Why? Because it is such a sacred process that our body goes through – yet far too often, we aren’t taught what it truly means or how to honour it.
I grew up in a family where the menstrual cycle was suppressed. My grandma even believed she shouldn’t wash her body or her hair during that time. How wild is that? It made sense to her because that’s what she was told.
As a teenager during my moon cycle, I did wash, and I did wash my hair – because deep down, I knew that anything to the contrary just wasn’t true.
Then came the conversations about tampons or sanitary towels. It all felt messy, and those early messages cut me off from understanding the deeper importance of what my body was going through.
And of course, there were the adverts – those glossy TV commercials of women roller-skating, laughing on beaches, even jumping out of airplanes!!! Really????
The message was clear: don’t let your period stop you. I remember watching and thinking, this doesn’t resonate at all.
On my own journey, I’ve discovered something different. I’ve learned to rest. To pause. To feel into my body. To release the belief that I have to perform and push through during this deeply cleansing time.
Here’s the thing: men don’t have periods. Yet as women, growing up in a masculine-driven world, we were conditioned to just “get on with it.”
But let me share something beautiful with you – our menstrual cycle is a cleansing process. Month after month, our body is renewing itself, clearing what is no longer needed, and inviting us to slow down. Too many women have forgotten to honour this.
✨ You can’t just “get on with it” when your stomach cramps, your head aches, you feel vulnerable, and you’re bleeding!
✨ You are meant to rest.
✨ You are not supposed to just crack on as normal.
✨ You are meant to tune into your body and allow it to flow through its sacred rhythm.
✨ You are called to amplify your self-care.
When I’m on my moon cycle now, I make a conscious decision to be at ease – even when the world outside feels busy and my to-do list is calling. I lean into my feminine energy. I rest. I eat nourishing food. I pour so much loving care into myself. I listen to soft music. I move gently. I am tender with myself.
And in this softness, something magical happens – I no longer fight my body. I honour her. I let her lead. I allow this sacred cycle to be what it truly is: a rhythm of release, renewal, and deep feminine wisdom.
Love, Peace, Light Joy, Abundance and Magic
Anne O’Neill
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