Menstrual cycle health is so much more than the manifestations that show up in our bodies and our wombs. We often fail to recognize that the discomforts that are appearing physically are part of something deeper within us that is calling out for attention. When the mind is full of fear and self-judgement, the body responds accordingly. When we are hiding from the truth, the body will do its job to alert us to address it.
Symptoms are often a subconscious self-harm ritual from deep within the psyche. This is not about blaming ourselves for our aliments, it is about getting to the root cause of our issues so we can be free. Physical pain premenstrually can be a distraction to keep us from feeling heartbreak, loneliness, and terror we have been harboring since childhood. We don’t get to hide, because the body will continually offer us the road to expansion and healing.
Grief is the suffering resulting from the loss of something that can never be regained. Some mourn the childhood they thought they deserved, or a special person that is never coming back. In Chinese Medicine, grief is associated with the metal element and autumn. As women, the luteal phase is our "inner autumn": a time of taking stock, heightened intuition, and harvesting all that we have learned from this cycle, and what we failed to grasp in previous cycles. As your cycle comes to an end, I invite you to utilize your body's wisdom to dig deeper than ever before.
According to the Huangdi Neijing, each of the five elements has a soul associated with it. The metal element's soul is the Po, which translates to "physical soul" or "corporeal soul." It is rooted in our basic instincts and our bodies. When our Po is strong, we can move through tough emotions like grief and sadness with ease. The clearest sign that the Po is out of balance is the inability to let go of past pain resulting in physical symptoms.
Experiencing grief and pain from the past is deeply uncomfortable and difficult. Feeling the suffering that comes with a chronic health issue or recurring pre-menstrual symptoms is easy and familiar. I invite you to feel into these painful, hidden parts of you, because there is where your power lies. Let the jagged shards of suffering and loneliness slice through your heart one more time on the way out, and let them go forever. You are not meant to suffer. You are meant to share your unique spirit, your innocence and your love with the world. The reward of feeling and releasing this pain is the joy on the other side.
Questions to ask in your luteal phase:
- What am I trying to hold on to that is not serving me, and how can I begin to let it go?
- What feelings have I been avoiding this cycle, and in past cycles?
- What does my inner child need, and what did she miss out on in the past that I can give her right now?
Self-Care for your luteal phase:
The acupuncture point, Lung 3, or "Heavenly Palace" is a profound point to work with during your luteal phase. Lung 3 is a "Window of the Sky" point, and in the Five Element Tradition, these points are said to metaphorically "open a window" to let in a fresh perspective. This point can help us reconnect when feeling imprisoned as a result of chronic grief or sadness. It can also helps connect us back to the "Po" or your corporeal soul as discussed above.
- Find this point: Lung 3 is located three "cun" or Chinese anatomical inches below the armpit crease on the front of the arm. It is in the depression on the outside of the bicep muscle. Apply continuous pressure to the point for a about a minute. Repeat as needed.
Remember to always be gentle with yourself when doing this work. Give yourself the space and time to let your heart break. If you need support navigating your inner landscape as you move through the phases of your cycle, visit my Work With Me page to book a 1:1 Virtual Session. We can also explore this type of work through in-person Acupuncture sessions if you are located in New Hampshire or Vermont. Pease reach out, I look forward to helping you utilize the wisdom that is already within you to propel you forward on your path to freedom.