What the History of Menstruation Reveals About Power, Shame, and Healing

What if the way we feel about our period today isn’t just personal, but deeply cultural?

The truth is, how we experience menstruation—whether with shame, silence, reverence, or resistance—has been shaped by generations of stories, taboos, and inherited beliefs. And it's time we look more closely at those stories if we want to heal not only our relationship with our cycle, but also our bodies and our power as women.

From Sacred to Stigmatized: The Forgotten Power of Menstruation

In researching the history of menstruation across cultures, I came across insights from the Museum of Menstruation and pioneers like Joan Morais that deeply moved me. Here are just a few examples that show how diverse the perception of menstruation has been:

• In ancient Navajo tradition, menstruating women were considered sacred. They were believed to receive powerful spiritual insights during this time and were invited to lead their tribes.

• Hippocrates, often considered the father of medicine, believed that menstruation released toxins and kept the body in balance. This belief influenced early practices of bloodletting.

• In some ancient cultures, menstruating women were sent to special huts—not as punishment, but for rest, reflection, and connection with other women. A kind of spiritual sabbatical.

• And yes, in other traditions, women were excluded from religious rituals or food preparation, seen as impure. These beliefs still ripple through some cultural and religious systems today.
  
  

But let’s not stop at history. Let’s bring it back to us.

How Cultural Shame Becomes Personal Disconnection

Our grandmothers may not have been told they were dirty, but many were told to stay silent.
Our mothers may not have been cast out, but many were handed a pad without a conversation.
And many of us learned to view our cycle as a burden before we ever understood its beauty.

It makes sense, then, that millions of women still feel disconnected from their bodies. We carry the weight of shame without even realizing where it began. But that shame is not ours to hold. We get to decide what story we write next.

What If Menstruation Is an Invitation, Not a Curse?

Imagine if, instead of hiding our periods, we honored them.
Imagine if we treated them as a monthly invitation to slow down, to listen, to reconnect with our body’s wisdom.
Imagine if girls were taught from their first bleed that they are powerful, not problematic.

I believe we are at a turning point. A moment in time when we can begin to rewrite the story of what it means to bleed.

Reclaiming the Wisdom of the Cycle

Modern women experience nearly 500 menstrual cycles in their lifetime. In contrast, prehistoric women likely experienced closer to 100. That means today’s women are spending a significant portion of their lives cycling, bleeding, and processing emotional and physical changes.

So why do we still treat this part of life like it should be hidden?

Whether you're navigating cramps, irregular periods, mood swings, or simply a sense of disconnection—know this: your body is not broken. Your cycle is not a flaw.

It’s a rhythm. A conversation. A sacred part of being alive in a woman’s body.

Let’s Redefine the Meaning of Menstruation—Together

If you’ve ever felt ashamed, confused, or silenced around your period, you are not alone. And there is another way.

In My Beauty & My Beast, I share true stories of women who have turned inward, reconnected with their emotional wisdom, and found healing—not just from PMS or period pain, but from the deeper wounds our cycles often reflect.

Ready to start rewriting your story in a supportive space?

Join me for an intimate live virtual gathering, where we’ll talk openly about our menstrual history, emotional healing, and how to reclaim our power. You’ll be welcomed with compassion, insight, and community.

Final Reflection: What Story Will You Choose?

If you were taught to see your cycle as dirty or disruptive, you are not alone. But you are allowed to unlearn that story.

Menstruation can be sacred. Healing. Empowering.
What would change if you believed that?

Until next time, I wish you moments of peace, power, and permission to honor yourself fully—especially during the days you were once taught to hide.