Inside the creative female body
A short guide to making art in sync with the menstrual cycle
I’ve been sitting down in front of this laptop for 35 minutes now, have started 3 pieces, have moved the three of them to drafts, rethought once more what I’m in the mood to write about today, started writing it, and surprise, it’s on my drafts again. Sounds familiar?
Being a creator is one of the most beautiful things, but lets not sugat coat, it’s fucking tough. We put so much pressure on our shoulders. I told myself I would release this piece tomorrow, and I am actually not moving from the chair until I’m done. Quite cuckoo.
Hi, I’m Isabella! ✍🏼Welcome to the women, the mothers, the daughters, the conscious. I write for women who feel deeply and create honestly. What to expect here? Slow content about the intersection of female health and creative life; how our bodies, emotions, and inner rhythms shape the way we make art, love, rest, and show up in the world. Enjoy!
Anyways, finally, the creative rush is entering, I feel it as I listen to my soul-jazz vinyl set. It’s a delicious feeling, but that’s not the point of today’s newsletter. The point is, we, creators, and mainly speaking to women here, put an insane amount of pressure on our creative output. And I gotta say, we tend to forget our bodies, whether you want it or not, whether you’re connected or not, whether you flow with it or choose to ignore it, our bodies lead us.
Unlike men, we have 4 different phases within the average 28-day menstrual cycle. And, honestly, I know why I’m struggling to write today. I AM ON DAY TWO. And if you made that face while reading day two (you know which one), you know I’m going THROUGH IT.
So, with this introduction, the question of the week is:
What (or who) are we trying to prove about our constant capacity to create and produce?
I forget at times we live in a society mechanized under the male clock and mind-set. Have you thought about it?
We live by a 24-hour productivity cycle, while the female bodies carry a 28-day rhythm.
Work cultures expect the same exact performance every day from both women and men. (And weekends, well, we must push through the entire week even if our body is begging for rest on a Tuesday).
Rest is treated as absolute laziness, of course, unless it’s earned through a burnout.
Emotional fluctuation is pathologized, labeled as "irrational" instead of being seen as intelligence.
The first thing I’m learning as a creator is to acknowledge that I cannot produce incredible content every single day. And this is absolutely normal. Even for men. I am so hard on myself if I fail to write weekly right now. I have boundaries, I rest, but hey, I’m here, on day two, feeling cramps, after having worked 8.5 hours, and still, refusing to not send out this piece. Damn we’re crazy. We’re powerful. We’re ambitious. We’re magic. But sometimes, it’s good to understand and accept our reality with beauty.
Our bodies guide us in more ways than we imagine, and the faster we realize that and embrace it, the better we will create
So, my fellow artist, here are some tips for creating depending on where you are in your cycle (and please note, every single body is different. What works for you might not work for me, what works for me, might definitely not work for you!) I have friends who feel absolutely confident while bleeding, while for me, it’s 100% ovulation. The female body is not one-size-fits-all.
Menstrual phase (bleeding phase aka winter)
Hormonal landscape ⪼ Hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone, are at their lowest.
Thematics⪼ Integration & Visioning
Your energy is low. This is a moment to retreat inward, to listen more than speak. Your body is in release, and your mind, in reflecting mode. My advice here? It’s not the time to push. Let rest be your research, revise past projects, listen within.
Your prompt of the month ⪼ What part of my creative self needs to be held, not fixed, right now?
Follicular Phase (Days 6-13 aka spring)
Hormonal landscape ⪼ Estrogen levels rise, leading to increased energy and improved mood.
Thematics ⪼ Experimentation & Play
You are rebuilding. Energy rises. Ideas feel lighter. There’s a sense of possibility in the air. This is your spring, curious, open, not yet worried about the outcome. This is a great moment to start something new, trying new formats, brainstorm without limits.
Your prompt of the month ⪼ What feels exciting to try, even if I don’t know where it will lead?
Ovulation Phase (Days 14-16 aka summer)
Hormonal landscape ⪼ Estrogen peaks; testosterone and luteinizing hormone also surge.
Thematics ⪼ Expression & Visibility
Oh well, I gotta say ovulation is just, exquisite. This is YOUR moment to shine. Ideas move easily, you feel sexy (in every sense of the word), life feels sexy, possible. This is the moment to present your work, schedule collaborations, record, speak, launch, This is your moment to shine, and believe me, you will.
Your prompt of the month ⪼ What am I ready to express and I willing to be seen in it fully?
Luteal Phase (Days 17-28 aka autumn)
Hormonal landscape ⪼ Progesterone dominates; energy may feel more inward.
Thematics ⪼ Creative Parallel: Refinement & Editing
Slowly, our minds and bodies are preparing for bleeding, so it might happen that we feel the need/want to be alone. Do it. Work solo. Edit, refine ideas, and remember, be kind to yourself. This is a moment where doubt could come, say hello; channel it as part of the process, not paralysis or stress.
Your prompt of the month ⪼ What am I feeling more intensely than usual—and what might it be trying to tell me?
And just like that, we’re at the end of this weekly session. All I can say at this point is: You are doing great. You are following your own path. You are connected to your art. There is no need to be hard on yourself. Creating takes energy, takes emotional availability, takes courage, and takes time.
✺ How do you connect with your artistic expression through your menstrual cycle? ✺
Stay wild,
Isabella