Wisdom Within
I’ve had women come to me asking for advice on many questions—big questions—about the cycle, perimenopause, birth control, abortion, hormones, menopause and more. The more I lean into this work of womb wisdom and education, the more I realize the void of knowledge on womb wellness in our culture and through all ages of womanhood. The more I see this void in education and awareness, the more I am saddened, angered, and fired up to fill the gap, as I deeply sense the way this void disconnects us from the power we behold within our bodies.
The questions I’ve received from women since entering this work always lead me to humble curiosity. Despite being the one receiving the question, my intuition often guides me to ask these women about their experience, the felt sensations unfolding in their body. I become the learner. The core answer I do provide is typically simple: try leaning in, listening, growing awareness; the more you do this, the more your body will show the way.
As I relearn how to listen to the subtle intuitive knowing within my own body and womb, the more I trust this wisdom within to guide me to what it needs to feel vibrantly well and create a fulfilled life. But, I seem to forget this moving through daily life—especially when caught in states of stress and seasons of grind. I figure many of us forget our own wisdom, as it takes a slowing down that isn’t so easy in modern culture. And perhaps, this is one reason we get so far from vibrant wellness, far from what lights us up, far from our deepest Calling.
Passageways to Wisdom Within
One passageway I’ve taken to tap into the wisdom within is menstrual cycle awareness. By noticing where I’m at in my cycle and how my body is naturally flowing with the cycle’s shifting seasons, I’ve naturally begun to listen deeper. The ritual of cycle awareness allows me to hear the needs that my mind, body, and soul are calling for before they become screams (a.k.a. big sickness or burnout).
But, it hasn’t just been the listening that reawakens me cycle after cycle into the deeper wisdom within. It’s also been the choice to act in alignment with what I hear. My inner wisdom can take a to-do list and transform it to only the most essential action. It will remind my scurrying mind to take it one step at a time, grounded in a knowing that my worth is inherent, not driven by productivity. It will remind me when it’s time to push, to play, or to rest. It will lead me to the right people to speak to and the right paths to follow. As I follow the callings, they lead me to wondrous places and faces, and I build trust in the wisdom within.
Deepening into the Wisdom Within through Cyclical Living
In a conversation just yesterday, Elizabeth of The Intuitive Writing Project shared insights from a book, entitled “The Female Brain,” by Dr. Louann Brizendine, with me. Yet another source affirmed the power of our Estrogen hormone in expanding intuition. I shared back my theories about how the Luteal phase—as Progesterone increases, which serves as a relaxer for our bodies, and energy levels naturally lower, we can be delivered into a more receptive and sensitive state, making this a prime time for intuitive check-ins as well.
So for me, check-ins with my Wisdom Within look different in each phase of the cycle...
(1) Late Follicular to peak Ovulation season
Approximately days 10-15 of the cycle, when Estrogen is peaked...
I will ask my Wisdom Within:
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What are the best projects and action to devote my heightened energy to?
(2) Luteal Phase
When it feels the veils of false perceptions have fallen and truthful guidance is crystal clear, often overwhelmingly so...
I will ask my Wisdom Within:
- What needs to be let go of in order for my soul to grow?
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What truth is waiting to be revealed?
(3) Menstrual Phase
When we are typically most sensitive, and thus, most aware...
I will ask my Wisdom Within:
- How can I live more deeply in my purpose?
- What am I called to contribute to the world over the next cycle?
- Who do I need to be in order to contribute this calling vision?
(4) Early Follicular
When our energy slowly starts to rise back up, potentially with heightened clarity of menstrual wisdom, and our brains are primed for planning...
I will ask my Wisdom Within:
- What clear, specific goals could move me closer to my core desires and vision over this cycle?
- How can I pace myself towards goal success over this cycle?
Wisdom is a Pause, and an Action
Within my current Luteal “I don’t want to do shit” state, I asked my womb wisdom at the beginning of my work day, “what do I need to focus on?” I had felt distant and utterly overwhelmed to the extent of inaction at some of the grander goals I had established just two weeks early in my Spring follicular season, fueled up on energy and possibility.
A long list became: (1) write to get reinspired, (2) make a plan for connecting with your audience deeper and getting feedback on our Womb Wise Cacao offering. Overwhelm transformed into “I can do this.” As I embraced these clarified actions, the process reawakened a fire to blaze to move closer to my goals.
Anchors of Wisdom
Another passageway I’ve found is surrounding myself with “anchors of wisdom”—friends, mentors, family, books, even trees that remind me of our wisdom within. Because we’re not meant to go it alone or come to all the answers on our own.
There is empowerment and wisdom awaiting in asking for support and gathering the perspectives of others: fellow women who have lived or are living through similar experiences, doctors and wellness practitioners of both western and eastern traditions, perspectives of mind, body, and soul. The women’s circles in my life are my anchors. They’ve shown me there is wisdom is knowing that sometimes we need others to help us remember.
