To begin the practice of collecting & planting one’s blood can be a daunting & experimental journey. This collection of information is to help you, my sisters make decisions that best suit your lifestyle & support a smooth transition into getting your blood back to the earth. From my perspective, planting one’s blood is one of the most valuable, upleveling shifts a menstruating woman can make in her life. To learn more about planting your blood, see previous article, Feminine Blood Mysteries Part II – Healing in Connection with Mother Earth
Step 1…Ditch the Disposables!
In order to collect your menstrual blood for planting, you will want to use one of the following reusable options; a menstrual cup, reusable cloth pads & or period panties. Choosing the best reusable product depends on individual priorities, lifestyle, and comfort levels.
In addition to being convenient for collecting blood, all three of these products have the added benefits of being:
- Eco-friendly. They greatly reduces the amount of waste you create throughout your bleed.
- Cost-effective. Although the initial cost to purchase reusable products is higher than disposables, it is greatly offset by the long-term savings.
- Health benefits. The highest quality reusable options are free from harmful chemicals which are found in most disposable products.
- Intimacy. The reusable products allow you to get personal and intimate with your body & blood.
Menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads, and period panties each offer unique benefits and challenges. The following is information to help you make an informed decision that supports your journey toward the practice of planting your blood.
Menstrual Cup.
A menstrual cup is a flexible, reusable cup made from medical-grade silicone, rubber, or elastomer, designed to collect menstrual blood. It comes in multiple sizes & can be used for up to 10 years with proper care.
Benefits:
- Convenience: Holds more blood than reusable pads or period panties, providing longer wear time (up to 12 hours) before needing to be emptied.
- Versatile & Discrete: Suitable for various physical activities & easy to use while away from home.
- Easy Blood Collection: Makes it simple to collect your blood for planting purposes.
- Hygienic: Clean & smell-free.
Challenges:
- Learning Curve: It may take practice to insert & remove comfortably and correctly.
- Maintenance: Requires cleaning and sterilization between uses.
- Fit Issues: Finding the right fit can be challenging; some women may need to try multiple brands or sizes.
- Sexual Health: Having an object inside your vagina for extended periods of time, may effect sexual health in subtle ways.
How to Use:
- Sterilize: Before first use and between cycles, sterilize the cup by boiling it in water for 5-7 minutes.
- Fold & Insert: Fold the cup using a “C-fold” and insert it into your vagina. In a squatting position, aim towards your tailbone for a comfortable fit.
- Seal & Twist: Once inserted, rotate the cup slightly to ensure it is fully open and creates a seal against your vaginal walls.
- Wear Comfortably: The cup can be worn for up to 12 hours depending on your flow. You should not feel it if it is inserted correctly.
- Remove & Empty: To remove, pinch the base to release the suction and gently pull it out. Empty the contents into the container you are using to collect your blood.
- Clean: Rinse the cup with water before reinserting. Ensure it’s cleaned thoroughly to prevent any build-up of bacteria.
**I have found it most easy and convenient to change the menstrual cup while in the shower.
Reusable Cloth Pads.
Reusable cloth pads are made from absorbent and breathable fabrics, such as hemp, bamboo & cotton. They come in various sizes and absorbency levels to suit different needs.
Benefits:
- Comfort: Made from soft, breathable materials, reducing the risk of irritation & exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Customizable: Available in different sizes, shapes, absorbency and fabric patterns to suit individual preferences.
- Sexual Health: Allows the woman to naturally “bleed out’ undisturbed, which potentially benefits her sexual & reproductive health in subtle ways.
Challenges:
- Maintenance: Requires regular washing and proper care, which can be time-consuming.
- Absorbency: May require more frequent changes than a menstrual cup especially on heavy flow days.
- Convenience: Less practical for travel, physical activities or situations where you cannot easily wash & store them.
How to Use:
- Secure in Place: Attach the pad to your underwear using the snaps or Velcro provided.
- Change as Needed: Change the pad every 4-6 hours, or more frequently depending on your flow and the absorbency level of the pad.
- Clean: In a small bucket soak pad in hot water for 20 minutes, rinse & ring out with cold water to remove excess blood. Give diluted Blood back to the Earth.
- Wash, Dry & Reuse: Wash in machine using mild detergent, air or machine dry. Ensure the pad is fully dry before reusing.
Period Panties
Period panties are specially designed underwear that can absorb menstrual blood. They are reusable and come in various absorbencies to accommodate different flow levels.
Benefits:
- Convenient: Easy to use and wear, similar to regular underwear.
- Comfortable: Made from soft, breathable materials that can prevent leaks.
- Versatile & Discreet: Looks & feels like regular underwear, suitable for different activities and can be worn alone or with other products for added protection.
- Sexual Health: Allows the woman to ‘bleed out’ naturally, which potentially benefits her sexual health in subtle ways.
Challenges:
- Absorbency Limits: May not be sufficient for very heavy flows without frequent changes.
- Maintenance: Requires regular washing and proper care.
- Convenience: Less practical for travel or situations where you cannot easily wash & store them.
How to Use:
- Wear as Regular Underwear: Simply put on the period panties like any other pair of underwear.
- Change as Needed: Depending on your flow, you may need to change to a new pair every 4-12 hours.
- Clean: In a small bucket soak underwear in hot water for 20 minutes, rinse & ring out with cold water to remove excess blood. Give diluted blood back to the Earth.
- Wash, Dry & Reuse: Wash in machine using mild detergent, air or machine dry. Ensure the pad is fully dry before reusing.
Organic Disposable Products.
I do not recommend using disposable pads of tampons if you have the desire to plant your menstrual blood. If for some reason this is the only option available to you, I recommend burning the product in a fire at the end of your bleed. Also, I only ever recommend using disposable hygienic products that are made from organic materials and free from harmful chemicals.
Personal Experience.
At menarche I was given disposable panty liners & pads to stanch the blood. Throughout my first decade of bleeding I mostly wore pads at nighttime, tampons in the day, and panty liners at the beginning & end of my bleed for spotting. Sadly the products I used were never organic (until my 20s) & therefore unbeknownst to me I was exposing my yoni to a multitude of harmful chemicals in this time. I disposed them in waste bins or to my parents & plumber’s great upset flushed them down & subsequently clogged the toilet.
In my mid-20s I first discovered the power of a woman’s cycle & learnt about planting my menstrual blood. This is when I was first introduced to the menstrual cup. I loved it & shared my love for it with sisters widely. Really for the first time in my life, I was getting very personal & intimate with my vagina & blood. It was much cleaner experience than tampons & still offered the flexibility for me to continue about my life in the same way while bleeding. I could go on a hike, swimming, work, spend time with friends, whatever I wanted to do. It was great. On the first couple days of my bleed, which are traditionally heavier, as well as at night, I would wear a panty liner for extra protection.
The call to “bleed-out”.
In 2018, in the months before conceiving my first child I started to feel strongly that the menstrual cup was subtly impacting my sexual & reproductive health in a negative way. I felt the call to allow my body to “bleed out” naturally, undisturbed. I started to talk with sisters about it, asking their experiences & some reported feeling a subtle loss of vaginal sensation & pleasure with extended use of the menstrual cup. As I had primarily used a menstrual cup or tampons for most of my menstruating life, the sensation of blood releasing from my vagina was very uncomfortable. It was interesting to experience so much discomfort in a simple natural biological process.
Three months later we conceived my son & since returning to regular bleeds postpartum I only use cotton re-usable pads & menstrual underwear. On my first few heavier days, I utilize both for extra protection. This has impacted my life in unforeseen ways. For one, the menstrual cup, & tampons generally allow us to continue about our lives in the same high pace, get things done way. Having a large diaper-like cotton pad on encourages me to stay within the nest of my home while I bleed. Allowing me to truly take the rest & renewal that I my body & life need. As for my sexual health, generally I have found an increase in sensation & pleasure within my yoni since making this change. Of course I have had two children & many other variables contributed to this shift.
My dream to “free-bleed”
Free-bleeding is a way of allowing the body to bleed freely without using any products to collect or obstruct the menstrual flow.
In my ideal menstruating world, my sacred moon-time ceremony is spent in the simplistic beauty of nature. I am in my garden, wearing my long ceremonial skirt, with sisters, menstruating maidens & mothers at my side. Moving slow, sharing tasks & stories, my children are near being cared for by grandmothers. I am deeply in tune the natural rhythm & flow of my body. When I feel a gush of menstrual blood, I find my space on the earth, lift my skirt & squat down giving my blood directly to the earth mother, solidifying my holistic deep connection to myself & the natural world.
Obviously free-bleeding in today’s world, comes with practical challenges, which thus far have inhibited me from giving myself this experience.
So for now, free-bleeding stands as “period goals”.
I imagine this to be a big step in the reclamation of personal power & liberation as a woman.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the journey towards reclaiming your power, honoring your menstrual cycle & integrating it into your daily life is deeply personal. Whether you choose menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads, period panties, or even embrace the practice of free-bleeding, the most important aspect is finding what feels right for your life & your body. To reconnect with your body, your blood & the earth is a profound opportunity for healing and reconciliation. It is a coming home to yourself, to the earth and your divine creative nature.
To all my sisters embarking on this journey, may you discover your personal magic & power, in the sacred practice of giving your blood back to the earth mother.
Blessed bleeding dearest ones. 🩸
