reconnecting with my menstrual cycle

There is an ancient Hopi prophecy that says “When the women give their blood back to the Earth, men will come home from war and Earth shall find peace”.

Just before I conceived Eilidh, I felt an urge to give my blood back to the Earth. I didn’t really understand why, I just felt it. I was already on a journey to connect more with my cycle… getting rid of toxic menstrual products, respecting and listening to my body with it’s cyclical nature. A journey of connection that would lead me to syncing my periods with the new and full moons.

I didn’t get a chance to give my blood back then, as Eilidh was conceived that cycle. I did, however, give my placenta blood to the flowers.

Menstrual blood is the only blood that isn’t spilt through violence or trauma, and yet the only blood that is so shameful and disgusting that we are taught to hide it. It felt like an act of rebellion to revere something I’d been taught was “unclean” growing up, and to give it to the Earth in a radical act of peace.

From growing up to view my cycle as a burden, a hinderance, and gross… in recent years I’ve learnt to view my cycle and blood as something sacred and miraculous. I’m forever grateful that this part of me has enabled me to carry four beautiful children. This privilege I have is not taken for granted.

I give my placenta blood to the flowers, I plant placentas with trees, and I give my blood to the Earth in various ways. I guess it’s my way of saying thank you, of honouring my cycle and connecting with the Earth.

This cycle I went down to the river alone to give back my first bleed. As I washed the blood away, I felt connected to my ancestors. They say we all would have synced to the moon in ancient times, that all the women in the villages would have bled together at the same time, we probably would have cleaned our rags together in the rivers, seas and oceans… and so in that peaceful moment at the river, I felt like I had generations of women beside me.

I share this, knowing full well it’ll get a negative reaction from most people, but I also know there are many women already doing this in secret and silence. So I share this to say to you… if you’re feeling the urge to give your blood back to the Earth, to connect more to your cycle, to reclaim the sacredness of your bleed….

Join us.