Lunar
Despite modern studies producing inconclusive findings about the synchronicity of the menstrual and lunar cycles, historical evidence says otherwise. Lunar calendars were not merely timekeeping tools; they also tracked menstrual cycles, allowing early societies to track their cycles in concurrence with celestial rhythms. Prehistoric bone fragments marked with lunar phases illustrate how menstruators’ bodies were in harmony with the rest of the natural world. So why have we lost this innate connection to one of the most powerful forces in our galaxy—the moon?
Reclaiming the ancestral practice of manual cycle tracking is more than a personal choice; it is an act of defiance against the surveillance of popular period-tracking apps and the erosion of reproductive rights following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. By moving away from data-driven menstrual tracking, menstruators can regain autonomy over their health, resist the data-fication of their natural bodily rhythms, and reconnect with a system that has guided human existence for millennia. In a time when digital privacy and reproductive freedom are under attack, manual cycle tracking emerges as a radical, empowering tool for self-governance.
This page is still in the works! Make sure you visit again soon to see the story unfold.
PROJECT
Thesis
DELIVERABLES
Calendar, Instructions & Exterior Packaging
INSTRUCTOR
Mia Culbertson
YEAR
Spring of 2025
How It All Began
The initial concept of this project stemmed from my own challenges with regulating my menstrual cycle—an experience shared by many. Frustrated by the lack of comprehensive period education, I began independently seeking out resources to better understand my body. I had previously encountered the concept of synchronicity between menstrual and lunar cycles, which piqued my interest and seemed to offer rich potential for visual exploration. What began as a personal inquiry quickly unfolded into something much deeper.
However, my early research yielded underwhelming results. The scientific studies I encountered suggested a weak or inconsistent correlation between the menstrual and lunar cycles. Eventually, I came across the work of journalist and essayist Olivia Campbell. Her article, How Period Tracking Birthed the Calendar, provided exactly the perspective I was missing. Through her writing, I learned that menstruators meticulously observed lunar cycles to predict menstruation in ancient societies, leading to the creation of some of the earliest timekeeping systems. This historical insight became a pivotal turning point in the conceptual development of my project.
So my question is, why have we lost this innate connection to one of the most powerful forces in our galaxy—the moon?
Special Collections Research Center Findings
With this information, I moved on to figuring out how to configure the calendar itself. At first, I considered using a conventional rectangular calendar format, but upon deeper reflection, I felt compelled to be more ambitious. Given that this project centers around cycles, it felt necessary to pursue a design that echoed the form of a traditional circular lunar calendar.
Before I overwhelmed myself with the conceptual and structural complexity, I decided to seek out existing references that could guide my thinking. I visited the Special Collections Research Center at the Charles Library, hoping to find lunar calendars, movable books, or any visual framework that could inform my approach. I was incredibly fortunate to receive guidance from Kim Tully, the Librarian and Curator of Rare Books, whose expertise proved invaluable. With her help, I explored a range of materials—from 15th-century texts featuring astrolabes and volvelles, to contemporary artist books that were both beautiful and conceptually rich.
This research phase not only helped me clarify the structure of my calendar but also inspired many of my typographic and illustrative choices. The ornate swashes, serifs, and visual motifs I encountered informed the visual language of my project. Below are images of the incredible books that I got to (very carefully) hold in my own hands!
Reclaiming the ancestral practice of manual cycle tracking is more than a personal choice; it is an act of defiance against the surveillance of popular period-tracking apps and the erosion of reproductive rights following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. By moving away from data-driven menstrual tracking, menstruators can regain autonomy over their health, resist the data-fication of their natural bodily rhythms, and reconnect with a system that has guided human existence for millennia. In a time when digital privacy and reproductive freedom are under attack, manual cycle tracking emerges as a radical, empowering tool for self-governance.
Exterior Packaging
Instructions
Calendar
Design as a means of:
PROBLEM-SOLVING, EDUCATION,
REBELLION + RECLAMATION
Choosing this topic cracked open a hidden universe that’s led me into an entirely new world filled with power, history, and magic. I truly believe I could keep working on this project for eternity, as it expands every time I touch it, so I plan to continue this line of research. Creating something that I’m not only passionate about, but that also has the potential to support and empower others, has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
In addition, this project has given me the opportunity to use all the methods of making that I love—design, illustration, image-making… even nail art? The physicality of Lunar was especially satisfying: working with my hands during the design phase, printing, and constructing. I’m endlessly grateful to my classmates, professors, and friends who gently held me throughout this labor of love.
Photo documentation by Kaitlyn Schnorbus