The Spiritual Connection Between Menstrual Cycles + the Moon
A loooooong time ago, around 2018, I picked up Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women by Kate Northrup. I thought it was going to be all about maximizing my time and stressing less. After all, I was completely drowning in my new role as a teacher, a job that no amount of training, shadowing, or studying can really prepare you for.
Imagine my shock when I discovered that part of the book was about aligning your daily life, tasks, to-dos, and expectations with your menstrual cycle.
Even more fascinating was the historical and ancestral context: women would bleed on the new moon and ovulate on the full moon. It makes so much sense. Menstruation is naturally a time of release, of going inward, feeling your feelings, resting, and taking care of yourself. The dark sky of the new moon mirrors that energy perfectly. The full moon, on the other hand, is bright and illuminating, ideal for spicy nighttime activity and fertility.
But this knowledge was largely lost over time. Our modern lives, with fluorescent lighting and artificial schedules, disconnected us from syncing our bodies and hormones with the natural light of the sun.
Since then, I’ve become fascinated by the spiritual meaning of where our menstrual cycles land and what that might reveal about our current phase of life. Tracking my cycle closely has been transformative. I even waited to conceive my first child, and then my second, Hawthorne, until my cycle felt aligned with this ancient rhythm. Moving through all the phases has shown me just how cyclical life can be and how we can use our menstrual energy as a tool for spiritual insight, reflection, and intention-setting.
Since ancient times, women have felt a deep connection between their cycles and the rhythms of the moon. Just as the moon influences the tides, it is believed to influence the “waters” of the body: our emotions, energy, and menstrual rhythms. While science is still exploring these links, spiritual traditions see the moon as a mirror for the cyclical nature of feminine energy, reflecting phases of rest, renewal, creativity, and release.
Your menstrual cycle may align with one of the moon’s key phases, each carrying its own energetic and spiritual meaning. None are “better” or more “aligned” than another. They simply reflect where you are in your personal evolution and what energy is ready to be honored.
Check your period app tracker and see what your personal cycle means for you below:
The White Moon Cycle: Bleeding with the New Moon
If your period begins around the new moon, you are in what’s known as a White Moon Cycle. Spiritually, this cycle represents nurturing, creation, and new beginnings. It is often connected to the “mother” archetype, which focuses on caregiving, creativity, and planting seeds for what’s next.
Energy: The new moon marks stillness and introspection. If you bleed during this phase, it is a natural time to rest, journal, and set intentions for the month ahead. You might feel more inward, emotional, and reflective, ready to release what has passed and envision what is to come.
Spiritually: The White Moon Cycle aligns with fertility, renewal, and harmony with the earth’s rhythms. Historically, this was seen as a sign of balance and vitality, a sacred pause before rebirth.
The Red Moon Cycle: Bleeding with the Full Moon
Menstruating with the full moon places you in a Red Moon Cycle, often associated with the healer, the witch, or the wise woman archetype. This cycle represents heightened intuition, passion, and energy directed outward toward community, creativity, and transformation.
Energy: The full moon is peak energy. If you are bleeding now, you may feel emotions rise to the surface or notice bursts of insight, inspiration, and sensuality. This can be a time of spiritual release, letting go of old stories, outdated beliefs, or anything that no longer aligns.
Spiritually: Historically, Red Moon women were the medicine women and teachers of their communities. Rather than nurturing from within the home, they channeled their energy outward, using their heightened intuition to guide and inspire others.
Other Lunar Alignments
Not everyone bleeds with the new or full moon, and that is perfectly natural. Every cycle carries its own message.
Pink Moon Cycle (Waxing Moon):
If your bleed begins as the moon grows, it may signal a time of growth, decision-making, and building momentum. You are gathering your inner resources and preparing to act on your dreams.
Purple Moon Cycle (Waning Moon):
If your period begins as the moon wanes, this is a time of reflection and release. Spiritually, it is connected to letting go, healing, and creating space for what is next. You may feel drawn to solitude, journaling, or spiritual practices that help you integrate recent lessons.
How to Work with Your Cycle and the Moon
1. Track your cycle.
Notice which moon phase you are bleeding in for a few months. Patterns may emerge that offer insight into your emotional and spiritual rhythms.
2. Honor the energy.
If you are in a White Moon phase, slow down, rest, and nurture. If you are in a Red Moon phase, express, connect, and create. Let the moon’s rhythm guide your own flow.
3. Release judgment.
There is no “right” way to cycle with the moon. Your body knows exactly what it is doing. Every phase carries wisdom, whether it is about slowing down, taking action, or simply listening to your intuition.
4. Practice lunar rituals.
During your bleed, take a salt bath, light a candle under the moon, or journal about what you are ready to release or invite in. Let your body and the moon work in harmony.
Your menstrual cycle is not just a physical process. It is a spiritual rhythm that connects you to the natural world. Whether you bleed under the new moon, the full moon, or anywhere in between, each phase offers a chance to align more deeply with yourself.
Rather than striving to sync perfectly with the moon, let it be a mirror for what you are already moving through. Ask yourself: What is this phase teaching me? What energy do I need to honor right now?
The more you tune in, the more you will feel how beautifully cyclical and sacred your body already is.
