Bleed Rituals.

The Power of Connecting to Your Cycle.

Connecting back to my cycle over the past year and a half has been one of the most heart opening, soul softening experiences of my life. For seven years, I was on the contraceptive pill. About a year before I finally came off it, I started getting an intuitive feeling that I no longer wanted to be on contraception. I spoke to a few gynaecologists, who all urged me to stay on it. One morning, whilst on a yoga teacher training in Bali, I woke up and decided to stop. I was filled with a deep knowing that this is what my body needed. I was scared but full of anticipation.

I remember the first time I had a bleed after I came off. It was full moon on a summer night in Cape Town, and I was out for dinner with my boyfriend. I went to the bathroom, and once I saw that I had finally gotten my bleed back, I cried and cried. It was the first time my body had moved through its natural cycle in seven years. I came home to myself, my body, my womb, in a way I did not think possible.

Our cycles are sacred. A homage to our capacity to carry life. A celebration of creation. So many women are disconnected from this part of themselves. Disconnected from their bodies.

Disconnected from the innate wisdom their wombs hold. I was disconnected from this part of myself for all too long. Coming back to this part of myself felt like coming home.

Start reconnecting. Rewilding. Harnessing the sacred feminine. Get to know your body, and the phases it moves through every day of every month. It is such a gift. Our menstrual cycle is now being called the sixth vital sign for women, as it is an indicator of our overall health.

Knowing your cycle gives you a greater capacity to know yourself, physically and emotionally. It allows you connect to parts of yourself you may have lost along the way.

“Women from ancient times as well as modern aboriginal women set a sacred place aside for this communion and inquiry. Traditionally, it is said to have been set aside during women’s menses, for during that time woman lives much closer to self-knowing than usual; the membrane between the unconscious and the conscious minds thins considerably. Feelings memories, sensations that are normally blocked from consciousness pass over into cognisance without resistance. when a woman takes solitude during this time, she has more material to sift through.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estes 

What Happens To Our Bodies When We Bleed?

During menstruation, levels of estrogen and progesterone are low. As a result, the top layers of the thickened lining of the uterus (endometrium) break down and are shed, and menstrual bleeding occurs. These low hormone levels allow for the greatest communication between your two brain hemispheres: the left analytical side, and the right feeling side. At this point in your cycle, you have an increased capacity to synthesise how you feel about situations with the facts in mind, and determine the best course of action.

With this in mind, give yourself time to review and analyse your life, and think strategically about what direction you want to move forward in, while you are bleeding. Spend time journalling on where you are at, and where you would like to be. 

Nourishing Your Body During Your Bleed.

During this time in your cycle your energy will be at its lowest. Whenever I bleed now I try and rest as much as possible the the day before and the first days of my bleed. I will eat lots of nourishing food and nap a lot. I try and spend time outside connecting to the Earth. 

If you do feel like moving your body, focus on lighter exercises such as walking, yin yoga (head to my IGTV for some gentle yoga classes), or pilates. If you feel like curling up in a dark cave watching Netflix, that is also beautiful. Honour your body, and this time of introspection. It is normal to not feel social at this time. In many ancient cultures, women would leave their tribes during their menses to be alone, and connect back to themselves, leaving behind all responsibilities. If you have the luxury of creating your own work schedule, reduce your workload as much as you can during this time. I try and not see any clients on these days. As my cycle is regular, I put it in my diary way in advance to avoid scheduling any big deadlines or social meetings during this time. If you are in the position where you are required to work on a set schedule, invest energy in the days leading up to your period to get any unnecessary work or deadlines out of the way, reducing the load on you during your bleed.

During menstruation, it is essential to focus on a nutrient rich diet. Increase your intake of proteins and healthy fats, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, to add fibre and antioxidants. Seafood, kelp and nori can help remineralise the body with iron and zinc, which is lost during menstruation. Try to eat more soups and stews. My body often craves cacao and chocolate.

Image by @padmini_yoni

Cover Art by @rnrcreative 

Bleed Loving Cacao.

300ml of plant based milk

1 tbsp of raw cacao powder

1 tsp raw honey

1 tsp maca

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp cinnamon

A little chili and salt to taste

Briefly blend all the ingredients in a food processor, and then gently heat on a low temperature. Do not boil!

During this time, it is essential that you check in with yourself in the realm of love and sex. If you do not feel want to engage in sex, take a break from sex and self pleasure. If you are with a partner, express your needs to them. Honour your boundaries - for more on boundary setting, head to my blog about the Beauty of Boundaries. If you do engage, make sure to use lube - coconut oil is my favourite - to make things easier, as this time of month results in you being a little more “dry”. It is normal to feel like you want more time for yourself, so if that is the case, create that time. Send your partner out for a guys / girls night, or get him / her to take the kids out to a movie. Create a safe space in which you can rest. 

Bleed Loving Tips. 

Rest a lot.

Eat well.

Move softly. Napping can be considered a sport. 

Take time for yourself.

Connect to the Earth.

Epsom Salt / Essential Oil Baths.

Take time away from technology.

Meditate.

Journal.

Bleed Rituals.

Alongside nourishing your body during this time, there are some powerful blood magic rituals you can integrate during this time, to fully dive into the sacred wisdom of the womb. So what is blood magic? Blood magic is using the power of our menstrual blood to manifest. Our wombs hold the key to creation of life, and therefore our womb carries an immense power. During our bleed, we shed the lining of the womb, that was created to support a baby, to birth and support new life. This blood carries so much nourishment, and creative energy, therefore using this blood in ritual can be so powerful.

Each woman may have different rituals that resonate with them. In this post, I will outline my monthly bleed ritual, as this is what resonates with me. Connect to your innate wisdom and find out what you need during this time. What works for me may not work for you.

During my bleed, I will use a menstrual cup to collect my blood. There are many different cups on the market, find one that works for you. Buying one was the best thing I ever did for my body. It allowed me to connect with my blood. To get familiar with the physical aspects of it - which is an indicator of my overall health - as well as the energetic aspects of it. It is also much gentler to the Earth, as there are no sanitary products ending up in landfills, and much gentler to our bodies, as tampons often have chemicals that may be interfering with the delicate balance of your body. 

Once collected, I will pour the blood into a little bowl and place it in on my alter. During my meditation, I will sit holding the bowl, and will feel into what I want to manifest, or call in, throughout the next cycle.

Once I am clear on what it is that I am manifesting, I will journal, writing down all the things I am calling in - it may be love, abundance, a new job offer, a trip to Spain. Get creative, it can be as big or small as you wish. I really connect with the energy of how it would feel to have all that I am manifesting in my life, and infuse that energy with my blood.

Once I feel complete, I then anoint myself with my blood. I start with anointing my third eye (the space between my eyebrows), the base of my throat. (where my collarbones meet), my heart centre (the space between my breasts), and my womb space (the space between belly button and pubic bone). Over the womb space I will often rub the blood over this space, infusing warmth and nourishment into this part of my body. Connecting to these energy centres with my blood allows me to really feel those manifestations and that energy merging with my physical and energetic bodies. 

Once anointed, I try and get outside. Whether I lay on the grass, or in the sun, or just plant my feet in the Earth, connecting to the land I am on feels deeply nourishing.

If you do not feel called to engaging with the ritual, returning your blood to the Earth instead of flushing it down the toilet honours the sacredness of this time, and is super nourishing for your plants. I also love love love creating with my blood. I often paint, so when I am bleeding I will paint with it. There is something so sacred and healing using this elixir of creation, to create.

A little side note, be careful what you wish for. In my personal experience, these rituals can be very very powerful, so make sure your intentions and manifestations are pure, and aligned. 

Sex While Bleeding.

If you have a partner, all of this may seem a little daunting. You may be afraid of how your significant other will see you. It is essential that you create a space in which you can communicate this. If you want your partner to see the divine beauty in your cycle and your blood, educate them. Teach them about why this time is so sacred, and not shameful. There is so much stigma and shame around our cycle, and so little education. In my experience, opening up and sharing my deep love for my bleed with partners has fostered deeper connection and a space for sharing. Trust your intuition, you may be surprised just how curious and open your partner is. Often they simply have never had the space to speak to someone about this openly, without being, or feeling shamed.

Some people (including myself) are extremely horny during their periods, while others feel the urge to be alone. Connecting back to yourself is essential. What does your body crave? Bleeding, and making love while we are bleeding is powerful. The powerful energy of our blood is magnified through the potential of sex magic. Sex Magic is the ritual of using sexual energy to manifest - I will be doing a very yummy post on this very soon, stay tuned. 

If you have a partner who is open to having sex during this time, be open and honest. You may feel vulnerable, so express how you are feeling, talk about your boundaries, and create a space for your partner to share theirs, and trust that you will be met with an open heart. If you are not with a partner, this is a beautiful time to explore mindful self pleasure. If you are worried about things getting messy, using a dark towel is a great way to keep your sheets safe. I personally have found that having sex during this time creates a space for deep connection, vulnerability and intimacy. At this time you are so connected to your body, that it can be extremely pleasurable and grounding.

Loving and embracing this part of ourselves as women, and sharing this with our partners, our friends, our children, is key to empowering women, and society as a whole to see how natural and beautiful this sacred time.

Some of my favourite books around feminine psychology, and connecting to the female body and cycle. 

Vagina - Naomi Wolf 

Women Who Run With The Wolves - Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Beyond the Pill - Dr Jolene Brighton 

Wild Power - Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

I am deeply grateful for your patience. I know I promised this blog post some weeks ago, but I wanted to write it from a space of authenticity, and in the energy of the bleed. I emerged from my Netflix and cacao cave earlier today, after resting and nourishing for the past days while my bleed was in full swing, and felt inspired to share my thoughts with you. 

In the coming weeks, I will be diving deeper into cycle awareness, hormonal health, and how to connect back to this aspect of yourself. I struggled with amenorrhea and irregular periods for some time, and will be sharing my healing journey in this realm on here soon. If you enjoyed reading this, share it with a friend. Through sharing these powerful practices, we create a space for us to collectively heal each other.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so if you’d like to contact me, pop me an email. I would love to connect with you!

Happy Bleeding loves. 

x