Rest while bleeding isn’t weakness—it’s strategy.
It’s how we protect our peace, our bodies, and our future.
I was invited by a brilliant mama (who I met during my own postpartum healing) to contribute to a new book accompanying her community activation for new Black mothers and families. When she asked me for an offering, my spirit went straight to the return of blood—what many of us call the moon.
When a person’s period returns after birth, it’s not just biological—it’s ancestral wisdom reawakened.
Our wombs are shedding. Our bodies are cleansing. Our intuition is sharp.
But in today’s world, we’re told to ignore that.
To push through. To stay productive. To keep climbing.
But what if slowing down is part of the climb?
At Positive Results Center, our work is grounded in reproductive justice, healthy relationships, and thriving Black families. That means we don’t just fight for policy change—we fight for the right to rest. To listen to our bodies. To redefine what sustainable leadership looks like. This is a part of Reproductive Justice for Black folk.
Because whether your moon cycle has just come back after birth, or it’s been with you for years, this moment right here—when the womb begins to cleanse again—is sacred. It’s not just physical. It’s emotional. It’s ancestral.
And in a world that asks us to keep going no matter what, I want to remind you:
you get to slow down.
you get to be held.
you get to honor this cycle.
This is for every new mama finding her rhythm again.
For every bleeding body reclaiming rest.
For every gender-expansive caregiver remembering that your womb, your flow, your needs are valid.
Let’s go deeper.
🌹 Your Moon Is a Cleanse, Not a Chore🌹
Every time we bleed, our bodies are doing sacred work.
Your womb is shedding her lining. She’s releasing the egg that did not become life. She’s letting go of what no longer serves.
And the blood she sends out? It’s about 80% water—soft, nutrient-rich, full of life force.
Our grandmothers knew this wasn’t a time to do more—it was a time to do less.
To sit still. To warm the body. To listen.
In Biblical stories, women would leave the village during their moon.
They were not cast out—they were set apart.
Away from the men.
Away from the children.
Away from the daily responsibilities that never seem to stop.
They rested. They were with other women. They were with themselves.
That rhythm is in our bones too.
& I call it in monthly.
🌹 Ancestral Wisdom: Cold Feet, Cold Womb🌹
One of the things my elders taught me was:
“Cold feet = cold womb.”
Your feet are the roots of your body. If they’re cold, the cold travels up into your center. And your womb, in her cleansing state, needs warmth. Needs softness. Needs care.
So yes, I wear socks in the house, running errands, everywhere, especially when I bleed. I keep blankets nearby. I stay off cold floors.
And I feel the difference in how my moon moves through me when I’m warm and grounded.
🩸How I Tend to My Body When My Moon Returns🩸
This is what it looks like for me—nothing fancy, but everything sacred:
🌹 I Slow My Whole Life Down🌹
I don’t have a full stop, because I’m a mama. But I do cancel nonessential work and social plans. I move slow, take breaks, let the house be what it is. I listen to what my body’s asking for—and I honor it.
🌹 I Eat Warm, Loving Foods🌹
Lentil soup is my go-to. It’s grounding, filling, soft. I also make roasted veggies, stewed greens, and yams. Cold foods? Not right now. My womb deserves warmth and nourishment.
🌹I Hydrate with Intention🌹
Chlorophyll water keeps my energy up. I also eat fruits and veggies that hydrate—melons, oranges, cucumbers. Remember: your moon blood is mostly water. You’re not just bleeding—you’re pouring out. So pour back in.
🌹I Sip Healing Teas🌹
Raspberry leaf to strengthen.
Nettle for minerals.
Chamomile to soften and calm.
Each cup is a moment to pause, breathe, and remember I’m not alone in this cycle.
🌹 I Call on My Village🌹
I ask for help with my kid. I let folks bring food. I give myself permission to rest. That’s not weakness—it’s wisdom. We were never meant to bleed in isolation.
🌹 I Trust the Voice of My Womb🌹
My intuition sharpens when I bleed. I journal. I reflect. I let go. The womb speaks in this time—offering clarity, creativity, truth. And I listen.
✨ A Reminder for All Who Bleed✨
Whether your moon has just returned postpartum, or you’ve been cycling for years…
Whether you’re a birth parent, a gender-expansive bleeder, a caregiver, a nurturer in any form…
This is your reminder:
✨You don’t have to push through.
✨You don’t have to keep performing.
✨You deserve deep rest and gentle care.
At PRC, we believe reproductive justice means honoring the full humanity of bleeding bodies.
That includes the right to say “no.” The right to ask for support.
The right to pause and remember—your body is sacred.
Your moon is sacred.
You are sacred.
🌹 Let This Be Your Permission Slip 🌹
To warm your feet.
To turn off the phone.
To cry, laugh, or sit in silence.
To cancel the meeting.
To nourish your body like it just did something incredible—because it did.
Your womb is cleansing. Your spirit is shifting.
Let it. Let yourself be held.
You don’t need to earn rest.
You just need to remember you’re worthy of it.
With love, warmth, and sisterhood,
Until freedom rings,
<3 Malinda Rochelle Lewis, M.A.
