How can "anchors" support
menstrual and mental health?
On the Cycles Journal +
Embodied Ecosystems Tarot

with illustrator and founder of the Cycles Journal Rachael Amber

Download on Apple | Download on Spotify | Download on Google Podcasts

If you're reading this, my guess is you're already aware that your menstrual cycle is something you can cultivate a generative relationship with.

In the process of getting to know our cycles, we gain valuable understanding of what our bodies are telling each month during our cycling years.

And even after we travel through perimenopause and into menopause and beyond, we're still impacted by the cycles of the moon and the seasons. 

According to today's guest, Rachael Amber, "anchors" are really anything that we can return to over time, to check in with, to know is there even when things feel hard or unknown. 

They help us to ground - even in the midst of change. 

And Rachael has created a couple of powerful tools that can support you to find the "anchors" in your own life, in creative and reflective ways. 

One of those tools is the Cycles Journal, which is an annual publication that encourages cycle  tracking and alignment with the moon phases, solar and lunar astrology. 

It's a beautiful way to engage more fully with your own internal menstrual cycle and/or the cycles of the moon and the earth. 

There is power in observing what your body is telling you, and can be something that illuminates patterns over time. 

Rachael is also currently creating a whole tarot deck that explores the interconnectedness of our bodies and the natural world. 

We talk about all of this, the creative process, the ways that cycle tracking supported Rachael's mental and menstrual health, and so much more. 


Listen to learn:

• why Rachael considers "anchors" to be a key to navigating life's uncertainty
• the story of how Cycles Journal came to be 
• how moon cycles and solar + lunar astrology can enhance cycle tracking
• the gift of observing patterns in your body/mind/spirit month after month
• how personal healing is integral to collective healing
• a little on the forthcoming Embodied Ecosystems Tarot Deck

Resources:

• FREE GUIDE: Track your cycle naturally with Fertility Awareness Method
• Episode 5: Are you ovulating? How to tell (and why it matters)
• Episode 38: Your menstrual cycle is a vital sign
• Episode 78: Your cycle superpowers
• Episode 90: 5 effective non-hormonal birth control options

If you enjoy Herbal Womb Wisdom, please consider donating to support the show here
  

Connect with Rachael: 

• Check out their website: Cyclical Roots
  
  

• Buy the Cycles Journal: 2025 pre-sale (or current version)
  
  

• Sign up for their newsletter: Moonletters
  
  

• Free community: Cyclical community
  
  

• Substack: Rachael Amber
  
  

• Explore their new tarot deck: Embodied Ecosystems Tarot Deck
  
  

• Connect on IG: @rachael.amber
  

DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.

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