THE SEASONS OF THE CYCLE: spring, summer, autumn and winter

They taught you that the menstrual cycle is a burden that we have to carry around, a kind of curse to live with a little embarrassment, because, after all, blood is gross and dirty. Now we come and instead we tell you the exact opposite. What if we told you that the menstrual cycle is actually a tool of knowledge, personal growth and magic? “No, look for me it's just cramps and discomfort”, you say. Instead, we see the menstrual cycle as a useful channel of creative energy that has yet to be discovered and re-evaluated. Our challenge is precisely this: to change this common perception, to dissolve the stigma on the cycle and to spread a culture of menstrual awareness that allows you to experience cyclicality as a magical inner journey, to discover your personal power. The power of the cycle, which at each season, regenerates us if we are able to listen and take care of the needs of our body gently.

SUMMARY
The seasons of the menstrual cycle
Menstruation: winter
Preovulation: spring
Ovulation: summer
Premenstrual: autumn
How to live cyclicality well

The seasons of the menstrual cycle

Tell us how you live the cycle and we will tell you who you are: the cycle often reveals important elements about the relationship you have with yourself, how you feel confident in expressing yourself and how you respect or force your natural rhythms. Since hormonal fluctuations - not controlled by drugs - are beyond our control, what we can do is learn about the phases of the menstrual cycle and learn to live with the energies of each phase . The menstrual cycle presents a curious parallelism with the seasonal cycles of nature: preovulation corresponds in symbolic form to spring, ovulation to summer, premenstrual to autumn and menstruation to winter. Let's find out how!
Cycle, instructions for use: we divide the cycle into approximately four weeks, obviously the duration of each phase varies from person to person. To describe the journey inside our flow , we will start from the winter season, that is the bleeding, the week from which we begin to calculate the duration of the menstrual cycle.

Menstruation: winter

Period : starting from the first day of blood, it lasts on average from 1 - 6 days

Period: starting from the first day of blood, it lasts on average from 1 - 6 days
It's time to develop: wisdom and intuition. Winter or the Wise Woman phase begins on the first day of your lunar month. This is the first day you start bleeding, and it's the first week of your period. Menstruation is the time when the energy is all turned inward. Most of us feel the need and desire to rest and withdraw from the collective hustle and bustle. In fact, in nature winter is a period of inner reflection, a sort of metaphorical death. In this phase the bedroom becomes an inviting cave and the blankets an oasis, a perfect cocoon to dream of the coming spring. This is also the phase most imbued with spirituality: according to ancient wisdom, the winter phase is the time when the veil between the worlds becomes thinner, dreams become revealing and those closest to one's inner essence perceive clear messages. on their own existential path. A long time ago bleeding was the perfect time for menstruating to gather in menstrual huts where they bleed together to regenerate and tune into the world of spirits and deep mysteries. Menstruation is the time to give up everything and not take care of anything or anyone: just your blood . As soon as you feel "the call" it is time to close the door and rest, give all the energy to yourself. Of course, few of us can do a retreat for days: those who have a family or a job feel constantly called "to service" and few understand how necessary this moment of pause is. Yet we can claim it: that it is also 1% of the day. Let it be 5 minutes of the first menstrual day. This gesture of love for yourself is a healthy and desirable behavior that will benefit those around you in the long run. Do only what you want to do: a hot bath, a tear-jerking movie, lie down in nature to absorb the energies from the earth, write down your dreams in your notebook, take a walk alone or with your partner. And why not, sleep!

The words of winter : calm and tranquility, rest, solitude, I am not there for anyone, give me space, I want a safe and welcoming place, I have none for anyone, sensitivity, hypersensitivity, wisdom, creativity, letting go, little mourning, renovation.

Preovulation: spring

Period : approximately from day 7 to 13, during the pre-ovulation or follicular phase.

After the menstrual rest in which you have completely recharged comes rebirth, renewal, a new beginning in the name of energy and joy. When a person enters his spring phase, he is ready to slowly return to the world and take on new projects, planning and organizing the month in light of the "mission" he received during the bleeding . During this phase, the hormone estradiol (an estrogen ) is on the rise and energy levels go up. This is a great time to spend time and focus on new projects, reading, researching, learning new things, and physical activities in general. You have a great motivational boost inside, exploit it to the full!

The words of spring : rebirth, renewal, new beginning, productivity, concentration, independence, learning, strength, ability to face challenges, desire to move.

Ovulation: summer

Period : approximately from day 14 to day 21 during the ovulation phase.

In the summer phase, things start to heat up - literally and metaphorically. This is the third week of the menstrual cycle , the one in which ovulation occurs. A person with a cycle of 29.5 days, average length, can ovulate on day 14, although some ovulate a little earlier or a little later. This varies from person to person and, usually, those who track their menstrual calendar or listen to the symptoms of ovulation can always understand the moment of ovulation. During the summer phase, the energy is more expressive and directed towards the outside. You can feel more social, this is a great time to focus on building your community, nurturing relationships, hosting, cooking or serving others. The summer week is the most pleasant time to take care of children, offer support to friends and have lots of pleasant sex with your partner, with any precautions, because as pleasure increases, fertility also increases. Ovulation is also the best time to ask for what you want - whether it's from your partner, or to ask for a raise at work.

The words of the summer : perform, be creative, playful, focus on community, on building relationships, on service, on nurturing, on making love, "I create", "I support you", "I take care of you".

Premenstrual: autumn

Period : from day 22 until day 29 approximately, fourth week, luteal phase.

Autumn is the fourth week of your cycle, and this is where things begin to contract, to descend, to decrease: the energies, the desire, the resourcefulness. You may feel called to inner reflection this week. Any excessive demand agitates you and puts you under pressure. You want space and time to spend alone. This is a delicate phase that must be foreseen, especially if you are a freelancer. These are days to make room and take care of yourself. If, driven by fear, you deny this call, you risk suffering even more from the so-called premenstrual syndrome and gasping to the point of blood. Many gynecologists and researchers see a strong link between work rhythms and the worsening of many disorders related to the menstrual cycle and in particular to the luteal phase. Whenever we ignore a need, our body repeats it in the form of irritability, fatigue and other unpleasant symptoms. So have the courage to enter the forest of your autumn bringing with you the sun that warmed you in the summer, do not worry, you have put enough wheat in the barn. You can rest and if you do you will find yourself filled with inspiration and you can use this waning energy precisely for the completion of your creative projects: write, draw, find creative solutions for your career, review the mistakes of the past with a loving eye and affirm yours. power.

The words of autumn : less energy, decreasing hormones, need for space, "I ask less of myself", "I don't want to give at this moment", less attention and concentration, I want to create, "zero desire to do physical activity" , heightened creativity, assertiveness, strategy.

How to live cyclicality well

The structural breakdown of the menstrual cycle week by week is based on the wisdom of the experiences of the ancients. We can all learn our own particular rhythm by noting the changes that occur week after week. Even if you have an irregular cycle or some phases are longer than average, don't worry - you can use this information as a guide to building a closer relationship with your body. As you understand the energies and signals of each phase, you will be able to tune in and feel where you are, even as it changes every month. One week you may feel like socializing, the next week you will need more space. A person who does not communicate with their body will have the feeling of "going crazy" while those who choose to learn to love their cycle and to know its power will have access to a great treasure. But for this you will have to make bold and strong choices like slow down and even say no. Difficult, huh? We've all been there, but it's worth it. The best thing about recognizing and tracking the seasons is that they will also teach you a lot about who you are: in which season do you feel at home? Which energy best represents you and from which season do you still have so much to learn? Find out with us. The cycle will always accompany you, day after day, in the eternal regeneration of you.