Can We Stop Hating Our Periods?
Hey, it’s Chelsea—I’m the co-founder of Looni.
Thank you for being here—whenever you feel like a chat, or need a some extra support, just send us a text at 877-MY-LOONI (877-69-56664).
🏰 STORY
Can you believe that there are over 5,000 euphemisms to describe periods? It's not hard to guess why there would be so many slang terms for an incredibly natural bodily process - many people still struggle to openly talk about it, even as adults. Whether you're having a visit from Aunt Flo, On The Blob, Riding The Crimson Tide, On The Rag, Have The Painters In, or just The Curse, I'm sure that, like me, you have heard some of these stigmatized, outdated colloquiums since youth.
Language like "feminine hygiene" and "sanitary products" construes the ridiculous notion that periods are in some way unclean. I grew up watching blue liquid being neatly poured onto period pads because the idea of showing anything blood-like was of course, just too realistic and disgusting for the human eye to bear. I watched a recent episode of Conversations With Friends and realized that it was the first realistic depiction of period blood (shout out to Frances' character with endometriosis) I'd seen on TV . . . ever!
Period shame is insidious. Society encourages us to feel embarrassed about our periods. This shame is compounded by the emotional ebbs and flows we experience each month. It's the perfect concoction - a hormonal dance of shame and hatred.
No wonder so many of us jumped at the opportunity to suppress it when our doctors oh so casually offered us the contraceptive pill as teens - sold to us as a one-stop-shop for all our period woes.
I’ve struggled immensely with my cycle and it can feel like constant work, but I’ve accepted that this journey can be rocky and takes an extensive toolbox to keep myself feeling sane and balanced.
I believe my period is a mark of my femininity and a massive part of my life - and I know I’m not alone. Maybe, instead of perpetuating the narrative of shame, we should be teaching young menstruators how remarkable we are - for f***cks sake, our vaginas can be a portal to another realm!
With acceptance comes relief. One of the many tools I practice is to observe my cycles, akin to the changes in seasons. Every September, as the breath of winter looms, I wish summer could last forever. But alas, it's part of nature's cycle. If the cherry blossoms were always in season, perhaps it wouldn't feel as magical when they bloomed.
Like the seasons of the year, through your menstrual month, you move through your very own winter, spring, summer, and fall and back to winter again. Each phase ushers in specific resources and psychological challenges that help you grow and embody your power1.
Week 1: Inner Winter –
Around day 1-6 of your menstrual cycle when you're bleeding.
Week 2: Inner Spring –
Around day 7-13, when you're in the pre-ovulation phase.
Week 3: Inner Summer –
Around day 14-21 during your ovulation phase.
Week 4: Inner Fall –
Around day 22-29 during your luteal phase (winding down again).
While the unsavory lows and energy dips I experienced before and during my period have dramatically improved, I'm still susceptible to the effects of my natural hormone fluctuations. I've found that working with my
inner seasons
has helped me harness the power of my hormonal dance and set boundaries when I am feeling more emotionally vulnerable while, at the same time, paying closer attention to what my body needs. When possible, I try to arrange my calendar around my seasons. I feel abundantly creative during my inner spring and summer whereas if something important comes up during my inner fall or winter, I might not be operating at my optimal energy levels. Still, the vulnerability I hold during this time bears immense power as I know my energetic boundaries.
This is about self-care and honoring our feminine essence; resting and recharging when we need to so that we can move through life in sync with our cycles. This journey teaches me to accept my seasons: with the darkness of winter comes the light of summer.
🎵 SOUNDS
Here is a little something from us to you—take of your clothes, feel your feet on the floor and dance it out!
🩺 SCIENCE AND SPIRIT 👁️
🧑⚕️ from Looni’s medical adviser, Dr Stephanie Colantonio
Menstruation is sacred. In order to create new life, we need death. Nature shows us this everyday, as decomposition produces rich soil for new growth. Each month when we bleed, we shed that which is dead to open the possibility for creation. It’s magnificent if we pause to think about it.
Somewhere along the way we forgot the beauty of this intimate relationship with the cycle of life and death. Bleeding became dirty, a taboo, and we started to need “menstrual hygiene” products - a term I am also not a fan of. In their book Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation, Elissa Stein and Susan Kim write, “Even the word taboo relates to menstruation. It comes from the Polynesian word tupua, which means sacred, and is also used when referring to menstruation… menstrual blood has been reviled as the most evil and poisonous of substances, while being strangely revered as sacred and powerful.”
Now we see commercial products like douches and washes to clean the vulva and vagina. But these body parts are self cleaning through their naturally acidic pH and microbiome. Sometimes we may need topical treatments for infections, but those are limited circumstances. At baseline, you’re perfectly clean the way you are.
What about steams? A common misconception is that Yoni steams are done to cleanse the female reproductive system. But the intention is actually to connect us to the womb space, our center of creation, to support healing.
Learning to connect to our bodies is one of the first steps to easing period challenges. Connection may come from practices of ritual, celebration, or as Chelsea discussed, aligning with the inner seasons of your cycle. Ultimately, the seasons serve as symbols to remind us that we are dynamic, ever changing beings. Some days we can push ourselves, others we need to rest. When we pay attention to the cues of these seasons, we find harmony.
🪄 SOOTHE 🔮
from Dr Stephanie Colantonio
🌱 Yoni steams are a beautiful way to connect to your womb. Warm steam relaxes the pelvic floor while plants help heal this energetic center. Avoid when bleeding or with active infections!
Place a handful of herbs in a large bowl. A variety of plants can be used, depending on your needs. Some I love: calendula, rose, red raspberry, lavender, mugwort.
Place a pillow on either side of the bowl for your legs, and one in front to rest your head. Light candles, play soothing music - make it cozy!
Pour boiling water over the herbs.
Lean over the bowl in a puppy pose for 15 minutes. Wear a towel or sarong around your waist to trap the moisture. Enjoy!
Until next time,
Chelsea and Tatiana x
Co-founders of Looni
📚 SOURCES
Red School.