Astrology 101: How To Sync Your Monthly Cycle With The Phases Of The Moon

Just like the moon, women’s cycles have four phases each month. And it turns out that understanding both lunar cycles and menstrual cycles can be the ultimate ladies’ life hack. We recently sat down with Alisa Vitti, hormone expert, functional nutritionist, and menstrual maven, to talk about living in sync with your cycle.

Here’s some hormone science I learned from my conversation with Alisa: Men and women operate on completely different schedules. (She wrote about this in her best-selling book, WomanCode, and this has been a key part of the FLO Living system for years.)

Did you know that men’s bodies were designed to be most productive on a 24-hour cycle? Women, on the other hand, operate on a 28-day cycle, with four unique phases.

Because men make most of their testosterone while they sleep, they wake up in the morning ready for "power breakfasts" or intense workouts that fuel them to go "crush it" in the world. Then by about four or five o’clock, their T-stash is depleted and they’re done for the day. (Lather, rest, repeat.)

Women, on the other hand, go through four distinct hormonal trends every month. (Yup—just like the moon, which also has four phases!) Each phase makes us especially good at a different kind of productivity. Some weeks we’re more creative; others are best for planning. Depending on the phase, we’re in the mood for different kinds of love and sex, and we can even optimize our health by eating specific foods.

1. The menstrual or new moon phase:

This phase is when you should take initiative and prepare for action.

2. The follicular or waxing moon phase:

Begin taking the action you planned, and initiate creative projects you've had on the horizon.

3. The ovulation or full moon phase:

Put it out all out there! Speak up, pitch, collaborate, and shine. Show the world what you've been working on.

4. The luteal or waning moon phase.

During this phase, you should wrap up tasks you've started, put your energy toward staying focused, and finish projects you've started.

While your period may not necessarily sync with the corresponding phase, there are things you can do if you want to start your cycle at the new moon (called the White Moon Cycle) or the full moon (Red Moon Cycle). Read Alisa’s explanation here!