“In life, we are influenced by nature’s larger external cycles, our hormonal internal cycles, and our individual journey. Our challenge is to flow on these tides – freely, wildly and authentically.”
April has been full and dynamic. I arrived in Europe, spent three wonderful weeks traveling through Italy, reunited with family and friends across Belgium, moved into a new place in Antwerp, and started writing this when preparing for London. Whilst managing work amidst all this… kind of.
You can imagine there’s been a loooot of pleasure, joy, and wonderment this past month. But I’ve also felt myself approaching that all-too-familiar edge, where one amazing experience tumbles too quickly into the next, and the next, and the next,… making it hard to stay present and truly enjoy all.
So, time for a pause! And this Saturday, it arrived.
Craving Calmness on the Ovulatory Wave?
Even though I was on cycle day 16, just past ovulation – the time of high energy and outward expression – I found myself craving for calmness and going inward.
It was as if this weekend’s new moon was calling me home. Or I deliberately asked her to bring me home.
I took space to unpack, unwind, and settle into our temporary apartment in Antwerp.
I saged the rooms, set up my altar, drew cards, and spent time simply sitting, breathing, and moving on the balcony, accompanied by birdsongs. Mmmmh, the sweetness of slowing down and creating space for re-connection.
And how much I wanted to stay there… but London was calling and the evening train was expecting me.
Once I got on the train, I sensed that the slowing down had done magic. The high ovulatory energy doses, and excitement to be in a new environment with friends, returned. I felt more outward and alive again.
It was then that I remembered the need of counterbalancing the outer busyness with some inner listening & feeling.
I needed to check in with myself, and with my intentions for the time ahead.
Duh….
The past taught me that, without checking in with myself, I risk being swept away by life’s pace—especially here, back in Europe, where there’s always someone to see, something to do, an event to attend, and a new place to explore. This is where cyclical awareness becomes my anchor – again and again.
New Moon Renewal
🌙 On Sunday morning, I allowed myself to cocoon in bed. After that, I let my body guide me into gentle movement and breathing practices on the hotel room floor. My body felt stiff & tired. Yet, my mind felt calm.
As I was getting ready for the day, I could feel both energies alive in me – rest and readiness. It was so nice to feel them working together! The inward orientation and pleasure of taking it easy, with the excitement about meeting our friends and socialising all eve. It was as if I was inwardly and outwardly shining.
Seems like I was alining well with the theme of this new supermoon in Taurus ‘Rooted in Renewal’ – standing for stability, embodiment and values; A time to begin anew, start afresh, and embark on a new path. With my return to Europe, this felt like the perfect invitation to strengthen Cyclical Power’s foundations and take it to the next level – something I had been looking for. Spring is here, and it’s a powerful time to ground into our bodies, recommit to our values, formulate intentions, and plant new seeds – as I wrote in my previous blog here.
So, I took time to formulate intentions for this time ahead, and this is what came out for me:
- 🌿Focus on what energises me: early sleeping, nourishing food, early mornings, body movement, meeting friends, and time in nature
- 🐢 Make space for non-doing: slow down time with books, creative expressions, exploring herbs, and (again) time in nature
- 💚 Do what brings me fulfilment: deepen my Ashtanga practice, share my work with the world, expand my offerings and build on my connections
And I will need to give myself these daily reminders this lunar cycle:
💛 Reconnect with what’s truly important. Find stability within myself amidst the many changes around me.
💛 Value myself for who I am, not for what I do.
Cyclical Awareness
Aligning with these different ways of being, is at the heart of cyclical living and menstrual cycle awareness (MCA).
It’s a practice which trains us to tune in and ask ourselves:
- How am I feeling?
- What do I need, truly?
- Where is my energy naturally going?
- What can I do to honour myself in this?
It also trains us to accept where we are at each day, without judgment, and how to work with ourselves. And it helps us realising that change is a constant, and a real big power.
When we practice cyclical living and MCA, we become more attuned to our needs, better decision-makers, and more compassionate toward ourselves.
We begin to live not by external expectations, but from a place of deep internal alignment.
We learn to feel how we are actually feeling, and to love the different expressions of ourselves.
That’s super empowering.
Cyclical living helps us feel more whole—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
For Those Just Beginning…
If you’re new to this, (amazing that you found your way to this blog! I’m excited for you 💛) start small.
💫 Practice inspo:
Ask yourself once a day, if possible around the same time:
- How does my body feel?
- What emotions are present?
- What kind of energy do I have?
- How are the qualities of my thoughts?
- What do I need more of today?
- What would nourish me right now?
- How can I give myself 1% of that?
You don’t need to get it perfect. Just begin with give minutes, each day. Be kind with yourself when you miss a day. I also miss days, that’s totally normal! This is not about pressure – it’s about building trust with yourself, and learning the language of your body again.
Society too often asked us to neglect the signs of our body, and to silence our inner voice.
Cyclical awareness invites us to turn the volume back up and reignite our intuitive capacities.
In summary,
Reflecting on my way of being & needs during this ovulation with new moon, reminded me that we are influenced by many cycles.
We are subject to nature’s larger external cycles, our inner hormonal cycles, and our individual life journey.
Our challenge is to surrender to, align with, and build on these cycles, so we can flow on the tides of life – freely, wildly and authentically.
🌀 Reflection prompts:
- What phase of your cycle or energy are you in today?
- How does that shape how you want to move through your day?
- What’s one small thing you can do to honour your current energy?
- Are there ways your outer world is moving faster than your inner world wants to?
- What intention would you like to plant with this new moon (or new beginning)?
Want Support?
In my workshops, circles, and 1:1 sessions, I help you to understand the shifts happening within your menstrual cycle – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We also look at how external cycles are of influence, and how we can build on them. Ultimately, I guide you in becoming body literate, embracing the fulness of who you are, and stepping into your unique power.
If you’re curious, or if something stirred in you while reading this, I’d love to hear from you ✨
With love,
Stéphanie 🌞🌙
Awareness. Embodiment. Alignment. Transformation.
