A Timeless Gathering

Towards the end of 2020, I was invited to a “new moon circle” on Zoom. I hadn’t heard of Rosh Chodesh before, but I was intrigued. Previously I would have described myself as somewhat hesitant to participate in new experiences. But here I found myself in the midst of the pandemic with an openness to participate in community and connect in new ways.

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I took the leap and joined this small group of strangers who are now friends. I had no idea that years later we would still be connected virtually and in-person. The circle itself feels a bit timeless, like a convergence of modern feminism, ancestral wisdom, and ethereal magic. Each meeting looks and feels a little different from the last, but there is a consistency of showing up with an open heart and mind every new moon.

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Menstruation and the Moon

Around the same time I joined a Rosh Chodesh circle, I was starting to develop a deeper connection with my menstrual cycle. I had struggled with period pain for years and was waking up to the lack of education I had received about my own body. Over time, tracking my cycle started to feel similar to tracking the lunar calendar. While I was deepening my mind and body connection on my own, Rosh Chodesh was enabling me to feel more connected to the moon and to other menstruators past and present.

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Even though my cycle didn’t always line up with the new moon, the themes and spiritual meaning of these two cyclical occurrences started to feel very complementary. The two key events of the lunar calendar are the new moon and the full moon, and the two key events of the menstrual cycle are menstruation and ovulation.  The new moon and menstruation are times of inwardness where we honor endings and beginnings. The full moon and ovulation are times of aliveness and outward connection.

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I have taken the sentiments of Rosh Chodesh and applied them to the days of menstruation, when the cycle is starting over. These days are connected to the literal and figurative shedding of the last cycle and invites an opportunity to begin again. This is a time to slow down and set intentions for the weeks ahead. While society has told me my menstrual cycle is a nuisance, Rosh Chodesh has offered me another message: Menstruation can be thought of as a time to recharge, reconnect, and reset.

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Making My Own Meaning

I would be remiss to talk about this topic and not acknowledge the complicated language Judaism has historically placed on menstruation. Traditionally, during the days of menstruation a woman is considered ritually “impure.” (The Hebrew term for this ritual impurity is tumah.) Whether this be a patriarchal misnomer or a consequence of the limitations of language, the spiritual wonder and beauty that is the menstrual cycle feels lost in this word choice. 

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With this, as with other Jewish wisdom, I see an opportunity to question and challenge this teaching to define my own meaning of what menstruation means to me. With takeaways from my Rosh Chodesh experiences and the mystic power of the moon, I am choosing to understand and honor menstruation in a more compassionate way. 

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I believe by understanding the ebb and flow of the whole cycle, we can embrace the more subdued or challenging days (new moon/menstruation) with the more easeful, joyful days (full moon/ovulation). During menstruation our body may encourage us to set boundaries, take care, and go inward. I don’t feel “impure” during my period, but I do feel like slowing down, reflecting, and connecting with the divine feminine within me. 

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Rosh Chodesh has offered me a way to embrace a cyclical life and has given me an opportunity to come together and begin again.

At The Well uplifts many approaches to Jewish practice. Our community draws on ancient Jewish wisdom, sometimes adapting longstanding practices to more deeply support the well-being of women and nonbinary people. See this article’s sources below. We believe Torah (sacred teachings) are always unfolding to help answer the needs of the present moment.

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Sources

Wrestling With Menstruation, At The Well

The Taboo Of Menstruation, Joanna Greenbaum

Wild Power, Alexandra Pope and Shane Hugo Wurlitzer

Mindful Menstruation: A Practical Guide to Menstrual Cycles and Mental Health, Joanna Greenbaum

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