Do you bleed during the new moon?
If like me, you’ve found yourself reaching for your period tracker just as the moon disappears from the sky, you’re experiencing something beautifully profound—a white moon cycle. This past year I have been doing a lot of research on this and started tracking my emotions, moods, and manifestations for the cycles of the moon. It is pretty eye opening to see how the moon flows into my life in many ways – eating habits, spending habits, energy (more or less) and most definitely spiritual connection. For women who bleed, the alignment between your menstrual cycle and lunar phases opens doorways to deeper manifestation work and cyclical living. For me, it has helped me plan workshops, track my spending and know when to say yes to social time vs. me time.
Understanding the White Moon Cycle
The white moon cycle describes a menstrual pattern that begins around the new moon. This means your period arrives when the lunar cycle is either at its very end (waning crescent moon) or just beginning (new moon and waxing crescent moon). Your ovulation phase then aligns with the full moon, when lunar energy reaches its magnificent peak.
This isn’t just poetic coincidence—there’s something synchronistic about this timing. Your body’s most inward, reflective phase (menstruation) mirrors the moon’s most introspective moment (the new moon), while your most fertile, creative phase (ovulation) dances with the moon’s fullest expression of power.
The Science and the Mystery
Whether menstrual cycles and lunar cycles truly correlate remains hotly debated in scientific circles. Much of the research says there’s no definitive connection. Yet the average menstrual cycle lasts approximately 28 days—the same duration as one complete lunar cycle. We have 13 moons and that is what the old calendar was based on- the moon. 13 is a number that represents the goddess. This wisdom anchors us into our ancestors and our sky at the same time.
Beyond statistics, countless women report experiencing a strong, visceral connection between moon phases and their periods. Perhaps the answer isn’t found in laboratories but in the lived experiences of women who’ve learned to listen to their bodies’ ancient rhythms.
Our ancestors certainly believed in this connection. Before electric lights obscured our relationship with natural darkness, women often bled together during the new moon, gathering in red tents to honor this sacred time of release and renewal.
The Energetics of New Moon Bleeding
When you bleed with the new moon, you’re entering a powerful portal for inner work and manifestation. Consider the energetic significance:
The New Moon Energy: Introspection, release, setting intentions, going inward, planting seeds for new beginnings
Menstrual Energy: Shedding what no longer serves, heightened intuition, natural detoxification, spiritual sensitivity, connection to the divine feminine
When these energies combine, you become a walking ritual space. Your body is literally releasing while the universe offers its darkest, most receptive canvas for new dreams and visions.
Working with Your White Moon Cycle
During Your New Moon Period (Days 1-5):
- Honor the release: This is your time for letting go—emotionally, spiritually, and physically
- Journal prompts: “What am I ready to release from my life? What old patterns am I shedding along with my menstrual blood?”
- Manifestation work: Set powerful intentions for the cycle ahead. Your heightened intuition during menstruation combined with new moon energy creates potent manifesting conditions
- Rest deeply: Don’t fight the natural urge to turn inward. This isn’t laziness—it’s sacred receptivity
- Practice divination: Tarot, oracle cards, meditation, and dreamwork are especially powerful now
Waxing Moon Phase (Days 6-13):
- Take inspired action: As your energy returns and the moon grows, begin acting on the intentions you set during your bleed
- Creative projects: Channel your renewed vitality into artistic endeavors or passion projects
- Physical movement: Gentle exercise feels good as your body emerges from its rest phase
- Social connection: Re-engage with community and relationships after your inward time
Full Moon Ovulation (Days 14-16):
- Peak manifestation: Your creative and fertile energy aligns with the moon’s maximum power
- Express yourself: This is prime time for important conversations, presentations, or putting yourself out there
- Celebrate abundance: Honor what you’ve manifested and created in your life
- Physical vitality: You may feel strongest and most energetic during this phase
- Sensual expression: Many women feel most confident and attractive during ovulation
Waning Moon Phase (Days 17-28):
- Evaluate and refine: Assess what’s working in your life and what needs adjustment
- Clear space: Physical and energetic decluttering prepares you for the next cycle
- Wisdom integration: Process the lessons and insights from the past cycle
- Prepare for release: Begin identifying what you’re ready to let go of in your next bleed
Tracking Your Lunar-Menstrual Connection
Whether or not you currently bleed with the new moon, tracking both cycles can reveal fascinating patterns:
- Note your energy levels throughout both your menstrual cycle and lunar phases
- Pay attention to when you feel most creative, most introspective, most social
- Track your manifestation work—do certain moon phases yield stronger results for you?
- Notice if your cycle shifts over time, perhaps responding to major life changes or spiritual growth
If You Don’t Bleed with the New Moon
Not everyone follows a white moon cycle, and that’s perfectly natural. You might experience:
Red Moon Cycle: Bleeding with the full moon, ovulating with the new moon (traditionally associated with healers, wise women, and those in service to others)
Irregular patterns: Cycles that shift based on stress, life changes, or other factors
No cycle: Due to menopause, medical conditions, or contraceptives
Each pattern offers its own gifts and opportunities for lunar connection. The key is working with your natural rhythms rather than forcing alignment.
Creating Your Moon-Cycle Ritual Practice
Daily Practices:
- Moon water creation during your menstrual cycle
- Evening moon gazing and intention setting
- Cycle tracking in a beautiful journal
- Gentle movement that honors your energy levels
Monthly Rituals:
- New moon period ceremonies with candlelight and reflection
- Full moon ovulation celebrations of your creative power
- Seasonal cycle reviews and intention refinement
Seasonal Awareness:
- Notice how your cycles change through the seasons
- Adjust your practices based on seasonal energy shifts
- Honor the larger rhythms that contain your monthly cycles
The Bigger Picture: Cyclical Living in a Linear World
Learning to honor your menstrual-lunar connection is ultimately about reclaiming cyclical living in a culture obsessed with linear productivity. Your body holds ancient wisdom about rhythm, rest, and renewal that our modern world desperately needs.
When you bleed with the new moon, you’re not just following a biological function—you’re participating in a cosmic dance that connects you to generations of women who understood the sacred nature of these cycles. You’re embodying the truth that we are not meant to operate at the same energy level every day, that rest and retreat are as sacred as action and achievement.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your energy naturally ebb and flow throughout your cycle?
- What patterns do you notice between your emotional state and lunar phases?
- How might honoring your cyclical nature change your approach to work, relationships, and self-care?
- What would it look like to plan your life around your natural rhythms rather than fighting against them?
Your period is not a curse to endure but a monthly portal to your deepest wisdom. Whether you bleed with the new moon, full moon, or follow your own unique pattern, your cycle is a sacred teacher waiting to guide you home to your most authentic, powerful self.
How do you honor your connection to lunar and menstrual cycles? What practices help you tune into these natural rhythms?