The Phases of Animal Woman
WHEEL WORK WITH the Animal Woman Story Medicine Tarot FACE CARDS
Story Medicine Tarot Animal Woman Cards by Jessica Zinchuk with the Moon Mandala Wall Calendar by April McMurtry with @leti.lluna
PERSONALIZING YOUR WHEEL OF EXPERIENCE
As a cyclical being, developing awareness of your physical, emotional, and spiritual evolution is a practice of self-study in relationship with cycles.
One framework for understanding the physical and psychological changes during the phases menstruation is through the Inner Seasons described in the book Wild Power by Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer and Alexandra Pope. For example, Inner Winter is described as the time of bleeding and going into the cave to hibernate, whereas Inner Spring is a time of tenderness and budding before the full expression of ovulation.
These changing phases are reflected in the qualities of the elements, the changes in the environment, as well as in the stages of development on a journey with your Inner Women, as storyteller Jessica Zinchuk calls them.
To expand and bring nuance to the phases of menstruation, Jessica shares a powerful practice of working with the Face Cards of the Animal Woman Story Medicine Tarot Deck to offer wisdom for the different dimensions of the Self on the journey with the Moon and/or the Menstrual cycle.
The Face Cards or “Inner Women” As Menstrual Phases
Jessica writes in this post: “A wonderful way to build relationship with the Face Cards and Inner Women Archetypes is by learning from them as you cycle with your blood and/or the moon. I personally don’t resonate with visualizing my menstrual cycle as inner seasons happening to me. Instead I feel as if my cycle is ALWAYS inviting, calling me in deeper, to sit with the council of Wise Women within.
Getting to know them is powerful, as to call on their energies whenever I need help! Think of these phases as a time to gather wisdom from each of your Inner Women, in turn learning about the Face Cards through your own lived cyclical experience!”
This practice can be done with any Tarot deck, but I find that the Animal Woman cards are particularly attuned to doing this wheel work.
INVITATION AND PRACTICE WITH YOUR CYCLE
Create space to reflect on the previous moon cycle or menstrual cycle
Tune-in to the energy that you were experiencing at each phase and notice how the overall story of your cycle unfolded. This can help you hone in and create a personalized way of learning from your wheel of Inner Women
Choose a face card that relates to the energy of the suit, element, and storylines that your were sitting with for each phase
Note: If you menstruate, there is not a “right” phase to bleed or ovulate on. Your cycle is unique to you! The days listed below are approximations, as the length of menstrual cycles can vary.
The Grandmother Time
Grandmother Face Cards
Where was your energy focused during your last bleed on or the previous new moon?
(King Card in Tarot)
Direction of the North
Sacred Pause and Menstruation +/- days 1-6
Inner Winter
Dark of the Moon, New Moon
The Daughter Time
Daughter Face Cards
Which Daughter energy were you experiencing with during waxing phase of the moon and/or the week after menstruation?
(Paige Card in Tarot)
Follicular Phase +/- days 7-11
Direction of the East
Inner Spring
Waxing Moon, First Quarter
The Young Mother Time
Young Mother Face Cards
Which Young Mother wanted to express herself through you during ovulation or around the full moon?
(Knight Card in Tarot)
Ovulation +/- days 12-17
Direction of the South
Inner Summer
Full Moon
The Goddess Mother Time
Goddess Mother Face Cards
Which Goddess Mother were you sitting with as the cycle began to wane?
(Queen Card in Tarot)
Pre-menstrual Luteal Phase +/- days 18-28+
Direction of the West
Inner Fall
Waning Moon, Last Quarter
NEXT STEPS
Create a wheel based on the journey of these four Inner Women
Listen to what each of the Inner Women have to say and bring their wisdom with you into the next cycle
Sit with this wheel as you journal, draw, dance, and sing the messages to life!
GO DEEPER
Learn more about the suits of Swords, Cups, Pentacles, and Wands from the videos on “The Woman Who Was A Song” video series on Jessica Z’s YouTube channel.
Listen to the Between the Moon Conversation with Jessica Zinchuk about Great Mother’s Time and Knowing Your Worth where she talks about the connection of the cards and the phases.
Watch the release video of Jessica’s most recent deck: Animal Woman Tarot
Connect with Jessica online:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestorymedicine
Website: www.thestorymedicine.com