A Witch's guide to menstruation
Hey Witches,
You know by now that I’m all about ritualising your life, and that goes for your cycles, too.
Being a Witch is all about celebrating our oneness with nature. But how can we be one with nature if we’re disconnected from our own natural cycles?
Many of us have a complicated relationship with our bodies and in particular our menstrual cycles. As soon as we started bleeding, the patriarchy made us believe our blood — quite literally the blood of life — was somehow shameful, dirty, and wrong.
So we learnt to hide and shun that part of ourselves. We felt the need to prove that we can be like men. That we can do everything they can and more — even when we’re menstruating.
In doing so, we disconnected ourselves from the ebbs and flows of our bodies’ natural rhythms — and from the source of our innate power.
Plus, being a person who menstruates in a world that’s always “on” is downright inconvenient. The pain, emotional distress, bloating, leaking, and general life disruption often force us to slow down. This can make us feel less-than, not good enough.
From blessing to curse
But it wasn’t always this way. Long ago, before menstruation became known as “The Curse”, our ancestors understood and celebrated the sacred power of female blood.
The fact that women could bleed without dying seemed magickal to them. And they also knew that a woman’s intuitive and psychic powers were heightened during this time.
This was one of the reasons women would withdraw to Red Tents — to be taken care of by their sisters and channel messages from the Divine.
Therefore, menstruating women were honoured as divine beings. And unlike now, when many men balk at the idea of sex with a bleeding woman, it was considered an excellent time for sacred lovemaking and manifestation using potent sexual energy.
(Image credit: Trisha Thompson Adams)
Is PMS real?
The hormonal dip that occurs at our moontime is bound to cause changes in our mood and bodies. This is part of the natural process of menstruation and our cyclical nature.
The problem is that many of us experience extreme versions of these symptoms — extremely painful cramps, depression, cystic acne, and more. These are symptoms of being out of balance, of pushing and forcing our bodies beyond their natural limits, instead of riding the waves and flowing with our hormones.
Reclaiming the sacred cycle
Everything in nature is cyclical. Some say that even the Universe itself was born, will die, and will be born again.
Every month, our bodies remind us that we are a microcosm of the Universe. Every month, we experience death and rebirth.
I’ve been trying to honour my cycle through my lifestyle for a while now, but it’s not always easy. Birthdays, deadlines, and everything in between fall when they fall, whether you’re PMSing or not.
And the hard truth I’ve realised is that the world doesn’t care if you’re on your period. Even though half the population bleeds, we operate following masculine rhythms. We’re expected to do everything a man does and more, every single day of our cycle.
But pushing through, as we’re taught to do, leaves us feeling burnt out and frustrated. We can’t understand why we’re not functioning at full capacity. It’s no wonder we end up feeling not good enough.
But if we allow ourselves to inhabit the fullness of our feminine energy, we start to realise our cycles are not our weakness but our strength. If instead of trying to be more like men, we embrace our ebbs and flows, we can tap into a power more immense than anything we could have imagined. It may even help to reduce some of the more extreme symptoms of PMS.
Rituals for reconnecting to your cycle
Cycle tracking
The best way to start connecting with your cycle is to start tracking it. This will help you establish a deeper connection with your body, and the longer you do it, the easier it will become to align with your natural energies.
Journaling
Our intuition is stronger when we’re bleeding as this is the time we are most connected with our inner world.
Journal about your dreams, visions, ideas, or intuitive nudges. You never know what magick they might contain.
Rest
If you want to ritualise your rest, consider creating a “womb cocoon” — your own private Red Tent within your home.
Find a corner and fill it with cozy cushions and blankets. If you want, use the colour red to connect with the energy of your blood. Curl up with a book or movie, a hot water bottle, and your favourite drinks and snacks — and you’re good to go!
Meditate
Since your psychic abilities are heightened at this time, your channel is more open and clear to receive Divine guidance. Meditation can help quiet the mind to allow that guidance to come through.
Make an offering to Gaia
A lot of us are still squeamish about our sacred blood, and that’s okay. You won’t undo thousands of years of oppression overnight. But if you want to reclaim the power of your blood, you might want to consider offering it to the Earth.
There is an ancient Hopi prophecy that states, "when the women give their blood back to the earth, men will come home from war and earth shall find peace.”
To make your offering, collect your blood in a mooncup and dilute it with water. Find a tree, plant, or natural place for your ritual.
Give thanks to the Earth, Gaia, or Divinity for this sacred process in your body. Then pour your blood into the Earth, knowing that it will nourish new life.
Free bleeding
Again, only if you feel ready for this one. We’re so used to stopping our blood with tampons and pads that simply allowing ourselves to bleed is still a huge taboo. But free bleeding can be a powerful way to connect you to your body more deeply.
Breast massage
Use this simple breast massage ritual at any time of the month — daily if you want — to create a deeper and more loving connection with your body. It helps to release negative feelings towards your body while opening your heart and creating a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.
Yoga poses for reconnecting to your body and cycle
Utkata konasana (goddess pose)
Supta badha konasana (reclining goddess pose)
Malasana (squat pose)
Salamba bhujangasana (sphinx pose)
Ushtrasana (camel pose)