The Power of Feminine Energy
A woman lives three lives; hers, her mothers and her grandmothers, because she already exists in the her mothers womb when her grandmother is carrying her daughter. When hormonal and feminine health is restored, the generations of women who came before her will whisper the wisdom of the ages in her ear and she will hear it as her own innate intuition.
“Suppose the body is a God in its own right, a teacher, a mentor, a certified guide?
Then what?
Is it wise to spend a lifetime chastising this teacher who has so much to give and teach?
Do we wish to spend a lifetime allowing others to detract from our bodies, judge them, find them wanting?
Are we strong enough to refute the party line and listen deep, true to our body as a powerful and holy being?”
— Clarissa Pinkola Estez, Women Who Run With the Wolves
Women are cyclical - just like nature. The transitions of the moon and the seasons are reflected in a woman’s mental and physical health. From menarche (the first period) to menopause, a woman experiences a monthly cycle that invites her to pay attention and shift with each season of her cycle.
Today, modern medicine recognises the need to align with each part of a womens cycle. The term ‘cycle syncing’ is about recognising the need to adjust a womans routine according to where she is in her menstrual cycle: diet, exercise routine, sleep routine, even her work and social load. Doing this helps her align with her natural hormonal shifts, and can avoid energy dips, PMS, menstrual discomfort and anxiety, as well as support her fertility, general health and longevity.
Sounds great, but what does cycle syncing mean?
Women experience four phases of the menstrual cycle; follicular, ovulatory, luteal and menstrual.
During the follicular phase (6-8 days), the body is recovering from menstruation and building up reserves to prepare for conception. Estrogen and progesterone are rising.
The ovulatory phase (2 days) is the time when ovulation occurs and pregnancy is most likely. Estrogen peaks, while testosterone and progesterone are rising up.
At the luteal phase (10 days), progesterone and oestrogen will drop if the egg is not fertilised and the body will prepare for menstruation.
During menstruation (2-5 days), the body will release hormones, blood and tissue built up in the uterus during the past three weeks.
According to Ayurveda, these phases are represented by each of the doshas. The follicular phase is represented by kapha dosha, the ovulatory and luteal phase by pitta dosha, and menstruation by vata dosha. The doshas provide an indication of the state of mind and body during each stage of the menstrual cycle, and how to support the mind and body. For example, the kapha period is a good time to move the body and eat less dense food, while the vata time is ideal for rest and minimal exertion.
Period pain, menstrual migraines, infertility, endometriosis, PCOS, irregular periods, PMS, and many others are common, but they are not natural. Many of the menstrual, fertility, hormonal and mental health issues a woman faces are due to a lack of alignment between the phase of the feminine cycle she is in, and the activities and diet she is engaged with.
Modern life has changed how women live, but our biology and cyclical nature are much older and wiser. As we learn to realign our lives to our natural cycles, we also tap into the power of Shakti; the transformative and intuitive power of wise women. Work with your feminine cycles and cultivate the power of Shakti by learning to walk in the footsteps of the wise women who came before you, and build a path for the women who will came after you.
