For every woman whose climb on the corporate ladder feels more like burning out on a hamster wheel.
For every mother who feels like she’s not “doing” enough, no matter if she’s at home or at work.
For every woman who’s been fed society’s version of success, and to seek external validation for self-worth.
You’ve been misled.
You’ve been lied to, you’ve been living out of alignment, and it’s time to take your power back by learning the difference between linear and cyclical living.
What is linear living?
Patriarchal society views success as a ladder (hello, “corporate ladder!”). If you put in the hard work, the extra hours, the blood, sweat, and tears, then you’re rewarded by climbing to the next rung. In society, we’re told to “get good grades” so we go to college, then get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids, and so on.
There’s always the next step to climb and conquer. Where you’re at is never enough.
Linear living looks like “work hard” Monday through Friday so that you can “play hard” on the weekends. By Friday, people are so worn out from the week they’re ready to relax, which usually means some form of binging (food, alcohol, Netflix). This is not relaxing; it’s tuning out and numbing.
And we rinse, wash, repeat.
Because we get praise for being “successful” at the expense of being completely disconnected from our bodies and muting our intuition.
What is cyclical living?
Women are cyclical beings. We have a monthly menstruation cycle. During this cycle, we experience different emotions and feelings as our bodies physically change every seven days. Understanding our cycles’ rhythms and feeling the ups and downs of our physical bodies is part of the female experience.
However, most women are not educated about how our energetic and emotional bodies change, and more importantly, that it’s normal.
On a monthly basis, women go through four different cycles:
- The Maiden
- The Mother
- The Wild Woman
- The Chron
These are the four archetypes of the energetic blueprint of a woman’s monthly cycle. Knowing these archetypes helps us understand the shifts we undergo on a physical, mental, and emotional level each month.
What does it look like to honor your cycle?
When women menstruate, we’re taught to suck it up and cover it up. Take feminine product advertising, for example. Typically, the message is to insert a tampon and go play sports! Move on with your life! Don’t let anyone see your blood. When girls are in school and need to change their feminine products, how many ways did we devise to discreetly sneak a pad or tampon to the restroom?
We’re taught to just put in a tampon, pop a pain pill, and keep going. Keep doing. Don’t stop no matter how much pain or how tired you are.
One way a woman can honor her cycle is to rest during her monthly bleed. And while it may not be feasible to take time off work or to completely release yourself from obligations, there are ways to slow down:
- Your monthly bleed is not the time to set records at the gym. Instead, plan on light activities such as a leisurely walk, or yin yoga.
- Ask for help. What can your partner help with so you can rest?
- Practice saying “no.” What commitments can you let go of during your bleed? What can wait until the end of your bleed?
You are the medicine within.
This is just the beginning. As much as there is to learn about cyclical living, there’s just as much, if not more, to unlearn.
If you question or struggle with connecting to your own Epic Inner Seasons as a woman, download this FREE worksheet HERE to help answer some questions for you!
Lastly, If you’re curious about how to live in harmony with your cycle instead of fighting against it, I’ve been called to co-create a women’s retreat based on this very topic.
In one weekend, you will walk away with the tools and knowledge to start living your life in alignment as you were meant to.
Leave a Reply