Charting the Feminine Cycle - Part Three

Looking closely at something, allows us to learn about it. When we study phenomena, record our observations, and draw conclusions, we can anticipate certain behaviors and prepare accordingly. People have been doing this since the beginning of human history. This is particularly true regarding our bodies. When we pay close attention to the body’s constant changes, we notice our own patterns and unique tendencies.

In part one of this post, I talked about the effect of the moon cycle on the ocean and animals in a nature reservation. In part two I suggested different ways to easily chart the feminine cycle. Here I would like to offer ideas for information you could include in your charts.  It is important to note that my recommendations are for simple cycle charting. They are not intended to give information about achieving or preventing pregnancy.* Please remember that you can chart as much or as little as you like. Start small and gradually add more information that interests you as you go along.

Physical changes

The basis of every chart is recording the first day of menstruation, which is considered the first day of your cycle. Begin each chart with the first day of bleeding. If you have spotting before your period, record it at the end of the previous chart. You might like to record the intensity of bleeding: strong, medium, or light. Spotting days should be charted too.

During the month, you can also chart other physical changes including cervical fluids, breast tenderness or swelling, abdominal swelling, back aches, digestive issues, cramps, headaches, and migraines.

Our bodies need different types of food during the month and learning your body’s tendencies and needs helps with understanding what you should eat and when. Most of us need more proteins, carbs, or fats at certain times of the month. There’s a good reason for that. Did you know that the American women’s soccer team has different diets for different times of the month that are closely charted by team members? They found out it helps them preform better on the field!

Our energy levels are affected tremendously by our hormones. It’s important to respect our bodies’ needs for rest and slower pace. Charting your energy level can be simple. For example, you can use the terms high, medium, and low. The ability to plan your schedule according to your energy level can really change your life for the better.

Emotional changes

We’re all familiar with the ups and downs of our emotions during our cycle. The first half is lighter while the second half is heavier. One of my friends likes to chart her moods through the month simply by indicating “more positive” or “more negative”. I like the simplicity of her method as it clearly shows the main tendencies of the emotional changes. It is of course up to you if you would like to go into more detail. Here are some suggestions: In the first half of the month, you might mention feeling more confident, outgoing, happy, hopeful, or loving. In the second half of the month, you might feel more self-conscious, antisocial, sad, stressed, or upset. I think that the more we are aware of our emotional tendencies during the month, the kinder we will be to our bodies and the better we will treat ourselves.

Spiritual changes

Have you ever noticed that you have more vivid dreams just before you begin menstruating? Perhaps your intuition is sharper? Whatever it is that you experience, chart it, and use it deepen your spiritual work. Many women feel the pain of world injustices during this time. This is one of our superpowers, one that could change the world for the better if we learned to embrace it and use it.

Cycle charting can be a great tool to know yourself better, understand your body’s needs, and plan your life in a way that supports your wellbeing. Do the ideas in this post resonate with you? Please share your thoughts with me. Also, is there anything you do differently during your cycle to help yourself feel better? I’d love to read about it!

*If you’re interested in charting for fertility purposes, I recommend the book The Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer to help you do it well.