Getting in touch with the power of menstruation mainly comes from what you don’t do—it is the technique-less way. However these three magical allies can support you in this process…
Ally One: Silence
One of the keys to accessing the powers of menstruation is creating pockets of silence; no noise, no input, no music, nothing at all (at least of what you can control!).
Silence naturally opens up a glorious inner spaciousness and you’ll feel yourself slip inside something that feels sacred within yourself. A metaphorical cave, which muffles the sounds of the world, so that you can drop into a stillness, peace and restedness.
(We realise this may be extra challenging when you’re a caregiver! Bringing curiosity and creativity to ways to ‘turn down the volume’ helps—any reduction in noise will help.)
Practical suggestion: For a little while start having more silence in your life overall. Don’t automatically turn on the radio or music to have background noise. Try silence instead. This will prepare you to enter into a cone of silence when you bleed and let the zone of menstruation claim you.
Ally Two: Slowness
Slowness can mean focusing on one thing at a time without rushing it. Being languid and leisurely about whatever you are doing, and leaving more empty space between activities and consuming information. It can also mean moving at the actual pace of your being and not everyone else’s timing. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to be fooled into thinking that your slowness makes you less capable or productive. But remember the hare and the tortoise…and remember too that your slowness makes you profoundly connected to yourself—now that’s power.
Practical suggestion: When you start bleeding, find one thing in your diary to reschedule or cancel. And do the same with your to do list.
Ally three: Softness
By this we mean not only allowing yourself to luxuriate in physical softness—bring on the soft cushions, duvets and blankets—but also to practice being kinder and more gentle with yourself. It’s particularly crucial to be softer with yourself at menstruation, in fact it’s an imperative. Tough or disciplined regimes can be necessary at times but in this moment they work against the exquisite subtlety and intimacy that is possible at menstruation. So abandon the regimes and give in to the luxurious luxury of softness, metaphorical or literal!
Practical suggestion: Write the word ‘softness’ somewhere where you see it multiple times a day, so you’re reminded of it, and refer to it in challenging moments, asking yourself: what would softness say?
How to claim menstrual rest in a non cycle-literate world?
Because we don’t live in a cycle literate world, the idea of taking time at menstruation can feel almost impossible but, guided with these allies and the power of imagination and intention, we invite you to up your game each month to find more of the wonders of your bleed. And, for those of you who suffer menstrually, we hope it might just help to ease your symptoms a little.
May you be supported to carve out the territory you need to go deeply into your inner temple at menstruation.
