Period magic: Recognizing your sacred menstrual gifts and how to use them.

August 19, 2023

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I Get It

I’m well aware that the title of this article may elicit intrigue in some and eye-rolls in others.

Although I love and honour my menstrual phase and believe it holds great magic, I also understand it has a shadow side.

Embarrassment (when I was 17 and bled through a pair of kakis during my Blockbuster video shift).

Shame (my first period story involves me shoving almost a whole roll of toilet paper into my underwear in the school bathroom and telling no one about it).

Pain (at times in my past, I experienced menstrual cramps that no over-the-counter medicine could calm).

And even sorrow (when trying to conceive, I cried every time I got my period).

And I realize for some, trauma and medical issues (like PCOS and endometriosis) also paint a very big, bloody X over the beauty and mysticism of our bleeds.

But I’m hoping that by recognizing these 7 menstrual gifts, the female collective will start shifting the conversation more toward the incredible magic of our bodies.

And that we create new, empowering stories to tell ourselves and the next generation.

Women are magic. Period.

period magic: #1

Emotional & Energetic Detox

Like the physical shedding of your womb lining, energetically and emotionally, menstruation is a time of emptying what no longer serves you.

Many Indigenous cultures around the world considered (and still do) menstruation a sacred time where a woman emotionally detoxes for herself and for the larger community.

During your pre-menstrual phase, you may feel an attachment to strong emotions (day 21 is often my rage day!) and consciously feeling those emotions is so therapeutic.

But at the beginning of menstruation, your estrogen and testosterone are low, causing tiredness. And this tiredness is a call to let go.

It’s a time to surrender to the release of the old to allow for the emergence of the new.

Period magic: #2

Physical Detox

According to Ayurveda, menstruation or rakta moksha is a vital detoxification process for your body.

It’s a time of purification that cleanses toxins out of your system and helps to balance your doshas (pitta, kapha, and vata).

It’s important to support this renewal process with rest and healthy eating.

You can also look into working with an Ayurvedic practitioner to advise you on how to keep your cycle running smoothly.

And you may find this article on Ayurvedic principles and menstruation helpful.

Red and pink flower representing period magic.

period magic: #3

Heightened Spiritual Connection

The space created by your period’s physical, emotional, and energetic emptying, allows you to be a clearer vessel for messages from spirit, your higher self, and your intuition.

From a mystical standpoint, your period is connected to the void. A place of stillness, pure consciousness, magic, and manifesting.

Also, if you typically find meditation difficult, you may find it easier during menstruation when you’re more tuned in to the internal vs external world.

Subscribe and receive a free energy-clearing sleep meditation.

period magic: #4

Life-Giving Magic Potion

Did you know that your menstrual blood contains stem cells?

It does! Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to be exact. Currently, the medical and scientific communities are looking into how it can be used for things like cartilage repair and regeneration. And menstrual blood banking is now a thing!

Used as a fertilizer, menstrual blood can sometimes revive dying plants because it provides a balance of mineral nutrition. (I tried this on a hydrangea planet 4 years ago that was 95% dead and she came back and is still thriving.)

For those of you that are imagining me squatting beside my plant while the neighbours peer out their windows, no.

I combined what was in my menstrual cup with a bucket of water, then watered my plant with it. It was highly diluted and I thoroughly washed the bucket afterward. 😉 I did this once and literally saved the life of my plant.

And if this sounds gross, FYI some store-bought garden fertilizers are made of animal blood.

I’m excited that people are beginning to recognize menstrual blood for its healing properties (like many ancient cultures did) rather than simply waste.

menstrual cup with period blood inside representing period magic

period magic: #5

Inner Wisdom

The menstrual phase of your cycle is connected to the Crone archetype.

The Crone is a wise woman. She’s unattached to the yearnings of the ego and the opinions of the outer world.

Because of this, she’s highly aware of her own inner wisdom and can effortlessly tap into it.

Essentially she’s her own oracle.

Throughout your period, lean in to your inner knowing. Rather than asking friends and loved ones for advice, ask yourself.

Stream of consciousness journaling can be an insightful tool during this time.

period magic: #6

Lunar Connection

For millennia, global cultures have observed the connection between the feminine and lunar cycles.

Both the cycle of the moon and the menstrual cycle are approximately 28 days. And like the moon, women experience four different phases.

Here’s a basic overview of what it means to bleed during each lunar phase:

New Moon (white moon cycle) — You’re being called to move inwards, nurture yourself, and listen to your inner wisdom.

Waxing Moon (pink moon cycle) — You’re being called to experiment to learn more about yourself and the world.

Full Moon (red moon cycle) — You’re being called to connect with the moon’s fullness to create and birth something new into being.

Waning Moon — (purple moon cycle) You’re being called to zero in on plans and projects.

Woman with lunar cycles drawn down her arm representing period magic.

period magic: #7

Self-Love

Your period is a time you can either a) be frustrated with your body for causing you discomfort and/or inconvenience, or b) be tender with your body, and appreciate it for doing its job.

In a world of fast-paced careers, communication, transportation, and the always-on monkey mind, our period calls us to slow down, relax, replenish, and love ourselves more.

It reminds us that we aren’t the chaos of the world around us, we’re just living in it. And we can make choices to nurture ourselves and slow things down.

Tending to the needs of your body is one of the best ways to cultivate greater self-trust and self-love.

During menstruation, give yourself more of what truly nurtures and comforts you. Whether that’s time to yourself, dark chocolate, nature walks, or soft music. (See my period picks below.)