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«The menstrual cycle can be a wonderful positive strength in our lives as women»

(Miranda Gray, author of «Red Luna»)

Does this phrase sound rare? During my adolescence and up to twenty -five years I would have sounded like a joke in bad taste: at that time I spent two days in bed with acute rule pains, after a week of high and emotional low and with the swollen and uncomfortable body. By stopping taking the contraceptive pill- it is what my doctor prescribed me for my painful rules- I undertook a long and fascinating route to understand the roots of my discomforts.

One of the most important tools I found was the practice of observing the physical, emotional and mental changes that I experienced every month, with a respectful look. After almost a year of writing my experiences, I realized that in reality, they lived in my four different women! Each one, according to the cycle phase, has different needs and skills: by recognizing this, something new was born in me as a woman. Instead of trying to always continue with the same rhythm, I discovered that by living more in tune with my cycle and with these four phases, my premenstrual and menstrual symptoms almost disappeared, and I felt more and more happy, more effective and above all, reconciled with my femininity.

Dynamic phase

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to understand the four phases of the menstrual cycle is in its great proximity to the four stations. The week after having the rule coincides with spring, with renewal, with an increase in our physical energy and our analytical, concentration and planning capabilities. During this phase, named the Dynamic phase By Miranda Gray in his latest book «The Optimized Woman», it is the best moment of our cycle to start new projects, to take action, work alone and achieve results.

Expressive phase

The following week, coinciding with ovulation, corresponds to summer and is ours expressive phase, Sociable, empathic and radiant. We can take advantage of this phase of our cycle to resolve conflicts, stay with friends or family (or a romantic dinner!), And present our projects or ideas to others.

Creative phase

Then the notorious premenstrual phase begins, perhaps with the one that we have to reconcile the most. This fits with autumn, when our physical energy begins to go down and we notice the need to go inside, clean and release what does not benefit us, as the leaves of the trees fall. The great challenge of this phase is to channel our high critical capabilities towards concrete things to solve problems, but not towards us or others. From a phase that can be very destructive, we can redirect it towards a Creative phase and liberating, connection with our unconscious and intuition.

Reflective phase

Generally our rhythm and energy are going down until we get to winter, with menstruation, a phase to go to the essential, prioritize and, as soon as we can, take more time to rest and simply be. This is the Reflective phasethe end of a cycle, a time to stop, evaluate and connect with what is really important for us.

As more we know and respect our cyclical nature, even with small steps or acts, more we will recover within us a source of power and self -esteem that will grow with each cycle.