Day 2: The Phases of Your Cycle

Understanding the four phases of your menstrual cycle and how to support yourself through each one.

We are cyclical beings, living on a cyclical planet. Just as the seasons shift, so too does your body move through phases each month. Understanding these phases is the first step toward living in rhythm with yourself, rather than working against yourself.

So many of us begin to track our cycles for the first time when we decide we want to conceive a child. But what if we chose to casually, lovingly, intentionally get to know our bodies now — no strings attached? (And what if we taught our daughters about their full menstrual cycle, not just their “period,” starting with their first bleed?)

We’ll spend the month together, exploring supportive practices in more depth, but for now let’s review our cycle’s four main phases:

Menstrual Phase (Winter ❄️)

• The time of bleeding, release and rest. Energy is lowest and intuition is strongest.

• Support yourself with: rest, journaling, warm teas, reflection.

Follicular Phase (Spring 🌱 )

• Begins after your period ends. Energy slowly rises as your body prepares to release an egg.

• Support yourself with: fresh foods, movement that feels energizing, new projects or ideas.

Ovulatory Phase (Summer 🌸)

• The midpoint of your cycle, when energy is at its peak and fertility is highest.

• Support yourself with: connection, pleasure, social time, cardiovascular or higher-intensity movement, nutrient-rich foods. And if you’re trying to get pregnant… sex!

Luteal Phase (Autumn 🍂)

• After ovulation, energy begins to turn inward. The body prepares for either pregnancy or the next bleed.

• Support yourself with: grounding foods (like root veggies), gentle exercise, tying up loose ends.

Remember: these phases may feel slightly different for you. This is not about forcing your body into a script — it’s about noticing how your own rhythm shows up, and meeting yourself there.

And what if you’re on birth control? You can still track.
Some methods (like the pill) suppress ovulation, while others (like an IUD or implant) may change your bleeding pattern. That doesn’t mean your body has stopped cycling altogether — it just means the rhythm looks different.

The point isn’t to achieve a “perfect cycle” — it’s to learn your body’s language, even in this season of birth control use.

Today’s Ritual: