How to use your cycle to set intentions
You might have heard about setting intentions or manifesting at the New Moon, but did you know you can do the same with your menstrual cycle when you have your period?
Your period marks not just the end of one cycle, but the start of another.
The menstrual phase is an amazing one because it's the bridge between the old and new. For some, it also it also coincides with the New Moon. And, like the menstrual phase, the New Moon is seen as a sign of new beginnings and possibility. Tapping into your menstrual cycle as your own means of spirituality is a beautiful practice that can meet you right where you are, every single day, and your bleed phase is an amazing time to start tuning into your inner world.
Your period is the act of your body shedding what it no longer needs: some of the lining of your uterus that had thickened in anticipation of pregnancy, bodily tissue and mucus. Your hormones also drop dramatically here before building up after your bleed, and it marks the end of the journey for that tiny follicle that held your egg, grew it, released it and then transformed into the gland that created enough progesterone in case of pregnancy.
All of this creates an empty space that’s perfect for planting seeds of intention.
And, even better, the rest of your cycle equips you with the powers you’ll need to actually see them through. Here’s how you do it:
Take some quiet time
Ensuring quiet time on your period is something I talk about over and over again. Not only because it helps your body to rest, but also because it gives you space to think about what you’re most in need of. It’s hard to tap into yourself if you’re in a social whirlwind and keeping yourself busy while you bleed. Schedule in some you time, whether its a bath, taking yourself off to a cafe, restorative yoga or going for a walk.
Find your guiding word
How do you want to feel in this new cycle? What do you feel you need to cultivate more of? Look back at the cycle that’s just ended - what sticks out to you as needing improvement? For example, let’s say you felt glued to your desk and worked far too much. You might use that as a guide to set an intention to ensure more balance for this next cycle.
I recommend keeping it simple and doable by not having more than three guiding words. I personally also find it best to do do this within the first 1-3 days of my bleed, when I’m feeling naturally more introverted and in touch with myself.
Use your inner spring to check in with yourself
As you finish bleeding and start to feel more energetic, you might find that you naturally ‘forget’ what you were in need of in place of enjoying the world again. Your inner spring is a natural place in your cycle to try new things and experiment, so come back to your guiding word and see if you can connect to it from a place of newness. With the example of balance, you might decide to play just as hard as you work by incorporating fun into your non-work time with a trip to that new trampoline gym in town or trying your hand at a life-drawing class. Using fresh energy to add a new slant onto how to get yourself aligned to that guiding word can stop it from feeling same-old and much more interesting to attain.
Use your inner summer to see it through
The peak of the cycle, the inner summer, comes with an ability to roll your sleeves up and apply elbow grease to whatever needs to be done. This is known as the Superwoman phase, because energy can feel boundless. It’s also a time where physical strength may be at its peak and where things can feel effortless. Because of this, you may be more likely to push through with things instead of abandoning them as in other parts of the cycle. Use this energy to check in with your intention again, and implement any support systems needed so that you can support yourself.
Use your inner autumn to assess
The inner autumn can be a place of authority and clarity - if that inner critic isn’t allowed to run rampant! Although it gets a bad rep, the inner critic can be one of the greatest cyclical allies, because it doesn’t have the rose-tinted glasses you find elsewhere in the cycle. This is an energy of is this working for me? In the realms of intention setting, this is a great place to pause and review your progress. Have you supported yourself enough to make it happen, and how have you fared until now? And, with your clear autumn glasses - is this even something that you feel you still need? There’s no shame in letting go of an intention if it isn’t serving you anymore. Take a moment to review your progress in a way that is non-critical and non-judgemental.
When your period comes around, simply start the process again. You might want to go with something completely different, you may wish to stick with your intention and go even deeper in the next cycle. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, there’s only your way.
If you’re curious about applying menstrual cycle awareness to your life, you can schedule a free 30min call with me or check out my coaching space.