Fertility Freedom

Fertility Freedom By Nadia MacLeod

Hello and thank you for downloading Fertility Freedom. The menstrual cycle is a wonderfully complex interaction of body, mind, emotion and soul that can be used to make your life better. www.menstruation.com.au

This may appear as a startling and highly exaggerated statement at first especially if you have only ever focused on the sheer bodily reality of bleeding. However, I invite you to discover for yourself, through this book, how to transform your experience of menstruation into a useful resource that adds richness and depth to your life.

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You can use the information in this book anyway you like. You may want to only use it as a guide to understanding and charting your fertility on a purely practical level. Or you may decide to explore ideas and ways of being a woman from a whole new perspective. It is up to you.

Your experience of being a woman and how you view your menstrual cycle and fertility is as individual to you as every other aspect of your being. Everyone is different. Just remember that your attitude to your menstrual cycle and fertility is a fundamental factor in how you feel as a woman.

All the ideas and information in this book have come from research that I have done and experiences I have felt. I offer this information because it has enriched my life and I hope that it enriches yours. This book is a work in progress and I welcome any feedback or experiences that you would like to share.

Happy Cycling Nadia MacLeod

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Title Page

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Introduction

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How to use this book

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Table of Contents

The Biology of Menstruation

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Menstruation, Puberty and Hormones Looks at menstruation, puberty and the hormones involved. How does menstruation occur? Describes the biology of the menstrual cycle. Irregular Cycles Looks at some of the reasons why your menstrual cycle can be late and irregular. How to avoid unwanted Pregnancy Conscious conception and unconscious desires or how to make sure you get pregnant when you want to. Glossary of menstrual terms. How to read your Fertility Signals Why is it important to know your body? What are some typical fertility signals? A month at a glance... a menstrual diary. Mucus Make your life easier by learning what your mucus tells you about your fertility. How to tell if your mucus is fertile, what role does cervical mucus play in getting pregnant? Mucus patterns. What is the Basal Temperature A brief explanation of what the basal temperature is and how it is used.

The Moon and Menstruation

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Lunar Cycles What is the lunar cycle and how does it affect women. Why is the Natal Lunar Angle significant?

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What is the Natal Lunar Angle? Explains the nuts and bolts of what the natal lunar phase is, and how it is calculated. Recognising lunar phases in the Sky How to recognise what the lunar phases look like in the sky. Natal Lunar Phase Characteristics What else is there to know about the natal lunar phases. New Moon

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Crescent Moon

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First Quarter

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Gibbous Moon

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Full Moon

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Disseminating Moon

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Third Quarter

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Balsamic Moon

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The Female Energy Cycle and Menstruation

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The Female Energy Cycle Describes the female energy cycle How does the Female Energy Cycle Work?

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Feminine Archetype diagram / model

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What is a feminine Archetype?

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The Benefits of using the Female Energy Cycle

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The Virgin Phase Looks at the different ways the Virgin can express herself. The Mother Phase The good, the bad and the ugly.

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The Enchantress Phase

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The Crone Phase

Putting it all together

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Instructions for My Personal Fertility Chart

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Template for Your Personal Fertility Chart

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Example Personal Fertility Chart Completed Example Fertility Chart for your reference Time Zone Conversion Instructions

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Conception Action Pack

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Choose your Conception Action Pack Option

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Personal Lunar Fertility Guide

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Alternative Menstrual Products Catalogue Wemoon Natural Cloth Pads Sea Pearls Sponge Tampons Moon Diary and Menstrual Chart

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Bibliography and recommended reading About the Author

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Copyright Notice, Distribution and Legal Disclaimer

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The End

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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

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The information in this book is made up of layers offering you different ways of approaching your body, fertility and your monthly cycle. It is the sort of book you can come back to time and time again because as you learn about your body and experience your menstrual cycle in a different way, the information within will start to take on new meaning.

How much you get out of this book depends on how willing you are to actively experience and apply the information to your life.

The layers are:

The Biological Cycle

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Explains how the menstrual cycle occurs each month in easy to understand terms. Describes the easily recognisable fertility signals that your body gives you - mucus, moods, libido, temperature. Includes a menstrual glossary Explores Irregular cycles, planned pregnancy and unconscious desires that affect your fertility.

The Moon Cycle

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Explains the cycle and phases of the moon. Provides a thorough explanation of what a Natal Lunar Phase is, and the impact it has on your fertility and your life. Descriptions of all 8 Lunar Phases from an astrological perspective.

The Female Energy Cycle

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What is the Female Energy Cycle? Describes the benefit of using the Female Energy Cycle What are Feminine Archetypes? A description of the different types of Feminine Archetypes: Virgin Mother Enchantress Crone.

Putting it all together

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Template for "My Personal Fertility Chart" Instructions for using "My Personal Fertility Chart" Completed example Of "My Personal Fertility Chart" Time Conversion Chart.

The information in each layer can be used separately or all together. For example, you don't necessarily have to know all about your natal lunar phase in order to successfully observe you fertility signals and record them on your Personal Fertility Chart. But if you are in an active sexual relationship you may want to know when your Natal Lunar Phase occurs and factor it in to your observations.

I recommend reading through the characteristics of lunar phases or feminine archetypes a number of times to become really familiar with the material . In this way you will gain more insight into the information and yourself. ● If you keep a journal or diary, you may want to do some creative writing, exploring the different archetypes and what they mean to you. Comparing this to your menstrual chart will give you valuable

insight into your cycle and your behaviour. ●

If you resonate strongly with a particular archetype you may want to meditate upon Her, read more about Her or use writing techniques to 'talk' to Her.

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Listen to your dreams and listen to your body - ultimately this book is about developing a more harmonious relationship with your body.

Much of this process is meditative, thinking about what you are learning and how it all interweaves in your monthly cycle. Notice when you are experiencing balance and when you are not, these are all clues to your needs and wants.

You may experience a change in your cycle : ● it may begin to become more regular, ●

there could be a lessening of you menstrual symptoms

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or a temporary intensifying of symptoms as old energy is released.

Use this information with other therapeutic systems, vibrational essences, massage, visualisations, homoeopathics - whatever makes you feel good.

MENSTRUATION

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Menstruation is the term given to the periodic discharge of blood, tissue, fluid and mucus from the reproductive organs of sexually mature females. The flow usually lasts from 3 - 6 days each month and is caused by a sudden reduction in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. By definition hormones are a chemical substance, produced by an organ, gland or special cells, that is carried through the bloodstream to regulate the activity of certain organs.

It is the balance and interplay between these hormones which regulate the specific events that make up the menstrual cycle.

Factors like nutrition, stress, exercise, and belief systems can all influence how the hormones work and what we experience during our cycles.

Puberty Puberty is the time when hormones begin to act upon the female body, causing the many changes that occur. At puberty, girl's start to develop breasts, their hips widen and waist narrows due to the redistribution of fat. Pubic, underarm and leg hair thicken and darken, and girls start to bleed from the vagina once a month. Hair and skin can become oily, they can experience cramps, mood swings, irritability and fatigue. The diagram below clearly illustrates the changes in hormonal levels at this important time.

The hormones involved are:

Oestrogen oestrogen has many functions, a few of which are: 1) Promoting the development and maintenance of the female reproductive structures (especially the lining of the uterus/womb) 2) Assisting in the control of fluid and electrolyte balance within the body. 3) Preparing the follicle for the release of an egg.

Progesterone: Is primarily concerned with the procreation and survival of the foetus. Secreted at ovulation, helps to prepare the endometrium (womb lining) for the implantation of an egg and prepares mammary glands for milk production.

FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone: Stimulates the follicles (a follicle is a balloon shaped structure which is filled with fluid and contains an egg, follicles are found in the ovaries) to ripen several eggs. LH Lutenising hormone: Further develops the follicles, triggers ovulation and stimulates production of other hormones necessary for the post ovulatory stage of the menstrual cycle.

Often the hormones within the menstrual cycle have other functions to play in a woman's body as well. For example progesterone increases your sex drive, is a natural diuretic and aids in the process of building new bone to name just a few. The secretion of hormones is a complex affair and various parts of your body become involved in these chemical transactions.

It is important to note that these hormones are usually only present in small amounts and that it is the relationship between the levels of the hormones that is critical. When the balance is upset, any number of menstrual irregularities can occur.

Maintaining hormonal health is essential to all levels of your well being. For example the triphasic or combination contraceptive pill contains the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It works by altering the bodies natural hormonal balance, thus inhibiting ovulation, preventing implantation of the egg and making the cervical mucus hostile to sperm. Because this contraceptive works by altering the relationship between the hormones it is easy to see why it can cause so many side effects on a physical, mental and emotional level.

HOW DOES THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE HAPPEN?

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The menstrual cycle can vary in length, but is usually about 29.5 days (which coincides with a lunar month*). The cycle begins on the first day of bleeding. The pituitary gland releases FSH - Follicle Stimulating Hormone which "targets" (travels through the bloodstream and impacts upon) the ovaries.

*One of the reasons why the menstrual cycle does coincide so neatly with the moon is that the endocrine (hormone releasing) glands (like the pituitary and hypothalamus) are light sensitive, and are influenced by the varying amounts of light which the moon gives out as she goes through her phases.

Diagram shows the changes in hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle.

The follicles within the ovaries are stimulated by the FSH - Follicle Stimulating Hormone to ripen several eggs in preparation for ovulation. At the same time oestrogen is released by the ovaries, causing these changes in the body:

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cervix - softens and rises cervical mucus - becomes more profuse and friendly to sperm womb lining or endometrium - thickens and prepares for a fertilised egg

implantation. All these changes ensure conditions are ripe within the female reproductive system for fertilisation to occur at ovulation.

Ovulation - When the levels of oestrogen reach a high enough level, a signal is sent to the pituitary gland which releases a sudden surge of Lutenising Hormone, causing the release of the ripest egg from its follicle, to be collected by the nearest fallopian tube to await fertilisation. This is ovulation.

The burst follicle that is left behind in the ovary is now called the corpus luteum or 'yellow body.' The corpus luteum, which is in effect a tiny and temporary endocrine gland, continues to secrete reduced amounts of oestrogen which returns the cervix and mucus to their naturally infertile state. The cervix closes and hardens and cervical

mucus dries up. The corpus lutuem begins to secrete even greater amounts of progesterone causing the endometrium to thicken even more in absolute preparation for the egg (which is starting to journey down from the fallopian tube to the uterus). It also signals the ovaries to stop releasing eggs and assists in returning the cervical mucus to its non-fertile state. If the egg implants successfully into the womb lining and pregnancy occurs, progesterone levels will continue to climb. Menstruation - If fertilisation does not occur, the corpus luteum dies, therefore stopping the production of hormones. The uterine (womb) lining breaks down and blood, mucus and tissue is released through the vagina. This is menstruation.

We have returned to day 1 when the whole process starts all over again.

Women go through this cycle every month from puberty to menopause. Breaks from menstruation occur during ● pregnancy and lactation ● if a woman has health problems ● or if a woman chooses to use oral contraceptives continuously.

IRREGULAR CYCLES Women can often experience irregularity in their menstrual cycles. As was stated in www.menstruation.com.au the previous pages, the process of menstruation is completely dependant upon the balance of hormones in your body, and many of factors can affect this hormonal balance. Such as:

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Stress New cycle: the irregularity experienced by some young girls at the onset of the periods. Their cycle can be irregular for months or years while it establishes itself. Dietary problems, eg anorexia, bulimia or simply poor diet Too much exercise Drugs, prescription and recreational Break in routine Thoughts and emotions Sexual activity, especially when it is a new occurrence Anxiety about pregnancy Illness or physiological imbalance eg thyroid conditions

Irregularity also falls into 2 categories:

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Long Term Irregularity Sudden or Short term Irregularity

Long Term Irregularity. Long term irregularity can be anything from a cycle that varies in length from month to month to the experience of various abnormal symptoms, for example, excessive bleeding, no cycle for months at a time, very painful periods or ovulation. To be on the safe side if you are experiencing prolonged bleeding or very painful symptoms it is wise to consult a doctor to find out what is going on.

Short Term Irregularity Short term irregularity can be attributed to any of the causes listed above, and are generally a one off or sporadic occurrence. These cases are probably not a cause for great concern unless you are experiencing pain or just feel as if something is wrong. Naturally, a delayed period can indicate pregnancy so you may want to clear that option by taking a pregnancy test.

What can be done about irregularity? If you are experiencing bouts of irregularity, you need to examine your lifestyle. Review the causes listed above;

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Are you under extra stress?

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If so, what are some tangible steps you can take to reduce its effect upon your body… Can you change your thinking? and reprioritise your goals? Do you need to include more exercise or meditation into your routine? Have you got a support network? What action's can you take to solve specific problems in your life? Diet?

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Are you eating healthily and regularly? If not, do you need to improve the foods you eat or supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals and herbs? If you suffer from a eating disorder are you ready to get help? Too much exercise?

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Are you addicted to exercise or slimming and just not feeding yourself enough or working your body too hard? Drugs?

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Excessive use of drugs can and does affect the menstrual cycle, they affect the physiology of the body and also affect your emotional and mental health. Break in routine?

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Illness?

Sickness as simple as the cold or flu have been known to either bring on or delay your menstrual cycle. ●

Sexual activity and anxiety about pregnancy? For some reason sexual activity does seem to affect the menstrual cycle, probably due to hormones released during lovemaking. It can also be due to unconscious or conscious anxiety about pregnancy, change in status, trust issues, and the impact of sex and the changes it causes in our intimate relationships. Women still carry the burden of pregnancy, because we are the ones who get pregnant. It is our responsibility to ensure that this only happens when we want it to happen. Knowing how your body works, your fertile signs and having a reliable and safe form of contraception on hand when you need it is vital to your peace of mind and ensures that unwanted pregnancy is highly unlikely. See Avoiding unwanted pregnancy. Ok so you’ have reviewed all these factors, what else can you do? Connecting to the moon is the simplest and most effective way of sorting out minor menstrual irregularities. The moon is so influential to your cycle that by using the techniques revealed in the Conception Action Pack or the Personal Lunar Fertility Guide, you should be able to cycle regularly again quite quickly.

If you are experiencing longer term irregularity it is best for you to consult your doctor or gynacologist to uncover the cause. If your irregularity is due to hormonal imbalance which is often the case, then try a natural therapist - either herbalist, naturopath, acupuncturist etc who has experince in this field. Natural modalities can help a great deal to re-balance your system naturally without the need of using artificial hormone treatment like the pill.

SOLUTIONS FOR IRREGULAR CYCLES When you are looking to find a solution for an irregular menstrual cycle the first thing to consider is how serious your irregularity is. www.menstruation.com.au

Any cycle that has a long history of being irregular - over a year and more or is very irregular - that is, no bleeding for months at a time, too much bleeding, breakthough bleeding that has gone on for a number of cycles, very painful periods and any other medical disorder generally needs professional care.

Get checked out properly by a doctor or gynocologist. Then depending on what they recommend or how you feel, you may want to consider seeing a professional natural therapist, eg a fertility counsellor (find one in your area through the contacts page at this website www.fertility.com.au) or other therapist of some sort (herbalist, naturopath, acupuncturist) who has experience with menstrual irregularity so they can prescribe medicines for you to help your body regain its natural rhythm. This is often the quickest way to get regular again. Most irregularity stems from an imbalance in the hormonal system, and the hormonal system is very sensitive to all sorts of stimuli. this can work for as well as against us. The following tips can be helpful in treating minor irregularity.

Diet - is very important. If you eat lots of fast foods you are not giving your body the nourishment it needs. If you eat sporadically, miss meals and diet constantly - you essentially send your body into survival mode, it thinks it is starving and shuts down unnecessary systems. A body that thinks it is starving will not cycle regularly it starts to think that having a cycle that is healthy enough to support new life is secondary.Watch your diet, eat as healthily as you can, this page has some guidelines on health menstrual eating. Of course, most women are very busy, so just do the best you can - take the time to make the healthiest choice available to you. For example, pick yoghurt or fruit instead of potato chips or chocolate.

Consider taking a quality womens multi with menstrual herbs in it eg chasetree and dong gui. This will help with missed nutrients and the herbs will help balance your hormones. Take this regularly.

Start doing some simple charting preferably on a calendar that has moon

phases in it. Sometimes, the simple intention of tuning into your cycle gives it a gentle kick start in the right direction. This free e-book has printable menstrual calendar templates.

Take note of the moon - natures perfect menstrual regulator. Take a minute to look out the window at night and see the moon. This will also help regulate you even if your cycle is very imbalanced. Get a lunar phase calendar or invest in a Personal Lunar Fertility Guide. By showing some intention, you are telling your body this is important to you.

Take note of your lifestyle - do you get enough quality time for yourself. Again a chronically exhausted and stressed body will not be regular. See Feminine Archetypes for the emotional and spiritual aspects of your cycle.

Smoking is bad news for fertility and menstrual health. Studies have shown that smokers take longer to conceive than non-smokers, and this includes passive smoking (more at http://www.nietrokers.nl/e/n02100.html ). If you smoke - you should give it up. I received the following information from Kate Adams who is studying environmental epidemiology - She found the information whilst researching chemicals and ovarian cancer. "PAH, a component of cigarette smoke and fossil fuel combustion, binds to what is called an Aromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) on cells in ovary structures. When PAH attaches itself, it stimulates the ovaries to shut down the maturation process of eggs, resulting in an egg trapped in a non-ovulatory follicle. In other words, smoking can interfere with and even shut down ovulation, with obvious consequences for normal functioning of the menstrual cycle. Some scientists believe this evidence explains why women who smoke experience premature menopause. ... Dioxins and PCB's and other double and multi-ring structures can also bind to this receptor and wreak havoc on reproductive systems, but they do it in a less-known and different way than PAH. " More links and information on Smoking and menstrual health / Fertility http://www.arhp.org/clinical/clinical1/clinfert.htm http://www.asrm.org/Patients/FactSheets/smoking.pdf http://www.health.ufl.edu/post/post0499/post04_16/1.html

AVOIDING UNWANTED PREGNANCY

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Ideally every pregnancy and child is planned and wanted. But even the most capable and intelligent woman can become a victim to the unconscious desire to fall pregnant.

The unconscious desire to have children is a huge factor in unwanted pregnancies and can play a determining role in your fertility. It is really important to be very clear about whether or not you want to fall pregnant.

Take for example that vague thought "I’d like to be pregnant one day" that women often have in the back of their mind. When is that "one day"? Is it this week, next year or not really ever at all? Or consider the following thoughts: ● "maybe a baby will bring us closer together again?" ● "my children are growing up, and I miss having a baby to look after" ● "my children are growing up and what do I do now?" scenarios. ● "I'm bored, what am I doing with my life - maybe I should have a baby" These are just a few of the dangerous ideas that can float around under your conscious awareness, ready to blossom into a unwanted baby at an inappropriate time.

An example from my own life that highlights the significance of unconscious desire. After the birth of my first child, I periodically said to myself "when my son is 18 months old, I will fall pregnant again" because I figured 2.5 years was a good gap between children. My son turned 18 months old and I was working part time. I had forgotten all about my promise to myself. I was using a diaphragm during the time since the birth of my first son, and it was working great. But at that 18th month point, I fell pregnant… diaphragm and all, and I know it was because I had not reviewed my pregnancy intention. My body was just working on the programming that I had given it. Luckily, after the initial shock, it all turned out fine, but in other circumstances my second child might have been anything but welcome.

Keep in mind, aswell that constantly worrying about getting pregnant can have disastrous effects. Constantly repeating the idea "I don't want to get pregnant", effectively re-inforces the idea subconsciously "I want to get pregnant" BECAUSE your subconscious does not hear the "NOT".

A note on the wording of intentions It is a fact that the human subconscious cannot hear negatives, that is it can't hear "don't" "can't" "not" and words of that nature. So if you word an affirmation or intention with these negatives in them, you may get the opposite result. Let me illustrate, if you say " I am not fertile this month", your subconscious only hears and implements "I am fertile this month". I don't know why, it just does. It's also important to word your affirmations in the present tense, as if the desired event that you want is already happening. Words like 'I am', 'now', 'currently'. So your subconscious can start working on it now and not in some vague future tense.

A good way to determine your intention to be pregnant is to review this decision on a monthly basis. That is, each month as you finish bleeding affirm to yourself whether you want to fall pregnant this month or not? Taking a monthly approach clarifies unconscious desires. By approaching fertility monthly, you can consciously say "I am infertile / barren this month" Or "yes, I am fertile this month". You lessen the risk of playing "unwanted pregnancy" Russian roulette. Remember also, to always use reliable contraception to back up your fertility choices. And because it is only a month at a time, you know that you aren’t ruling out the possibility of having children forever and this is very important too.

Take these steps to avoid unwanted pregancy ● use reliable contraception ● get to know your body and its fertile signs ● find out when your lunar fertile times are ● practise monthly mental contraception in a positive way. By doing these things - you are in control of your fertility rather than being at the mercy of your body.

So, consider your fertility and take back conscious control of your body. Make your choices for the here and now, and when and if the time comes that you can go ahead to make beautiful babies, welcome your fertility with joy.

MENSTRUAL GLOSSARY

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Cervix refers to the neck of the womb, or the passage that links the vagina to the uterus. Corpus Luteum or Yellow Body is in effect a tiny and temporary endocrine gland located in the continues to secrete reduced amounts of oestrogen which return the cervix (closes and hardens) and mucus (dries up) to their naturally infertile state. Endometrium is the mucous membrane lining of the uterus. Fallopian Tube is a duct that transports ovum from the ovary to the uterus. Follicle is a small secretory sac or cavity which surrounds the ovum in the ovary FSH or Follicle Stimulating Hormone stimulates cells in the ovaries to secrete oestrogens, and also assist mature ovum to be released from ovary. Hormones are a chemical substance, produced by an organ, gland or special cells, that is carried through the bloodstream to regulate the activity of certain organs. LH or Lutenising Hormone stimulates the ovary to release mature ovum and prepares the uterus for the implantation of a fertilised egg. It also stimulates the formation of the corpus luteam in the ovaries. Menarche is the term given to the onset of menstruation in females. This occur at puberty and can be anywhere between the ages of 10 and 17, depending on the individual. Menopause is the termination of the menstrual cycle in women in midlife between the ages of 40 and 55 years. Menstruation is the term given to the periodic discharge of blood, tissue fluid and mucus from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that usually lasts from 3 - 5 days. It is caused by a sudden reduction in oestrogens and progesterone. Can also be referred to as the menstrual phase or menstrual cycle, or menses. Oestrogen is the female sex hormone responsible for the development

and maintenance of female reproductive organs, especially breast and uterus, and the secondary sex characteristics such as distribution of fat and hair patterns. Ovary a female gland that produces hormones and the female reproductive or germ cell (ovum). Ovulation is the release of a fertile ovum or egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube. Uterus hollow, muscular organ in females that is the site of menstruation, implantation, development of the foetus, and labour. Also called the womb. Ovum (plural) or Ova (singular) are the female reproductive, egg or germ cell. Pituitary Gland is a gland located in the brain that regulates a wide range of bodily activities from growth to reproduction.

FERTILITY SIGNALS

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Please note: that this information is to be used as a guide to getting to know your body only. If you are really serious about using this method only for avoiding pregnancy, please consult the book Natural Fertility or see a Natural Fertility counsellor for proper instruction, as there is a certain training period involved in using this method successfully as the sole form of contraception.

Knowing your own body and being able to tell when you are fertile / ovulating is an important skill and one that every woman should have. You will save yourself an enormous amount of worry and anxiety when you get to know your body and can control your risk of unwanted pregnancy. The fact is that there are only certain times in a woman's cycle when she is fertile or ovulating and can get pregnant. So it pays off to know when those times are. Your body will give you clear clues and signals as to when fertility is approaching and occurring.

A brief note, this system of observing fertility changes has nothing to do with the rhythm method. The rhythm method does not use bodily signals and is often very unreliable due to factors like the ignorance of the natal lunar phase, sickness, stress etc. If you are simply counting days and guessing when you should be fertile, sooner or later this method will fail.

A woman is fertile when she is ovulating and ovulation usually occurs mid cycle. However ovulation / fertility can also occur spontaneously during your natal lunar phase. The table below provides a rough description of the very real physical and emotional symptoms that you can observe throughout your menstrual cycle. It is a brief guide that I have put together from my own observation. These are some of the signals that you can observe and note down on your "Personal Fertility Chart". The time frame is very approximate, so don't worry if your cycle is not the same - everyone is individual.

Week 1 From first day of bleeding

Bleeding and the various symptoms felt during this part of the cycle varies with the individual, ranging from, cramping, back ache, hollow feeling inside vagina or the sensation that your innards will fall out to no ill effects at all. At the post bleeding phase there is generally an increase in physical energy and vitality. The individual is more outgoing and sociable. Sleep patterns and appetite return to normal. Vaginal mucus is dry or absent .

Week 2

Ovulation Day 14 approximately

As ovulation approaches cervical mucus become wetter, slippery, white (whatever is your individual pattern.) Mucus is very wet and slippery, easily allowing penetration of sperm. Other symptoms may include tender breasts, mood swings, increase in libido, cramps, break through bleeding, desire to be with your partner.

Week 3 After Ovulation moving into premenstrual phase

Week 4 Pre-menstrual phase

Mucus production slows, becomes drier and thicker . Moods balance out again.

Premenstrual symptoms kick in, which depending upon you, range from bloating, cramps, headaches, mood swings, food cravings, and insomnia. Energy levels decrease, libido may increase. Desire for solitude increases as does intuitive ability.

The table above is not the definitive guide, and each cycle may not be the same, it all depends on how you are and what's going on in your life.

When you observe your body you will start to see a very clear pattern of what happens in your body during your menstrual cycle.

The main fertility indicators to look for are: ● Cervical mucus ● Bodily symptoms - that is moods, aches, libido, appetite, sleep ● Basal Temperature

CERVICAL MUCUS

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Cervical Mucus is one of the most important indicators of fertility because it changes throughout the menstrual cycle from being dry, thick or pasty (infertile) to being wet and slippery (fertile).

It is these changes that will warn you of approaching fertility.

By examining the diagram above (which is not drawn to scale) and thinking about the biology of menstruation described in the previous pages, it is easy to see how important the mucus located in the cervix is. The sperm has to travel through the cervix to get to the egg.

Cervical mucus acts like a STOP / GO signal or barrier for incoming sperm.

Your cervical mucus will either stop sperm or allow sperm through to fertilise one of your eggs. It all depends on the state of your mucus at any given time. When observing mucus, ask yourself the question "Could a sperm swim through this type of mucus?" It will help you to decide if you are fertile or not. Mucus that is dry and thick is not as easy for sperm to swim through than mucus that is wet and slippery. Getting to know your body and its types of mucus is a very important step .

Different women have different symptoms or characteristics of mucus. Differences in: ● wetness ● colour ● smell ● pastiness ● texture. So it is only by knowing your own personal pattern that you can determine your fertility status. This is where your use of 'My Personal Fertility Chart' becomes vital. By observing and keeping a record of your mucus changes, moods and other symptoms over a few months you will get a very clear picture of what your body does during your menstrual cycle. You will recognise its rhythm and when you are totally confident in your ability to read your body, you will then be able to make better choices about which methods of contraception suit you and when you need to use that contraception.

Observing mucus is simple. You are only interested in the mucus that is readily observable at the mouth of the vagina. You need only touch the mouth of the vagina, the outside of the opening (no need to touch inside), or alternatively wipe the vaginal mouth with a tissue and feel mucus from that. Dry or no mucus = non - fertile Wet, profuse and slippery mucus = fertile . The changes from dry to wet indicate that fertile phase is coming, so either don't have sex or use reliable contraception. As the desire for sex increases with fertility, it is always a good idea to have contraception on hand. Treat any change from dry to wetter mucus as an indication of approaching fertility. After ovulation (your fertile peak) has occurred, mucus will dry out again and return to its non fertile state. Factors like the presence of sperm, vaginal infections, cysts, drugs and so forth can affect mucus production or in the case of sperm, mask the presence of mucus. So if you are wanting to use these Natural Fertility methods to avoid conception, get the proper instruction.

Please remember that any presence of wet, (or what you know to be your experience of) fertile mucus is an indication of possible fertility and coming ovulation. Sperm can live for up to 3 days in fertile mucus, so it is vital to not have unprotected sexual intercourse during fertile mucus if you don't want to get pregnant.

Also remember that you can spontaneously ovulate during your natal lunar phase fertile time .

TEMPERATURE OBSERVATION Your Basal or "at-rest" temperature can be observed to assist you in gauging your fertile status. www.menstruation.com.au

This is only a brief guide to explain the Basal Temperature method and how it is used. You do not need to take your temperature in order to successfully use the Personal Fertility Chart for your own observation and knowledge.

The basal temperature will tell you when ovulation has occurred after it has occurred . It is useful for telling you that you have ovulated but not much good at warning you that ovulation is going to happen. For general observation and charting purposes, it is not necessary to take your basal temperature. But you may wish to if you want to know more precisely when you have ovulated. This will help you in determining your mucus pattern.

The Basal Temperature method works on the fact that your "at rest" body temperature will drop slightly before ovulation and then rise by 0.5 degree Celsius / 1 degree Fahrenheit after ovulation has occurred. It remains raised until you bleed, when it will drop again, to start the cycle anew. Your Basal Temperature is measured by taking your temperature in the normal fashion each morning as soon as you wake up and before you do anything else (including going to the toilet, having a cup of tea etc). Write the temperature down on your chart, and soon you will notice a pattern. As it can be tricky to spot the rise, see a Natural Fertility Counsellor, if you want to use this method comprehensively.

THE LUNAR CYCLE The Lunar or Lunation cycle refers to the journey that the Moon makes each month as it travels through its phases - from new moon to full moon and back to new moon again. www.menstruation.com.au

This cycle exerts a major influence upon women and their menstrual cycles. It affects a woman physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Physically, the Moon influences cycle length. The average length of a menstrual cycle is 29 days, which is exactly the time it takes for the Moon to travel through her phases. The Moon can also trigger ovulation at any time during the menstrual cycle, regardless of when biological ovulation takes place. This means that a woman can be fertile or ovulate twice in a menstrual cycle. This is sometimes referred to as double ovulation or the Natal Lunar Phase Fertile Time.

Emotionally, the moon affects our moods. For example, feelings and emotions are heightened during a Full moon. Recognising the Moon and its phases can help at those times when you are feeling overwhelmed and emotionally 'over the top '. It can help to anchor you and help you realise that this mood will pass. If the emotion is overwhelming, and it is being made worse by the moon, then you can take action to minimise the damage caused in your life by taking time out and realising that it is not all your fault.

Symbolically the Moon is linked to nurturing, mothering, feeling safe, emotions, and intuition. All these attributes are often linked to women or exemplified as feminine attributes. By using the Moon's cycle as feminine blueprint you can discover more about yourself. In this way you can use the Lunation cycle spiritually as a model for growth and spiritual development.

WHY IS THE NATAL LUNAR ANGLE SIGNIFICANT?

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The significance of the natal lunar angle was brought to prominence by the Czeckoslovakian psychiatrist Dr Eugene Jonas. He discovered that a woman is fertile during a certain phase of the moon - the moon phase that she was born under. Dr Jonas also investigated how the sign of the moon affected the sex of babies, and how the moon's position to other planets affects the viability of a pregnancy.If you want to read up more thoroughly on Dr Jonas' findings I recommend the books 'Natural Fertility' and 'The Lunar Cycle', both written by Francesca Naish.

The natal lunar angle is the phase of the moon at which you are potentially most fertile each month throughout your menstruating life. That is, each month when the moon returns to the exact position that it was in, relative to the sun, as when you were born - then this is your natal lunar fertile time. During this natal lunar fertile time, the moon may trigger your body to ovulate. Often this trigger co-incides with sexual intercourse and stress.

In a nutshell, if you have unprotected sexual intercourse during your natal lunar fertile time, and your body does spontaneously ovulate, then you can become pregnant. If you want to be pregnant - this isn't a bother. But if you don't want to be pregnant then you need you need to know when your natal lunar fertile is and take appropriate precautions.

Synchronising your mid cycle ovulation to your natal lunar phase fertile time can be advantageous for many reasons.

If you are trying to conceive - and you do not have any serious medical reasons

why conception has failed, then synchronising your mid cycle ovulation to your natal lunar phase fertile time can give you the boost you need to conceive successfully.

If you don't want to get pregnant - synchronising your mid cycle ovulation to your natal lunar phase fertile time ensures that you are only fertile once per cycle.

If your cycle is irregular - excluding serious medical conditions, then synchronising your mid cycle ovulation to your natal lunar phase can coax your cycle back to a regular, rhythmical pattern.

WHAT IS THE NATAL LUNAR ANGLE? The natal lunar phase is the angle between the sun and the moon at the time a www.menstruation.com.au person is born.

The diagram above shows us the angles of the moon in the relation to the sun.

The moon travels in an orbit around the earth, which travels in an orbit around the sun. To simplify matters, we simply say that the moon travels around the sun. The total journey of the moon equals 360 degrees. Just like a circle has 360 degrees.

The natal lunar phase is a number expressed in degrees and minutes and describes the angle between the sun and moon at any given point around that circle/orbit.

For example (referring to the diagram above), if a person is born on a new moon when the sun and moon are said to be conjunct or together. Then the natal lunar angle is 0 degrees 0 minutes.*

*This starting point is also considered to be the finishing point of the circle, and thus can also be referred to as 360 degrees, remembering that a circle always has a total angle of 360 degrees.

If a person is born on the full moon, when the sun and moon are opposite each other then the natal lunar angle will be 180 degrees. Each position that the moon inhabits in its orbit around the sun is given a number in degrees and minutes and for these purposes is called the Natal Lunar Angle. The natal lunar angle is a description of the sun and moons relationship to each other and describes which phase the moon is at. That is, New moon, Crescent moon, Full moon etc. Another important point to remember is that the natal lunar angle refers only to the phase the moon is in and not its zodiacal or astrological sign.

It's easy to find out what your natal lunar phase is. We customise your natal lunar fertility information into reports that will help you with

Conception or Contraception

RECOGNISING LUNAR PHASES IN THE SKY

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It is the moon's angle to the sun as it journey's around its orbit sun which gives the Moon its different shapes. As the moon separates from the sun, it becomes more or less visible to us on Earth depending upon where it is in relation to the sun or how much of the suns light it is reflecting back to us on Earth. The moon itself gives out no light at all. At a new moon when the sun and moon are together, it is not reflecting any of the suns light, therefore we cannot see the moon. At a Full Moon, we can see the whole face of the moon reflecting back to us the light of the sun. The moon phases appear differently to us on Earth depending upon which side of the equator we live on.

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere Australia, New Zealand or anywhere else South of the Equator the moon will wax and wane according to this pattern.

But if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, above the equator the moon will wax and wane to this pattern

So when you are observing the moon or doing the visualisations outlined in the Conception Action Pack or Personal Lunar Fertility Guide, take note of the correct pattern for you.

To make it just that little bit easier, you can go to the following pages at the website which will give you a visual image of what the moon looks like in real time as it goes through its phases each month - for the Southern hemisphere and the Northern hemisphere.

NATAL LUNAR PHASE CHARACTERISTICS

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NB: This section on looking at the metaphysical or spiritual aspects of the natal lunar phase are based on astrological study of the Lunation Cycle. I offer it here to provide another layer of richness for you to consider and ponder.

We have looked at the natal lunar phase and what it means in terms of your physical fertility. The lunar phase that you were born under also has a certain emotional and spiritual impact on your life. This aspect of the natal lunar phase is much broader than the physical fertility cycle because it delves into metaphysical and spiritual themes. The natal lunar phase angle and its particular characteristics impart a flavour to an individuals lifetime and also to each menstrual cycle.

Just as your fertility peaks at your lunar phase return so do your energy levels in general. We are generally most physically energetic or "full" at our own particular natal lunar phase. So if you are a new moon person, you will feel most dynamic at a new moon. If you are a balsamic individual then the balsamic phase is your peak time, and so on. Ideally it would seem that we hit our peak physically each month at the return of our natal lunar phase. It is almost as if each month, we get a bit of extra 'oomph' for that karmic or soul task that we are given to do.

There are also times in our lives at which we need that extra 'oomph' or energy for different developmental jobs. For example, whilst mothering it may be easier to be ovulating on a Full moon, than on a dark moon, so that the extra physical burst or peak can be given over to the nurturing of our families rather than more inward and solitary introspection. Please refer to the characteristics of the lunar phases New to Full to understand this example better.

You may find that over the course of your life, you will ovulate at moon phases other than you natal angle. This is perfectly OK and perfectly normal, just continue your awareness and if you do not wish to fall pregnant ,ensure that you are using reliable contraception at your fertile times.

You may want to contemplate why you are ovulating or bleeding at different phases and how this puts a different emphasis on your metaphysical goals at that time. The section titled Feminine Archetypes delves further into the different personality or themes of each phase of your menstrual cycle.

Which Lunar Phase is Yours? Each of the lunar phases are described in the next pages so that you can learn about and understand your own individual lunar phase (if you know what it is) as well as gaining some understanding of the other phases at the same time. Using this information together with the Feminine Archetypes means that you can get a glimpse of the way the different energies meet and interweave throughout the lunar month and your menstrual cycle. It's easy to find out what your natal lunar phase is. We customise your natal lunar fertility information into reports that will help you with

Conception or Contraception

NEW MOON 0-44 degrees Sun and Moon conjunct. www.menstruation.com.au

The New Moon is the beginning of the journey. The sun and the moon are together in the sky. To the human eye the moon is invisible and the night sky is dark. There is an element of mystery and the unknown. New experiences, ideas and life are being seeded. The whole story and the details are as yet unknown but the potential and complete plan and form for the life is contained within that seed. The moon is dark, as is the consciousness of the intention. New moon individuals feel that there is a rhythm and direction that they need to travel in, but they rarely know how it is all to unfold in their logical mind. Much of their direction is fed by instinct, intuition and hunches. It can be compared to a mystery novel, where the clues and information about the plot are revealed bit by bit At the same time, the new moon phase is very dynamic and motivated. There is real energy and urgency about birthing the idea, about developing the thought, about doing whatever your instinct tells you to do. And this energy can sometimes also bring frustration at the unknown and the slow pace at which your ideas unfold sometimes. Maintaining a sense of innocence and openness is very important. Being flexible allows you to go with the flow of new developments. You can take advantage of opportunities that are provided to you when you don't lock yourself rigidly into a set outcome and path.

Keywords: purely subjective, un-selfconscious, instinct, driven from a body level rather than mental rational level, impulsive, innocent, naive, everything is new, no past, maximum life force, enthusiastic, charm and charisma, a need to be seen and noticed, dissociated, lacking in self confidence, not knowing who you are, overbearing .

CRESCENT MOON 45- 89 degrees

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The crescent moon is the second stage of the lunation cycle, and if we compare the process to a young plant, we can say that the seed is now a young shoot just beginning to poke itself out of the soil. The plant is still very new; and operates on instinct most of the time. It knows to grow to the sun, how to put out leaves and so forth but it can't necessarily visualise its destination. Crescent individuals are like this, most of the time they operate on instinct. They may feel that they don't have all the information yet, don't quite know what the finished objective will be yet they 'know' what the next step should be. They may have a hard time explaining their actions to more objective "rational/logical" people, and as there is a certain vulnerability and soft outer shell to crescent people, it is probably best not to try and even explain yourself to more analytical people. They will not understand and you may be attacked and denigrated for your efforts. It is important for crescent individuals to have a system for checking in with themselves. As they are guided so much of the time by their instincts and intuition, they need to be able to hear their inner voice. Meditation, tarot cards, journal writing are some good tools for this process. The pre-menstrual "Enchantress" phase is a good time to tune in. There is a vital need to assert oneself and make the self real in the world. At this stage there is still very little distinction between the instinct and intuitive knowing and rational, logical objectivity but a move forward has been made and a sense of commitment to that forward movement is integral. Crescent Moon people feel that they need to break from the past. They must persevere to forge ahead in life because as they move forward they can still also feel the habits of the past pulling them back. This awareness of the past (heritage and tradition) creates dynamic tension, like a piece of string being pulled tauter in opposing directions, they struggle "against the forces of inertia". In a sense Crescent people need to cut this string with the past and continue with their new vision and make a new system that was seeded in the New Moon phase. Keywords: highly sensitised and emotionally vulnerable, fledgling bodies are most secure in a comfortable and known environment, old fears and insecurities, growing, learning, toddler/childhood, expanding the boundaries of self and environment, become ‘rooted’ in their sense of self, use challenges, physically master the environment.

FIRST QUARTER MOON 90 - 134 degrees.

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The First Quarter phase signals the first major strike for independence for the moon. The 90 degree mark of the first quarter sets up dynamic tension and struggle between the two celestial bodies. Huge amounts of energy becomes available at this point so that the moon can separate more completely from the Sun. Therefore individualisation is the task of the First Quarter person. You are being asked to separate from what you have always known in order to build a new structure for your vision of the future. You are in the unique position of being at the mid point between the past or what has been tradition and what is new and different. You may sometimes feel torn between your past and your future as the urge to honour what has gone before conflicts with the need to re-create yourself and your life. You may experience crises as old forms and structures that you have been comfortable with are taken away. It is the struggle to synthesise these urges constructively that inspires the drive and impetus to build a form that will contain the vision. Remember, it is these conflicts and crises which provide you with the energy to move forward. They are the catalyst for you to take action. A word of caution here, ensure that you don't get so caught up in creating crises just to get a kick out of upsetting the applecart. A First Quarter individual must be courageous and forward looking. Whilst the past need to be considered at times, do not get too bogged down in it. Cultivating the ability to let go and release what is no longer essential is critical so that all your energy can go into your pioneering qualities.

Keywords: Shattering old structures by building anew. Crises, challenge. Have to be careful of not creating crises just to get a kick out of it. Fearless. Can become angry and frustrated when inexperienced in the task of managing the crises energy effectively. People who take a stand and do what they have promised. Shape, manage and control environment. Need to develop ability to make a decision and then carry out action based on that decision. Commitment.

GIBBOUS MOON 135 - 179 degrees

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The Gibbous Moon is the phase before the Full Moon so energy, light and intensity are increasing to their fullest point. In the gibbous phase, what has been started at the beginning of the moon cycle has almost reached its culmination. This phase is basically about perfecting and refining the structures that were set up in the previous phases. These structures can be the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual constructs that you use to organise your life. There is a natural analytical and evaluative quality to this phase, as the individual strives for perfection in what they have built. There is a need to be constantly testing the structures to ascertain if they will endure. Openness and flexibility are important so that the individual can pare away what is inessential and superfluous to their initial goals and prime objectives. As we come closer to the full moon phase balance becomes more and more essential. This phase is a preparation for the blooming, a time for the fulfilment of promises. You must overcome any physical resistances and obstacles in achieving your goals, and realise that you can and must refine and perfect the plan as you manifest it into concrete reality. In the gibbous phase, there is still a link with the unconscious instinctive talents of the darker moon phases, but increasingly more light "consciousness" and objectivity is available. One of the challenges of the gibbous phase is to balance the two modes of being: to balance intuition with logic, instinct with intellect, the dream with reality. There may be a certain 'point of no return' flavour to the gibbous individual and their life.

Keywords : drive for perfection, flexibility, honing of skills, paring down to essentials, apprenticeship, training, bettering themselves, artisan, understand themselves through finding better ways to do things, perseverance, eliminate the useless and superfluous, attention to detail, becoming more objective.

FULL MOON 180 - 224 degrees

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At the Full Moon phase the moon is directly opposite the Sun. She has reached Her furthermost point of separation from the Sun, and this distance provides the greatest scope for objectivity, balance, rationality and synthesis of all the lunar phases. The Full moon phase is where meaning and purpose is given to the structure that has been built through the previous moon phases. It is "the discovery of what it means to live a purposeful life with conscious intention"*. Full Moon individuals are learning to use their minds and realise meaning, to become objective rather than subjective, as in the dark moon phases. Essential to this phase is the need to balance polarities. A Full Moon person will often be aware that there are always two sides to a story, and will have the ability to quite easily empathise with both sides. This can cause problems with decision making as they may have difficulty choosing a single option. The knowledge of polarities or two halves can also stimulate the desire to find your soul mate or partner, on many different levels. You may experience a strong urge to merge or couple in order to create that union of opposites. Knowing that you have this need and are in fact a being that contains many opposites and dualities may help you to find this balance of opposites within yourself rather than searching constantly "out there" for bliss and union. On a esoteric level, the Sun symbolises the souls purpose whilst the Moon symbolises the personality or the earthly vehicle through which the souls purpose may be realised. In the balance of the Full Moon phase you have the opportunity to realise your souls purpose on this earth.

Keywords: Culminate, illuminate, fulfil. Think before acting. Integrate polarities. Objectivity, clear sightedness and the recognition of the other as separate to the self, yet tolerating these differences within the larger whole. Whole structure up to now can be seen for good or bad, will either contain its purpose or collapse.. this will connect to this persons self esteem and meaning for their lives. Urge to merge. * Demetra George "Finding our way through the Dark"

DISSEMINATING MOON 225 - 269 degrees

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The disseminating moon is the first phase after the full moon. The moon has been at its maximum light (or maximum distance from the sun and thus reflecting the maximum amount of light from the sun to us on Earth), and now the moon is starting to wane ie. getting smaller again. In symbolic terms people who have this moon phase are quite objective, they have come into the world with a sense of fullness and a clear sense of purpose. You may have an abundance of information collected from this lifetime and many others that you want to share with those around you. In some ways it is almost like a testing time as you give out your knowledge and 'walk your talk' to see if it does live up to your expectations and its promise. Living with a sense of meaning that you can share with others is very important, as is feeling that you can impact the world positively, somehow bettering society or raising consciousness in some way. New information received by the individual at this natal phase can lead to a crisis in consciousness, as the individual may struggle to assimilate the new ideas and information into their existing structures. Flexibility, openness and adopting an inclusive (that is: thinking in terms of both/and instead of either/or) attitude to new ideas can assist you in avoiding fanaticism and judgemental mindsets.

Keywords: Communication, distribute, convey, network, exchanging, working with others, group vision and purpose, talking, writing, openness.

THIRD QUARTER OR LAST QUARTER MOON 270 - 314 degrees.

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Re-evaluation and re-organisation are the important themes for the Third Quarter Moon individual or life. Last quarter types often experience a crisis in consciousness as they are pushed to re-evaluate the meaning and purpose of their lives in the here and now, or alternatively the culmination of many lifetimes experience up until the now. There is a need to integrate what you have learnt, and it is also a time to release that which does not fit into your developing consciousness. The third quarter is a dynamic, action orientated phase but rather than the energy being directed outwards to build structure materially and externally in the world, the energy is directed inward. There is a great deal of refinement, analysis and the paring away of what is not perfect and totally suitable for your life or purpose. It is important to employ economy of thought, action and deed because hanging on to superfluous attachments will only hinder your progress at this point. And you may find that if you do not give up what you don't truly need, then the universe around you may do the job for you. The third quarter phase is in essence, the beginning of the end of the current phase or cycle and the preparation for a new cycle. To use a plant analogy, the harvest has been reaped and whatever fruit remaining on the tree is left to rot, "the new seed that is forming must begin the process of severing itself from its parent plant". It is a very contemplative inward turning phase. There is a feeling of leaving what is objectively and logically known, to begin the journey back into the darker, more instinctive, intuitive and unknown realms. At times there may be feelings of angst and frustration at the task of letting go and releasing when you do not know what the next cycle, stage or development will bring.

Keywords: Rebel, turn away, revise. Questioning of previous thoughts and values. Discard the old and useless, contemplation, disillusionment. Can be secretive. Angst, anger and frustration as they sometimes do not know what to replace the old with. Destructive, de-structuring. Seed starting for the next cycle. Correlates to the Enchantress or pre-menstrual phase in the menstrual cycle.

BALSAMIC MOON 315- 359 degrees.

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The Balsamic phase is the final phase of the Moon in its cycle. Its light wanes and darkens as the Moon prepares to join the sun again and start the lunation cycle anew. The Balsamic phase is the bridge between the death of the old cycle and the birth of a new cycle. Whatever has been learnt, felt or experienced during the dying cycle (or lifetime) is now distilled and condensed. It becomes the seed that is taken into the next cycle. Whatever is not needed from the previous cycle must be released. Loose ends must be tied up whether they are relationships, behaviours, or situations. Balsamic people may find that they are repeatedly in situations where they are called to let go and release patterns. This is essentially their primary task, to master letting go and non-attachment so that they can move on. If a balsamic person likes to preserve things and hang on and on, they may experience increased problems, pain and hardship as they resist their developmental task of release. Realising that the eternal nature of cycles (ie birth, death, and rebirth) is the natural order and that energy simply changes form may help in coping with the constant change in your life more gracefully. Using your menstrual cycle, especially the bleeding phase to consciously release each month would be a very powerful process. Symbolically you have an event upon which you can superimpose your intentions. For example, if you have a behaviour that needs to change, imagine the old energy and behaviour flowing out of your person with your blood. Remember to fill that void in yourself (metaphorically) with your new desired outcome. You can use meditation and visualisation to enhance this process. This type of person may often have short intense relationships, having many opportunities to heal old hurts from many lifetimes. People may come and go quickly, as there is much to complete karmically in this lifetime. Key words: Distil, transform, envision, special destiny, break with old patterns and consciousness, encode visions into seed ideas which are scattered into the future, ahead of their time, out of sync, different, finish old karmic business, straddle the past and the future, specialists in endings, closures.

THE FEMALE ENERGY CYCLE So far, we have looked the way your menstrual cycle is affected by your hormones and the moon. www.menstruation.com.au

Just as the moon waxes and wanes throughout the month so do you. You experience different moods, desires and aspects of yourself (and being female) depending upon where you are in your menstrual cycle. You are influenced emotionally, mentally and spiritually by an invisible energy system of personalities. I have called this invisible energy system the Female Energy Cycle. The Female Energy Cycle contains a pattern or blueprint of feminine behaviour. And just like the lunar cycle there is a distinct order, system, ebb and flow to the way these feminine archetypes appear within the Female Energy Cycle.

THE FEMALE ENERGY CYCLE - HOW DOES IT WORK? Women, just like human beings in general, are capable of expressing many different facets of their personalities. We are not just one role or another, even though in the past we have been strongly encouraged to limit ourselves to the roles of Wife and Mother (just as men have been equally constrained in their roles as provider, macho man etc). We are limitless. In truth we are Wife and we are Mother. We are Lover, Daughter, Warrior, Teacher, Sister, Healer, each one at a time and in essence all of these all the time to lesser and greater degrees. We choose which personality to express at any time and we all have the potential to develop and express different Goddesses or archetypes at different times in our lives. Generally, most of us resonate more strongly with a particular group of archetypes than another . Some Goddesses are very strong within our psyche or our culture and others are not. We also change our preferences for for which archetype we express at any time. For example, the change from Wife to Mother.

Women also change their personalities or behaviour monthly; with and through the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle offers women the unique ability to try out at least four different, primary archetypes in their lives, if not on an external level than at the very least to be expressed and experienced within. These four archetypes of the Female Energy Cycle are: ● ● ● ●

Virgin Mother Enchantress Crone

They simulate the moons journey (or the lunar cycle), and have within them recognisable and particular behavioural traits. The diagram on the next page gives a brief description of the phases and where they occur within the menstrual cycle. Each month a woman will experience changes in the way she perceives herself and her world in accordance to where she is in her menstrual cycle and which archetype is expressing itself through her life.

Feminine archetypes and the menstrual cycle This diagram illustrates the cycle of feminine archetypes that women often experience as they go through their cycle each month. www.menstruation.com.au

WHAT IS A FEMININE ARCHETYPE?

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An Archetype is a model of behaviour or pattern of energy that is easily recognisable and resonant to human beings. We can identify with and relate to archetypes as they are primary characters or personalities of the human condition. Archetypes are everywhere. They are played out in fairy tales, movies, books, TV shows, in our families, our work environments and amongst our friends. Snow white (Princess) is an archetype, Homer Simpson (Fool) is an archetype... so is Mother, Father, Son and Daughter. We instantly recognise what these roles are and how they are supposed to behave .

So the term Feminine Archetype refers to models or patterns of womanhood and feminine behaviour that are easily recognisable to us.

In describing a few of the archetypal faces of womanhood in the next few pages I will use examples from myth and legend. I will describe ancient Goddesses. This is not to infer any particular type of religion to these archetypes now, but rather simply as a tool to describe the archetypal feminine.

THE BENEFITS OF USING THE FEMALE ENERGY CYCLE www.menstruation.com.au

Getting to know these archetypes and their action on your life is highly beneficial for a number of reasons. They offer: ● A better understanding of the differing and conflicting aspects of your personality. For example, you may be torn between the desire to start a family and the desire to achieve in your career. Understanding and accepting that both of these parts of yourself are valid and useful can help you to balance the conflict. Instead of repressing your nurturing side out of the fear that you will fall pregnant prematurely (or alternatively misusing or not using contraception and falling pregnant accidentally), you can recognise your Mother archetype and find ways of expressing that part of yourself through for example baby sitting nieces and nephews, or getting a pet, or growing a garden etc. Alternatively, if the Virgin is getting short changed, start developing a strategy, networks and interests that allow you to break out of Mother mode. Find a cause or community whose ideals you support, join their meetings and start developing your professional skills.

●

The knowledge of unconscious drives and compulsive behaviours. When you start to learn about different roles for women and begin to think about and observe what these roles might mean in your own life, you become open to other options. Deeply held dreams, ambitions and wishes may come to the surface and you can use these to make your own life richer. Alternatively, if you can recognise the behaviours and actions that cause you problems, you can begin to identify which archetype is behind the problem, and start tuning into Her to find a solution.

●

Acceptance and nurturing of your feminine nature. Sometimes we have a fixed idea of what it is to be a woman, and if we don't think we fit that picture it lowers our self esteem and how we value ourselves. Recognising and accepting that a woman

can be many different things allows you to free yourself from limiting stereotypes and find the areas in which you shine. You can then begin to love, nurture and accept yourself, no matter which face of femininity you choose to express.

●

Choice over which aspect or archetype you express and in what way. An archetype can be expressed positively or negatively. By tuning into the way we behave and which archetypes we express, we can get to know them better and choose more consciously how we will use them.

●

Healing of menstrual irregularities. By accepting and expressing the different facets of who you are as a woman you start the process of living your cycles consciously. You begin to recognise who you are and what you need at different times in your cycle and your life. This extends to the choices you make about caring for your body. Tuning into your menstrual cycle as a tool of knowledge and balance immediately begins the process of healing any menstrual irregularities. The menstrual cycle simply reflects everything else in your life, so as you balance the outer so will you balance the inner.

●

Acceptance of your body. By understanding your cyclic nature, experiencing the way your energy levels change throughout your cycles you can start to appreciate your body and give it the space it needs. Knowing that there are certain times of the month when your body needs to rest to renew itself (and getting the benefit of reduced menstrual symptoms) means you can begin to accept your body and not fight it. Any unpleasant menstrual symptoms will lessen as you learn to give your body what it needs when it needs it. Another benefit will be that you will be less critical of yourself when you can't be

Superwoman ●

The opportunity to develop new skills and abilities. By meditating upon or just allowing yourself to experience the different thoughts, feelings and desires that come up during the different phases of your menstrual cycle you will become aware of dreams, wishes and urges that you might normally ignore or dismiss. Maybe, you have always wanted to draw, or long to plant a vegetable garden or want to study. By listening to these desires and taking steps to implement them, you might discover abilities you didn't know you had as well as adding more richness and variety to your life.

●

The chance to live your life in a more calm, centred and balanced manner. Acceptance and knowledge of Self ultimately gives you the greatest gift of being happy with who you are... and life definitely improves at that point.

To get to know the archetypes of the menstrual cycle more thoroughly, please proceed to the next section.

THE VIRGIN or MAIDEN There are many Virgin Goddesses encompassing many different fields of enterprise. What they have in common is the fact that they are self-contained, pure, independent, uncorrupted and unpartnered. www.menstruation.com.au

Virgin in this context has more to do with state of mind and attitude rather than physical attributes or sexual status .

Often the Virgin goddesses were unmarried, but this did not mean that they were necessarily asexual. In fact, some of the virgin goddesses expressed their sexuality openly, owning their sexuality proudly and without shame. It was not given away or bartered or owned by their partners, it was wholly and solely within their dominion. The Virgin goddess appears whenever a woman is pursuing her own desires and ideas for herself . The Virgin or Maiden has been given a bad rap as a selfish wanton being for centuries in a culture that has taught women to only please and look after others to the exclusion of all else. She is now making a come back as women everywhere are beginning to follow their own hearts and dreams to manifest a reality other than that of partnerships, motherhood and child rearing. Using the Goddesses from Greek mythology we will explore a few of the different Virgins. Other mythologies also have these archetypes by different names. For example the Greek goddess Athena is very similar to the Roman Goddess Minerva. Greek Aphrodite correlates to Roman Venus, and Norse Goddess Hel correlates to the Greek Persephone to name just a few. Just about every culture has these archetypal Goddesses in one form or another. Another point to remember is that originally there was but one Goddess, but over time she has been divided up into differing personalities. I will use a quote here from Michael Babcock - 'The Goddess Paintings' by Susan Boulet. 'The Triple Goddess, the original trinity symbolises the three faces of the Great Goddess and is the earliest representation of her division into multiplicity. The Goddess with three faces is a universal motif, found worldwide. The Triple Goddess is intimately associated with the changing phases of the moon; just as the moon transforms from one phase to another,

the Great Goddess moves among her many roles. Her three faces are usually virgin, mother and crone: virgin representing the strong, self-defined goddess; mother representing the nurturing goddess as source of all nourishment; and crone representing the goddess of death and transformation. This symbolism embraces the role of goddess in all phases of existence, from birth through death to rebirth. The Triple Goddess reminds us of our sacredness regardless of our age or function in life. She reminds us that despite her many forms there is one goddess, always present and always sacred'

Athena Goddess of Wisdom Primarily mentally focused, Athena is highly intelligent, rational, outgoing, practical and logical. She prefers to be ruled by the head rather than the heart and She thrives in the business, academic, political and scientific arenas. Diplomacy is another of her strengths and this coupled with her abilities for foresight, planning, and strategy give her the edge in seeing the big picture and overseeing large and complicated projects. She is able to synthesise many differing points of view and ideas into a harmonious and workable whole. Athena is very comfortable working with men, and as is able to develop friendship and mateship with men without any of the usual romantic and sexual entanglements. Athena compete's easily with men, being extroverted and adept at the cut and thrust of civilisation and corporate culture. At times Athena may relate so totally to the 'mans world' that she may uphold traditions and rules that limit and restrict women. She can sometimes be cut off from her feminine side, emotions and her physical body which can result in various menstrual difficulties. At Her best Athena is courageous and tireless, using her keen mind and intelligence to improve the world.

Artemis Goddess of the Hunt & Goddess of the Moon Artemis is the ultimate sportswoman; outdoorsy, truly present and revelling in her body, pushing her body to its physical limits. She displays an intensity of focus, can be competitive and enjoys the thrill of the hunt. Artemis savours her independence, freedom and autonomy. She enjoys

being alone in her own company and yet is also profoundly connected to the Sisterhood. In Her role as Protectoress of Women and Children She is often found campaigning for women's rights. Artemis gains her worth from who She is and what She does more than from who She is connected to or partnered with. As the Goddess of the Moon, Artemis is familiar with charting the wilderness within human souls and navigating her way around the Inner darkness. She does not scare easily and is compassionate and empathetic. The Artemis archetype has an affinity for nature and is found anywhere where women love to be with nature, enjoy being physical and confronting some wild new frontier.

Hestia Goddess of the Hearth I consider Hestia to be both a Virgin and an Enchantress archetype. In ancient times Hestia was the hearth keeper. Her job was to literally keep the home fires burning. This task or ritual symbolised the nurturing and continuity of a spiritual force within the home. Hestia is a Virgin Goddess because of her intense inner focus. She is spiritually orientated and more concerned with the inner world than the outer world. Hestia is not tied to her personal ego but rather tries to meet with and connect with all energy or the universal oneness. In this way Her focus is on Herself and on Her tasks, She is not concerned with partnership, romance, marriage and other worldly distractions. In many ways Hestia emulates the Priestess ways of centering and grounding energy. There is a certain calmness and meditative approach that Hestia brings to all tasks. It is the joy of performing the task mindfully rather than with an eye on the clock. It is the Zen and joy of doing each mundane task with love and as a gift to God. Contemplation in the art of doing and being become one. Hestia is the spiritual warrior. She is with us when we meditate and pray or when we do any task mindfully with an absorption that takes us out of ourselves. She is also with us when we work alone with an inner focus.

THE MOTHER ARCHETYPES When looking at the phase coinciding with Ovulation we identify with the goddesses who value relationship, partnership and the wellbeing of others above all else. www.menstruation.com.au

These archetypes get their satisfaction and worth from playing the supporting, receptive and nurturing roles. Co-operation is one of their strengths as is the ability to be self sacrificing for the perceived greater good. It is the Mother Archetype that most women are encouraged to express.

Mother We are all familiar with the Mother Archetype. She wants to nurture and grow everything in sight. She is the giver of life and sometimes the taker of life too. The Mother focuses all her energy on her offspring whether the offspring are her children, her pets, her garden, her friends or her creative projects. She wants to feed you, make sure you are warm and look after you. Her job is to make sure you grow up properly, safely and happily. Expressed positively, the Mother archetype is great and highly necessary. But when a woman invests so much of herself in the Mother archetype without developing some of the other archetypes, then problems can arise when the offspring grow up and try to leave home. These Mothers can become domineering, overly dependent and interfering... they turn into Terrible Mothers - the life takers. Women who have strong Mother archetypes have to learn to nurture themselves as well as those around them. They have to get some of their worth and value from other avenues apart from being Mother.

Aphrodite Goddess of Love I class Aphrodite as a Virgin goddess and a Mother goddess. Firstly Aphrodite is a Virgin goddess because She belongs to no man or woman. She simply belongs to Herself. She expresses her abundant sexuality the way she sees fit and chooses not to exchange it for the security of partnership.

Aphrodite is a Mother goddess when She does seek union and partnership with another person whether that partnership is creative, emotional or sexual. She seeks union with a partner, and feels the desire to consummate the relationship. She symbolises the creative force of attraction and fertilisation on all levels. Aphrodite as a Mother goddess is just as sensual, receptive and creative an individual as when she is a Virgin goddess. The difference is that She is fascinated by relationship and the transmutation and creativity that takes place when people fall in love with each other. Whenever there is rapt attention and a meeting of the senses whether it be mental, physical or emotional, Aphrodite is there. Aphrodite as an energetic force is the pre-cursor to all offspring. She is that wonderful heady attraction and chemistry that promises a wonderful and ecstatic union and gorgeous offspring. She wants to merge with the "Other". When a woman is ovulating, is feeling amorous and is seized by the desire to have a child NOW, she is acting on an Aphrodite impulse. Even though Aphrodite symbolises the creativity of procreating, She does not necessarily make an effective Mother. She is not necessarily interested in nurturing and attending to the needs of the progeny that may be the result of the creative urge.

Hera The Wife Hera is the feminine archetype of the Wife. She longs to be part of a partnership, gets most of her validation and value out of being part of a couple and focuses most of her energy on sustaining her marriage'. Hera will support her man through 'thick and thin', happily foregoing her own needs in order to put the marriage and her partner first. She sees her identity as part of a couple and views other people as couples. She often does not develop lasting female relationships because She tends to relate to other women as a part of a couple also. She simply does not see the point in nurturing female friendships. She believes that She will have all Her needs met through the primary partnership or marriage. Hera likes to support traditional, conservative social structures. In fact, She is often instrumental in the creation of the structure and social

ENCHANTRESS The Enchantress phase occurs after ovulation and before menstruation, in that premenstrual phase known for heightened emotions, irritability and mood swings. www.menstruation.com.au

The Enchantress phase is the time when most women desire some solitude and often experience recurrent dissatisfaction about particular aspects of their lives. This phase prepares us for the release and letting go of the (Crone) bleeding phase of our cycles. There are two goddess archetypes which correspond to the Enchantress Phase and show us different ways of dealing with this highly charged time. They are Hestia and Persephone.

Hestia Goddess of the Hearth Hestia is an Enchantress archetype because of Her Inner, meditative approach. She is spiritually orientated and cultivates an attitude of calm and serenity so that She can hear what spirit or 'God' is saying to her. Hestia is open to hearing the messages from within and is focused on Her spiritual path and journey. To successfully negotiate the Enchantress phase in the menstrual cycle, it is helpful to cultivate Hestia behaviours, especially if you suffer during this phase. By maintaining a spiritual centre or 'hearth' within yourself, you can transcend the confusion and drama of the pre menstrual phase. By meditating or praying, we can communicate with ourselves and hear the messages we need to hear about the changes we need to make in our lives. Doing tasks mindfully with Hestia consciousness takes us out of ourselves and lessens our psychic pain and confusion at this time. Developing meaningful rituals and activities for yourself, and remembering to do them when you start feeling unbalanced during the premenstrual phase is another good way of calling Hestia into your life.

Persephone The Maiden and Queen of the Underworld. Persephone is a goddess with two distinct phases to her development and personality. These two phases are Maiden and Queen of the Underworld.

The use of the word Maiden in this case is not the same as is used in the Virgin phase. The reason for this is that Persephone is always somewhat ethereal, receptive and impressionable. She does not have the Self focus of the other Virgin goddesses. At this point it may be useful to tell her mythical story.

Persephone was the daughter of Demeter the Great Earth mother. It is said that one day the young and innocent maiden Persephone, was strolling through the fields smelling the flowers, in particular the Narcissus flower, when the ground opened up and Hades, The King of The Underworld appeared before her. Hades abducted Persephone and took her down to the underworld where he raped her. Persephone's mother Demeter went into grieving for months and all fertility on the earth stopped. Plants stopped growing, animals died, it was said to be perpetual winter whilst Demeter mourned and searched for her lost daughter. Eventually humankind appealed to Zeus (the King of the Gods) for help and Zeus sent Hermes (Mercury) to intervene. Hermes rescued Persephone from the Underworld. When Persephone returned to her mother, Demeter asked Persephone if she had eaten anything whilst in the Underworld. Persephone replied that she had eaten six pomegranate seeds. At this point Demeters joy at seeing her daughter turned to despair. Because Persephone had eaten in the underworld she would have to return to the Underworld. So it happened that Persephone split her time between the real world and the Underworld. Through eating the pomegranate seeds Persephone became the Queen of the Underworld and Hades consort / wife.

So as in the myth, this feminine archetype is split between the innocent, naive and impressionable maiden, and the wiser, initiated, acquainted with 'darkness and death' Queen of the Underworld. The Underworld in this myth symbolises many different things; ● the unconscious ● the collective consciousness of humanity ● our demons

● ● ● ●

the spirit world dreams the darker side of life and the realm of the psychic, unexplainable phenomena.

Through a tragic or traumatic event, Persephone is transformed from the innocent maiden into the Queen of the Underworld. This often occurs in the lives of women who strongly resonate to the Persephone archetype. The process of this transformation demands the resolution of the tragedy. The crime against Persephone (that is, her abduction and rape) must be faced, and her role as a victim abandoned. Persephone must reclaim her power and her responsibility, She must give up Her naivety in order to become the Queen of the Underworld. She has to take responsibility for eating the pomegranate seeds. It is not good enough for Persephone to remain innocent and ignorant of her errors, or to expect to be rescued repeatedly by others. If She holds onto this attitude, She remains the Maiden and continues to be the victim again and again. This journey to the Underworld involves diving to the depths of the psyche to confront the emotional scars of abuse and trauma. Persephone must face the depths of mourning, abandonment, depression, anger, madness and other emotions that are generally unacceptable in the light of the ordinary world. In doing so she reclaims her power and her courage, wisdom and maturity. She becomes the Queen of the Underworld. The Persephone personality is usually quite sensitive, impressionable and mediumistic. She quite happily changes herself or the persona she shows to the world to suit her surroundings, a chameleon. She often receives psychic information from her surroundings and can be quite vulnerable to these stimuli, not always knowing what is really Hers and what isn't. It is important for the Persephone archetype to develop boundaries and knowledge of self. Spending time alone, working creatively for self, gaining knowledge of occult or psychic phenomena can often help Her in coming to grips with Her world. She knows that the world is not all that we see in tangible reality, She knows there are many other things under the surface and other realities. Learning to live with this knowledge effectively is her task. When Persephone learns these skills She becomes the Goddess who is able to travel easily between the world above (tangible reality) and the world below, and can ultimately help others to do the same.

Coping with the pre-menstrual phase for the Persephone woman. If Persephone features strongly in your psyche, then the pre-menstrual phase can be quite unbearable because things that are normally easier to screen out and ignore become very obvious. Because of your highly sensitive and intuitive nature, things you are able to ignore in all the other phases become very prominent during the pre-menstrual time. If you have had traumatic experiences and not resolved them, this is the time when they will come to the surface with more ferocity. Things that will help you cope with the pre-menstrual phase better are: ● Quiet, contemplative time is important at this phase, the time to safely explore your thoughts and feelings whether done privately through drawing or writing, or explored with a therapist or trusted friend. ●

Restricting the demands on your time can be helpful as is not seeing people who drain you and steal your energy. Forget about the housework, achieve only the minimum, and allow yourself the time to psychically cleanse. Take the time to dream, meditate and stare into space. Persephone women receive so much unasked for stimuli that they need the extra time to process and digest it all.

●

Eating well, and supplementing your diet with appropriate vitamins, minerals and herbs / remedies is useful because it helps solve any hormonal imbalances that are exacerbating your emotional condition. You may need to see a naturopath / homoeopath / acupuncturist or other holistic healer to assist you here.

THE CRONE*

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The word Crone conjures up images of wizened old hags wearing black pointy hats and cackling madly. As a feminine archetype the Crone has gotten some pretty bad press mostly being portrayed as a woman who likes eating small children and indulging in other unsavoury habits. The Crone has also been portrayed as a woman past her prime, no longer fertile; vengeful and mean because her juices have all dried up. There is very little in Western culture that celebrates the Crone. She is nearly always portrayed as a jealous old woman, praying on the young. The Crone phase correlates to the bleeding phase in the menstrual cycle and the menopausal phase in a woman's life. Both these phases focus on the flipside of physical fertility; a time when women can focus on themselves rather than constantly nurturing others. Being a Crone can be liberating, once you get over the cultural conditioning to be Mother.

The main work or theme of the Crone phase is release and letting go .

The Crone understands the importance of death and renewal. She understands that without death, release and letting go, there can be no renewal and fresh starts. With experience She has learnt to recognise what it is that needs to be released so that you can move forward. This experience lends wisdom and maturity and an intimate understanding of the nature and inevitability of cycles. The Crone more than any other of the archetypes understands cycles, she knows that there is a time for all things and uses this knowledge for her own and others benefit. The Crone represents the older, more mature female who has become immune to many of the issues facing young women; the constraints of partnership, beauty, social conditioning and children. She has the freedom to live her life more fully and make choices based on what She wants rather than what others in Her life need from Her.

The Crone can be a container and guide to the darker emotions, for the companions to death and release are often pain, grief and anger. The Crone is familiar with the seedier and darker aspects of life and death for She has survived the descent into the Underworld (as the Enchantress). Knowing how to deal effectively with these important emotions is a necessary skill to harness the gifts of the Crone phase. Getting in touch with the Crone is getting in touch with that part of ourselves that is old and wise, who has seen everything, and dropped many of the pretensions, rules and limitations that society lives by. She is that part of ourselves that is infinitely understanding and compassionate yet also direct and unrelenting. The Crone sees the truth everywhere, in our lives, our relationships and our actions and She will work upon us to clear out the dross and garbage. There is strength and courage required to meet the Crone but there is also a wealth of strength, courage and wisdom to be gained from making the journey. *Examples of the Crone are Baba Yaga or Sheila na gig.

INSTRUCTION FOR MY PERSONAL FERTILITY CHART Your personal fertility chart is a blank template that you can print out every month to chart your menstrual cycle. Please refer to the example template that has been filled out. This will make reading the instructions much easier. 1. Print out a copy of your personal Fertility Chart - landscape view is best.

2. Consult a lunar calendar or go to our website page listed here www.menstruation.com.au/astrology/readyreckoner.html to find out the dates and times of the lunar phases for the month you are concerned with. For example, for the month of August/September 2000 the dates are as follows:

1. Date

Time

Phase

Sign

29/8/2000

10:19

New Moon

Virgo

5/9/2000

16:27

First Quarter Moon

Sagittarius

13/9/2000

19:37

Full Moon

Pisces

21/9/2000

1:28

Third Quarter Moon

Gemini

Please note these times and dates are in 24 hour clock mode, for Greenwich Mean or Universal Time. Please consult the Time Zone Conversion table for instructions on converting the Universal Time to your time zone.

1. Insert the days and dates of the month in the space provided.

2. And include the time and sign of each lunar phase. It is also a good idea to draw the moon phase icons in the appropriate place, remembering what the phase looks like where you live. From the table above we see that the new moon falls on the 29th August 2000, therefore the 29th August becomes the start date of this lunar month cycle.

Insert Day Name & Dateq

29/8 Tues

29/8 Wed

Mucus

New Moon

Moods

10:19 Virgo

30/8 Thurs

31/8 Friday

Crescent Moon

Libido Symptoms Insert Day Name & Dateq Mucus

4/9 Tues

5/9 Wed

First

6/9 Thurs

7/9 Friday

Quarter

Moods

16:27

Libido

Sagittarius

Symptoms

For the next week, the First Quarter Lunar phase falls on Wednesday 5th September. You will notice that the word "First quarter" is spread over two separate days in this week. This is simply for convenience, because we are using a one-size-fits-all template, there needs to be some flexibility. Sometimes the lunar phase will fall on the seventh day and sometimes the eighth (after the New Moon), depending on the time of day. It just lets you know that the lunar phase will fall roughly in this time frame. The same pattern repeats throughout the lunar cycle.

3. Look up your individual natal lunar phase from your Conception Acton Pack or Basic Lunar Fertility Report and fill it in on the appropriate day and time.

For example lets say that your lunar phase is 11 degrees 13 minutes New Moon, and it falls on the 30th

August at 8:59. You would fill in that time on your chart My Natal Lunar Phase is a …………………………………………… This month it falls on the …………………………………………………………. and fill it in on the appropriate square in the chart.. Make it bold and in a different colour.

If you don't have your natal lunar phase dates, that's OK, you can still use this template, just skip this step.

29/8 Tues

30/8 Wed

Mucus

New Moon

*11"13' 8:59

Moods

10:19 Virgo

Insert Day Name & Dateq

31/8 Thurs

1/9 Friday

Crescent Moon

Libido Symptoms

4. You are now ready to put your chart up in a prominent place, and start observing your body. By observing your body, you will get clues about where you are in your fertility /menstrual cycle, which will make it easier to always know where you are at. And by having this knowledge you are less likely to be taken by surprise, either by your period arriving totally unannounced or by risking unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancy at your fertile time.

The main area's to observe are mucus, moods, libido and symptoms.

●

Mucus is observed each time you go to the toilet, which isn't as arduous as it sounds. You will begin to notice the differences in the type of mucus you have after a short while. Sometimes

it will be dry or sticky and pasty and other times it will feel wet and slippery, and you will feel softer and more open. You do not need to put your fingers into your vagina, it will be quite obvious by wiping yourself after urinating (or before) and observing what is on the toilet paper. Is it dry, no mucus or is it wet /or has mucus on it (generally appears to be like egg white, when fertile). After a while you will begin to notice very clear patterns about your body and your mucus flow. Please refer to the "Fertility Signals" section for more information on this topic.

●

Moods This one is easy, just note down how you are feeling, happy, sad, angry etc.

●

Libido refers to your sex drive, are you feeling horny or not. Mother Nature is tricky and smart, she has made it so that we usually feel horny when we are ovulating and fertile. One way to continue the human species I guess.

●

Symptoms refers to any symptoms that you have during your cycle, and they include, bloating, food cravings, cramps, headaches, fatigue, acne, back ache etc

If you are charting your fertility with the aim of either achieving conception or avoiding conception, you may decide to include observing your basal temperature on a daily basis. Your basal temperature will tell you when you have ovulated after you have ovulated (mucus observation will tell you when ovulation is near). Knowing exactly when you are or have ovulated can be useful when you are starting out. Feel free to record this information on your chart. By following these steps you are now ready to take control of your fertility and menstrual cycle.

My Personal Fertility Chart © N MacLeod 2000 http://www.menstruation.com.au Insert Day Name & Date

New Moon

Crescent Moon

Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms Insert Day Name & Date

First Quarter

Gibbous Moon

Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms Insert Day Name & Date

Full Moon

Disseminating Moon

Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms Insert Day Name & Date

Third Quarter

Balsamic Moon

Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms My Natal Lunar Phase is.............. degrees ..... minutes .................................. moon This month it falls on ................................................................ Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms

My Personal Fertility Chart © N MacLeod 2000 http://www.menstruation.com.au Insert Day Name & Date

Tues 29/8 Wed 30/8 Thur 31/8 New Moon

Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms Day Name & Date

None, OK

None,

Wed 6/9

Day Name & Date

Fri 8/9

Sat 9/9

Sun 10/9

getting wetter, damp feeling in undies, ok

wet, lots horny

Gibbous Moon

Slowing down,

wet, lots mood swings, ovulation

crabby

slowing, drying up

Wed 13/9 Thur 14/9

Fri 15/9

Sat 16/9

Sun 17/9

Mon 18/9

Full Moon drying up, hardly Mucus feel ok any,can't Moods sleep Libido Symptoms Day Name & Date

Tues 19/9

none, feel ok - tired food Mucus cravings Moods Libido Symptoms Day Name & Date

Tues 26/9

Mon 4/9

Thur 7/9

Little bit, opaque feeling horny Tues 12/9

Sun 3/9

None, dry, feeling ok, cold runny nose

none, OK

First Quarter Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms

Sat 2/9

ok Crescent Moon

None, more energy, normal Tues 5/9

Fri 1/9

Disseminating 148'53" Moon

none, tired

12:56pm

Wed 20/9 Thur 21/9 none, feeling vague, tired

Mon 11/9

Fri 22/9

Third Quarter cranky, irritable,

tired, vague, horny, dreams

Sat 23/9

Sun 24/9

Mon 25/9

bleeding, cramps

bleeding

Balsamic Moon bleeding

Wed 27/9 My Natal Lunar Phase is ...148... degrees .53.... minutes...Gibbous ....... moon

bleeding Mucus Moods Libido Symptoms

This month it falls on .....Monday 11th September ............................................................ I seem to be ovulating before my natal lunar fertile phase

Time Zone Conversion Chart The earth is a big place, and it is a different time everywhere all around the world. So even though a lunar phase is occurring at a split instant up in the cosmos, in order to find out what time it occurs in your particular location, you need to convert the time given for www.menstruation.com.au the general lunar phases from the ready reckoner or other lunar calendar to your particular time zone. You can either do this manually by following the instructions below or go to the Time Zone Converter, a web based application that performs the calculation for you - this is a much simpler way to do this. But it is important to understand the concept so when you use the Time Zone Converter the first few times - you can double check your result mentally . Greenwich Mean Time or GMT or Universal Time (UT) has been chosen as the 0 point. Greenwich Mean Time = 0 hours. Every other location in the world is compared to GMT and has a standard number of hours that are either added or subtracted to the GMT time. Subtrqct the Hours Zones

Add the Hours Time Zones

West Africa

-1hr

Central European

+1hr

Azores

-2hr

Middle European

+1hr

Brazil Zone 2

-3hr

Eastern European

+2hr

Newfoundland

-3.30hr

Baghdad

+3hr

Atlantic

-4hr

USSR Zone 3

+4hr

Eastern

-5hr

Indian

+5.30hr

Central

-6hr

North Sumatra

+6.30hr

Mountain

-7hr

South Sumatra

+7hr

Pacific

-8hr

Java

+7.30hr

Yukon

-9hr

China Coast

+8hr

Alaska Hawaii

-10hr

Japan

+9hr

Bering (Samoa)

-11hr

South Australia

+9.30hr

Australia

+10hr

New Zealand

+12

Let's do some examples: Example 1. If we want to convert 12 noon GMT to Australian Eastern Standard Time, looking at the table above we would observe that Australia Eastern Standard Time is +10 hours. Therefore we add 10 hours to 12noon GMT. 12 noon + 10 hours = 10pm Therefore 12pm GMT = 10pm AEST Example 2. Now what if the time you need to convert is 6pm GMT. We now have to add 10 hours to 6 am which means we will go forward into the next day. First we convert 6pm to 24 hour clock mode which still = 18:00 Then we add 10 hours to the 6pm time, So 18:00 + 10:00 = 28:00 hours Next we subtract 24:00 hours from 28:00. 28:00 - 24:00 hours = 4:00 hours which corresponds to 4am the next day. Therefore 6pm GMT time = 4am Australian Eastern Standard Time the next day

Example 3. What if you are living in Los Angeles, which is Pacific Standard Time, a difference of -8 hours To convert 12 noon GMT time to PST, simply subtract 8 hours from GMT. GMT 12 noon - 8 hours = 4am

Example 4. But what if it was 3am GMT that you wanted to convert to Pacific Standard Time. Well, in this case we convert to 24 hour clock mode again as we will be jumping days, but backwards this time.

So 3:00 hours - 8:00 hours or 27:00 - 8:00 = 19:00 hours or 7PM, the previous day.

Standard Or Daylight Savings Time. Another factor to take into account is Different locations around the world enforce Daylight Savings or Summer Time at differnt times throughout the year. You will know when this is happening because everyone will be moving their clocks backwards or forwards. Daylight Savings time alters the number of hours to adjust GMT by. If we use Example 1 again, and we were using Australian Eastern Daylight Time, we would be adjusting the time by +11 hours, therefore 12 noon GMT + 11 hours = 11 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time. There are various sites on the net on which you find out when Daylight Savings come into effect for your time zone, these sites will usually also list time zone conversions, so you can do your calculations there or just check your results if you need too. After some practise, this calculation becomes very straight foward.

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Hi there! I ordered your package back in November. I did as much as I could with all of your suggestions. You also said that January would be our best month to conceive...well, WE DID! You were always so polite and personable in your letters... something which I did NOT expect..Thank you so much for your help!!!!! You really should advertise more! I am so impressed with you, your book, and your company!! Thank you! Thank you! Dea Bell (email available on

Trying to conceive can be a hit and miss affair. You seem to be doing all the right things but somehow you still aren't pregnant! Suddenly, what should have been a simple and joyful process becomes anxious - adding extra stress to your life and your relationships. Successful conception depends on timing - it depends on getting many different factors right at the same time. The Conception Action Pack solves this problem by making sure you are doing all the right things at the right time.

It takes all the guesswork out of conceiving your child, allowing you to focus on the outcome of a beautiful, healthy baby rather than the process.

The Conception Action Pack (C.A.P.) is specifically created for you, taking into account your personal needs and fertility history. The C.A.P. provides: ● Dates for your natal lunar phase fertile time so you know each month which day you are particularly fertile. ●

Analysis of your menstrual cycle - Is your mid cycle ovulation coinciding with your natal lunar phase?

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Information and practical exercises to synchronise your mid cycle ovulation to your natal lunar phase fertile time.

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Hints and tips to maximise your chance of conception when the time is right.

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Astrological analysis of the Best Conception Date(s) for success of

request)

conception and viability of pregnancy - gender preference is also available. ●

Calculation of partner's Natal Lunar Phase Fertile time, and analysis of best conception date - an option for couples with a low sperm count.

In a nutshell, the Conception Action Pack is a personalised and individualised analysis of you, your partner and your conception situation.

You select the options you need and the options you want.

Choose your Conception Action Pack Option

Get the information you need to ensure that you only have one fertile time per month instead of two. www.menstruation.com.au

When using the natal lunar phase as a tool to avoid pregnancy it is important to implement a safety margin time span around your natal lunar phase fertile time. This takes into account sperm and egg life. The safety margin is three days before and one day after your natal lunar phase fertile time. Your Lunar Fertility Report

Most women watch their cycles and know that mid cycle or biological ovulation is the prime time to fall pregnant in. What they don't know is that the moon can trigger ovulation and bring on fertililty at any time during your menstrual cycle - including during your period.

This phenomena is called the natal lunar fertile phase.

The natal lunar fertile phase was re-discovered by Czech psychiatrist Dr Eugene Jonas in the 1950's. Whilst working with catholic women and the rhythm method of contraception - he wanted to discover why the rhythm method had such a high failure rate. His interests in astrology led him to ancient writings which stated that "women are fertile during a certain phase of the moon"...

But which phase of the moon?

Through further research, study and calculation he discovered that the lunar phase at which a woman was fertile depended on the relationship between the sun and the moon at the moment she was born. You are fertile at that time of your cycle when the moon is at the same lunar phase as when you were born.

What is a Lunar Phase?

The term Lunar Phase refers to the angle between the sun and the moon.

*With practise at recognising your fertile signs and charting your cycle, you will soon know when you are fertile and when you aren't, allowing you more freedom in your contraceptive options.

We see the lunar phases in the sky as New moon, Crescent moon, Full moon etc. Each individual is born under a particular moon or lunar Phase Each month when the moon returns to this same position (as it was at your birth) it can trigger your body to spontaneously ovulate even if this time occurs outside your normal midcycle fertile time. Now it may not always do this, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. Furthermore - the moon's trigger effect is increased by two factors - stress and sexual intercourse. That is, if you are having sex during your natal lunar phase, the chances of ovulation being triggered are increased. And multiple sexual play at this time further increases this risk. The bottom line is - If you don't want to get pregnant - you need to know when your natal lunar fertile time occurs each month.

Your Personal Lunar Fertility Guide gives you 1. your essential lunar phase information 2. plus your fertile dates for either 4 months or 12 months, 3. analyses your current cycle 4. and teaches you how to use your vital lunar fertility information. Used in conjunction with Fertility Freedom - you have all the information you need including charting templates plus full instructions to unlock the secrets of your menstrual cycle. And we offer full email support to help you get maximum advantage out of your Fertility Guide. All for AUD$29.95 (US$15.95) 4 months or AUD$49.95 (US$26.50) for 12 months. Compare this with other reports offered on the web and you will see your Personal Lunar Fertility Guide is your best bet and the best value. "It's just like Contraceptive Insurance!" Armed with being able to recognise your biological fertile times and knowing when your lunar fertile time occurs, you can choose your method of contraception with confidence as well as being able to choose when it is necessary to use contraception at all.* Using your Personal Lunar Fertility Guide, you can exercise more choice about the type of contraception you use and when you have to use it - increasing your confidence and peace of mind. It is ideal if you are using the following methods of contraception ● condoms ● diaphragm ● abstinence ● rhythm method ● natural fertility methods This guide is also ideal for women who experience minor menstrual irregularities . Synchronising to the moon is a simple way of regulating your cycle - this guide gives you all the information and plenty of hands on exercises to make it happen. Save yourself an enormous amount of worry and anxiety by having the right information about your body.

Your Personal Lunar Fertility Guide provides you with the: ● Calculation of your natal lunar phase angle - completely individual to you because it is calculated from your birth data. ●

Dates for your natal lunar phase fertile time so you know each month which day you are particularly fertile.

●

Analysis of your menstrual cycle - Is your mid cycle ovulation coinciding with your natal lunar phase? Do you have one fertile time or two?

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Information and practical exercises to help you synchronise your mid cycle ovulation to your natal lunar phase fertile time, so you only have one fertile time each month.

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Explanation of contraceptive safety margin information - so if your natal lunar fertile time is not synchronised to your mid cycle ovulation, you know what to do to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

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Email Support - any questions or queries - just drop us a line and you have individual and personal help on hand. Reports completed within 2 - 4 days Order Today I want to order my Personal Lunar Fertility Guide Now

4 months - just AUD$29.95 / approx US$15.95

or 12 months - just AUD$49.95 / approx US26.50

Alternative Menstrual Products Catalogue To find out more about our great alternative menstrual products, ensure you are connected to the Internet and click on the links. www.menstruation.com.au

Pads / Tampons Pleasure Puss Wash 'n' Wear Cloth Pads - The real cloth pad alternative that has all the features of disposables that you need with none of the yukky bit you don't.

Sea Pearls Sponge Tampons - A reusable, safe alternative. No dioxins, no chemicals. Healthy for you, your body and the environment.

Charting Tools Moon Dairy - With information about lunar lore, myth and ritual and exquisite illustrations, the 2001 Moon Diary is an ideal gift for yourself or a friend. Moon phases, transits and void-of-course moon times enable accurate moon watching. This is a great tool to help you regulate and keep track of your menstrual cycle.

Menstrual Wall Chart - True to the lovingly handwritten style of the Moon Diary, a must for keeping you constantly in touch with your cycle.

Pain Relief Rose Of Raphael Essences - Vibrational essences to be used to integrate mind and body, and heal emotional imbalances. This range specifically chosen for menstrual irregularities, pain and fertility issues

Pleasure Puss™ cloth menstrual pads are specifically designed to be comfortable, absorbent and leakproof. menstruation.com.au

You get all the features you expect from a disposable menstrual pad with none of the yukky bits. ●

No irritation or chafing - Because Pleasure Puss™ cloth pads have natural cotton outer layers (the layers close to your sensitive skin) you are not exposing yourself to the myriad of chemicals contained within disposable paper (and plastic) pads.

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Super slim designs - Each Pleasure Puss™ pad is superslim making them comfortable and discreet to wear. You get maximum protection without any of the bulge.

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Superabsorbent - The ultra thin core and stay dry comfort layer make sure you stay drier even on your heaviest days.

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Leakproof - Pleasure Puss™ cloth pads incorporate a special leakproof layer that runs the whole length and breadth of each pad ~ so you know you can rely on them.

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Easy to Wash - Just soak, wash and dry. "Then came the cleanup ... soaked in cold water and thrown in the wash with everything else it came up without a stain ... it looked brand new again" H Hodson Austalia

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Variety of colors and sizes - Say goodbye to boring old white pads, now you can choose your pad colour or pattern to suit your mood.

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Secure fastening - for all types of underwear, from bikini briefs to larger styles. Pleasure Puss™ pads are width adjustable ensuring that your pad stays in one place. "They are staying in place well - it is really nice not to have any accidental bikini waxing from adhesive wings that have come loose. They feel comfortable and I am not getting sweaty and itchy like when I wear disposables" H Menzies Australia

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Simple one piece design - unlike other cloth pads, you don't have to waste time searching for all the bits or figuring out how to put the pad together.

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Economical - You will save money. Investing in Pleasure Puss wash 'n' wear pads will cost you less than a third of what disposables are costing you now. Based over 3 years.

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100% Guarantee for 2 years - Pleasure Puss™ unconditionally guarantees their pads for 2 years. If you are not satisfied with your Pleasure Puss™ pads we will replace them or refund the purchase price. Care instructions must be followed.

menstruation.com.au

Diagram of the unique features of Pleasure Puss Menstrual Wear

How to use Pleasure Puss™ Cloth Pads Using Pleasure Puss™ cloth pads really is simple. Step 1. Place pads label side down onto your panty gusset. Step 2. Wrap wings around gusset. Step 3. Clip together press studs underneath gusset. You have the choice of two clips, so that you can alter the width of the pad. To remove - simply unclip fasteners.

Why choose to use cloth menstrual pads? menstruation.com.au

Afterall, you are used to using disposable pads - you like their convenience - so why change? There are lots of advanatages to switching to Pleasure Puss™ cloth pads. Better health from reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals. Disposable pads contain a myriad of chemicals and additives which serve to increase their absorbancy and keep them looking white and bright but these chemicals don't do you any good at all. Your genital tissue is highly sensitive, and these chemicals are easily absorbed into your body, causing irritation and discomfort in the process. We already live in increasingly polluted environments, so it makes sense to reduce your exposure to chemicals in any way you can. Increased comfort - Because Pleasure Puss™ pads are made from natural cotton fabrics, they are cool and comfortable to wear. Unlike plastic used in disposable pads, cotton allows your skin to breathe, reducing the likelihood of fungal infections. Natural cotton is also unlikely to cause any irritation to your sensitive skin. And lets face it - that part of your body is one of the most sensitive parts of your whole person - so be nice to it. No Bulge - Each Pleasure Puss™ cloth pad is superslim, even the maxi size, so you can feel protected without having to put up with extra bulges anywhere. Superabsorbent - Pleasure Puss™ Pads are naturally highly absorbent without the need for artificial chemicals. Leakproof reliability - Pleasure Puss™ cloth pads incorporate a special leakproof layer that runs the whole length and breadth of each pad ~ so you know you can rely on them. Convenience - By using cloth pads you always have fresh, clean pads on hand when you need them no more last minute dashes to the shop. You'll get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that at least in one small way you are not contributing more rubbish to our already overloaded world. You will feel more in touch with your body - it is amazing what effect the process of no longer throwing your blood in the garbage has on your relationship to your body and your periods. Many women have reported on how using cloth pads has changed their attitude to themselves - positively. "Hi Nadia, it was as if my body knew that something special had arrived. I used the cloth pads last week and they were great especially the soft flannlette one! I am suprised at how much blood comes out of them. There is a bit of extra 'maintenance' work involved - the washing, soaking, squeezing and drying but it's the whole process that is important and integral to our menstral

cycle. I feel and my body feels more loved because of this attention. It's not just about having your period and throwing out the used pads. Now it's my monthly ritual! " P Maul Australia You will save money - Investing in good quality cloth pads will cost you only a small percentage of what disposables are costing you now.

Sizes and Colours Small 20cm long Suitable for light flow, teens and small women. Can also be used as pantyliner. Medium 23 cm long Suitable for medium flow. Can also be used as pantyliner especially if you are tall.

When ordering your Pleasure Puss cloth pads you have the freedom to choose the colours and sizes you want to suit your individual needs. Lime green 100% cotton Red Tartan Flannelette Basic Black

Large 26 cm long Suitable for medium and heavy flow.

100% cotton Red 100% cotton

Maxi 30.5cm long Suitable for very heavy flow, maternity and overnight use.

White Flannelette Order your Pleasure Puss Pads here All sizes - All colours AU$14.50 per pad

The maxi pad features a wider tail end for extra protection where you need it most but it still has the super slim Pleasure Puss profile.

How many do I need? menstruation.com.au

How many Pleasure Puss™ pads you need really depends on your individual menstrual cycle. Ideally you should have between 6 - 10 pads available to use per cycle. This gives you enough pads to last through 2 - 3 days worth of flow. Really Heavy Cycle

3 - 6 Maxi pads 2 Large pads 2 Medium or Small Pads

Heavy Cycle

2 - 4 Maxi Pads 2 - 4 Large pads 2 Medium or Small pads

Medium Cycle

3 Large Pads 2 Medium Pads 1 Small pads

Light Cycle

Combination of Medium and Small pads

Some other factors to bear in mind when choosing your pads are: Your height? - Taller women generally need longer pads Your security quotient? - Some women like the re-assurance of more length in a pad and some don't. Consider your comfort and security needs.

What about hygeine? Many women think that using cloth re-usable pads is not hygeinic - that its unclean, dirty and gross! Most women have been taught that having periods is shameful. We have indirectly (if not directly) absorbed the messages that menstrual blood is dirty, smelly, unhygeinic and unclean. This message is often perpetuated by the advertisers of menstrual products or rather "femimine hygeine" products. Even the term "feminine hygeine" implies that we need help with our hygeine. With all these negative messages it is natural for women to want to hide their blood and throw it away as garbage. To do otherwise is to go against what we have been taught as women. But menstruation is a natural physical process. It is not a sickness. Our blood is not diseased and dirty. It is a harmless byproduct of a biological event. The vagina itself is perfectly hygeinic - in fact it is constantly self-cleaning without any help from deoderants, douches or pills. Your monthly period is a cyclic cleanse, giving you a chance to get rid of physical and emotional rubbish you don't need - renewing yourself each cycle. After that - how can you still be dirty? While it is true that washing your pads may take a couple of extra minutes out of your day, it is not true that using cloth pads is less hygeinic than using disposables. If you can wear normal cloth underwear - washing and re-using them time and time again without affecting your health - then why is using cloth pads any different? The best way to maintain proper hygiene during your cycle is to change your pads frequently (and this applies to disposables too) personal comfort is improved, and odour is reduced. By using cloth pads, it is much easier to always have enough clean pads on hand to change your pads frequently. You don't have to worry about the cost of wasting your disposables. In reality, creating piles of used plastic pads that won't break down in the environment is much less hygeinic than washing your pads each cycle.

All the comfort and convenience of disposable tampons without the guilt www.menstruation.com.au

4 Reasons to switch to

Your health and safety Your comfort and convenience You will save money You will help the environment

Natural healthy alternative to disposable tampons!

1. For your Health and Safety: Our Sea Pearls™ silk sponge tampons are free of any Dioxin or synthetic fibers. Research has determined that there are health risks associated with conventional tampon usage. These risks are related to the use of Dioxin, a by-product of the tampon fibers bleaching process. Risk asociated diseases related to Dioxin exposure and synthetic fibers are: endometriosis, ovarian, cervical, and breast cancers, and more!

2. For your Comfort and Convenience: Sponge tampons are very comfortable, soft and textured like the vaginal wall. Many women report they do not even feel their sponge. Sponges are naturally very absorbent, and some women even use them during intercourse. Sea Pearls™ are convenient, no more running to the store for emergency tampons. Sea Pearls™ are very practical when camping, swimming or trekking. All you need is water to clean them. You will never again need to worry about polluting the environment with used sanitary products.

3. You will save money: Compare the cost of conventional tampons with Sea Pearls™ Menstrual Product

Cost AUD$

Disposable tampons $5.00 per pack Sea Pearls $16.50

will last you Total cost per Year 1 cycle 13 cycles

$65.00 plus $16.50

Calculate how many pads or tampons you use each year!- try our pad

calculator on our website

4. You will help the environment: The average woman uses nearly 600 pounds of paper and cotton throughout her lifetime menstrual cycle. In North America alone, an estimated 20 billion bleached pads and tampons end up in our sewage systems each year. Sponge tampons are reusable for 6 months or more.

You have a choice about the menstrual products you use - you CAN choose a healthier alternative. Research has determined that there are health risks associated with conventional tampon usage. These risks are related to the use of Dioxin, a by-product of the tampon fibers bleaching process. You can feel safe knowing that Sea Pearls Silk Sponge Tampons do not contain any harmful Dioxins or synthetic fibers known to be linked to TSS Risk asociated diseases related to Dioxin exposure and synthetic fibers are: endometriosis, ovarian, cervical, and breast cancers, immune systrem deficiencies, pelvic inflammatory disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome. Men may also be at risk of low sperm count due to contact with fibers and chemical residue left behind in the vagina 3% of women who get TSS will die from it However, the harsh reality of this disease is that only about 10% of TSS cases are ever diagnosed. Don't take any chances. The direct cause of TSS is the presence of bacterium S. aureus in the bloodstream. Researchers have concluded that S. aures gains entrance into the bloodstream through wounds in the vagina that vary in size from tiny wounds to microscopic lesions known as cervical erosion. Research done on the effects of tampon usage reveals that conventional disposable tampons dry out the vaginal mucosa, especially toward the end of our period. This may result in the creation of tiny, invisible wounds that may lead to vaginal and cervical ulcers. Super absorbent tampons have especially been linked to TSS. It is believed that they adhere to the vaginal wall, as they cause the vagina to dry out quite severely, and when removed, a layer of the vaginal wall is scraped or peeled off

thus being the perfect entry for bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream. This may explain the close connection between TSS and tampons.

You can feel safe knowing that our menstrual sponges do not have the same drying effects on your sensitive anatomy as disposable tampons.

Rayon and Cotton It is believed that a relationship exists between rayon in tampons, and TSS. Rayon is reconstituted wood pulp and its production involves the use of many chemicals. The cotton used in tampons has been grown utilizing as many as 35 different pesticides, herbicides and fungicides after which this cotton is washed and bleached. Most tampons on the market are made from a rayon-cotton blend. In 1980, 38 deaths occurred due to the use of Proctor & Gamble's Rely tampon. In the aftermath of the Rely crises, it was discovered that synthetic fibers provide a breeding ground for staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria present (though dormant) in 15% of women's vaginas. Rely contained no cotton, but instead a mixture of carboxymothyl cellulose, a wood pulp derivative, and polyurethane, a plastic. Polyurethane has been shown in tests as being a carcinogen or cancer-causing agent. Some researchers are finding that women take in twice their body weight in toxic chemicals during their lifetime compared to men. It is thus understandable that after many years of tampon use, the residue from these chemicals should be considerable in women's bodies. There are also a high proportion of women in their 40's who are getting cervical cancer. Could there be a relationship between cervical cancer and tampon use?

Dioxin Poisoning Dioxin is one of the most dangerous toxic chemicals known to man. Disposable tampons are believed to contain dioxin, an unintentional by-product of many industrial processes involving chlorine. Dioxin poses a cancer hazard for humans. It is unclear what, if any level of dioxin exposure is safe for humans Dioxin poisoning is less apparent than TSS, so the results are more complicated and devious than TSS, which means that women may not be able to tell that their tampons are making them ill or even killing them.

You can feel safe knowing that Sea Pearls Silk Sponge Tampons do not contain any harmful Dioxins or synthetic fibers known to be linked to TSS It is sometimes hard to make sense of all the information available on tampon health. The subject is large and filled with inaccurate and confusing information at times. We have highlighted some of the known hazards and this will hopefully give women some information to make a more informed choice as to tampon use. 2 Sponge pack only AUD$16.50

It's easy to use menstrual Sea Sponges Insertion First, wash your hands thoroughly. Wet your sponge. Then thoroughly squeeze out excess water. Insert the sponge into your vagina using your fingers. You should feel comfortable. If you feel any pressure, remove your sponge and trim around the sponge to a smaller size. Sponges are pre-shaped, so don't cut them in half.

Removal Sponges are soft and textured like your vaginal wall and very easy to remove. Simply feel for the perimeter of the sponge, grasp it and pull gently. For easy retrieval, you may sew a piece of dental floss to the sponge. However, the sponge is delicate, so take care when removing with the string.

Rinsing and Storage Don't use harsh soap on your sponge. It leaves a film that upsets the natural PH balance of your vagina. You may however, use a mild natural soap to wash your sponge. You may boil your sponge for about 2 minutes if you wish, however, we do not recommend it because it shrinks and toughens your sponge, and also shortens its useful lifetime. We have no scientific evidence, but it is a fact that microwaving changes the molecular structure of matter, so we would not recommend it. Between cycles, there are several ways to disinfect Sea Pearls (tm). You may soak them in any of these mixtures - all work well: 1. a solution of 1 tbsp. baking soda in 1 cup of warm water 2. a solution of 1 tbsp. cider vinegar in 1 cup of water 3. a solution of 1/2 hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 water 4. a solution of 1 tsp. tea tree oil and 1 cup warm water (tea tree oil has been shown to inhibit 60 strains of bacteria, including s. aureus) 5. a solution of 1 tsp. Colloidal Silver to 1 cup warm water. There is not a pathogenic organism know that is not killed by Colloidal Silver in six minutes or less. Its use is also of benefit to women who suffer from recurrent candida (yeast) infections. Air drying between cycles (preferably in natural sunlight) is sufficient. Keep your Sea Pearls (tm) in their little muslin bag in a dry cool place when not in use. Keep in mind that your sponges may last up to 1 year, but should probably be replaced every 6 months or so. Sponges can last longer depending upon how often they are used. Remember to always keep an extra sponge on hand during your cycle in case rinsing isn't convenient! Order Now - 2 Sponge pack AUD$16.50 (US$8.50) per pack including postage within australia

Moon Dairy, Address book and Menstrual Wall Chart The 9th Edition of the Moon Diary contains: ● moon phases ● astrological transits ● week at a glance ● menstrual calendar ● completely handwritten ● illustrated throughout ● size 13 cm x 17 cm ● wire spiral bound ● written specifically for the southern hemisphere.

www.menstruation.com.au

The Year 2002 Moon Diary is AUD $26.50 including GST and postage within Australia With information about lunar lore, myth and ritual and exquisite illustrations, the 2001 Moon Diary is an ideal gift for yourself or a friend. Moon phases, transits and void-of-course moon times enable accurate moon watching.This is a great tool to help you regulate and keep track of your menstrual cycle. The Moon Diary also gives dates and suggestions for the seasonal rituals.

Menstrual Calendar Wall Chart

True to the lovingly handwritten style of the Moon Diary, a must for keeping you constantly in touch with your cycle. AUD $10.45 inluding GST and postage within Australia

The perfect gifts to yourself or a loved one.

Moon Magic Address Book Not just an address book! This little black book is packed full of lunar lore and ideas for celebrating each of the seasonal festivals. ● hand written ●

size 10.5cm x 15 cm.

●

Australian made recycled paper durable coloured card cover room for addresses phone fax & mobile numbers beautiful illustrations by Jude Baderle

● ●

● ●

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Moon Magic Address Book is AUD $24.20 including GST and postage within Australia

The perfect gift! Buy Now

BIBLIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED READING www.menstruation.com.au

I gratefully acknowledge the following books as sources of information and inspiration. Natural Fertility by Francesca Naish The Lunar Cycle by Francesca Naish Goddesses in Everywoman By Jean Shinoda Bolen The Goddess Within A guide to the eternal.myths that shape women's lives by Jennifer Barker Woolger and Roger J. Woolger Finding our way through the dark by Demetra George Asteroid Goddesses by Demetra George The Goddess paintings by Susan Boulet and Michael Babcock The Curse by Karen Houppert Red Moon by Miranda Gray The Women's wheel of Life by Elizabeth Davis & Carol Leonard Passage to Power by Leslie Kenton The Greek Myths by Robert Graves Conscious Conception by Jeanine Parvati Baker and Frederick Baker The Lunar Almanac by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

About the Author I live with my husband and two sons (six and eight years old) in Northern New South Wales, Australia. www.menstruation.com.au

When I started menstruating after the birth of my second son, I decided I needed more information about my menses and my cycles. I started reading, researching and discovering a whole new way of looking at menstruating and the role it plays in being a woman. As I thought about the information and explored my relationship to my cycle and body, my attitude and perspective's changed in many positive ways. I felt that I needed to tell other women about the wonderful knowledge I had found.

I started the website 'The Feminine Principle' as a hobby about five years ago. As I grew and developed so did the site, and in 1999 menstruation.com.au was born. I am a qualified Astrologer with my monthly horoscope being published both online and in print. And I am a qualified Natural Fertility counsellor, having completed my training with Francesca Naish in early 1999.

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL DISCLAIMER Copyright © 1998 - 2001 All rights reserved. www.menstruation.com.au

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying, recording and spoken, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. If you would like more information please contact Nadia MacLeod Box 5197 Murwillumbah NSW, 2480. Australia or e-mail me at [email protected] Distribution If you would like to distribute this free e-book on your website please contact Nadia MacLeod [email protected] Legal Notices While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility for error, omissions, lack of care, default, negligence or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. This publication is not intended for use as a source of medical advice nor should it replace medical advice. The author, publisher and all distributors of this book assume no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever arising as a result of any purchaser or reader of these materials acting on the opinions, advice and recommendation expressly or implicitly published here. We do not guarantee any results you may or may not get as a result of following our recommendations.

IS THIS THE END? It may be the end of this book but if you choose to embark on a journey of self discovery as result of what you have read within... then for you it is just the beginning. www.menstruation.com.au

I thank you for taking the time to read what I have written. For me, the process has been a labour of love which has taught me lots and made me realise that there is still more I would like to know. I would like to invite you to join me in discovering more about who we are as women and how we can get the most out of our uniquely feminine talents. If you haven't been to the website http://www.menstruation.com.au - check it out, there is more information there on menstrual cycles, fertility, puberty and menopause, as well as some great alternative products and an interactive forum. And of course, always feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] with any questions you may have. Thanks again. Nadia MacLeod