Latest / Healing Her Story with Riva Jean-Paul / Moon Phases & Feminine Power: Your Weekly Cycle Sync | The Duality of the Waning Moon: Rest, Momentum, and Healing

Transcript

Moon Phases & Feminine Power: Your Weekly Cycle Sync | The Duality of the Waning Moon: Rest, Momentum, and Healing · Healing Her Story with Riva Jean-Paul

• 1:37
  SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome to today's episode of the Healing Her Story Podcast.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: As always, so delighted to be here with you today to spend a little bit of time with you and to really attune to the natural rhythms and cycles that are happening both around us and within us.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: And I'll remind you because I feel it's always worth reminding every once in a while that what we're doing here is about so much more than cycle syncing.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_01: While that can be really fun and really creative and just a really interesting and illuminating process to explore, on a much deeper level, what we're doing here is embodying a different way of being, one that goes very much against the grain of how our society generally operates, specifically in our Western culture.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: We live in a world that asks us to constantly produce and perform and do and show up, especially as women.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: We are the world's caretakers, literally.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: Not saying that it's only women that do all the caretaking.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: It is majority done by women though.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_01: And the reality is living life in that way, it's not sustainable.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: And I think we're really seeing this and experiencing this in our modern world, in our environment first, with climate change and all of the fluctuation and weather patterns that we are witnessing all over the world.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: And then there's also culturally as well and systemically, where more people are exhausted, burnt out, anxious, overwhelmed, lonely, disconnected, which is quite ironic because we live in a time where you would think we would be more connected than ever with our cell phones and social media and technology.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_01: And yet, for so many, that's not the case.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's why there is more of a call towards this work that we're doing here on the show.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_01: I think this is why more people are reaching out to me, wanting to be a part of the community that we're building here.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_01: And I think this is why so many people also are starting to turn to somatic work as well.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Because there is a thread there.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: As we become more connected and attuned to our own bodies, we inherently become more connected and more attuned to the world and to each other.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: And this completely changes the way we live and experience life.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: When we feel connected and attuned to our body, there is a magic that unfolds that really cannot be fully articulated with words.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: It's something that you really have to experience to fully understand how unnatural it is to live in which in the ways in which we are.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: So there's a much deeper thread here.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: There's a much deeper meaning to these episodes.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: And my hope, my desire, my intention is that with time, as you continue to return to these episodes, and not just our Monday episodes, but our Friday episodes as well, that you can slowly, in your own perfect time and way, can begin to embody your new way of being, your authentic way of being that really honors and stays true your rhythm.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_01: So that's what we're doing here on these episodes.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: Quite the intro, but again, I always like to offer a little reminder every now and then because I think it's important.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_01: This week we are tuning to the energy of the waning moon.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_01: And as we're continuing to move through Gemini season, we're also exploring the duality of the waning moon.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_01: And before we go any further, let's take a minute to pause, to be, to breathe.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm not gonna offer much for this minute of exploration today.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_01: I'm really gonna invite you to discern what feels most supportive for you in this minute of silence.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: Whether that's actually stopping what you're doing if you're doing something or starting to bring more awareness into your senses to help bring you into the present moment.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe you want to focus on your breath.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe you want to get up and move for a little bit, do some stretches.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna invite you to inquire within here and to sense what it is that you most need in this minute of silence.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_01: And our minute of silence will begin now.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_01: We are moving from a more young or active outward, perhaps more masculine energy of the full moon into a softer, slower, more intuitive and inward energy, and also maybe you might say more feminine energy of the new moon.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: And because of that transition, this phase isn't all one thing.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_01: Nothing really is.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_01: But this phase especially, it's not fully yang or yang, and it's not fully yin either.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_01: It's a bridge between the two.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_01: And interestingly, it's actually the opposite movement of the waxing moon phase.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_01: In the waxing moon and in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, we're moving from a more yin to a yang.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: And here, during the waning moon and during the luteal phase or the pre-menstruum time, we're slowly moving from a yang or a yang back into a yin.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_01: I just find that really interesting and important to name because it's that transition itself that is what creates the dualistic nature of this phase.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_01: As I mentioned, we're moving out of a more active energy, and because of that, you may still notice some lingering momentum during this time.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_01: I actually experienced this quite a bit.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_01: For me, my luteal phase or my premenstrual phase has been an area I would say more recently in the past like let's say three to four years where I feel really good.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: There are some cycles where I feel my best during this time, especially now that I've learned how to support my body more intentionally throughout the cycle.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: Earlier in this phase in the pre-menstrum time, I find I still have a decent amount of energy and momentum available to me.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: And so you may notice this too.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: You may still notice a desire to move, to organize, to prepare, to complete, or to work with the remaining energy that is slowly beginning to wane after the fullness of the full moon.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_01: And one beautiful way to work with that energy during this phase is not necessarily to start something brand new, but instead to begin wrapping things up, closing loops, tying loose ends, bringing your projects, your goals, your desires to a completion point.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: This can be a really potent time for finishing projects, for handling lingering tasks, or for preparing for the next cycle before the new moon begins or arrives.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: This is often a nesting phase for me personally.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_01: I talked a little bit about this in our new moon episode this cycle, but during the waning moon, I often feel really drawn towards decluttering, reorganizing, cleaning, preparing my space, stocking up on groceries, or tending to the practical things that I know will support me later.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_01: Especially because I know my bleeding time and new moon are approaching, and I know I likely won't have as much energy during that phase.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_01: So I use the remaining energy of the waning moon to prepare and care for my future self.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_01: And that to me feels so deeply nourishing and supportive.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: I get so much out of doing that.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: Now, another interesting component of this phase, especially in relation to the female nervous system, is that connection can actually become incredibly important here too.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_01: And that's because the female nervous system is primarily regulated through oxytocin rather than dopamine.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_01: And because this phase can leave us feeling more sensitive and raw and emotionally open, nourishing social connection can actually be deeply supportive to our systems during this time, especially connection with women or with people who help us to feel safe and seen and grounded and replenished.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_01: I'm not talking about the relationships where you leave the interaction feeling depleted or overstimulated, but the relationships that truly nourish you.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: So you may notice yourself craving more intentional connection during this phase as well.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_01: Now, that is one side of the duality because I think we most often hear about this other side.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_01: So I wanted to start there.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: But there's another side to this phase as well.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_01: And there's another side to the luteal phase.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_01: And I think what is probably most heard during this phase is this idea of slowing down.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: And that's very real too.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_01: As the moon wanes and the light decreases, our energy also begins to decrease.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_01: This is often a phase of doing less, saying no more often, clearing space, removing things from our calendar, resting, downshifting, and slowly returning back to ourselves after a period of growth and outward expansion.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_01: And depending on how your body and your cycle is, may actually, this may actually be the more dominant experience for you.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_01: So you might be listening and thinking, I don't feel energized during this phase at all.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_01: I feel exhausted.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_01: And so that is absolutely valid too.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_01: Especially because for many women, the luteal and the premenstrual phase can be a significant hot spot.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_01: This is often where our PMS symptoms emerge.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe cramping, fatigue, nausea, mood instability, emotional sensitivity, or perhaps just a heightened nervous system reactivity.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_01: And if that is your experience, then really leaning into the slowness becomes your antidote.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_01: Leaning into doing less, holding stronger boundaries, saying no more often, creating more space, prioritizing rest, and really tending to yourself lovingly and gently.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_01: So all of that can be really supportive during this phase as well.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_01: And again, this nourishing connection piece can also help to regulate and soothe the nervous system during this time, too.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_01: So as you can maybe sense, the waning moon can hold a mixture of energies.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_01: And I think what's most important to remember is this each of our cyclical experiences are unique.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_01: Not only are we different from one another as individuals, but also each cycle in itself can be different.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_01: One month might feel very different from the next, depending on what's happening in your life, your stress levels, your environment, your relationships, your workload, and what your body is really needing from you in a particular season.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_01: So your imitation is a little different this week, and it also ties into a quality that we can learn to harness here in the luteal phase and in the waning moon time.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna invite you this week to not necessarily do or explore the things that I'm suggesting simply because I'm suggesting them.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_01: Instead, today I'm gonna invite you to pause and to actually sense what it is that you need during this time.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_01: Are you still feeling some momentum and wanting to channel that energy into completion and preparation?
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: Or are you feeling deeply tired and in need of rest, slowness, and restoration?
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_01: This phase holds both possibilities.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_01: And your work this week, if you choose to accept it, is to discern what feels most supportive and true for you right now.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm gonna leave you with that for this week, and I look forward to connecting with you in the next episode.