Tag: womanhood

Understanding Your Luteal Phase: The Inner Autumn of Your Cycle And How To Honor This Season

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Your inner Autumn is the luteal phase of your cycle — the days after ovulation and before your period (one or two weeks before you begin).

Just like the season, it’s a time of slowing down, turning inward, and releasing what you no longer need. You may feel more sensitive, reflective, or craving rest. It’s your body’s way of preparing for renewal.

What’s Happening in Your Body

After you ovulate, your body begins to produce more progesterone, a hormone that helps prepare your uterus for a possible pregnancy. If no fertilized egg implants, hormone levels eventually drop, signaling your body that it’s time to shed the uterine lining — which becomes your period.

This phase usually lasts around 10–14 days. (as mentioned one to two before your period. Side note: every woman’s body is different. Some may last longer or shorter.)

How You Might Feel

As hormones shift, it’s normal to notice changes both physically and emotionally. Some common experiences during the luteal phase include:

•Feeling more tired or sensitive

• Bloating or breast tenderness

• A stronger need for rest and reflection

• Cravings for comfort foods

• Desire for alone time or quiet

• Moody/Irritable

• The need to clean or organize

You may also notice that while your energy is lower, your intuition and emotional awareness become stronger. This is a beautiful time to reflect, tidy up loose ends, and nurture yourself.

How To Honor Your ‘Inner Autumn’ As A Woman – Luteal Phase

1. Slow the pace

Say gentle “no’s” to things that drain you. Schedule fewer social plans and more cozy, restorative time. Allow yourself to rest without guilt — this is nature’s built-in reset.

2. Nourish your body

Eat warm, grounding foods: roasted vegetables, soups, oats, root veggies, and herbal teas (especially cinnamon, ginger, and chamomile). Focus on complex carbs and magnesium-rich foods (like bananas, dark chocolate, nuts, and leafy greens) to ease PMS and support calm. Stay hydrated, especially if you tend to bloat or get constipated.

3. Nurture your emotions

Journal what’s coming up — your luteal phase often reveals what’s not aligned in your life. Be gentle with yourself; your sensitivity is heightened for a reason. Create small rituals of comfort (warm bath, candlelight, quiet evenings).

4. Support your energy

Choose slower, grounding movement like yoga, stretching, or walking. Prioritize sleep and listen to your body’s cues to rest earlier. Practice breathwork or meditation to calm mental chatter.

5. Spiritually honor it

See this time as your “inner autumn” — a season of release, reflection, and preparation for renewal. Ask yourself: What am I ready to let go of before my new cycle begins? Light a candle or take a mindful moment each evening to thank your body for all it’s doing.

Your luteal phase is a teacher — it asks for presence, patience, and trust in your natural rhythms.

When you honor it, you often notice fewer PMS symptoms, more emotional clarity, and a deeper sense of peace with your body.

It’s OKAY To Feel *PRETTY* And To Say it OUT LOUD

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It’s not just okay—it’s important to feel pretty, beautiful, or confident in your own way. Feeling pretty isn’t about vanity; it’s about self-expression, self-care, and self-love.

Sometimes, especially as a mother or someone focused on caring for others, it’s easy to feel like putting energy into your appearance is “unnecessary” or even “selfish.” But it’s not! When you feel good about yourself—inside and out—it radiates into everything you do.

Feeling pretty can mean different things to different people. It could be:

• Wearing an outfit that makes you feel confident

• Taking care of your skin, hair, or posture

• Smiling and embracing your natural beauty

• Feeling strong and healthy in your body

• Expressing yourself through creativity, like makeup or fashion

• Simply recognizing your inner beauty and allowing it to shine

The other day, I took a selfie because, in that moment, I did feel pretty. But when it came time to post it, I hesitated. I started doubting myself, thinking, “What if someone sees this and thinks, ‘She’s not pretty’”.

But then I stopped and asked myself—Why am I so afraid to own this feeling? Why do we, as women, so often hesitate to celebrate ourselves?

So I decided to change the narrative. Instead of letting doubt win, I posted the selfie with the simple caption: “feeling pretty”. And that moment was freeing. Because feeling good about yourself is not something you have to hide. It’s something you can embrace, celebrate, and share—at any age, in any season of life.

I want other women and girls to know that it’s okay to feel good about yourself and to actually say it out loud. You don’t need permission to shine. You don’t need validation to embrace your beauty.

So if you feel pretty today, own it. Take the picture, wear the outfit, smile in the mirror, and don’t be afraid to share your light with the world. Because confidence isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being unapologetically yourself.

Breaking Down The Traditional 4 SEASONS OF A WOMAN

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The concept of the “four seasons of a woman” is often used as a metaphor for the different phases of a woman’s life or menstrual cycle, each reflecting the changes in energy, emotions, and focus. These phases are likened to the natural cycles of the seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—each bringing its own rhythm and purpose.

Here’s a breakdown of the four seasons in terms of the menstrual cycle:

1. Spring – Follicular Phase (Post-Menstruation)

Energy: This is the time just after menstruation, when energy levels begin to rise.

• Associated with: Renewal, growth, creativity, and optimism.

• How you might feel: Rejuvenated, inspired, more mentally clear, and motivated to start new projects or take action.

• Best activities: Learning, planning, setting intentions, trying new things, physical activities like yoga or exercise.

2. Summer – Ovulation Phase

Energy: This is the peak of a woman’s cycle, when energy is high, and social connections feel easy and fulfilling.

• Associated with: Fertility, connection, communication, and radiance.

• How you might feel: Confident, magnetic, outgoing, and emotionally open. It’s often a time when relationships feel easier, and you might feel more attractive and connected to others.

• Best activities: Social events, networking, creative expression, nurturing relationships.

3. Autumn – Luteal Phase (Pre-Menstruation)

Energy: Energy starts to decline as your body prepares for menstruation.

• Associated with: Reflection, grounding, letting go.

• How you might feel: More inward-focused, analytical, sometimes irritable or sensitive, but also able to address deeper truths and cut through the superficial.

• Best activities: Organizing, completing tasks, setting boundaries, journaling, self-care practices, and letting go of what’s not serving you.

4. Winter – Menstrual Phase

Energy: Energy is at its lowest during menstruation, and it’s a time of rest and renewal.

• Associated with: Release, introspection, stillness, and healing.

• How you might feel: Tired, reflective, needing rest and solitude. It’s a time to honor your body’s need for restoration.

• Best activities: Resting, meditating, reflecting on the past cycle, and setting intentions for the next one. This is a powerful time for self-reflection and spiritual connection.

The Seasons as Phases of Life:

This concept can also apply to the phases of a woman’s life:

1. Spring (Maiden): Youth, discovery, and growth.

2. Summer (Mother): Nurturing, creativity, and building.

3. Autumn (Queen): Wisdom, leadership, and mastery.

4. Winter (Crone): Rest, reflection, and spiritual depth.

Each season has its own beauty, purpose, and challenges. Embracing the ebb and flow of these cycles can help with self-awareness, self-care, and alignment with your natural rhythms. 

A book I highly recommend is ‘4 seasons in 4 weeks’ by Suzanne Mathis McQueen.

The author approaches the menstrual cycle a bit differently from the traditional breakdown I just shared. In her model, Autumn (Fall) is aligned with menstruation.

She shifts everything one season forward but still keeps the cyclical nature of energy flow. It’s really more about perspective and how the phases are framed around energy and renewal.

Are you in tune with your seasons?

xox marie