We often refer to menstrual cycle awareness as a spiritual practice - and today we’d like to explore what we mean.
Have you ever noticed that some spiritual practices - while worthy and great - can sometimes miss the mark for us women? The truth is that they were largely evolved by men and meet the needs and psychology of men. In fact they can even work against those of us who have a menstrual cycle, and end up locking us out of something quite unique and holy in ourselves.
The good news - we come coded with our own spiritual practice that utterly suits our nature and what is needed today to become our full selves in the world. This ‘practice’ is the menstrual cycle or more precisely the art of menstrual cycle awareness (MCA).
Here are some pointers for embracing cycle awareness as a spiritual practice:
- It practises us: What is important about this Feminine way is that it practises us. We don’t actually have to ‘do’ anything. Rather, through a deeply felt engagement with and honouring of the changing rhythms of our cycle, we are led or brought into the spiritual dimension. Simple though this may sound, it is an inner discipline of a high order.
- It includes all: What is also important to add here is that menstrual cycle awareness doesn’t have to work against spiritual traditions that you are already drawn to or practicing, for example Buddhism, Paganism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, but rather can serve or deepen your understanding of those paths.
- It’s your tailor-made self development guide: The cycle is packed with potential as a means of inner work and self development tool; a guide to your most fruitful self care, a map for your creative process, an invitation to your unique Calling in the world.
- It invites us into intimacy with Life: Your menstrual cycle contains a universe of wisdom within it. When approached with awareness, over time the menstrual cycle initiates you into a deep intimacy with yourself, your sense of place in the world and union with that which is greater than you, whatever that might mean for you.
- The Big Red Rule: we urge you to avoid reading any prescriptive descriptions of what you are ‘supposed’ to be experiencing throughout the cycle month. Although there are tendencies in each phase of the cycle, we recommend you come into relationship with your own unique take on the process first. You’ll discover some marvellous idiosyncrasies and eccentricities that define your nature and needs. Nothing can replace that knowledge. And how you learn to meet and care for that knowing is how you can awaken to the spiritual power of your cycle.
What does this look like in your day to day life?
1. Record what day of your cycle you are on and make a few notes about what you are feeling/experiencing on that day (the key themes).
2. Get to know the pattern of your cycle.
3. Organise your life around that pattern as best you can.
4. Respect and work with the energy of the cycle on each day (some days are easier than others to work with!). There is a wisdom to the cycle’s process, and as you follow it you are led somewhere very powerful.
Thank you for your commitment to your cycle awareness practice. When knowledge of this inner practice goes unnamed something immeasurable is lost to all of us, and to the world at large.
If you’d like to go deeper into menstrual cycle awareness as your spiritual practice, we invite you to join our Menstruality Leadership Programme.
