The four seasons of your cycle, Part 4: Inner Autumn
Image: Jessica Felicio on Unsplash
Understanding the different ebbs and flows of our hunger levels, libido, energy, focus, creativity and more, can bring you into greater connection with yourself. These ebbs and flows are called the Inner Seasons and, just like the seasons of the year, they all have different characteristics.
Reminder: How I experience my inner autumn might look totally different to how you experience yours. You know your body best, and what you know to be true for you, is true for you! It’s totally okay to have a different experience than what I’m sharing.
Inner Autumn
After ovulation, oestrogen drops off and progesterone begins to rise. For some, the transition from summer to autumn can be gradual, for others it’s abrupt. Your inner autumn continues until your inner winter comes back around a few days before, or at the start of bleeding.
Characteristics in nature
After the expansion, warmth and joy of summer, autumn can be a bit of a shock. Leaves start to crisp on trees, flowers begin to wither and some animals look to stock up food to see them through the coming winter. The start of autumn is a time of harvest, with the last of the summer crops being brought in and preparations being made for the cold, barren months. The days get shorter again as the nights draw in, and temperatures drop. Autumn can feel bleak and joyless in comparison to summer, and sometimes it can feel unendingly long.
Cycle characteristics
The pre-menstrual phase of autumn tends to get a bit of a bad rep, and on the face of it, it’s easy to see why. After feeling amazing, sociable and tolerant over summer, autumn can feel like the opposite. You might find you can’t be around certain people, have no interest in whatever you were doing just a few days ago and crave more time alone. Just as in nature, autumn is a time for letting go of what is no longer needed so you can concentrate on sustaining yourself over winter. You may have less patience and more criticism towards yourself and others. You might find that you start nesting, wanting to clean, declutter and organise in the lead up to your period.
For others though, autumn can feel like a great place to be. Like in nature, summer can be exhausting. If you’ve done too much and have overheated with all that energy, then the coolness of autumn can be like the relief that comes after having a bunch of visitors to your house. It can feel like a time to regather your energy and focus with great clarity. You might find that you can get things done with less distraction and pointed concentration.
How to align yourself to Autumn
After the outward energy of summer, autumn is all about turning it inwards. Aligning yourself to autumn means checking in with and making time for yourself. If you’re someone who deals with strong PMS, this is a time to protect your energy and calendar. Use this point in your cycle to put the inner critic to good use by assessing how things are going in your life, decluttering your wardrobe with a clear ruthlessness you might not have at other times, analysing finances or anything that needs going through with a critical eye and a fine toothed comb. Starting to slow down and reducing the intensity you’ve been living at in summer to honour the chillier nights of autumn can also help to reduce the rockiness of this phase.
Self-care tips for Autumn
Some ways to care for yourself in inner autumn include:
Setting boundaries. Instead of scheduling appointments and dates, being more discerning with who you spend time with can help protect your energy
Create plenty of you-time to reconnect to yourself. Journalling can be a great practice here
If your inner critic feels loud, try writing a list of all the things that are frustrating you (no need to action them!) to give yourself some mental space (shout out to my mentor Claire Baker for this tip!)
Prepare for your upcoming winter phase by batch-cooking food so you can truly rest
Prioritise sleep, especially as you get closer to your period
Help support your liver to remove excess oestrogen by cutting down on alcohol, coffee and other stimulants
Inner autumn can be a great time for clarity and connecting to what is truly right for you. Some prompts for you to ponder on:
How do you experience your inner autumn?
Do you feel at home here, or is this a part of your cycle you dread?
How can you provide better boundaries and time for yourself as you descend into inner winter?
So, there you have it. Four seasons of your cycle, complete!
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.