Moon Cycles

As we women are super cyclical beings, our monthly cycles also contain the 4 earthly seasons within the 28 days (as within, so without). When we have a basic understanding of our cycles, we can create more harmony within our bodies by nourishing ourselves with what we may need more of, depending on where we are within our cycle. Hormones fluctuate within that roughly 28 day period, giving us different temperaments, needs for our bodies and our general attitude towards life. This is all natural, but of course, as always in life, as we gain more knowledge, we can do more for ourselves and share what we know with others (we aren’t gatekeepers over here).

I think it’s incredibly important to open these types of conversations as there’s so much we don’t know, and so often we learn these things later in life, or not at all. It helps to mend the gap between women (and people), and help reinforce we’re not alone with our bodily functions and none of what happens to us and our bodies is weird or unusual. It’s all natural babes. I know that we never stop learning, but I do find it not in the best interest of women to be learning about naturally occurring things that happen within our bodies (with everyday things such as rotational & shortening/ lengthening of our cervixes within our monthly cycle) well into my 30’s. I can’t imagine how much knowledge is lost, or simply unknown and not talked about with those from more conservative backgrounds.

So let’s talk about our cycles and how best we can nourish ourselves with what may be most beneficial during our monthly cycles.

New Moon:
Winter: Period/ Bleed
Dark, is a time for rest, to go inward and focus on taking care of ourselves. When we *should* go the slowest. Not the best time for crazy, high intensity workouts, if yoga is your thing, restorative yoga is fantastic. I personally love me some bedtime yoga. Or ya know, doing nothing is 100% ok too. Do nothing often anyway, that’s how you can fill your cup up first.

Great foods for extra nourishment:
Foods available in winter season
Blackberries & blueberries
Seaweed/ kelp/ nori/ sushi
Beetroot
Kidney Beans
Dark Chocolate
Warm teas
If you’re carnivorous: red meat, oysters & salmon

First Quarter/ Waxing Moon:
Spring: Folicular
This is the time when your body is gearing up for getting pregnant, therefore growing new ovary follicles ready to release that ovary. Energy is building up, so if you love to dance, go hard my friend.

Great foods for extra nourishment:
Foods available in the spring season
Avocado & avocado oil
Cashew Nuts
Pumpkin seeds
Broccoli
Leafy, cruciferous greens

Full Moon:
Summer: Ovulation
The moon is bright, full and so are we - full of energy, glowing and our most radiant selves. This is the time for those high intensity workouts. We have so much energy at this time, let’s be real, we’re getting EVERYTHING done that has been on our to-do lists!

Great foods for extra nourishment:
Foods available in summer season
Oranges & figs
Spinach
Spring Onions
Cauliflower
Almonds
Sesame Seeds & oil

Last Quarter/ Waning Moon:
Autumn: Luteal
Your body is shifting gears to shed the lining of your uterus as your egg wasn’t fertilised this month. Grounding can be really great, being in nature in general is awesome all “year” ‘round, but can be especially great as things are starting to slow down within your body. Hiking, nature walks and all the glorious outside things for contemplation and awe.

Great foods for extra nourishment:
Foods available in autumn season
Root vegetables: pumpkin & sweet potato
Carrots
Green beans
Apples, & Peaches
Olives
Dark Chocolate
Iron supplements
If you’re carnivorous: red meat & oysters

Please note that not every woman, or those with a “womb system”, will “sync up” to this specific cycle, or even having a 28 day cycle, again, unless you have specific circumstances, you are perfectly normal!

There are wonderful old wives tales about what kind of goddess you are within your own cycle, which is absolutely based on Old Wives Tales’ and more so for fun, rather than current scientific knowledge.

It is said:
Those who bleed with the New Moon and ovulate on a Full Moon are on: a White Moon cycle and are to be in maternal phase of your life.
Those who bleed with the Full Moon and ovulate on a New Moon are on: a Red Moon cycle are said to be in a phase of being the “Wise Women”.
Those who bleed with the Waxing Moon and ovulate on a Waning Moon are on: a Pink Moon cycle and maybe are going though transitions in your life.
Those who bleed with the last quarter: a Purple Moon cycle and are going through some deep, needed healing.

None of this is a prescription, or medical advice whatsoever. You follow what feels right, and natural for you to do. We are all unique beings with our own unique requirements, maladies and what have you. The best advice I can share, is for you to look after yourselves as best you can. However that looks. You are your own best council.

Sources:
Moon Colour Cycles:
www.guudwoman.com

Food lists:
Lauren Chambers @sofreshnsogreen via Pinterest
The Glowing Fridge via Pinterest