Discloser: Terfs are not welcome on my page, ever! Men can be witches (and some of those men get periods), so can trans women (and they are women) and anyone who disagrees can remove themselves. I do not believe that the womb is inherently more sacred or magical than any other body part or whatever terfs are saying now, but I do believe in celebrating and understanding our bodies in whatever form makes us feel empowered and comfortable.
So, what is menstrual magic?
Menstrual magic is incorporating the different aspects of the menstrual cycle into magic, and this can be done in loads of different ways! Below, I go through each phase and how you might choose to incorporate it! Bear in mind that everybody is different and numerous things can effect cycles, from genetics to birth control to nutrition - so for example you might not bleed regularly, and that's okay!
This the first phase of the menstrual cycle and starts on the first day of bleeding! This phase is what most people refer to when discussing incorporating menstrual cycles into magic. It can be accompanied by cramping, low energy and mood swings - this means you might not feel up to performing any rituals or doing magic and that's fine.
You can use your menstrual blood as an offering or incorporate it into spellwork (though that isn't everyone's cup of tea) - just be sure to research and maintain safe and sanitary practices.
As this is the phase where your body shed its uterine lining, it can be associated with release and renewal - you can utilise this energy for spellwork related to new beginnings, fresh starts, releasing or banishing etc.
The follicular phase follows immediately after the menstrual phase. In this phase, your hormones stimulate the follicles in the ovaries to mature. During this phase you might get a boost of energy and more stable moods, as well as increased libido and desire.
As this phase is the maturation of the ovary, I find it good for spellwork that "plants seeds" or as a foundational energy. The follicular phase works well as a "preparation" stage - so you might want to plan and gather spell ingredients and build up energy for a spell, whether through energy work, offerings or otherwise, which can then be released in the next phase for more power.
As the mature egg is released from the ovary, we move to the ovulation phase. Here libido and desire is typically at its highest, and so is energy.
This can be a great phase to incorporate sex magic, as well as self-love or glamour magic. As energy tends to peak in this phase, it can be great for larger or more intense rituals! Here, you may want to release the spell and energy you built up in the follicular stage.
This phase tends to hit people quite hard - here is where you're more likely to feel cravings, bloating, headaches, low mood, irritability etc. It's a time to be more gentle with yourself as typically people have low energy during this phase.
This can be a good time for simple rest and relaxation - meditation, slow energy work, kitchen magic are what I tend to focus on during this phase.
Everybody is different! What's important with menstrual magic is getting in tune with your body, so that you can respect it and treat yourself well; if you notice that you tend to have lower energy during a certain phase, be gentle and don't push yourself during that time. Most people don't experience their cycles the same, for various reasons, and that's great, we're all unique!
Figure out what works for you, your body, and your practice!
I use my menstrual blood as an offering to my plants and their spirits, as well as Mother Nature (be safe with this, blood is still living tissue). This isn't for everyone and it doesn't have to be! I like to incorporate movement and dance into my magic during ovulation because I feel more energised, whereas in my luteal phase I stick to very slow and gentle movement like yoga and walks.
There is no right way to menstruate and experience this cycle, and this is no right way to incorporate it into your craft. And you don't have to incorporate it into your craft if you don't want to!
