Tania - Wild Weaver Of Feminine Alchemy
How to develop menstruation rituals in the modern-day
Menstruation was once deeply revered as a deeply sacred event by our ancestors. Throughout history, different cultures have regarded menstruating women as incredibly sacred and blessed with the ability to heal, protect, or bridge higher levels of awareness. Due to the connection of the cycle to the moon phases, menstruating women were believed to harness great ‘shamanic’ and spiritual power. Despite much of the knowledge being suppressed, distorted, and lost, some cultures and individuals still honour this.
Traditionally, women would sync their periods to bleed with the New Moon. As the sky turns dark, it signifies a time of reflection, of setting new intentions, of planting new seeds. The female body is doing the same physically by shedding, releasing, and replenishing layers to prepare for the next cycle.
Your body is intuitively telling you to be more in harmony with your cyclical nature by craving solitude to rest and recharge. Leaning into this more will allow you to stay in tune with your body throughout your cycle and enhance your well-being.
Taking time to nurture and care for yourself during menstruation can strengthen your connection with yourself. Respecting your own body brings confidence and a deeper sense of self-love. These tips will help you take care of yourself, nourish yourself, and recharge while menstruating.
Rest and Allow Space to Go Inward
The concept of menstruation is often misunderstood in our culture because we are very masculine-oriented, driven by work and success. As a result nowadays, it can feel challenging to find time and space for solitude, sacred pauses, and inner reflection. Plus, the need for rest is often viewed as a sign of weakness. Just like the moon, we experience our own cycles, ebbs, and flows. We have times of greater output and times when we must be more receptive and internally focused. In order to live in greater harmony and balance, we must attune to and align with these natural frequencies. By learning to love our cycles and honouring the fact that we have seasons for peak activity and seasons for introspective reflection, healing, and repair, we can best maximize our energy and be more present with ourselves and our loved ones.
When possible, rest as much as possible on your heaviest day. While we may not have the opportunity to bleed in peace every month, it is especially lovely when we can do so without the pressure of the outside world. If you must work, try to slow down your pace and tune in with yourself.
Sacred Bathing
There is nothing more sacred on this earth than water. It forms the fundamental element of the human body and is the essence of our primary experience in this world. During the first months of our lives, we all floated in the womb as water babies. Bathing can be a wonderful way to nourish yourself.
The purposeful preparation of a healing bath signals to yourself that you are taken care of. Take the time to thank the water for its ability to cleanse and clear so many of the emotional tangles embedded deep within you.
Take the time to create a sacred space around and within your bath. Add fresh flowers to your bathwater, plus a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Add candles for mood lighting and even crystals that you feel drawn to.
Reflective Journaling
You can keep a journal about how you are feeling throughout the month or throughout the cycle. Journaling allows you to access deeper layers of yourself and can help you understand your psyche and emotions. Furthermore, you can note patterns and reflect on how you’ve grown and what you’ve been through.
It can be helpful to pull some cards and contemplate what you intuitively feel the card is telling you if you enjoy tarot or oracle cards.
Describe what you’re feeling is working for you this month. What hasn’t been working for you? Where do you need to focus on going forward? Reflecting, feeling deeply in the feels, and free writing about whatever comes to mind are all good things to do during this time.
Connect with the Moon
While you are bleeding, go outside at night and observe the phase of the moon.
What stage of the cycle is it in? Full or new, waning or waxing? Is it in a different phase than your last bleeding episode? Consider taking some time outside to reconnect with your own menstrual cycle and to honour the natural rhythms of life.
These are just a few ways in which you can honour your menstruation. There are so many other ways you can honour yourself during this time. The important thing is that they feel right for you.
If, instead of viewing your menstruation as a burden, you chose to celebrate, hibernate, and savor this sweet time of rest and rejuvenation, how different your life may be. Imagine how the world would change if every woman followed this example.