One of the major journeys I have been on this year is healing my menstrual cycle after quitting hormonal birth control in December. This journey has been two-fold; I am working toward regularity in my cycle, as well as addressing my mental health during the different phases of my cycle. In the past seven months, I have only menstruated three times. This season of adjustment and lack of normalcy has taught me about the sanctity of the menstrual cycle so I have been working on better understanding how it works, the effects it can have on the mind and body, and how I can create a deep connection to this beautiful and sacred rhythm.
One thing I have done to educate myself about my cycle is take Emma Robles’ In Tune With Your Moon course. I have been following Emma for many months now, if not yet a year, and I have enjoyed her content so much. When I saw that she was getting ready to begin the course in just a few days, I knew that it was something I needed to be a part of. It is definitely an investment, but it is an investment into lifelong knowledge, respect, and connection with my body. This course was so insightful for me in understanding the differences between the phases, the ways the mind and body change through each one, and how I can best support myself to maintain a healthy cycle and self. She goes into depth about the hormonal changes of each phase and gives great information about foods, herbs, and activities you can implement to nourish your body during these changes. I would strongly recommend finding a class like this or doing your own deep dive into this information to more deeply understand and connect to your cycle.
I also did some research into different ways that I could honor my cycle and my menstrual phase specifically. I was able to find lots of different rituals and ideas, some of which I was not comfortable with, such as ingesting my menstrual blood, free bleeding at night, or applying my menstrual blood to my face. It is important to find what works best for you and makes you feel connected and empowered. These are the ones that stood out to me the most, that I plan to implement in my own life.
Create a nest/cocoon
During my menstrual phase, it is extremely important for me to be as comfortable as possible. I like to keep my clothing loose and breathable, and I like to spend a lot of time lying down and resting. I think it is very important to have a space that you can go to when you need to recharge. For me, this is my bed, but this could be a special chair, a spot on the couch, a beanbag chair or mat on the floor, etc. Turn this space into a sanctuary full of soft, squishy, fluffy, and comfy items where you can snuggle up and relax during your bleed.
Wear red
The first person I had ever heard of doing this was Emma Robles and I didn’t get it at first. I didn’t like the idea of essentially wearing a sign that says “I’m bleeding!” But that’s not what it's about; it doesn’t have to be a loud, overt symbol of menstruation. You don’t have to announce it to the world. You can, if that’s what you’d like, but to me it’s more of a quiet way to honor the phase that I’m in. The world might be able to see whatever it is that you choose to wear, but its meaning can be known only by you. I think it’s really beautiful to adorn my body with the same color as the blood which signifies the healthy cycle I have worked so hard to support. I don’t really like to wear red clothing, but I really like the idea of wearing red jewelry, so I’m thinking of getting some red rings or maybe a necklace.
Here's an idea of what I've been interested in:
Give your blood back to the earth
This is something that might not be for everyone, but I enjoy the idea of this. This is something that might not be doable for everyone, depending on what types of menstrual products you use. I am making the switch from disposable pads to reusable pads and period panties. This could be done using menstrual cups as well. Next time I have my period I plan to wet my pad or panties with water and bring it outside to wring it out under a tree or in our garden. I am very excited to give back to Mother Earth what she has given to me.
Make love
This is not something that I have been doing recently or will probably be doing anytime soon, but it is something I have done in the past. I think, in this day and age when so many men are uneducated about and disturbed by menstruation, it is a special moment when you are able to come together with someone who is not afraid to get a little messy and can help you celebrate the beauty of your body. I also find that I am much more sensitive at this time, so it is an even more intense and pleasurable experience, which might be exactly what you need during this time of inner winter.
Have a welcome ceremony for your bleed
I have not yet practiced this, but I am excited to create a little ceremony for the first day of my bleed. From my own experience and what I have heard from other women, it seems that when we are younger our period feels more like a nuisance than anything else. Once we get older and become sexually active or just come to understand the beauty and sanctity of our cycle, the arrival of our bleed can be a relief or a momentous occasion. There is no feeling like the start of your period after praying it comes to let you know that you haven’t gotten pregnant this month, but I have never been more grateful for my period than these past few months as I have been adjusting from hormonal birth control. This past cycle, I actually spoke to my womb out loud, thanking her for bringing my period sooner than the cycle before, and expressed my love and care for her. I want to expand on this for future cycles, and I’m not exactly sure yet what that will look like, but I’m excited to share as it develops.
Nourish with potions and elixirs
One thing I like to do is make what I call my “morning potion.” It’s not something I make every day, but I really enjoy it when I do. I typically make a cup of ginger or orange tea, add some stevia and/or honey, and mix in whatever supplement I need. During my luteal phase, I might add in some chaste tree berry tincture, and in my menstrual phase, I might add some nettle, red raspberry leaf, or angelica. One thing I have also come across is pure cacao. Pure cacao has lots of healthy fats, which are great for hormone support, and contains magnesium which can be emotionally calming and ease period cramps. I love chocolate, and it’s one of the most popular period cravings, evidently for good reason. Pure cacao can be paired with any phase in our cycle to support us during the changes in our hormones throughout our cycle.
Create to nourish
The menstrual phase is a time to come back to ourselves and tap into our feminine energy. Feminine energy is all about creation, which is also associated with the sacral chakra, located right where our womb is. This can be the perfect moment to create without judgment and allow yourself to enter a flow state. Channel your menstrual experience through art, movement, song, or any other form of creation that feels right for you. Don’t force it. It’s a celebration of the feminine and can help you express the feelings of inner winter.
Release your emotions
During your luteal phase and into your menstrual phase, there may be a build-up of emotional pressure as your hormones are changing and plummeting. While it can feel overwhelming at times, it is not something to run from, but something to lean into. Open up your emotional valve and let some of that pressure go. It’s normal and very beneficial to cry. You might want to do this alone in your cocoon or go to someone who can support you as you release the pressure. The more you let it build, the more forcefully it will come out later.
Journal
One way you might want to release some emotions as well is through journaling. If you are feeling some overwhelming emotions, it might be helpful to write them out and get them out of your head. There are no rules about how this should look; you could write in a stream-of-consciousness style or follow prompts.
I have also just recently started what I call The Yoni Journal. This is a journal specifically dedicated to all things yoni, whether it be sex and masturbation, menstruation and my cycle, working through past sexual traumas, feelings about womanhood in general, or even manifestations. In this journal, I do some daily tracking, including my basal body temperature and symptoms throughout my cycle, as I have decided to move away from period-tracking apps. I plan to write a letter to my womb/yoni that expresses my devotion to them and our wellness together as a complete being. I have decorated this journal with some stickers and my own artwork to make this a special and sacred space to connect with my feminine energy. I am still working on setting it up and finding a flow with it, but I’m very excited to use it as a tool to connect with my body.
There is still a lot of work to be done in here. I am missing most of the information I want to have about each cycle phase, and I don't have much else in here either. It took me a while to get the monthly calendars set up and backfill all of my logged symptoms. I have lots of room to grow and learn about myself in these pages. :)
Menstruation and the feminine body are such beautiful and sacred creations that deserve to be honored and celebrated, rather than something to try to escape. Deepening your connection with your cycle and your bleed is a lifelong practice that can take many forms and evolve over time. How do you like to connect with your body and your cycle?
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