Your Four Natural Cycles and Why You Should Pay More Attention to Them
What are the 4 phases of our menstrual, lunar, life and seasonal cycles (and why do we need to pay more attention to them)?
Are you feeling overwhelmed with life or at odds with the world? If it’s a yes, you are the majority. With nearly three-quarters of us feeling unable to cope, we are more stressed than ever. We’re under pressure to be more and do more. But what is the cost? Burnout, anxiety, hormonal stress, perfectionism or worse…
As a mother and writer, I feel (and empathise with) the burden of life’s responsibilities. Even though some days can feel especially hard going, there are ways to lessen the load and feel more at peace. Women have been instructed to be linear and unchanging to get ahead in this world. However, we are dynamic individuals that move with the cycles of time. So, what if we leaned into a different type of rhythm; one that is less dependent on consistent output and more reliant on the natural shifts in our cycles? Life might feel easier.
The four cycles we’re affected by on a physical, emotional and spiritual level are the menstrual, seasonal, lunar and life cycles. There are four unique phases within each of the cyclical teachers:
- Menstrual cycle: follicular, ovulatory, luteal, menstruation
- Moon cycle: new, waxing, full, waning
- Seasonal cycle: spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Life cycle: maiden, mother, wild woman, crone
Within the menstrual, moon, life and seasonal cycles, there is a distinct period for growth and a time for retreat. The fallow days contain many creative and intuitive strengths that aren’t so much about increased effort, but more about inner knowing and wisdom – something that has been increasingly ignored in favour of productivity in today’s world.
The menstrual cycle is our monthly reminder to grow self-awareness and heal old wounds when they surface. During inner spring (pre-ovulation) and inner summer (ovulation), we’re outwardly focused, with sociability, mental clarity and productivity being core strengths. When we enter the inner autumn or luteal phase of our menstrual cycle (hello, PMS!), we need to turn inwards, letting go of unhelpful patterns at work before the release of menstruation in winter.
The lunar cycle follows a similar monthly pattern of fullness and falling back, with the waxing moon being an optimum phase to capitalise on energetic feelings of new growth and inspiration as the light grows in radiance. The waning moon encourages a release of anxious or fearful thoughts (as with our inner autumn), especially when it comes to not feeling enough or imposter syndrome, before the celestial reset of the new moon.
The seasonal cycle is a yearly practice of moving with the highs of the warmer months (when life is about self-appreciation and creative endeavours!) and the slower seasons when good boundaries and introspection are needed. The Wheel of the Year and its eight sabbats is the perfect terrain to ritualise the seasonal shifts in energy, helping us connect to the natural world and understand that rest is just as valuable as growth.
A woman’s life cycle mimics the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, with our earlier years being a time to push forward and take on more. Talking about our life cycle through the lens of goddess spirituality: maiden, mother, wild woman and crone helps us understand that we gain more beauty and empowerment as we flow from each decade into the next while giving us the archetypal tools to truly flourish.
When we pay more attention to our cycles (and this doesn’t need to be anything radical) we acknowledge our value, regardless of other people’s expectations. This can help us feel rooted in our truth and more aligned with our personal and collective needs as women. Feeling more in tune with our bodies is needed now more than ever, after all.
Flow: Self-care sessions for your menstrual, lunar, life and seasonal cycles makes the process of returning to cyclical living easy and manageable, with tips, insights, creative prompts, lunar spells, meditations and more. From your relationships to your nutritional wellbeing, Flow looks at how to improve the quality of your everyday life on a mind, body and soul level.
This blog was written by Samantha Redgrave, author of Flow: Self-care sessions for your menstrual, lunar, life and seasonal cycles which is available to purchase in paperback and ebook format by clicking here.
