How To Live Cyclically
Let me tell you a story of a time when…
We harvested and planted food by the moon cycles, we slept and woke with the sun, we celebrated the changing of seasons, alternated backbreaking work with rest, and marveled at the intuitive power of women who could bleed for a week at a time and not waste away. These were the cyclical times.
It was not all beauty and honor. Work was hard, living conditions were tough, and women in some cultures were shunned during their monthly bleed.
Today we have successfully taken many of the cycles out of our lives. We have made a calendar with man-made days of rest and work. We use lights to turn nighttime into day. We use heat to turn coolness into warmth. We take medications that flatline our hormones so we don’t feel the roller coasters of emotion or don’t bleed at all. We are expected to show up with the same smile and same emotions each day. We forget or ignore the effect the moon has on our bodies and minds.
Some of these conveniences are quite miraculous for keeping us safe and comfortable, but have we taken the time to ask at what cost? As we accumulate more conveniences, we isolate ourselves. We no longer need to trade with our neighbors, harvest for the winter, and relate with our community to survive. In turn, we have become a society that relies heavily upon antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, hormonal birth control, caffeine, sugar etc. just to get through a day feeling '“normal”.
By no means are any of these resources bad or good on their own. They provide useful tools for management and can be used for a variety of different situations and life circumstances. Modern medicine can be a wonderful thing. However, it begs to question this definition of “normal” which lies somewhere between always smiling, having a good career, a happy relationship, 2.5 kids … you know the story. This same story creates shame when we feel that we don’t align with it.
It’s up to us now. The precedent has been set, but our bodies and spirits are fighting back. How much longer will we allow ourselves to face overwhelm, burnout, adrenal fatigue, chronic health problems with no explanation, hiding emotions, and feeling out of sync with our innate cycles?
Cyclical living means allowing for the natural rise and fall of our moods, energy, creativity, productivity, libido, and lust for life. This affects all areas of our relationships, business, art, intuition, athleticism, and expression.
When we live cyclically by honoring the natural rises and falls throughout our lives, years, months, and days we learn to honor the waves. This honor and respect replaces the thoughts that something has gone wrong or that there’s something wrong with us. Each time you challenge these ideals, you are making a radical move back towards a life that honors women, cycles, seasons, and our innate connection to nature.
I invite you to remember in your wombs, hearts, and bones that the natural waves of emotions, energy, and connection you feel is your truest nature. There is nothing wrong with you, in fact, when you attune to these cycles you are living in a way that is most authentic to you.
Below are some resources for further connection and information.
Want to learn more, here’s how:
I work with women 1:1 for 3 months to teach knowledge and wisdom of women’s hormonal health, alignment with the seasons of the moon, hormonal cycles, and the seasons to live a cyclical and balanced life that you and your family can count on. Learn more about working 1:1 with me.
Take a self-paced online course.
If you’re new to the cycles of life and cycles throughout the month, check out this blog post.
Wishing you bravery and compassion on this journey, you have an important role to play.
