About Moondays

I had a fairly normal middle-class life growing up in the 60s in Long Island, New York. Normal until the age of 12 when my mother had a stroke, survived, and became psychotically bi-polar. We never had a close relationship to begin with and her mental illness pushed us further away. I didn’t have any sisters, caring grandmothers, or close aunts. I had three female cousins who were obnoxious to me. My self-esteem suffered as a result. The only helpful close females I had in my life were three good friends. I was grateful for them, but yearned for more women in my life.
Being somewhat empathic, I have long felt the collective pain of women suffering in our society. Living in our patriarchal culture we have a lot to contend with: we get abused -- physically and emotionally -- ignored, disrespected, etc. Many of us don’t have the female support system that can be so beneficial in nurturing and bolstering ourselves. I certainly didn’t as a kid. Throughout my adult life, I still felt lacking. I was never able to figure out how to have more women in my life until I read the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.
The Red Tent inspired me to begin leading circles and facilitating women’s gatherings in 2014. These spaces have been a powerful part of my own journey—bringing more women into my life and deepening my connection to my feminine strengths. I’ve grown less afraid to shine my light, and I now strive to inspire other women to embrace personal growth and be in meaningful community. Women need each other. We are stronger together. And if we hope to dismantle the patriarchy and heal the planet, we must join hands.
My experience with women’s gatherings also inspired me to conceive a vision of a brick-and-mortar business model based on the concept of bringing women together so they could always have a community to support them. The pandemic put this dream of brick-and-mortar Red Tents on hold as I continue to run my gem and mineral store, The Fossil Cartel, that I founded in 1989. If I can attract a team to help, plus some funding, I do believe it’s still possible. I know the world needs it and I also know women still crave it, so I continue to dream….
If you are Interested in helping fulfill this dream, please contact me. And if you’d like to support the cause in general, or attend one of our ongoing Red Tent gatherings, subscribe to my email list and share the website, FB, Instagram (moondaysportland,) Meetup and Pinterest pages with your friends.
Thank you so much,
Susan Landa
503-577-4708
[email protected]
Being somewhat empathic, I have long felt the collective pain of women suffering in our society. Living in our patriarchal culture we have a lot to contend with: we get abused -- physically and emotionally -- ignored, disrespected, etc. Many of us don’t have the female support system that can be so beneficial in nurturing and bolstering ourselves. I certainly didn’t as a kid. Throughout my adult life, I still felt lacking. I was never able to figure out how to have more women in my life until I read the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.
The Red Tent inspired me to begin leading circles and facilitating women’s gatherings in 2014. These spaces have been a powerful part of my own journey—bringing more women into my life and deepening my connection to my feminine strengths. I’ve grown less afraid to shine my light, and I now strive to inspire other women to embrace personal growth and be in meaningful community. Women need each other. We are stronger together. And if we hope to dismantle the patriarchy and heal the planet, we must join hands.
My experience with women’s gatherings also inspired me to conceive a vision of a brick-and-mortar business model based on the concept of bringing women together so they could always have a community to support them. The pandemic put this dream of brick-and-mortar Red Tents on hold as I continue to run my gem and mineral store, The Fossil Cartel, that I founded in 1989. If I can attract a team to help, plus some funding, I do believe it’s still possible. I know the world needs it and I also know women still crave it, so I continue to dream….
If you are Interested in helping fulfill this dream, please contact me. And if you’d like to support the cause in general, or attend one of our ongoing Red Tent gatherings, subscribe to my email list and share the website, FB, Instagram (moondaysportland,) Meetup and Pinterest pages with your friends.
Thank you so much,
Susan Landa
503-577-4708
[email protected]