80. Women’s moon cycle and hormones: Interview with Sharon Wood

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Do you follow the moon cycle or chart your own menstrual cycle each month? I didn’t know how powerful and effective it can be when we plan our work and personal activities in conjunction with the cycle. For example, there are days in the month that our body needs to slow down and take extra rest, which means the perfect time to reflect and recharge. Then, there are days we feel more creative or energetic and we want to get more done. It makes total sense for me to plan accordingly, but of course, we can’t always dictate our business schedule but it is important to become more aware.

Let me tell you why.

If we know our cycle better, then we will have a more realistic expectation of our energy levels and give ourselves permission to push when we have a full tank or pull back when the best we can do is to slow down. This is about being strategic and wise. May I just say it is true feminine wisdom at play.

I think this is a really good self-care practice and a smarter way to look at productivity. So this week, I have an interview with Sharon Wood to share with you. We discussed the four phases of our cycle, how our hormones change and how to better look after our body, regardless of our age and where we are with our cycles.

I met Sharon through Perfect Potion, my favourite shop for aromatherapy and natural skincare products. We both sold our books through Perfect Potion and we crossed path many times as at masterclasses and festivals. Finally, I get a chance to interview her and discuss Goddess Wisdom in my podcast.

Sharon Wood is the Founder and Director of Emgoddess – an entity that is created to help and educate young women to understand and manage their menstrual cycles. 

Sharon holds qualifications in holistic aromatherapy from The Tisserand Institute of London, combined with multiple certifications in Herbalism, Natural Fertility Management and Specialised Aromatherapy, Sharon has also worked as an Aromatherapist, including teaching aromatherapy at the Reflexology Academy of Brisbane and the International College of Holistic Aromatherapy.

Interview Highlights

• Women cycle of life: We hardly talk about our menstrual cycle at school and the language around it tends to be rather negative.

• The intention here is to create a more empowering and positive message around our cycle. By understanding our cycles, it can be very empowering for women

• There are four phases for each cycle and the goddesses that are chosen in Sharon’s book Emgoddess represent that and reflect the energy of each phase. 

• First, we have the follicular phase, then ovulation, luteal and lastly the menstrual phase.  The four goddesses representing the phases are Daphne, Demeter, Persephone and Hecate in that order. 

• Our hormones changes as we go through each phase and it brings an impact to our energy levels and how we feel emotionally. 

• Daphne – our follicular phase is all about energy, and she’s independent, focused, confident and with high energy. It’s a great time to start a project or set a new goal.

• Demeter – the earth mother, represents our ovulation and it is all about love and compassion. The high amounts of estrogen in your body make you very capable, and you are able to get a lot done during this phase.

• Persephone – the luteal phase, which is the pre-menstrual phase. It got a bit of a bad reputation. Pre-menstrual make seems moody, feisty, cranky. And the truth is that we can be all those things, but it also is a really strong, passionate and creative phase.

• Hecate – the menstrual phase, it is a more inward reflective and intuitive phase. It’s time to sit back and think about how the month has gone. It’s important to get more rest during this time. 

• Even if someone doesn’t cycle e.g. pregnant, nursing, peri-menopausal, it is still highly beneficial to chart the month by using the moon phases. 

• For hormone balancing, clary sage and geranium essential oils are great for a bath or diffuser. 

• When you chart your monthly cycle, you become more aware of what is happening now and what’s coming up next for you on a regular basis. And because of that, you can really support yourself better, give yourself permission to rest or plan to get certain things done during the high energy period. 

If you would like to connect with Sharon, to learn more about her programs, book and learn how to chart your cycle, please visit: www.emgoddess.com.au

Video

Which Goddess Archetype are you?

If you are curious about which Goddess Archetype is most active in you, you can take my FREE online quiz to find out.

You can learn more about the archetypes on my website www.SzeWingVetault.com or get my book Goddess with Many Faces.

Transcript

Sze Wing:

Hi, everyone. I’m really happy to be here interviewing my dear friend and colleague Sharon Wood, and she’s the founder and director of Emgoddess, which is really cool. And she’s going to tell you more about it. And this is an entity that is created to help and educate young women to understand and manage the menstrual cycle. Sharon holds a qualification in holistic aromatherapy from the Tisserand Institute of London. She combined her certification in herbalism, natural fertility management, specialized aromatherapy, so many qualifications, and not only she works as an aromatherapist, but she also teaches aromatherapy at the Reflexology Academy of Brisbane and International College of Holistic Aromatherapy.

Sze Wing:

So she’s also a teacher, a mother. And I met Sharon through Perfect Potion, which is my favorite brand of skin care, natural care, aromatherapy, and I love the products and especially during this time. And we both sell our books through Perfect Potion and as I read her book and I felt it would be really great to get her on my podcast to share about her knowledge and wisdom and just have some conversation. And we’re really excited because last time I met her was at the festival where I just gave my talk and she had to give hers, and then we couldn’t hang out more, but it was really great to see her. And I said, this is a great reminder, we need to do this. So welcome to my show, Sharon.

Sharon:

Thank you very much, thank you for having me.

Sze Wing:

So I have many questions to ask Sharon today, but I think first one I want to ask is about the goddesses, because we both write about a goddess, and I talk about a cycle like a four season, as in a mother, maiden, crone, I added matriarch and wise women instead, but is more like the four season, spring, summer, autumn, winter, because we have longer lifespan. And I know you use a very different way of looking at cycles in a woman. And I think it’s really interesting and I’m starting to get more and more interested to learn more about menstrual cycle, and how it affect us. So tell us what prompted you to create Emgoddess and how do you look at cycles and goddess in general?

Sharon:

Great. So I discovered Emgoddess, if you like, many years ago I was studying aromatherapy in London, and one of the lecturers said to me to understand your body as a woman is really powerful. And it sent me down a rabbit warren I’d say, because I just wanted to know more. I wanted to understand why my hormones really impacted me like they did. And the more I read, the more I discovered about how we’re just not taught this information. We’re not taught this powerful thing that we have is this internal tool, our cycle, where if we understand the four phases of our cycle and each phase has such a strength, and then when you use them in your life, you can make better decisions, you can have better connections, you can get better results in your life.

Sharon:

And it’s just something that’s not ever taught. And for me, it was something that I really, really wanted to learn more about just initially for my own benefit. And I suppose the link to goddesses happened when I was trying to create a language around the four phases, because the language that’s around menstrual cycles at the moment is very negative, and I wanted a more empowering, positive message. And so that’s why I went for the four goddesses, because the goddesses I’ve chose for me, reflect the energy of that phase. So yeah, so that’s where that came from.

Sze Wing:

Great. So tell us about, especially for people who are not so familiar with the four stages the cycle, so I know that the follicular, and whatnot, but you talk about it because I probably… So the four stages.

Sharon:

No, that’s great. That’s right, yeah. So we have four phases of our cycle that we’re not often taught about.

Sze Wing:

Sort of.

Sharon:

We all know the menstrual part.

Sze Wing:

Yes.

Sharon:

We have a follicular phase and then we have an ovulation, or ovulatory phase. Then you have a luteal phase and then obviously menstrual or menstruation phase. And these four phases, they bring with it completely different energy. They impact the body differently. So obviously the hormone changes that happen in the body, the fluctuation, actually it impacts everything about you. So it impacts the way you feel about yourself, the way you interact with others, it even impacts the clothing choices that you make. It impacts the way you feel emotionally, energy levels, obviously physical changes. So there’s all of these things and it’s all impacted depending on what phase you are in, in your cycle. So they’re the four phases.

Sharon:

And so I call the follicular phase, I call it Daphne. And then ovulatory is Demeter, Persephone is my luteal phase. And then Hecate is the menstrual phase.

Sze Wing:

So now describe for us, so what will definitely represent at the follicular stage? And you talk about how even how we want to dress, tell us some example, what each phase is.

Sharon:

I’d love to. So the follicular phase is day 5 to day 12 of our menstrual cycles. So we’ve finished our period, if you like, and we’re into that new, fresh phase. So Daphne’s all about energy, and she’s independence, and focus and high energy. So that phase brings with it all of those sorts of activities. So if you want to start something new, if you want to start a new goal, if you want to build a project, this is the phase to do it in. You’ve got high amounts of energy. You’ve got great confidence, your confidence is boosting and you feel great about yourself physically, you’re a lot less bloated. So you’re back in your tighter, firmer, fitting clothing…

Sze Wing:

The skinny jean days.

Sharon:

You’re attracted to different colors.

Sze Wing:

Sorry?

Sharon:

Yes it is. And then you move into Demeter. So Demeter’s more around ovulation. So she’s around day 12 to day 14, it’s a shorter phase of the cycle, which is a shame because it’s such a beautiful phase. This phase is all about love and compassion. So Demeter, obviously the goddess, is the earth mother. And I chose her because that’s what’s really reflected in this phase.

Sharon:

You tend to be more compassionate in this phase, more understanding, but you’re still very… You’re actually able to get a lot done. The high amounts of estrogen in your body make you very capable, and you are able to achieve more. There’s been some research done that women weightlifters can actually lift heavier amounts in this phase. So your body is more capable in this phase. So this is a great phase to really connect with other people. If you are in a role where you spend time with people, this is a great phase to be able to achieve great results. And I love Demeter, this phase… There was another research piece done that I love hearing about is women actually attracted to brighter pink lipstick in this phase. So they’ll wear pinks and reds versus other times of their cycle, where they’ll go more neutral, or nudes. It’s really fascinating.

Sze Wing:

It’s about their flower’s trying to mate, get the bees to come.

Sharon:

You betcha. Bees to their honey. And that’s Demeter. And then you move into Persephone, which is the luteal phase of the cycle. And it’s the pre-menstrual phase. So it’s the phase that’s got a bit of a bad reputation. Pre-menstrual, moody, feisty, cranky. And the truth is that we can be all those things, but it also is a really strong, passionate phase. And it’s a creative phase. This phase, if you dancing, draw, build, cook, this is the phase to do it in, because you’ve got so much creativity and passion supporting you. So it’s a time to really explore and make sure that your I would say channeling that energy for good, not evil. Because we can be a bit grumpy and a little bit less tolerant in this space and that’s okay. It’s just something to be aware of. Yeah.

Sze Wing:

I think it’s because we’re also a bit more sensitive in a way, I think sometime you have a certain level of sensitivity in order to be creative somehow. You go, dig deeper. So it’s both sides of a coin. And I think…

Sharon:

That’s so true.

Sze Wing:

…when you describe, Demeter and Persephone, the way I talk about goddess, there’s really some similarities like Demeter the earth mother and Persephone it’s more internal and sensitive and can be very creative. So it’s interesting because we, even though we talk about it differently, there’s definitely similarities. So the last phase, sorry.

Sharon:

No. The last phase is Hecate, and I chose Hecate because it’s around menstruation, which is a very more inward reflective and more intuitive phase. So it’s a phase of really sitting back and looking at how your life’s gone this month. What you’ve achieved, what went well, what changes do you think you’d like to make? But it’s also just one of rest and calm.

Sharon:

And this phase is a beautiful phase to really sit down and re-look and reassess things. But I highly recommend that we don’t do too much in this phase because we are lower in energy we’re a bit more vulnerable, you don’t have a lot of high energy like in Daphne. So this is a phase to just take care, make sure you’re getting enough rest and moving your body and stretching your body in a nice, gentle way.

Sharon:

So that’s the four phases, so yeah. And we go through them every month.

Sze Wing:

Yes. So cool. And recently I’ve been really tapping into learning about menstrual cycle and also moon cycle, because now I’m pregnant and obviously I don’t have the usual cycle, but people say actually when that happens, you look at the moon. As in hundreds of years ago when there was no electricity, actually we menstruate according to the moon.

Sze Wing:

And some people like to compare the menstrual and the moon cycle and what you were talking, it’s very similar where Daphne, that phase is very similar to waxing, the energy it’s building and getting bigger. And then obviously full moon is Demeter when you’re most juicy and then Persephone’s like waning. It’s like you’re going inward.

Sharon:

That’s right.

Sze Wing:

And then at the end, when you have menstrual, it’s like the new moon, again, don’t do too much.

Sharon:

The new moon.

Sze Wing:

Yes, the new moon, so don’t do too much. It’s very, very similar. But I think some people, I guess for many reasons, they more like a four week’s way of looking at it. But if you look at menstrual cycle, it’s not so neat, four weeks, it’s like, you say Demeter, maybe just two, three days, then the rest may stretch a little bit.

Sharon:

That’s right.

Sze Wing:

But I think it’s super useful to me, to have that concept because right now, because I’m not in a normal menstrual cycle, because I’m pregnant, and the same time when people feeling menopause, then I guess if they want to refer to that feminine energy, they have to go with the moon. So do you find that quite similar? Do you look at the moon as well? How does it work for you?

Sharon:

You absolutely nailed it Sze Wing, what you said was perfect because that’s exactly what I encourage. So anyone who doesn’t have a cycle, maybe they’ve got a contraceptive in, like a Mirena or something in their arm, and they don’t have a period. Maybe they’re peri-menopausal or they just have a really difficult period where they don’t have a regular cycle, but they still want to chart. People have come to me and said what do I do? And what you’ve described about the four phases then of the moon is exactly the way I suggest people chart. So it’s a great way of still connecting to their body and what’s going on, and using the moon to guide, to let them know, oh okay, this is where I’m at. So yeah, it’s fabulous. In fact, you nailed it.

Sze Wing:

I’m going to ask a second question. You know, you mentioned that contraceptive that, I’ve never used it, but I heard of it. That is the implant. And if you do that, you don’t get a period. Then from your experience having, so you work in the different modalities and doing work in this field, a women’s salon, what’s your take about all this contraceptive? I mean would you say it’s a good, or not so great because you don’t have a cycle or it doesn’t matter?

Sharon:

Look, I encourage people to do it, whether they are on the Mirena or not, because I think for me, it’s a real connection. Like I love doing Emgoddess charting because it just connects me. It takes me really back to I listen to my body and I want to know what’s going on. So I think it’s good for you to do no matter whether you’ve got a cycle or whether you don’t.

Sharon:

And it’s a really hard one. Some women suffer terribly with their menstrual cycles. It can be quite grueling and quite hard. So I do understand why they would use something like that, a Mirena or something. Because it must be difficult, but I’ve always been very blessed with a great cycle. I’m one of those people that you want to throw sticks at maybe, because I’ve just always been blessed with really easy cycle. But I do encourage women that even… I have a lot of women that are a bit older and they’ve had hysterectomies and they chart and they love it because it just gives them back a connection to themselves. It helps them tap that, tap back into that feminine energy of them.

Sze Wing:

So let’s shift gears a little bit, so we’re getting a bit wiser and biologically a bit more further down the road. So obviously, you work with a lot of women and especially with hormones, aromatherapy. So is it some tips or things that you really think we need to look at, or be mindful of, or things that really help us with our bodily and hormonal change while getting older? Something along those lines. What would you do, yourself? What are the things that you practice or things like that?

Sharon:

And I’m getting close, I’m almost 50. So I’m getting into that peri-menopausal age. So I’m starting to notice changes in my body. I’m starting to notice changes in my cycle for sure. And I must admit that I’m finding that you just need to be aware of what you’re inputting in your body a lot more. I know that people are really strong on diet, and I think that more than ever, you need to really look at what you’re eating. You need to look at, make sure that you really are getting good nutrients in your body that you’re eating whole foods. I really do believe it makes a big difference.

Sharon:

I know when I’m naughty and I start eating a lot more refined because I might be a bit lazy or short for time. I find that if I stick to those whole foods and eat good nutrition, it makes a big difference to my cycle. And the other thing is just really looking at chemicals that you’re putting into your body. I know as I’m getting older, I’m trying to limit as much synthetic chemicals as I can, going for the natural alternative where I possibly can. Looking at all natural ingredients for skin care, toothpaste, anything like that, that I’m putting into my body, I’m really trying to make sure that it’s a natural option and there’s yeah…

Sze Wing:

Yeah. So we just got to be more mindful and it’s very good that we’re both a fan of Perfect Potion, which have a lot of great natural products. And I also know that with your book, you also have the four oils that come with it, and I suppose they will also support people at the different phases in the cycle.

Sharon:

They do.

Sze Wing:

So with the four plant, the essential oil, people can use it when… I guess often these are the things, it’s like complimentary, it just helps you navigate that phase better, right? And I definitely use essential oil myself, on top of what you just said about healthy food and stuff like that.

Sharon:

Absolutely, the oils make such a difference. I use them on my… I’ve got little bracelets that I use. I put a couple drops on there, or I put them in a diffuser. I just use the oils to support me just to boost my energy, to calm me down, help me sleep. It, depending on what phase I’m in, will… I’ll use the according oil to support me through what’s happening in that phase. Yeah.

Sze Wing:

Fantastic. So and is there any particular oil you like to use apart from the four blends, especially when women like for myself, I’m changing, and obviously getting older and a lot of new things that are happening, so is there any other essential oil you may recommend us to look at?

Sharon:

I just think from a feminine or a female point of view, I just clary sage and geranium are just two of my favorite oils. They are really lovely hormone balancing, hormone regulating essential oils, and just love to use them in a blend. I just find them really easy and supportive. And you can use them in a bath or in your diffuser, depending on what you’re trying to treat. But yeah, I think you can’t go past clary sage.

Sze Wing:

Clary sage and geranium. I like them both. And what about, another question, what about navigating change or uncertainty? Sometimes when we move to having a baby or moving into menopause, so the phase that’s physical, but it’s also mental. So navigating change or uncertainty or fear or doubts. Is there anything that you like to recommend if that, when that happens?

Sharon:

I think for me, the main thing that I really recommend is that you really do chart. So as part of my processes, I teach women how to use a chart, and you actually chart your cycle, and you chart, things like your hormones and feelings and your physical changes and things like that. And I always say that with the changes that are going on, that it’s really important that you don’t stop charting, and that you really do listen to your body. And don’t be influenced by what you think you should feel, but actually chart what you do feel. And I find I tell a lot of my clients that, and it makes a big difference. They get this almost relief that they’re allowed to have these different feelings, but it’s really important that they chart regularly.

Sze Wing:

It makes sense because the reason why we’re feeling those feelings, maybe we are in that particular phase. And the comforting thing is that all this shall pass and because it’s just a cycle. And that will bring some comfort. And then we can also look at what oils in that blend that you will support that particular stage.

Sharon:

That’s right. That’s right Sze Wing. And that’s what I’ve found a lot with my charting and the Emgoddess program is that women are starting to recognize that, oh, this was only… I’m feeling this every month at this time, and it lasts this long. So it puts some understanding around things. So you can then support yourself better. Maybe it is a change in your diet. Maybe it’s going for a massage. Maybe it is catching up with some girlfriends. You can look at what’s going on in your cycle, and you can see what’s coming up for you on a regular basis. And then you can really support yourself better, which is exactly what the program’s designed to do, is to highlight the phases so you can then do what you can to produce the best results. Yeah.

Sze Wing:

Fantastic. So I guess when people are very excited to maybe learn more about the Emgoddess program, do you have a book? You have a digital program, and you also have the four blends of oils with each of the goddesses.

Sharon:

I do.

Sze Wing:

So what is the best way for people to learn more about what you teach and get their hands of this product and learn more in general?

Sharon:

I really think, look, if they want to, just get onto the community at emgoddess.com.au and join my database, I send out regular emails, but my book’s got a great understanding of the program, how it looks, and then as you mentioned, I’ve got online product. I do an online course and I have the oils, but just get in touch, get in contact, and reach out. And I’d love to support women in to learning about their cycle because it’s such a powerful tool.

Sze Wing:

I think I definitely love… I think especially the older I get, actually I shouldn’t say older, as soon as you’re born every day you’re getting older, but more mature, I’ve really got more interested in the feminine wisdom in looking at our body that’s so much resource and wisdom out there, sometimes I think they’re completely underutilized, but when you in a phase, say when you are in Demeter phase, it can be really a peak in terms of networking and getting to what’s out there because you’re in that energy, you are more charming. And so sometimes, wow, if we just have this knowledge, it would just use this, it’s just going to be so more productive. And that’s why I love talking to people like you.

Sharon:

Oh, thank you. And like athletes use the same thing. So athletes are using this information to perform better. The Chelsea Football Club in London, they chart everyone’s cycle and change and adjust their training programs to support their women. I teach some CEOs that they use program now to make sure that they have better leadership skills and they do it.

Sharon:

So when it’s raised, it’s really a powerful internal tool. And my frustration for me, is that it’s just not taught. Women that I speak to in their fifties and still saying, why am I hearing about this for the first time? It’s a very big frustration for me, but I just love doing what I’m doing. And I’m hoping that I’m reaching as many women as I can.

Sze Wing:

Absolutely. And another thing I find for me personally, is at that new moon phase, or when we’re coming into the rest and reflection period, I think in the past, we’re so much taught in the masculine way of doing things, with masculine energy, where it’s go, go, go, keep going, well if we look at life like the way you chart your course, then there’s time that we’re not supposed to do as much. You actually have the permission to rest and slow down and think about what I have learned and how to improve.

Sze Wing:

And I think for me, that was a big revelation because it’s always the foot on the accelerator. It does not mean you are going to achieve the most. But I think it took me a long time to give myself the permission in a mental way to say, you don’t have to try so hard all the time. But when I start to hear people like you and learn from different people about the feminine energy, feminine cycle. It’s like, oh yeah, it actually wasn’t a smart move to keep on having a foot on the accelerator, keep pushing. Sometimes it’s just, you have to do what’s according to the cycle and you get better results, you don’t have to work as hard, but you just work smarter and more efficiently. And I think that was a big gain for me about that.

Sharon:

That’s right.

Sze Wing:

You don’t have to work that hard, especially during that period of time.

Sharon:

Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And it’s those insights and so much more, ,around risk behavior when you take bigger risks, when you have a lot more compassion and empathy, there’s all these insights that’s so exciting for women to understand. So it’s a very powerful… We’re very blessed to have it. It’s such a very powerful tool and we just need to tap into it.

Sze Wing:

Fantastic. So I just want to wrap this up and say, thank you so much for your time, and sharing your knowledge with us. And I will put a link on this podcast blog post about Emgoddess. So people who want to learn more reach out. It’s pretty easy to just hop online and find Sharon’s site and well, thank you so much for today.

Sharon:

Thank you so much, Sze Wing. I really enjoyed it. I really appreciate the opportunity to come and talk to you and share it with all of your supporters.

Sze Wing:

Thank you.

Sharon:

Thanks Sze Wing.