Menstrual Blood is Sacred
Menstrual Blood is Sacred, Not Dirty and Shameful
It’s time to transform our understanding of our menstrual blood, recognizing it for its true, powerful, sacred nature, part of the spiritual cycle of release and rebirth. Ancient cultures revered our blood as an elixir of life.
‘Menstrual Blood Represents the Essence of Femininity’ - Simone de Beauvoir
Our womb blood is a symbol of renewal, a Divine blessing. So how did we turn against our own life blood, shaming it and naming it a curse? In modern society, we have been stripped of our primal innocence and knowing, conditioned in an unspoken war against the feminine.
I’ve noticed even myself sometimes when I see menstrual blood posts, I get a bit squeamish. It’s subconscious. We have been taught by the masculine paradigm religion that our wombs, our cycles, our sacred blood, our feminine selves are less than, unclean and shameful and our sexuality and sensuality, sinful. There’s no coincidence that our menstruation and our sexuality is where our power lies. Our ancestors new the sacredness of our menstrual blood. Menstruation is the oldest religion on Earth.
Menstrual blood is an incredibly rich and magical substance, in its physical properties, healing capacity, history, and central place in myth and legend. In many cultures, menstrual blood was considered the creative source of human life, the flowing lifeblood of our species.
Celebrating Menstrual Hygiene Day - 28th May
Right now, 800 million people are menstruating. This is a regular lived experience for half the humans on this planet, yet it is still so stigmatized. Despite women menstruating for hundreds of thousands of years, it is still taboo to talk about menstrual cycles and periods. This cultural stigma damages women's relationships with their own bodies, quietens their power, and jeopardises their safety.
The stigma around this aspect of our health means many women have no idea what is going on with their cycles and often disorders/diseases go undiagnosed and untreated. Many women don't know what a normal menstrual cycle looks like, how to tell when they are ovulating, or if their period is normal and healthy. This used to be ingrained wisdom passed down from generation to generation, but we have lost this intimacy and knowledge with our own bodies. Our menstrual blood is an indicator or health. The colour of it and consistency tells us so much.
To help create change, talk about it! Ask your girlfriends what their periods are like. Ask your mum what her periods were like when she was your age. Open up the conversation. Pay attention to your cycle. Collect information, track your data. Get to know your body so well that you are the expert on your health and your cycle.
Modern Science and Menstrual Blood
Modern science has just discovered what the ancients have known for hundreds of thousands of years: menstrual blood is rich with incredibly potent stem cells, which have the power to renew, regenerate, and create life. Stem cells are magical cells, containing the incredible power of regeneration. Research has shown that stem cells can treat heart disease, blood vessel disease, shrink brain cancer, and heal other cancers and autoimmune disorders.
Interesting Facts About Menstrual Blood
Healing Properties: Scientists in Japan have discovered that cells taken from menstrual blood can be cultivated in the lab and used like stem cells to repair damaged heart tissue.
Nutrient-Rich: Menstrual blood contains more than 1,000 biologically active proteins, 385 of which are unique to menstrual fluid. Menstrual blood is rich in iron, copper, selenium, and other essential minerals.
Stem Cells: Modern research is exploring how menstrual blood stem cells can be used to treat various medical conditions, including heart disease and autoimmune disorders.
Cultural Significance: In various cultures, menstrual blood was seen as a powerful substance for both physical and spiritual healing.
Shamanic Use: Some shamanic traditions involved the use of menstrual blood in sacred rituals to access power and wisdom.
Connection to the Divine: Menstrual blood was historically used in rituals to connect with divine energy and spiritual realms.
Menstrual Blood as Uterine Milk: When a fertilized egg implants on the wall of the womb, the menstrual fluid is retained to nurture the baby, referred to as uterine milk, which is analogous to breast milk in its composition.
Scientific Discoveries: Australian researchers found that menstrual blood can bring 100% healing to damaged skin within 24 hours.
Powerful Symbolism: According to the Cherokee, menstrual blood was a source of feminine strength and had the power to destroy enemies.
Menstrual Blood in Mythology: Aristotle stated that human life is made of the coagulum of menstrual blood, highlighting its perceived importance in ancient times.
Ancient Myths: Some shamans believed that menstrual blood held consciousness-altering properties and was mixed with various herbs and used similarly to plant medicine. And warriors were said to ingest the menstrual blood of their partners to give them power before battle.
Antimicrobial Properties: Menstrual blood contains natural antimicrobial substances.
Holistic Healing: Historically, menstrual blood was used to anoint the third eye or ingested to access power, wisdom, and healing.
Indicator of Health: The colour and consistency of menstrual blood is used in TCM as an indicator of a woman's health.
Ancient Knowledge: It is believed that the Cathars knew about ancient menstrual mysteries. Beatrice de Planissoles, a Cathar, was tried for heresy in 1274. She was found to have umbilical cords and a cloth soaked in her daughter’s menstrual blood, which was believed to have powerful healing properties and was used as a talisman.
Wisdom Blood: Celtic rites were often granted by elder women in the community due to the belief that being post-menopausal made them the wisest, as they had permanently retained their “wisdom blood.”
Taoist Beliefs: Ancient Taoists and traditional Chinese medicine call menstruation 'heavenly water,' seeing it as a sacred essence vital for life force. They believe women lose part of their Qi (life force) during menstruation and childbirth, while men lose theirs as a result of excessive ejaculation.
Ways to Connect and Honour Your Sacred Menstrual Blood
Engaging in rituals and practices that honour your menstrual blood can help you connect more deeply with your body and its natural rhythms. Here are some ways to honour your sacred menstrual blood:
Create a Menstrual Altar: Set up a small altar with items that symbolize femininity, strength, and renewal. Include candles, crystals, flowers, and a bowl to hold some of your menstrual blood.
Offer it to the Earth: Collect your menstrual blood in a menstrual cup and offer it back to the earth by watering plants or pouring it onto the ground. This practice symbolizes returning life-giving nutrients to nature and connecting to the Earth.
Menstrual Art: Use your menstrual blood as paint to create art. This can be a powerful way to express your emotions and connect with your creative energy.
Journaling: Keep a menstrual journal to track your cycle, emotions, and physical sensations. Reflect on the power and wisdom of your menstrual cycle and how it connects you to the larger cycles of nature.
Meditation and Visualization: Meditate during your menstrual phase, focusing on the energy of release and renewal. Visualize your blood as a source of strength and healing.
Ritual Baths: Take a warm bath with herbs, essential oils, and your menstrual blood. This can be a soothing and sacred practice to honour your body.
Sacred Circle: Gather with other women to share stories and experiences about menstruation. Creating a supportive community can help break the stigma and celebrate the sacredness of menstrual blood.
Anointing: Use a drop of your menstrual blood to anoint your third eye or heart chakra, symbolizing the connection between your body and spirit.
Affirmations: Speak positive affirmations about your menstrual cycle and blood. Reframe negative thoughts and embrace the power and beauty of your menstrual cycle.
By embracing these rituals, we can transform our relationship with our menstrual blood, recognizing it as a powerful and sacred aspect of our femininity. This Menstrual Hygiene Day, let's reclaim the sacredness of our menstrual blood and honour the incredible power and wisdom within our bodies.