A women’s menstrual cycle is about the same length as a lunar cycle, around 28 – 29 days. In being in sync with the moon, the light of the full moon triggers ovulation and women would bleed at a new moon.
However in the western world today, we have somewhat lost our connection as women to both nature and the moon. We live in a man’s world.
Traditionally in many cultures, the moon holds sacred significance to the goddess and the female. Going back into time people lived in the open, amongst the trees, the stars, and the ocean. Today’s culture has become detached from this natural way of living, it has become very much artificial and at a cost to our health.
Menstrual Cycle
A woman’s cycle can be thoughts of as two phases:
- The follicular phase – day 1 (first day of bleeding) to day 14 (ovulation).
- The luteal phase – day 15 to day 28 (until next bleed).
If we track a woman’s mood, it can be further broken down, into four phases. If we work with these four phases, we can move with the cycles of the moon.
Moving With The Moon Phases
- Phase 1 – dark moon or no moon – menstrual phase:
- With no moon and the shedding of the uterus, ie, the bleeding, energy is low. It is natural to want to retreat and stay indoors. It represents winter. The body wants more sleep at this time.
- This is the time to reflect, to go within. Reflect on the last month and let go of what isn’t serving you.
- It is about physically cleansing, bleeding, and purging emotionally.
- To honor this time, spend time alone, don’t plan any events to fall at this time, rest. You may ask your partner to take care of some of the chores, and de-load your workload at this time.
- Phase 2 – waxing moon – pre-ovulation phase:
- This is after menstruation has finished and is the lead up to ovulation, spring. Energy is building up as hormones are rising.
- The focus now is outward, you are driven, productive and focused.
- This time is a good period to get onto any challenging work, the ‘big tasks’.
- With exercise, you may want to go a bit harder, aim for the personal bests at this time.
- Phase 3 – full moon – ovulation:
- This is when a woman is fertile. With the full moon, it is summer, energy is high, and it is bright.
- Energy is still outward but there are more nurturing elements. The time to do any big cleans may be now.
- This time is about connecting to others, developing relationships and nurturing current relationships. It’s a great time to make a date, or treat yourself to something indulgent like a massage.
- Phase 4 – waning moon – premenstrual phase:
- This is when physical and emotional energy starts to decline, the autumn. Energy starts to shift inwards again as the moonlight becomes dark and empty.
- Creativity can be higher as well as intuition. Perhaps if you have been sitting on the fence on something, now is the time to tune into what you need to do.
- This is the time for less logical work and more creativity. It’s a time for self-care, to relax, let emotions calm, read a book and have a long bath.
- With exercise, you may want to opt for gentle yoga practices and leave the high-intensity training to the led up to ovulation.
If you start to become aware of the phases, you can work with it rather than against it. There are positives to every phase.
Being in sync with nature is healing to both the body and mind. It is hard today as we do live in a world where a woman is on the go every day. Life seems to support a man in many ways. But it isn’t to say it isn’t possible to make it work for you. Tell your partner what the phases are so then he won’t go planning his boys night on day 1 and expect you to prepare the food. If you have a personal trainer, tell them too, they can plan your harder sessions at ovulation and de-load you at menstruation or the lead-up. If you are doing a diet where you need to take a break, to break a plateau, then have that break at phase 4 when willpower is lowest.
If you are having difficulties with a regular cycle and not sure where to start, you may find this article useful on seed cycling. It can help restore a cycle. Alternatively please get in touch for a consultation.
Trust the body’s wisdom. It knows everything you need to know.