Get to know your menstrual cycle
(and live in harmony with your body)
What is your relationship with your menstrual cycle? 🌺
I used to see it as an inconvenient but necessary part of my life. I also used to think of it only when I was bleeding and for the rest of the time, it did not exist.
But then I discovered menstrual cycle awareness which is a cyclical living practice of embodied mindfulness - being aware of and tracking how your body feels on any given day of your cycle. It is a very empowering and beautiful practice that simply asks you to tune in and listen to your body so that you can care for (and have compassion on) yourself, however you might be feeling that day. This practice really is about reclaiming your wholeness.
As an overview, your cycle falls into four main phases (which align with the physiological hormonal changes in your body). I like thinking of them as seasons, because the energy of the seasons of mother earth feel very resonant for me but they can also be represented by archetypes.
The cycle day numbers used for each phase are just examples given a 28 day cycle. Your phases may differ depending on your cycle length and various other factors — part of the MCA practice is to listen to your body and figure this out for yourself!
Because you are the expert and authority on your body’s experience of your cycle!
Having said that, the four phases of Menstrual Cycle Awareness are often experienced as below.
⭕️ Winter / The Crone archetype (days 27–5) — starts just before menstruation and lasts until your last day of bleed. Words that resonate with this phase include rest, stillness, surrender and renewal.
⭕️ Spring / The Maiden archetype (days 6–12) — encompasses the pre-ovulatory phase from when you finish bleeding until just before ovulation. In this phase you might experience a sense of rebirth, playful curiosity and motivation to take action.
⭕️ Summer / The Mother archetype (days 13–19) — falls around the time of ovulation and the few days after. This phase is often characterized by sensuality, pleasure and an outward focused yang energy that’s full of resilience and agency.
⭕️ Autumn / The Wild Woman archetype (days 20–26) — falls during the premenstruum. An often emotionally turbulent phase where we feel the call of the enchantress and her intuitive truth-telling rising up within. It can also be a portal into our Shakti, our creative feminine power.
Each of these phases tend to be characterised by different energies just like the seasons. Spring and summer are yang phases, autumn and winter are yin phases. And just like the seasons, understanding the strengths and shadows of each phase can help you tap into your superpowers and live with greater ease, flow, energy and creative power. Menstrual Cycle Awareness is about learning to love and live in sync with your body’s natural cyclical nature and take advantage of your unique superpowers whilst having compassion for your whole self — instead of ignoring, fighting against or feeling betrayed by your body.
One of the simplest ways to get started on this is by Cycle Charting. Simply find what day of your cycle you are on (Day 1 being the first full day of bleed) and then note how you are feeling on that day. It’s that simple! You can use an app or journal, just as long as you are able to record how your body, mind and heart are feeling. There are often common themes that many experience in particular phases and days of the cycle, but everyone has a unique experience and this mindful embodied practice will enable them to learn what these are for themselves and truly embrace who they are.
Note: If you are not currently bleeding, you can still take part using the moon as your guide. New moon would count as your day 1 (winter) and full moon correlates to ovulation (summer).
I am currently offering 1:1 coaching if you are interested in diving deeper into this work. You can book a free discovery chat with me to find out more.
