Menses and Sexuality

by Debora Myers

The phases of the moon affect the ebb and flow of the tides on mother earth. The moon also affects our tides as well. The gravitational pull of the moon effects all bodies of water, including our own complex body systems primarily made up of water. Most commonly, women tend to ovulate around the time of the new moon and begin menstruating at the full moon. Many cultures throughout time have referred to a woman's menses as her "moon time." From ancient times people recognized the connection of the moons cyclic nature with the cyclic nature of women's menstrual cycles. Mensa was the Roman goddess of measurement, numbers, calendars and record keeping. Many creation myths follow the familiar theme that said man was made from the combination of earth and the moon, which was the source of menstrual blood. The Greeks, Hindus, Romans, Nordic, Celtic, Egyptian, Arabic, Chinese, and aboriginal Australians all had creation myths recognizing the mysterious and sacred nature of the moon's cycle and menstrual blood-flow.

In Heat

Most cultures around the world recognize the strong intuitive and sexual powers that accompany a woman during the luteal phase of a woman's menstrual cycle. The luteal phase is the time from ovulation until the onset of menstruation. Generally women are thought to be more in tune with their intuition and more in tune with their feelings while ovulating. Studies have also shown that women remember their dreams more frequently and that they dream more vividly during ovulation and menstruation. Ovulation is the time to start new projects this being our creative time. Ovulation is also the time when we experience a sense of intensified desire. This is our time of "heat." Nature has an ingenious way of attracting a prospective mate to us. Hormones are secreted into the air by our bodies that tell others around us that are bodies are ripe and ready for fertilization. Many of us feel at our peak during this time projecting vivacious, sexy vibes while we exude our heated pheromones. If one is experiencing energy low at this time it may be wise to look carefully at your lifestyle. Are you taking care of yourself? If not it is time to reprioritize, putting you higher on the list of things to take care of. If you are not healthy you cannot possibly take care of the other things that are important to you.

In today's so-called modern world women push themselves over the max. By overburdening our minds and bodies attempting to be everything to everyone we lose touch with our cyclic natures, therefore becoming exhausted, out of touch and confused. Premenstrual syndrome is reported mostly in highly industrialized countries where women are not in touch with the earth cycles and therefore not in touch with their cyclic natures. In more agricultural and hunter gatherer communities women that follow the natural cycles of the earth, tend to be more attuned to their cycles, resting when needed... instead of attempting to be super-human-wonder- women. In parts of India it is an accepted practice for women to slow down and rest more during their periods. In some Native American societies women spent their "moon" in a special lodge where she rested away from her everyday duties. This was done to protect her and also because of taboos associated with her bleeding. Women were seen as more powerful at this time and therefore men feared that she could overpower and taint their own psychic energies and powers.

We are so interwoven with the outer elements surrounding us that we find it difficult to find time to pay attention to the problems we have buried deep inside of ourselves. While we are physically bleeding out the old, we can find that this time is appropriate for the cleansing of the spirit as well. With inner reflection we can dig to the depths required to work out problems and issues that get pushed down to the bottom of our souls. It is very helpful if we can tune into our bodies to release negative energy and cleanse our spirits, readying ourselves for another productive cycle.

About the Author

Debora Myers is editor and co-founder of