We Made Our Own Huppah

The week I was to marry Mark, I went to the Milkvah for the first time. On this day I said good-bye to being single and enter into my new status as a married woman. We call this Living Water, the same Living Waters our foremothers bathed  in.

The Monday before our Wedding, a friend allowed me to use her pond for my Milkvah They have a lovely Rock formation with running water.

It was a cloudly day and Mark and I had a fuss that morning. Wedding neves were kicking in and we were doing  a lot of fussing at each other.

My friends had left the fence unlocked for I could get in. As I undressed, the sun came out and the weather warmed up.

I quietly slipped into the pool and then under the running water, I said the blessing and immersed myself into the living water. I went into the Living Water, dying to my old life and came out fresh, reborn and renew. I have left the House of the Single Woman and now set apart as Mark's wife and mother to his chidlren, if it be the Holy One's Will.

I could His Spirit not only covering me, but filling me. A Holy moment.

When I redressed, the sun went back into hiding and the clouds returned....

Later, that week, Mark brought me a Day at the Spa. It was both my birthday gift and a destresser from all of the wedding plan.

This prepared me for my next step...

Henna

Henna has many names including mehndi, menhadi, mehendi, mehedi, mendi, and mendika, with many others not mentioned. (Roome 3) The henna plant is actually not a plant but a flowering shrub or small tree, that was originally found in Australia, Asia, and along the Mediterranean coasts of Africa. Although, it can be found in India and can be grown in some places in the United States. It is sometimes called or known as the Migonette tree or the Egyptian privet. (Roome 2) The henna plant grows from eight to ten feet tall, a lot of times it is found surrounding Indian homes, gardens, and yards for privacy purposes. (Roome 2) There are two major varieties of the Henna plant/shrub, the hina menhadi or menhada, that has very large leaves and the rajani, that has much smaller and more fragrant leaves and gives a much brighter color Henna paste. (Roome 3) The small flowers of the henna plant are white and are very aromatic. (Roome 2) As well as being used to make a paste, the flowers of the plant are so sweet smelling that they are, also used to make perfume.(Marron 70)

There are actually many medical uses of henna that many people do not know about, including its use as a deodorant. This due to its cooling effect that it has on the skin, acting as a tonic to relieve stomach pains, cures a sore throat, used to treat ringworm, sweaty hands, headaches, burning feet, and athlete's foot. It is also used as an antiseptic and an astringent, is applied to bruises and sprains, to kills lice, and is often used to color hair and beards. (Roome 3) Though these are all good medical uses of henna, there have also been bad medical problems associated with its use. One of the many problems with the applying of henna would be the threat of para-phenylenediamine or "pPD". pPD is usually added to henna to speed up the dying process and to improve the pattern definition, but has some serious side effects if taken internally or absorbed by the skin. These include respiratory distress, rhabdomyolysis, and renal failure, this drug is often used in attempted suicides. (Abdulla 1)

Due to the patterns and designs that are used in the different styles and variations, the art of henna painting is very often associated with grace, beauty, femininity, opportunity, and sensuality. Some of the symbols that are used to make this a true statement are the lotus flower, a mango fruit, and the sun, moon, and stars. (Roome 20) Even though henna is just now coming back in style, with thestars of Hollywood and the people of the world, it has really been in use for more than 5000 years ago. "The earliest evidence of cosmetic use of henna is from ancient Egypt and has been found on the hands of Egyptian mummies five thousand years old." (Roome 4)  If you want to learn more history about henna click here.

Henna is often used in the Middle East in religious ceremonies such as marriage, and almost everyone, whether they are a princess, or housewife is adorned in some way with henna. Even though henna has been around forever, it is just now coming to be popular in the United States, especially with the Hollywood stars, models and singers, such as Mira Sorvino, Demi Moore, Naomi Campbell, "The Artist", and the most popular . . . Madonna.   Henna is now circulating on to the everyday people of the United States. (Hubbard/Matsumoto 1) "The Queen of Sheba, when she went to meet Solomon, might have been wearing henna, but as there are no photos or forensic evidence, so no one can say conclusively that she did. However, several medieval paintings depict her as being hennaed on her journey to meeting Solomon, and at their first bedding" (http://www.tapdancinglizard.com/mehandi/stories.shtml) As said above the earliest evidence of the cosmetic use of henna is from ancient Egypt. The henna markings and designs have been found on the hands of Egyptian mummies that trace back to be 5000 years old. (Roome 4) Since henna is associated with love and marriage, the designs are an integral part of the adorning of the bride in several traditions, including Hindu, Moslem, and Sephardic. Even though many religions including Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Christian use henna in marriage ceremonies, many of the customs dealing with henna are the same. (Marron 74) At times no Eastern wedding tradition is complete without the decoration of the bride's hand and feet, sometimes up to the bottom half of the legs or all the way up to the elbow. (Mirza 7) For more information on how to prepare your own henna paste click here.

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