Pre-ovulatory power and potential.
I’m writing here from day 11 of my menstrual cycle; my post-menstruation, pre-ovulatory phase or inner spring. I have moved out of the period cave and am wildly ready to face the world and all that she brings. Bring on adventure!
With oestrogen steadily increasing in my body, my energy, vitality and internal fire is rising. I have shed the heaviness and inwardness of my bleed and have re-emerged fresh and excited, like a blossom in Spring, that buds and blooms as nature moves into her new cycle.
I have been reflecting on how playful and child-like I feel during this time (cycle day 6ish to 11ish), it’s almost funny when you lay it against the stark contrast of the more serious menstruation muse. It’s even more funny when one day you want to be absent from anyone’s life but your own and lay under your blankets communing with The Infinite, and the next you are annoying your family into play-fighting or jamming loudly to your new fav song in the car (Karma by Naaman yea!).
I love knowing that I am cyclical and knowing that’s how I am made to be!
The ocean has been wild here and the swollen tides have been re-shaping the beach-scape completely. A couple of days ago I went for a walk and was delighted by the waves that were so strong they were reaching the sand banks and paths where the beach ends. It was impressive to be sure but it was also something different, out of the norm. The novelty of the experience was exciting to my brain.
The newly wet sand was softer than usual, there was debris everywhere and it was so cold that I had to keep my shoes on. There was only a sliver of sand that I could actually walk on. An untrodden path, literally and figuratively. As I walked along my adventure was becoming less and less hospitable. It was getting dark and the waves were getting dangerously close, so I made a game for myself to run in between the waves as they were receding and jump into the bushes on the banks when they were roaring toward me. It was just me and my game, in the now dark, abandoned beach, having a fabulously fun time.That’s inner spring for you, pure, innocent joy.
Do you notice your inner-spring vibe?
The Maiden archetype.
Our genius femm psyche loves symbolism and weaves together threads of sameness, producing mirror-like experiences within our menstrual cycle. Each hormonal phase has a clear relationship with an associated life-stage, which both follow the birth, growth, bloom, harvest, decay and death pattern of nature. Inner spring is interrelated with the Maiden archetype of the youthful sapling; childhood (or young adulthood). It is the state where wonder and delight reign, before responsibility and experience evolves a woman into the adulting state.
The Maiden pre-ovulatory energy has the power potential to awaken your inner child and offers the initiatory impulse, of';
Playfulness.
Emergence.
Youthfulness.
Curiosity.
Innocence.
After the rest and stillness of menstruation, our Maiden/inner-child dances out from the menstrual hush, fresh and tender, eager to move back into the world. She must take care to move slowly though and gently follow the pace of her rising energy, so she doesn’t fizzle out before she reaches her ovulation peak. Her tenderness can be her guide, whose sensitivity illuminates natural limitations and boundaries.
Her naivety allows her true expression to surface as she is not yet affected by the realities of the world. This makes inner spring a fab time to tap into our uniqueness and tend to the fertile ground of our creativity. You can work on your creative projects and really get-shit-done or just play-create for fun, either way you are tuning into your child-light and allowing your cycle to work you. Go forth, here is your time!
The period cave, with all her quiet, dark and intuition, often gives rise to life-compass dream-seeds, random channelling or next-cycle direction. All pure and perfect in their dreamscape incubator, i.e raw and unpolished, not yet ready for birthing. In the inner-spring we can bring your dream-seeds out into the open and redefine, with the thread of your individuality setting them sail in a very you direction!
In an ideal world, every inner-spring I would ask myself;
What is naturally emerging within me?
What am I creating and bringing into the world?
How do I need to nurture my dream-seeds’ growth?
Are my creations truly mine?
What is my intention for the cycle to come?
The shadow of the Maiden is that she may doubt and critique herself or feel overwhelmed by rising yang energy, especially if she is sensitive or introverted or just glows brightest from stimulation of the inner world rather than the outer one. She may compare herself to others and feel afraid of visibility. The softness of inner-spring can feel vulnerable, especially if the Maiden years of our own life were tumoltuous. Standing out in the light is not always easy. Go gently, beautiful one.
Self-care for inner-spring;
Rest during menstruation.
Keep your nervous system regulated, by doing whatever works best for you.
Move slowly and be mindful not to over-do it.
Stay with the moving momentum of your rising chi, and exercise. Don’t allow yourself to stagnate here!
Clean and clear your space to bring in fresh, crisp feels.
Journaling. Keep that inner critic at bay!
Seek professional support if your experiences are overwhelming you.
Nourishing nutrition for inner-spring;
Have plenty of high quality protein to regulate your blood-sugar and support the bio-chem processes leading up to ovulation.
Loads of steamed or lightly cooked vegetables.
Include omega 3’s like fatty fish, chia seeds or ground flaxseeds.
Cruciferous vegetables everyday! Cauliflower, cabbage, kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. As oestrogen rises we also need to be gently clearing out detoxification pathways so the body can use it, then pass it out. We don’t want excess oestrogen causing PMS, painful periods, mood swings, inflammation or breast tenderness! It’s very different I know but I have steamed Brussel sprouts with olive oil, salt and pepper, nearly every morning as a breakfast side.
Inner-spring rituals or practices;
Pick yourself a bunch of flowers, it’s Spring after all!
Initiate or engage with your creative projects.
Identify and flow with what is uniquely rising within you and own all your beautiful quirks!
Create an inner-spring alter to anchor into and honour your cyclical nature. Be creative and courageous. You do you.
The final element I want to note is on sexuality. Oh yea! How and when sexuality rises within each person is VERY individual. Cervical mucus and vaginal lubrication starts to increase post-menstruation and the sensuality that follows the embodied playfulness and increasing physical energy of inner-spring may kick-start your sexual responses. This is totally the case with me. My sex accelerators are more sensitive and my brakes are less. My sense of safety and presence in my body is high at this time and I feel luscious, radiant and experimentive. Observing your sexuality (in all her forms) and sensuality throughout your cycle, delivers powerful self-knowledge. Track her beauty and see what unfolds for you.
Be your own muse and know that your cycle is yours and that no two cycles are the same. Archetypes may relate to you or they may not and that’s ok. Enjoy the potency and potential of your inner-spring and may all your seeds of creation sprout and blossom in all their wondrous glory!
If you are interested in 1:1 nutrition send me through a msg and we can chat xx
Keisha xx
