any of these recent inventions by farmers built on gender (and caste) hierarchy.

Only a few dozen or hundreds of people know about Epeme, and I am one of them, at least partly. A tenacious resilient group of #huntergatherers keep it going. In a court of law, I would identify as a celebrant of Epeme. And next year, if my health is good, I have the scintillating prospect of getting back to one of those healing rituals!

#anthropology #religion