Women's Energy Cycle — 'Native Circles' Birchwood Wheel

A stunning calendar print of an original pen drawing by artist Emily Robyn Archer on high-quality recycled paper mounted onto a circular Birchwood board.

This is for anyone who wants to connect more deeply with their inner cycle. Learn to retreat, grow, bloom and rest in time with your body's natural rhythms.

This wheel is designed to handle and turn with your menstrual cycle. While I named this wheel "Women's Energy Cycle," this wheel is for anyone who menstruates and wants to get to know their inner cycle better and thrive as a woman or menstruating person. This wheel can also be a valuable tool to help families or partners understand where their loved ones are in their cycle. 

We may be aware of the outside cycles of the natural world, but we sometimes forget the powerful cycles unfolding within our own bodies. Many of us learned to hide our cycle and bear it as a burden or nuisance. But what if we appreciated the menstrual cycle as a vital source of energy, wisdom and creativity? 

I collaborated with womb yoga teacher Lou Horgan on this print (read the story here [link]). This was the first circle I created, and Lou's wisdom and insight helped make this wheel a powerful tool for anyone with a menstrual cycle. Connecting with my own cycle as a woman and artist helped me embark on my journey to create Native Circles. 

Take a closer look

At the centre of this wheel, you'll notice a motif of two snakes sharing a head. It forms a heart shape with its nose outstretched to touch a furled fern head and its two tails meeting at the base of the fern plant. Lines radiate around this image, leading to a circle of petals. This is a South American folk symbol that Lou and I decided to use when we co-designed this wheel. If you look closely, you'll find 28 petals, representing the average length of a menstrual cycle. 

Your inner seasons

When beginning the journey to better understand our cycles, it can be helpful to think about your cycle as seasons, from the peaking energy of summer (ovulation) to deeply inward winter (menstruation).

Menstruation or bleed phase: your inner winter  

The menstrual cycle begins in deep winter. Like winter, we retreat back into our depths while things shed away. Both oestrogen and progesterone are low now, making us feel tired and inward-focused. Winter is when the natural world slows down, and similarly, our bodies ask us to do the same when we bleed. If you can, clear the social calendar, look after yourself, and try to keep this time free of any big challenges.

Follicular phase: your inner spring 

This is the time of the birds and the bees. Flowers are blooming, and like spring, energy rises and life re-emerges. Inside us, our follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increase to prepare for ovulation. A rise in oestrogen starts to lift our energy, mood and brain function. We may feel more confident, powerful and willing to take risks. 

Ovulation phase: your inner summer 

This season is a time for celebration and dance. The sun is out and it feels like everything in the natural world is thriving. There’s an oestrogen surge at the end of the follicular phase followed by a sharp peak in luteinising hormone, which causes a follicle to burst open and release its egg. Many people notice feeling their most confident at this point in their cycle. 

Luteal phase: your inner autumn

This is the season of ripening, rich colours and a winding down of summer's energy. The follicle that released the egg produces progesterone, causing levels to rise and thicken your womb lining. As progesterone increases, you might find your energy lowering. This stage is best known for PMS and anxiety, but if we're well-resourced, rested and in tune with our cycle, this can be a time of deep intuition and power.