Get the Best out of your cycle: if you know what’s going on you might turn it in your favor!

During the fertile years women experience hormonal phases, that are connected to the cycle and to the moon. This phases have a huge impact on a woman’s month journey and with a bit of knowledge and a bit of planning we might benefit from what may comes.   

According to Michel Odent, women are like Ferrari cars, you really need to be careful and do really small changes, because in every phase the body produces a set of hormones that are really peculiar for that period and hormonal changes effects the physical, psychological and emotional state. Some women do not experiment that much of a change while other lives on a roller coaster, with some tips though we can ease the symptoms.

From the end of the menses to Ovulation

In this phase the hormones function in a stable and predictable manner, estrogen and progesterone levels are normal. You can feel a bit different from day to day, but it is not a huge jump. Sometimes some women think that they suffer from PMS, because they feel very emotionally instable, but, since there is no cyclic pattern maybe it could be related to stress or nutritional factors.

If the period is in assonance with the moon phases, it correspond to crescent moon, half moon and gibbous moon. In this period you might feel more engaged, you might desire to prepare and order things, the energies are rising and this is a good moment for planning, for thinking about your goals and intentions, to communicate, write down, to plant new seeds. 
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Ovulation

During this phase the estrogen levels begin to build, women might feel more energetic, sexy and the cervical mucus is the ideal to allow the sperms to live and reach the egg. The sense of smell is higher, the thinking is clearer and physically they might feel more fit. Since the body is ready for creating a new life, all the body-mind-emotion system works to make it happen.

The moon is full, shining on our path, making it very bright and clear. It is a moment of creativity, inspiration, production, energy peaks, the perfect moment for creating new programs, writing (blogs, newsletter, books), complete tasks that have been put up during the precedent phase.

From the end of the Ovulation to the Menses

Most women experience a decline in their hormones, the progesterone levels drop and it is possible to feel rage, irritability, anxiety, depression, uncontrollable crying and sense of losing. Dr. Northrup suggests to pay attentions to what we feel in that moment because she thinks it is a very precious moment in which our subconscious is talking to us. It is not 'just a PMS', it is a ‘keeping a journal’ moment, which might suggest that we should make some changes in our life. It is a mind detoxinating period.

The moon is decreasing going from complete shining to complete darkness, this is a period in which it would be good to finish off the important things and prepare for the introspection period. This period needs Self Care, Massages, Good Food, Pampering and Kindness. In this phase it would be good to avoid salty foods to avoid water retention and bloating. Sugar and processed food is also not the best. Some exercise can help, like walking, swimming or yoga. 

Menses

The lining of the uterus collapses thanks to a drop in estrogen and progesterone, it is also the beginning of the follicular phase of the next cycle, stimulated by the hormone called FSH produced by the pituitary gland, in order to produce a new egg. Some women suffer a lot in this period, but if so they should check the symptoms, a little cramp is normal, if it’s really painful it might be the sign of a misplaced uterus or other symptoms. It is very important to pay attention to the color, the presence of cloths and all the factors involved, they can be a good indication of the abdomen health. During the menses the toxins stored in the womb are cleared out, so symptoms may also suggest that there is a need of a more conscious diet or better life style. 

The moon is completely dark, it is time to turn within and listen to what your soul is whispering.