Latest / Healing Her Story with Riva Jean-Paul / Moon Phases & Feminine Power: Your Weekly Cycle Sync | How to Actually Care for Yourself at the New Moon

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Moon Phases & Feminine Power: Your Weekly Cycle Sync | How to Actually Care for Yourself at the New Moon · Healing Her Story with Riva Jean-Paul

• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to today's episode on the Healing Her Story podcast.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for being here, for taking this time to tune in, to slow down, and to explore how you can begin to work with the natural rhythms and cycles, both of your own body and your own system, your beautiful, wise, miraculous system, and also how we can work with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world as well.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: Because the truth is everything is cyclical.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: We as humans are cyclical, our hormones are cyclical, our days are cyclical, our bodies run on a cyclical circadian rhythm, our seasons are cyclical, the creative process is cyclical.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Everything moves in these constant cycles of expansion and contraction.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: In spite of what the patriarchal world has conditioned you to believe.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: We have been conditioned to believe that life is supposed to be one thing all of the time.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: But when we look at nature and we look at our biology, we can see that this is not actually how things work.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: And wow, so much friction that we can alleviate when we begin to really embrace our inherent cyclical nature.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: And while our cyclic or nature, cyclical nature, excuse me, can be complex, it can be nuanced, it can feel unpredictable and hard to navigate at times.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: And I also feel like that is where so much of the beauty and the magic and the power truly comes from.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: And when we can become more aware, when we can become more educated and informed, I think it makes the whole process a hell of a lot easier.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: So that's what we're doing here on the show every single week, empowering you with the tools, the knowledge, the insights that you need to continue navigating your experience in a patriarchal world.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: So thanks so much for being here, really warmly welcoming you into today's conversation.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: If this is your first time here, I trust that you have found your way to this exact episode in your perfect right time and way.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: And if you are returning, welcome back and welcome to a new cycle and a new focus as we are beginning a new cycle and we are slowly about to be entering into a new season as well.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: So before we begin, let's take a minute, as we always do, to slow down, to look within, to maybe be still if you're able to.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna give you a minute to do that, and I'll let you know when the minute has concluded.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: And the minute will begin now.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: Taking a moment to note anything that may have stood out to you.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: What stood out most to me today was the birds.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know if you can hear them in the background right now, but it was just such a beautiful symphony that I just kind of listened to for a little bit.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: And it reminded me of something I had learned, I believe from a podcast, I can't quite remember.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: But what I had learned was that when birds are chirping in that way, it means that there are no predators around.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: And on a very unconscious level, when our system picks up on this information, this information of the birds singing in this really light, playful, joyful way, that information gets absorbed into my nervous system.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: And because the birds are relaxed and expressive because there are no predators around, I can actually soften and relax a little bit as well.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: And I sort of noticed that happening in real time as I listened, and then it stopped, and I kind of just enjoyed the space between the the chirping.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: And then right at the end of the minute, I had a nice little yawn.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: So, and that yawn is an indication that the system is is settling a bit.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: So that was really fun to witness in my system in real time.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: As far as where I am cyclically, I am cycle day three today.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: So still very much in my inner winter, and also on a day where I'm slowly starting to not get back into things, but there is this returning of energy, just a little spark of it here, just a little spark.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: And so I'm beginning the process of sort of like when you're just starting a fire, um, kind of getting the fire ready by nurturing that little spark, that little coal or ember, if you will, that's starting to form here.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: So lots of ideas that are slowly beginning to percolate.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: As I have had um at least a day and a half of some really warmly welcome space.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: I just got back from visiting a friend in the Bay Area.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: We went to a concert.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_00: I saw one of my favorite artists.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: Her name is Queen Herbie.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: If you haven't listened to her music, highly recommend.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, if you like, really, um, she raps and she also sings, and she it's very spiritual.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: So she talks a lot about healing and tarot cards and crystals, uh, but with like um not in like a really like um typical way, if you will.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: Like the beats are good and it makes you want to shake your ass and like have a good time.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: So anyway, uh it was a vibe and really, really great show, and feeling like I really received a lovely attunement from the the artist because I truly do love her music so much and her message and her energy and her spirit.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: So I I'm noticing this lightness in my system today, and also with the friend I was spending time with.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: I hadn't had the chance to spend time with this friend in this way before.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: And it was just such a nourishing time and a nourishing connection, and I feel like that has really attributed to this likeness, this spaciousness I'm I'm experiencing in my system today.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: So that's a little bit about me and where I am cyclically.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and always I know you're here for more.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll start to transition today, and we'll talk a little bit more about the moon and where we're going to be focusing for this next cycle.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: This week we are tuning to the new moon, and with that, as I mentioned, comes a new beginning, or perhaps for some of you, an ending, depending on how this energy is landing for you.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: The new moon peaked on Sunday, which is the day before this episode is airing.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: So we are very much still in this energy.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: In case you haven't heard me mention it before, I'll say it again.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: The energies of the larger phases, the new moon and the full moon, work very much like a light dimmer in the sense that they gradually come in and gradually release rather than functioning like an on-off switch.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: All of that to say, we are very much still in this new moon energy and will be for the next couple of days.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: With the start of the new moon cycle, we are also beginning a new focus here on our cycle sync episodes.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you can consider this another mini-series, if you will.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: This cycle's focus is inspired by the season of cancer, which we aren't quite in yet, but by the 19th or the 20th, depending on where you are in the world, we very much will be.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: So today we're gonna start introducing this energy and the themes of cancer in our cycle sync episode.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: When I feel into the archetype of cancer, one of the first things that come up that comes up for me is care.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: And not just this idea of superficial self-care, like surface-level self-care with like bubble baths and candles, but more of the idea of caring for communities, for each other, and for ourselves at a deeper level.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_00: Really going to be inviting you to dig in a little bit more this season and to consider these questions.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_00: How do we actually care for ourselves?
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: How do we care for the world?
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: How do we care for each other?
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'll have an episode coming out next Friday that goes much deeper into these themes, but for now, our cycle sync episodes will be focused through this cancer lens, uh, specifically exploring how we can work with the energy of each phase to care for ourselves.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_00: Because I do feel that each phase offers a unique quality and a unique opportunity, and we have the potential to significantly benefit from that when we allow the way we care for ourselves to ebb and flow and change.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: Because, as you probably know, as a woman, we are not the same all the time.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_00: What works one week may not work for you the next week.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: And what I hope this series does is really gives you more freedom in how you care for yourself and allow you to approach your self-care with more flexibility and less rigidity.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: Because I know for me, I was very rigid when I first started getting intentional about not only caring for myself, but healing my trauma imprints and also working with my cycle and the moon cycle.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: The more I continued to work with uh my cycle and my trauma imprints, the more flexible things have become, the more dynamic, the more fluid they've become.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_00: Things really do shift and change with different seasons.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not only talking about the season of my menstrual cycle, but for seasons of life as well.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: How I care for myself in one season may not be how I need to care for myself in another.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: To give you a small example, right now I'm on a bit of a break from my part-time work with the kiddos, which is always very welcome.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: And during the season where I have a bit more space and a little less structure to my days, I find I'm able to be much more fluid.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: The way I've been caring for myself over the past couple weeks has really aligned with that.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: I've been a lot less regimented and a lot more in the practice of feeling into what do I need in this moment?
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_00: What is the next best thing?
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: What am I actually feeling moved and inspired to do right now?
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes that means sleeping in a little later, or changing the order which I do things, or sometimes not filling out my planner with a specific agenda for the day and just allowing things to emerge as the day unfolds.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_00: And I found this so supportive and helpful over the last couple of weeks.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: Now, on the other side, when my life is fuller and more structured, I find that my care benefits from being more regimented too.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: When I was actively working during the school year, for example, it was really beneficial for me to wake up at the same time every day and to have specific practices on specific days.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: And that consistency and that regularity of routine is what gave me stability and the steadiness to get through the more demanding phases.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: Allowing myself to shift and change according to what I need at any given time has been really freeing.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't think we give ourselves permission or grace to do that often enough.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: So now let's talk about how this particular phase, what it might look like for you, and how you might want to care and nurture yourself during the new moon.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_00: This phase is also associated with the menstruating time, so you can absolutely apply these principles to your bleed as well.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe some of you are bleeding right now.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: I won't say this is the quote unquote right time to be bleeding because there's no right or wrong.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_00: But what I will say is that when we had less artificial light and were more closely connected to the land, women generally did bleed around the new moon more often.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_00: You may feel that alignment and you might not.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: I just invite you to explore and play and land into what feels most right and supportive for you.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_00: During the new moon and during menstruation time, and also during the season of winter, the energy is at its lowest point.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: We see this reflected in the moon.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_00: There's no actual light being reflected back to us at this time.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_00: And you might experience something similar during your bleed, feeling more tired, less motivated to get out and do things, feeling a call to maybe be more inward and more restful.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_00: And interestingly enough, as I've shared, this is exactly where I am right now.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_00: Literally cannot make this stuff up.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_00: It's really interesting to see how often it does line up.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'm definitely feeling that lower energy right now, um, a bit of a heaviness, an overall sense of tiredness and less motivation.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um and I know that might be a little different from what I shared earlier about the lightness and the ease, but it's it's both hand, right?
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_00: Which we export a lot during Gemini season.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh for me, I'll say I really experience the heaviness in my thighs, like in the and in my hips is where I feel that heaviness.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: And that sense of tiredness is something that I really feel like in my eyes.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, like my eyes kind of just want to close.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then yeah, still feeling that that less motivation as well.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_00: So this can very much be the vibe of the new moon and the menstruating time for me.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_00: And it may or may not be that way for you.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'd also say that each cycle is different.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: So how you feel one month may not be how you feel the next month.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_00: So please take all of this with a grain of salt and just keep coming back to your own experience.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_00: However, with the energy at its lowest, I would say that rest is one of the most important things I feel we can prioritize during this time.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: And trust me, I know this is so much easier and said than done.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_00: This is something I'm always coming back to for myself as well.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: Our lives are demanding, especially when we have jobs and kids and people we need to show up for.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I do really want to acknowledge that it's not always as simple as just get more rest.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_00: One thing I love about cyclical awareness, I will say, is not about getting it perfect.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: I don't even think that's possible, especially in the day and age we live in.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: But what we can do is we can use this awareness to help us prepare and plan accordingly and sort of like pre-plan.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: And this does require a bit of looking ahead.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_00: I like to use the phases as opportunities to do exactly that.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_00: I'm often already thinking about the new moon uh weeks before it arrives.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_00: Same with my bleed.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_00: I'm thinking about my next bleed.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_00: Usually I start thinking about it while I'm on my bleed.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_00: I'm already starting to look ahead.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_00: And when I am planning, when I'm in my planning mode, I will say, I haven't done this yet, but as I wrap up my inner winter and get to my follicular phase, I'll go into my Google calendar because that's basically where I run my whole life.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I will block out the time.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_00: If I know a new moon is coming, or if you know my bleeding time is going to be coming, I will literally block out those days on my calendar.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_00: I typically see clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: And let's say, like, I know my bleed is supposed to land on a Monday, then I will put a block on those Tuesday afternoon slots so that no clients can book during that time.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I'm not always able to do this for every single day of my bleed because you know I have obligations to my clients too, but I do try to protect a day or two or even afternoon or Maybe I'll try to end sessions a little bit earlier that day.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'll also look at my weekends and try not to make social plans during that time as well.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: And when I've got that note in my calendar, it's so much easier to hold that boundary.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: That is one way I really like to protect and create space for rest.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think that's really what it comes down to is creating the time, prioritizing it, and then protecting it.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_00: There are also different kinds of rest, and I would love to do a whole episode about this at some point.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're someone who knows a lot about this topic, uh you're very welcome to reach out and get in touch.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: But for now, what I'll say is it's important to get curious about what actually feels restful to you.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_00: There we go.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_00: Come back to you again.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think sometimes we assume that rest means just laying on the couch watching Netflix.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: And while that can be restful sometimes, it's not always, at least for myself, I know it's not always.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_00: With the stimulation of the screen and depending on what I'm watching, it might be rest in the physical sense, but it's not always recharging in the sense that it's filling me up with energy.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_00: Personally, I don't really regenerate energy from watching TV.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I do.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_00: Like if it's a really good movie or a documentary that really excites me, but just the mindless binging, not so much.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not saying I don't fall into it sometimes, because I definitely do, but I know that, like, okay, you're just kind of numbing out right now.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: You're not necessarily recharging.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, maybe that was what I needed in that time, obviously.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_00: So I think this is also something to explore for yourself as well.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_00: For me, rest can actually look like making art, making music, painting, drawing.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: These things actually give me more energy.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_00: And while I'm not just laying around not doing anything, I'm still giving my brain a real break.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think rest is really about engaging in things where we're not having to problem solve, plan, or think ahead.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: Time where we can really just be present in the moment.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_00: And making art really helps me to do that.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_00: Being in nature is another one.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_00: I just came back from a little getaway I took during my menstruating time.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_00: And one afternoon I found this beautiful garden and I just walked through it.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_00: I hung out with the plants and sat on a bench, sat on a few benches, and wandered around with no agenda, no plan, just sort of following my curiosity.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_00: And I spent maybe 45 minutes doing that.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_00: And it was honestly so restful for my system, even though I wasn't sitting around, not doing anything.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_00: Also, when it comes to movement, the qualities of how I move also change a lot during this phase.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_00: I lean into more restful movement like yin yoga or qigong or walking or maybe a relaxed swim.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I also start to incorporate more restorative practices, perhaps restorative yoga, foam roll, foam rolling, um, myofascial release.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_00: I really do change the way I'm moving to match the energy of the phase.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_00: As I was saying, I really do try to match the phase with what I'm doing in my movements too.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_00: So that might be another way you play with rest.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_00: How can you make your movement more recovery focused during this time rather than a hard workout?
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_00: Rest is clearly a big thing for this phase, and it's something I really invite you to prioritize over the next few days as we move through this portal.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_00: And one more thing that I'll share is this idea of alone time and solitude and quiet, which I feel are things that can be really supportive during the new moon and during the menstruating time, also during winter.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: And this may or may not be what's actually re regenerating for you.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: And this is an invitation to get curious about this.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: For myself, I'm very introverted.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_00: And because I work with people most days, I know that for me to truly recharge, I really do need extended alone time.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_00: My system is also very sensitive to stimulation, even if it's more positive stimulation, if you will.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_00: So having less of that stimulation is what allows my energy to truly rebuild.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_00: But let's say you're more extroverted and you actually get energy from people.
• 29:07
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you work from home all day and and you're working remote, so you're not in an office interacting with people, then your version of rest might actually be going out with a friend or going to a women's circle or a sound bath, or maybe even just sitting in a park with your friend talking about your dreams and your desires.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_00: That might actually be what's more regenerating to you.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_00: And this is why I always invite you to come back to discernment.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_00: What is most right for me?
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_00: Because here's the thing: only you know what's best for you.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_00: I can offer you tips and ideas and share what works for me, and ultimately you're the one who gets to decide.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's really important to mention when we're talking about care, especially through a trauma-informed lens.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_00: One of the core principles there is that every person is deeply individual.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_00: There is no prescription that works for everyone, there just isn't, in spite of what people may try to make you believe.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: So I invite you to explore this and all of these things over this next cycle as we move through cancer season.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_00: And we're also going to be supporting you with these episodes each week.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_00: So keep tuning in every Monday and most Fridays, and we'll continue to explore these themes.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_00: Our episode this Friday is going to be our last episode for Gemini season.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like this conversation is going to be a beautiful culminating point for all of the topics we've been exploring in Gemini season.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_00: So I invite you to join us for that conversation on Friday.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_00: And then we'll really dive deeper into the cancer themes when we meet the following week.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for being here and for tuning in.
• 31:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm really looking forward to Cancer Season.
• 31:19
  SPEAKER_00: I love Cancer Season.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_00: And I think as we move into summer, just what a beautiful invitation to really care and nurture ourselves during this sometimes more busier time of the year for those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_00: Really looking forward to connecting with you in the next episode.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: In the meantime, take care of yourselves and if you're able to take care of each other.
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_00: Before we go, if today's conversation resonated with you and you're ready to take the next step in your cyclical awareness journey, I want to invite you to download the cycle support map.
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_00: This is a digital download designed to help you track and work with the rhythms of your cycle and also of the moon and of the seasons, so that the sort of fluid dynamic care that we talked about today becomes something that you can actually live and work with week by week, day by day.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_00: In addition to receiving the digital download, you'll also receive weekly emails for the first cycle.
• 32:25
  SPEAKER_00: And in each email, you'll be offered a somatic meditation that will help you to not just intellectually understand these themes, but to actually embody these themes in a deeper way.
• 32:40
  SPEAKER_00: You can find that available to you in the show notes for just$4.95.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I trust that it'll be a beautiful guide and companion as we move through cancer season together.