Menstrual Seasons

The first time I read about the different seasons in a womens menstrual cycle I felt like all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. My love for nature, my passion for yin yoga and working the seasons according to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and my admiration for the female body.

Of course our female bodies cycle through seasons. Why had nobody ever told me that before?

 

First things first

Everybody cycles in a different way. So, very important, your own experience holds your truth, not my words. There is nothing that you ‘should’ be experiencing or feeling, or there is no one way of experiencing a cycle. With time and through practicing what they call MCA (Menstrual Cycle Awarness) you will discover how you roll. 

There is however a template or flexible framework, or as they call it in the book Wild Power an archetypal cycle: ‘an undeniable, organic pattern in the heart of nature and our bodies that we will all recognize’. There is a lot to say about this template and this blog post focuses on the general outline of the 4 seasons of a cycle: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn and not to forget the transitioning days. I like to see them as a fifth and often overlooked season, Indian Summer. The season that in TCM related to the element Earth, a time for integration.

Each season comes with its own unique gifts and challenges, superpowers and dangers. I will be giving a rough estimate of the length of the days of each season, but please know that it varies for each one of us. Depending on a.o. the length of your cycles and various other factors in your life.

The seasons of your cycle
The approximate days below are based on a 28 day cycle and come from the book Wild Power:

Winter circa day 27 – day 5
holds both the end and the beginning of your cycle. The first day of your bleeding marks a new cycle and can be seen as day 1. Your winter time is a physical and emotional cleanse.

Spring circa day 6 – 11
holds the energy and time of gradual growth. Life is getting a bit lighter and brighter. This is the season for new beginnings and possibilities. 

Summer circa day 12 – 19
holds a peak of your energy. These are the days around your ovulation. A season of full bloom and enjoying life. You are on fire. 

Autumn circa day 20 – 26
holds the energy of drawing inwards. At some point after ovulation you feel a shift in how you feel and behave. Your energy slumps and turns inwards.

Transition Days 1 – 2 days in between seasons
holds the energy of integration. A time to reflect on the previous season and what strengths and vulnerabilities were mirrored to you. It also shows you how aligned and in tune you are with the pace of your cycle. Some women feel very wobbly in these days.

Everyone has a part of the cycle that the feel most comfortable with. Just like the seasons in a year. There is always a favorite season where it feels like one can come home, and relax. Other seasons might make you feel a bit lost, uneasy or uncomfortable.

Why would I track?

Because it is:

• a guide to get to know yourself better
• your ally in self-care, stress-management and inner work
• a help to regulate, pace your energy, calm your nervous system and give feedback on your overall wellbeing
• a building block for you to embody your feminine power and also to receive the (spiritual) gifts of your menstruation
• a template for your creative process. Each creative project goes through the same stages a cycle moves through. In that way you can almost see it as coach that is build in your system. For you as a woman for, accessing inspiration and manifesting your ideas (Wild Power)

With more and more understanding you can use the ebbs and flows of your hormones to improve your career, your relationships and your health. Learn to make adjustments. To a degree, because there will be (many) things that you can’t change. However being in tune with the seasons will enable you to respect where you are in your cycle. So you can be aware and take care of your needs. 

And again, it’s your cycle. So let’s get started and track. Soon you will find out when they start and when they end, and maybe even more important: what your personal powers and pitfalls are in each season.

Happy tracking!