She's definitely a diva

The first time I heard about it was in 2009 during my yoga teacher training program.  I was introduced to so many things - dry brushing, oil pulling, neti pot, and the diva cup.

The latter appealed to me the most, for obvious reasons, until I was told exactly what that was.

Huh; you mean you have to dump out the contents and re-insert it????

Yeah, this "diva cup" also know as a "menstrual cup" is a reusable silicon material that you insert into your vagina during  your monthly flow.  It can stay in for up to 12 hours and can replace the need for tampons and pads.

I was intrigued, but not quite sold yet.  The cost is not prohibitive since you will not have to buy pads ever again each month, but at the time I was like $30-$40 was more than I was willing to budget for this month's cycle.  And when ever I had the disposable income, I had a whole box of pads to get rid of.

A number of years went by and each month I bought my obligatory allotment of tampons and pads, but always curious about one day trying the cup.

Last year while living in "witch country" Massachusetts I was introduced to young women who were exploring this novel idea of loving and appreciating our monthly menses.  I was receptive because I did not understand why I had such a negative reaction to this event that happens like clockwork for over half my life.  Of course not knowing when it was coming and being "surprised" on the day I wore white as I walked away from this tall, dark, handsome fellow does not help to create positive feeling about something that can feel so damning.

But that was years ago, at least a decade, and now I was becoming a pro at predicting when my cycle was coming, and I had to give it to Aunt Flo, she was always kind to me.  Despite the pms's week long bloating, I had a very mild cycle - no debilitating cramps or missed cycles; I was quite blessed.

So with this new awareness I was willing to listen to these witches, I mean liberated women, discuss the beauty and mystic of the flow.  And I was hooked.  I began reading about the power that is generated from the feminine energy when we are bleeding; how this energy would emanate power that frighten men, hence this ridiculous idea that women must be separated from mix groups.

I was encourage to look at the menses, touch it, taste it (although I will not admit to whether I tasted it or not), be comfortable with it's freedom out of the body.

And I was not alone.  This summer a huge deal was made about the woman who was running a marathon and her period started, and she kept running (God forbid!).  Our curiosity of what for so long has been deemed taboo is forcing us to tap into unchartered waters of self love. During this last year I've been having an intimate love affair with my menstrual cycle.  Charting when she arrives, how long she stays, how many days in between the next.  Although there is regularity she still likes to keep me on my toes.  I have yet to identify a pattern with my period, and I sort of like that.  It speaks so much to my own personality.  Routine is desired, but I can't help but rebel into spontaneity.  So this month I was a little surprised that my period came the same day as it did last month and the month before.  (TMI - I'm curious if it was all the good loving I was getting from my boyfriend when I went to visit him in late August that created this regularity...)

But I digress...

And so it arrived last night, which lead me to the local health food and natural products store and asked for the diva cup.  The young lady was not familiar with it, but she was able to direct me to the area where she thought it should be.  And there it was; two sizes - pink for women under 30 or who have not had a baby, and blue for women over 30 or who have had a baby. 
Since my yoni has not been stretched to those limits, yet, I went with the pink.

The instructions were simple enough.  Since my journey into all things my vagina, I was quite familiar with all the folds and holes to navigate.  I also use a jade or yoni egg so inserting large things in my vaginal canal is not unusual.

Upon washing the cup and inserting it in, I did add a pad, just in case I did not do it right.  I got a little concern about whether I inserted it horizontally enough.  It did not feel terribly weird or foreign.  Of course I've used tampons in the past and it felt like the first time I began using them; for the first half an hour you are aware that something is hanging outside of your vagina, but after a while it becomes normal.

I went to bed, slept with it, no problem, and woke up the next morning with clean sheets (this is rare, it does not matter how I position the pad in my panties, I always end up with some type of spot or blot.).

I'm glad that I did add that extra level of protection, because that pad came in handy.  When I went to empty it, which was pretty simple and easy, it was full to the brim.  (turn away if you are skirmish around gooey things)

It was quite liquid, bright blood red, and surprising did not have that distinct period smell.  I'm convenience it must be chemicals in the pad that helps with absorption that mixes with the blood to cause that smell. Anyway, I dumped it in the toilet, rinsed and washed it with soap, and squeezed it back in.

I was not completely sure if it would be enough so I put on a new pad.  Viola, all day I was protected.  I emptied the cup about three times.  Each time I was not even half way full, and mind you, this is my heaviest day.  I spent time looking at it, in awe of it actually, and confident that I truly am a diva.  A master of my own universe.  A conqueror of the unknown, a warrior queen uninhibited by the natural flow of my body.  I am a woman!  Proud and magnificent.  Literally I felt all those things as I slide my diva cup snuggly back in place.