On June 11, 2025, the night sky will be illuminated by the Strawberry Moon, a full moon rich in symbolism and seasonal significance. Named by Indigenous tribes like the Algonquin to mark the peak of strawberry harvesting season in the northeastern United States, this moon has long signified ripening, reflection, and readiness for new beginnings. It arrives at a moment in the calendar year when the days are longest, the earth is at its most abundant, and the natural world is fully in bloom.
Astrologically, this full moon occurs in Sagittarius, a sign associated with truth-seeking, expansion, and optimism. Full moons in Sagittarius tend to bring clarity around what is and isn’t aligned with your bigger picture, making it a powerful time for honest self-assessment. It’s a moment that encourages looking inward, evaluating personal growth, and setting intentions for the months ahead with a sense of purpose and direction.
But the Strawberry Moon carries significance beyond astrology and agriculture. For women, it offers a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with a rhythm that already exists within the body: the menstrual cycle. The parallels between lunar phases and hormonal cycles have been observed across cultures and centuries, and modern research is beginning to explore the biological mechanisms that might underlie this connection.
The Lunar-Menstrual Connection
The menstrual cycle has long been linked to lunar phases. The average menstrual cycle lasts approximately 29.5 days, closely mirroring the 29.5-day synodic lunar cycle. While this may seem like coincidence, a growing body of research suggests it might not be entirely random. A 2021 study published in Science Advances found that menstrual cycles in some women showed intermittent synchronization with the lunar cycle, particularly the full moon and new moon phases. The study tracked over 22,000 cycles and found that women with cycles close to 29.5 days were most likely to exhibit this pattern.
In traditional frameworks, the full moon is often associated with ovulation, a period of heightened energy, fertility, and creative output. This makes intuitive sense: the full moon represents peak illumination, fullness, and culmination, qualities that parallel the ovulatory phase when estrogen peaks, mood often lifts, and the body is at its most receptive to conception. Conversely, the new moon is traditionally associated with menstruation, a time of shedding, rest, and turning inward.
Whether or not your cycle aligns precisely with the moon, the framework offers a useful lens for understanding the ebb and flow of energy, mood, and physical capacity across the month. Each phase of the menstrual cycle carries its own hormonal signature, and learning to work with these shifts rather than against them can profoundly affect how you feel day to day.
Understanding Your Cycle Through the Lens of the Moon
Menstruation (New Moon Energy)
The first day of your period marks the beginning of a new cycle. Estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest, which is why many women experience fatigue, low mood, and a desire to withdraw. This is the body’s natural reset. Just as the new moon represents darkness before renewal, menstruation is a time for rest, reflection, and letting go of what no longer serves you. Honoring this phase rather than pushing through it can set the tone for the entire cycle ahead.
Follicular Phase (Waxing Moon Energy)
As your period ends, estrogen begins to rise steadily. Energy returns, creativity increases, and you may notice a growing sense of motivation and clarity. This is the building phase, mirroring the waxing moon as it moves toward fullness. It’s an ideal time to start new projects, make plans, and engage in more demanding physical activity. The body is primed for action and the brain is sharp, driven by rising estrogen’s effect on serotonin, dopamine, and cognitive function.
Ovulation (Full Moon Energy)
Estrogen peaks just before ovulation, often accompanied by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that triggers the release of an egg. This is when many women feel their most confident, social, and energized. Communication skills tend to be at their peak, libido often increases, and the body is at its most fertile. The full moon parallel is clear: this is the phase of maximum illumination, fullness, and outward expression. The Strawberry Moon’s themes of culmination and renewal align beautifully with this moment in the cycle.
Luteal Phase (Waning Moon Energy)
After ovulation, progesterone rises and estrogen begins to decline. The body shifts into a more inward, nurturing mode. Early in the luteal phase, you may still feel energized, but as the phase progresses and both hormones drop (particularly in the final week before your period), PMS symptoms can emerge: irritability, bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, cravings, and mood swings. This is the phase where hormonal support matters most, because it’s where imbalances become most visible and most disruptive.
Why PMS Symptoms Intensify and What Drives Them
PMS isn’t a character flaw or something to simply power through. It’s a measurable hormonal event. The drop in estrogen and progesterone in the late luteal phase triggers a cascade of effects: serotonin levels fall (contributing to mood changes and cravings), cortisol sensitivity increases (amplifying stress and anxiety), and prostaglandin production rises (driving cramps and inflammation). Magnesium levels also tend to dip in this phase, compounding muscle tension, headaches, and sleep disruption.
For women with conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, or estrogen dominance, these late-cycle shifts can be significantly more pronounced. When the body is already dealing with elevated androgens, impaired estrogen metabolism, or chronic inflammation, the luteal phase drop can feel overwhelming rather than manageable.
This is where targeted nutritional support can make a meaningful difference, not by overriding the cycle, but by giving the body the raw materials it needs to navigate these transitions more smoothly.
Introducing Cycle Care: Support for Your Hormonal Journey
At BOND, we understand the importance of aligning with your body’s needs rather than fighting against them. That’s why we developed Cycle Care, a comprehensive supplement formulated to support hormonal balance and ease PMS symptoms throughout the entire cycle. Every ingredient was selected based on clinical research for its role in hormone metabolism, stress response, and inflammation.
Cycle Care is formulated with clinically researched ingredients including ashwagandha, magnesium, glutathione, and lemon balm. Together, these work to:
Maintain healthy cortisol levels and support the body’s stress response, so the luteal phase doesn’t feel like an emotional free fall
Promote natural hormone metabolism and estrogen detoxification through the liver, reducing the buildup of estrogen metabolites that can worsen PMS
Support gut health and toxin elimination, which is essential for the estrobolome (the gut bacteria responsible for metabolizing estrogen)
Ease PMS symptoms like muscle cramps, bloating, and mood swings by addressing the underlying drivers rather than masking them
Ashwagandha, one of the key ingredients, has been studied specifically for its ability to reduce cortisol. A 2012 randomized, double-blind study published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine found that participants taking a high-concentration ashwagandha extract experienced significant reductions in stress and serum cortisol levels compared to placebo. For women whose PMS is amplified by chronic stress, this cortisol-regulating effect can be transformative.
Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to alleviate premenstrual symptoms. A 1998 study in the Journal of Women’s Health found that magnesium supplementation significantly reduced PMS-related mood changes, water retention, and pain. Given that magnesium is depleted during times of stress and is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body, maintaining adequate levels is foundational for hormonal health.
Embrace the Energy of the Strawberry Moon
This Strawberry Moon, take a moment to reflect on your personal growth and set intentions for the months ahead. Consider where you are in your cycle and what your body might be asking for. If you’re in your follicular phase or approaching ovulation, channel the full moon’s expansive energy into planning, creating, and connecting. If you’re in your luteal phase or approaching your period, honor the need to slow down, nourish yourself, and prepare for renewal.
Whether you’re looking to balance your hormones, alleviate PMS symptoms, or simply reconnect with your body’s natural rhythms, Cycle Care is here to support you on that journey.
Not sure if Cycle Care is right for you? Take our Hormone Quiz to find out which BOND product fits your needs.
References
The Old Farmer’s Almanac. "Full Moon Names and Meanings." https://www.almanac.com/full-moon-names
AstroStyle. "Sagittarius Full Moon Meaning." https://astrostyle.com/sagittarius-full-moon/
Helfrich-Forster, C., et al. (2021). "Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon." Science Advances.
Grainger, R., et al. (2004). "Lunar Influences on Menstruation." Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.
Northrup, C. (2010). Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.
Chandrasekhar, K., et al. (2012). "A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety." Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine.
Walker, A. F., et al. (1998). "Magnesium supplementation alleviates premenstrual symptoms." Journal of Women’s Health.
Richie, J. P., et al. (2015). "Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione." European Journal of Nutrition.
Parker, B. J., et al. (2020). "The gut microbiome and estrogen metabolism: A potential link to women’s health." Frontiers in Endocrinology.
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