The connection between the moon and your cycle ☾

Does your cycle tend to sync up with any particular moon phase?

While it can be pretty magical for your period to sync up with either the new or full moon, the truth is that there is no wrong time to bleed.

That said, the moon and your menstrual cycle do have quite the relationship.

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It's likely that in pre-industrial societies, women's menstrual cycles aligned more closely with specific moon phases. Before the availability of artificial light, we had to rely on moonlight which cycled throughout the month. But as artificial light became available and light pollution increased, this changed. 

This is because exposure to light (sunlight and moonlight) plays a major role in regulating the many cycles of our bodies – the menstrual cycle included. Our sleep-wake cycles follow the sun. Our menstrual cycles follow the moon. 

However, exposure to artificial light can disrupt these rhythms. One study found that women's menstrual cycles with a period longer than 27 days did sync up with the moon's light and/or gravimetric cycles in some way, but that “with exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony.”

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“Women's emotional and spiritual lives reflect the ways of the Moon and its cycles. As the moon is renewed through its waxing and waning and fullness, so, too, are the states of women.” ~ Queen Afua 

The rhythms of the moon cause the ebb and flow of the tides, just as the rhythms of our cycle cause the ebb and flow of our blood.

 And this is a connection that cultures all over the world have long made. In many parts of the world, and certainly throughout Africa, the Indigenous Americas, and much of Asia, cyclicality is a fact of life. The body, and women's cycles, were (are are) seen through this lens.

Within many Indigenous traditions, including the Ojibwe and Yurok, menstruation is known as moon time. 

As Dr. Cindy Gaudet writes, "In Indigenous culture, the Moon is known as Grandmother Moon and is connected to women’s sacredness, as well as to the roles and responsibilities that come with being a woman. Grandmother Moon also governs the waters inside women. One of these watery experiences is known as Moon Time, or the menstrual cycle.

Once every twenty-eight days, the fullness of the Grandmother Moon illuminates the night sky. This also is when the spirt of the moon dances within woman. Every twenty-eight days, her vibrant red blood flows to nourish the earth mother.

As women we are connected to Grandmother Moon and She hears us. Our Moon Time cycle is linked with her. It is through Her that we receive our strength to go inward. And it is with the assistance of Grandmother Moon that all life pushes forth. The plants, the trees, and babies."

Many traditions throughout Central and West Africa also hold the connection between menstruation and the moon. As just one example, among the Mbuti, a girl who begins menstruating is said to be "blessed by the moon" (x). 

Some Hindu and Buddhist traditions similarly speak to a link between the moon and menstruation. Within Ayurveda, blood is believed to be governed by Chandra, the moon.

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The lunar cycle (that is, from one new moon to the next) is 29.5 days long – the same length as the average menstrual cycle

The 4 phases of the cycle are reflected in the phases of the moon:

🌑 The menstrual phase mirrors the the slow & internal new moon

🌓 The follicular phase mirrors the rebirth of the waxing moon

🌕 The ovulatory phase mirrors the bright & vibrant full moon

🌗 The luteal phase mirrors the descent of the waning moon

🔮 Put this in practice: If you track your cycles, start taking note of the phases of the moon as well as the days of your cycle. Over time, you'll start to notice patterns. Do you tend to bleed during the new moon? The waning moon?  

You can also keep track of how you feel when your period syncs up with specific moon phases. For example, bleeding during the new moon can feel very different from bleeding during the full moon.

If your cycle phases match up with the corresponding moon phase – like, if you bleed during the new moon and ovulate during the full moon – those energies are amplified. Your menstrual cycle and the lunar cycle have the same “flavor” so to speak. You may notice that period feels very inward, restful, and reflective, calling you towards a period of stillness and renewal.

But if your cycle phase and the lunar phase don't match up? It can feel a little different. 

Bleeding during a waxing moon might amplify the energy of growth and rebirth, and call you to work with the energy of your period to enter a new phase of your life.

Bleeding during a full moon may potentially feel a bit more energized, alchemical, sensual, or creative, and invite you to harness the energy of menstruation to create something, connect with others, or amplify a specific intention.

Bleeding during a waning moon might amplify the energy of release and surrender, and perhaps calls to you to let something (a pattern, a habit) die or to focus on a specific healing intention.

Keeping a period journal can help you observe this in your own cycle 🌚🩸

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If you like this blog, you'll love Cycles.

Cycles is a membership community dedicated to cyclical wellness for your body, spirit, heart, and shadow ꩜

“Cycles has supported me in easing so many issues I had been dealing with since I can remember. I have learned to ease my painful cramps with herbs and self care practices, and how to be with myself while experiencing pain in a more loving and caring way. The community in Cycles has helped support me in feeling less alone in my cycle-related challenges. Sabrina is incredibly knowledgeable and has shared recipes, herbal medicine, body literacy guides that have all helped me so much in understanding my body and managing the symptoms that I was struggling with throughout my cycle. I feel so much more prepared for my bleed every month, as well as my (previously dreaded) luteal phase.” Kasha

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This post is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you’re experiencing sudden or irregular menstrual concerns, or have any concerns about your reproductive health, it’s best to consult your doctor or a trusted healthcare professional.