The Four Women Within Us: How to Live in Harmony with Your Cycle and Avoid Burnout
Are you the same every day? Hardly. Yet, we are expected to function consistently, without fluctuations. But we are not machines—we are women. Our power lies in our cyclical nature. Every month, our energy, emotions, and needs shift. In this article, we’ll explore what it truly means to be cyclical and how embracing it can improve our lives.
What Does It Mean to Be Cyclical?
This isn’t a fad or a modern trend. It’s an intrinsic truth about how the female body and soul naturally function.
Our bodies are like waves, with phases of growth and rest. Yet, the pressure to perform without pause forces us to act like someone we are not. Women do not function like men—we are not stable and linear, but ever-changing, like nature itself. Just as the seasons change, so do we.
Our bodies follow a rhythm similar to the annual cycle. Throughout the month, we experience spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each phase brings different moods, needs, and energies—days when we crave socializing, creativity, and planning, and days when we need quiet, introspection, and a safe space.
Why We Were Taught Otherwise
The external world operates on "male logic"—the same routine every day, regardless of phases. Work demands constant performance. In our personal lives, we are expected to be endlessly available, accommodating, and cheerful. If we “shut down,” we feel guilty.
As a result, we disconnect from our own rhythm. We have learned to suppress what naturally fluctuates within us. But the journey back begins with accepting that not every day has to be the same.
The Four Inner “Women” Within Us
Each of us carries four archetypes—inner “women” who take turns throughout our cycle. Each one brings different energy, roles, and gifts. If we embrace them and learn to live in harmony with them, we stop battling ourselves and begin working with our bodies.
The Maiden – Spring Within Us
(Post-Menstruation Phase)
Everything awakens. You feel the urge to create, plan, and engage with others. Energy rises, thoughts are fresh, and the body feels light.
You may need: movement, new challenges, launching projects, organization, increased interest in sexuality.
The Mother – Summer Within Us
(Ovulation Phase)
The peak of strength, fertility, and openness to the world. Your body and soul are attuned to nurturing, giving, and connecting with others.
You may need: social interaction, caring for others, joy from creation, activities with family and friends.
The Enchantress – Autumn Within Us
(Premenstrual Phase)
Energy begins to decline and turns inward. You may feel more intuitive, sensitive, and irritable.
You may need: personal space, quiet, protecting your boundaries.
The Wise Woman – Winter Within Us
(Menstruation Phase)
A time for silence and regeneration. The Wise Woman archetype teaches wisdom, stillness, and listening to the inner voice.
You may need: rest, warm soup, quiet, fewer responsibilities, sleep.
How These Phases Manifest in Daily Life
At Work
- In „spring“, you plan and initiate new projects.
- In „summer“, you excel at team meetings and caring for others.
- In „autumn“, you need more personal space and time to complete tasks.
- In „winter“, you benefit from routine and calmer activities.
In Relationships
- In spring and summer, you are open and social, with heightened libido.
- In autumn and winter, you need more boundaries and solitude.
Within Yourself
- In summer, you are nurturing and empathetic.
- In autumn, chaos may feel overwhelming.
- In winter, you experience deep inner insights.
How to Live in Tune with Your Cycle
Plan According to Your Body
Schedule demanding tasks for „spring“ and „summer“.
Leave „autumn“ and „winter“ for rest and reflection.
Allow Yourself to Slow Down
"Give yourself permission to ease up when your body and soul call for stillness."
Release Guilt
"You are not a machine. You don’t have to be the same every day."
Be Kind to Yourself
"Treat yourself gently, even on days when you don’t feel ‘productive’."
Women’s Wisdom in Practice
Rituals & Self-Care
- In active phases, embrace movement, lightness, and planning.
- In slower phases, nourish yourself with soups, herbs, and relaxation.
Herbs & Traditional Remedies
- Nettle, marigold, dandelion – cleanse and support the body.
- Chamomile, lemon balm – calm the mind.
- Yarrow, sage, lady’s mantle – ease PMS and difficult days.
- Lavender, mugwort – aid regeneration.
A Ritual for Reconnecting with Yourself
Sit with a cup of tea in the evening and ask yourself:
"What do I need today?" Listen for the answer.
Grandmother’s Wisdom for the Journey
"A girl who makes time for rest also has the strength for joy."
"If you crave silence, it’s not weakness—it’s wisdom."
"Not every soup has to be served immediately. Even soup needs time."
"Sow in spring, rest in winter—this applies to women’s hearts too."
"When a woman laughs, spring blossoms. When she sleeps, winter heals."
"A woman who can say ‘not now’ knows the value of her health."
The Key to Reconnecting with Yourself
Cyclicity is not a limitation, but a gift. Spring within us creates. Summer gives. Autumn cleanses. Winter heals. Returning to our cyclical nature is a return to ourselves.
A Small Challenge for This Week
Try planning the next seven days with at least one adjustment to honor how you feel. Observe what changes.
Calmory Author Team
We are a team of writers who believe in the power of stories and honest emotional sharing. We focus on topics related to mental health, personal growth, and everyday life as it is truly lived. We write with respect, openness, and humanity. Our texts come from personal experiences, from the heart, and from ordinary situations that we all go through.
