I am a full moon bleeder. I was not always. For many years, my cycle was muted by synthetic rhythms, the soft hum of hormonal regulation quieting the ancient drumbeat that once guided women in communion with the Earth. But it has been 7 years now since I came off hormones, 7 years of rewilding, of remembering the language my body once spoke fluently: moonlight, tide and intuition.
When I moved to Sardinia, something profound awakened. The air here carries an ancestral pulse: salt, myrtle, rosemary and sea wind. The light is alive; it feeds everything. I rise and sleep with the sun, eat what grows from the soil beneath my feet and bathe in the wildness of the land. Slowly, my body began to hum with the rhythm of this island, syncing not with calendars or schedules, but with nature's own breath.
And so, my bleeding began to align with the full moon: the Red Moon cycle.
My name is Sharon Fernie and I am the founder of Herbal Cacao, where we share high-quality ceremonial cacao blends with herbs, spices and mushrooms. I have a deep passion for holistic wellness and ancient traditions, and through Herbal Cacao our mission is to support our community on their journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, while spreading awareness of the profound benefits of ceremonial cacao and other medicinal herbs, adaptogens and mushrooms. Read more about my story.
Here in the Herbal Cacao Journal, I explore the fascinating world of active medicinal compounds, rituals, ancient healing practices and modern wellness, often woven together with experiences from my own life. So whether you are experienced or just beginning your holistic journey, this is your invitation to deepen your understanding of sacred plants and their profound effect on body, mind and spirit.
The Red Moon path: the healer's flow
In many women's circles and moon traditions, bleeding with the full moon is called the Red Moon cycle, and it is linked to the path of the medicine woman, the healer, the keeper of wisdom. It is seen not as a rhythm of fertility in the physical sense, but as a rhythm of spiritual creation. Those who bleed with the new moon, the White Moon cycle, are said to turn inward together with the dark sky. Full moon bleeders shed in the brightness of illumination. The world around us is bathed in lunar fire, yet within, we are in descent: releasing, cleansing, transforming.
This is a paradox I have come to love. When the moon is most visible, I am most inward. When the world glows, I close my eyes and listen.
The full moon draws everything to the surface: emotions, insights, dreams. On my bleeding days, I find myself sitting in the moonlight, sipping my cacao, a sacred companion who holds me like a mother's hand. Her warmth travels through me, grounding my energy and softening me, emotionally and physically.
I often blend her with Blue Lotus or rose petals, flowers that have been honoured for centuries for opening the heart and calming the spirit. With each sip, I feel the ancient women behind me, those who once bled into the earth, who gathered under the full moon not in shame, but in reverence. My cacao becomes both prayer and nourishment, anchoring me to the lineage of women who knew that menstruation was never a curse, but a communion.
Bleeding as a spiritual portal
There is a certain magic that arrives with menstrual blood. It is not only a physical release; it can also be a portal. Each cycle mirrors death and rebirth, a shedding of what no longer serves and a clearing for what is to come. Many women feel that when they bleed, their intuition opens wide. The veils between worlds grow thin, and messages come in dreams, in the quiet whisper of the wind or in a knowing that settles deep in the belly.
In several traditions, from Indigenous peoples of North America to ancient women's lodges described in folklore, the time of bleeding was honoured as a time of heightened sensitivity and inner sight. Women retreated not because they were impure, but because this was a sacred time to rest, dream and listen.
When I bleed under the full moon, I feel this truth vibrating in my bones. My rituals slow down. I journal, I rest, I drink cacao and I listen. Sometimes I cry, not from sadness, but from the exquisite awareness that I am nature: cyclical, changeable, whole.
Living by the sun, bleeding by the moon
Life in Sardinia has deepened this dance between light and dark. I wake with the sunrise and watch the sky blush in the evenings. My food is simple, earth-born, local and seasonal. This return to natural living has tuned my body to the subtle symphony of nature. I have learned that the more aligned I am with sunlight, soil and stillness, the more gracefully my body flows through her monthly cycles.
It is as if my womb listens to the land. When the wildflowers bloom, I ovulate. When the moon swells bright and round, I release.
To live like this, attuned, awake and embodied, is to remember that my blood is part of the Earth's poetry.
Cacao as a sacred companion
On my bleeding days, cacao is more than a comforting drink; she becomes a ceremonial bridge. She helps me descend softly into the underworld of my cycle with presence and reverence. Cacao is a natural source of magnesium, which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to the normal functioning of the nervous system. The warmth of the cup opens my heart. And the spirit of cacao herself whispers: you are safe to soften.
In the quiet of those days, I prepare my cacao with intention and offer my first sip to the Earth, a gesture of gratitude for the gift of renewal. I let the warmth anchor me as my energy moves inward. These days are not meant for productivity; they are meant for presence.
When I honour that truth, everything flows more harmoniously. My creativity deepens, my intuition sharpens and my body thanks me in whispers instead of screams.
A simple moon blood cacao ritual
- Create a quiet space, ideally where you can see the moon or a candle.
- Warm 20 g of ceremonial cacao slowly with water or plant milk. On a deeper ritual evening you can use 20 to 30 g, never more than 50 g.
- Offer the first sip to the Earth, with gratitude for your body and your cycle.
- Place one hand on your womb and one on your heart, and take 5 slow breaths.
- Ask: What am I ready to release? Write down whatever comes.
- Sip slowly and allow yourself to rest. Nothing needs to be done tonight.
Listen to your own body, and if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, check with your doctor before drinking larger amounts of cacao. Find more guidance in how to use ceremonial cacao.
In sync, in soul
To be a full moon bleeder is to live in duality: to bleed in light, to hold darkness amidst brightness. It is to embody both the wild and the wise, the visible and the mystical. Each month, as the moon rounds her belly in the sky, I am reminded that my body is a sacred calendar, tracking not time, but transformation.
And so I bleed with reverence. I bleed as prayer. I bleed in gratitude for the cycles that shape me into deeper wholeness.
My blood is my offering: to the moon, to the Earth, to every woman who is remembering her rhythm. May we all find our way back to the mystery, to the moon and to the sacred pulse of nature within us.
Would you love a cacao for your moon rituals? Discover Blissful Intuition, our ceremonial cacao with Blue Lotus, lavender and vanilla.
Frequently asked questions
What is a full moon bleeder?
In moon traditions and women's circles, a full moon bleeder is a woman whose period tends to start around the full moon. This is often called the Red Moon cycle and is linked to the archetype of the healer and medicine woman.
Does the moon really affect the menstrual cycle?
The average cycle is close in length to the lunar month, and some women notice their cycle aligning with the moon, especially when they live close to natural light. Large studies show mixed results, so it is best seen as a personal and spiritual rhythm rather than a fixed rule.
Can I drink ceremonial cacao during my period?
Many women enjoy a warm cup of cacao as part of a calming ritual during their period. Cacao is a natural source of magnesium, which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. 20 g is a lovely daily cup; listen to your body and never use more than 50 g.
Which cacao blend suits a moon ritual?
Many women love Blissful Intuition, with Blue Lotus, lavender and vanilla, for quiet, dreamy moon rituals, or Pasión, with rose, for heart-opening evenings.
Sources and further reading
- Helfrich-Förster, C. et al. (2021). Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon. Science Advances, 7(5), eabe1358.
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (2010). Scientific Opinion on magnesium health claims. EFSA Journal, 8(10):1807.
- Buckley, T. and Gottlieb, A. (eds.) (1988). Blood Magic: The Anthropology of Menstruation. University of California Press.
