Ever noticed that from one day to the next, you can feel completely different? Yesterday, you were creative and flowing. Yet today, you’re analytical and focused. Sound familiar? Well, you’re certainly not imagining it. As we move through our cycle from day to day, we’re also moving through our inner cyclical seasonal shifts, and the archetypes that correspond with each of these seasons. Every menstruator carries within themselves the essence of four powerful archetypes. These archetypes are not just ones that we shift through as we age, they also arise within our menstrual cycle.
Understanding the Archetypal Framework
The concept of menstrual cycle archetypes stems from Carl Jung’s pioneering work in analytical psychology, where he identified recurring patterns in the human psyche. Carl Jung originally defined four definite archetypes: persona, anima and animus, the shadow, and the self. Yet, he also maintained that there’s no definitive number of archetypes in existence, as these symbolic patterns evolve and adapt. 
Building on Jung’s framework, modern interpretations have expanded archetypal theory to encompass specific expressions, including those related to the menstrual cycle. These approaches reflect the emotional, psychological, and energetic shifts that occur throughout different phases. The work of Jane Hardwicke Collings is a powerful example of that. She explains that a woman’s life is divided into four phases:
- Maiden: 0-25 years old
- Mother: 25-50 years old
- Maga: 50-75 years old
- Crone: 75+ years old
These four primary life archetypes represent distinct energetic phases that every woman experiences, both across her lifetime and within each menstrual cycle. Unlike rigid categories, they’re fluid states that we move through naturally, each bringing its own wisdom, challenges, and gifts. Western medicine have even recently grouped the menstrual cycle in with body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure as the “fifth vital sign,” highlighting the importance of understanding our cyclical nature. When we align with these natural rhythms rather than fighting them, we can optimise our energy, creativity, and well-being.
The Maiden: Spring Energy & Menarche
Life Season: Birth to childbirth Menstrual Phase: Menstruation Element: Earth and renewal The Maiden archetype embodies fresh beginnings, curiosity, and untapped potential. In the grand arc of life, this phase spans from birth through to roughly the age of 25, unless childbirth arrives sooner. Within the menstrual cycle, the Maiden energy emerges during menstruation itself, a time of release, renewal, and preparation for what’s to come. This life season is characterised by learning, exploring, and discovering who you are outside of traditional roles. The Maiden experiences first love, career exploration, travel, education, and the freedom to prioritise personal growth. Whether she becomes a biological mother or channels her creative energy elsewhere, this phase is about gathering experiences and wisdom. During menstruation phase of the menstrual cycle, you return to this Maiden energy, letting go of what didn’t serve. It allows emotions to flow freely and creates space for new possibilities. Many menstruators notice increased sensitivity during their menstrual phase, often accompanied by heightened intuition and creative insights. The Maiden’s gift lies in her ability to see things with fresh eyes, unencumbered by the weight of responsibility that comes with the Mother phase. This is prime time for dreaming, visioning, and connecting with your deepest desires before they become complicated by the practical realities of raising children or managing a household.
The Mother: Summer Energy & Fertility
Life Season: Motherhood Menstrual Phase: Menstruation through to Pre Ovulation Element: Fire and growth The Mother archetype represents creation, nurturing, and dynamic action. This life season spans from the transformative experience of childbirth through to menopause. It typically encompasses two to three decades of a woman’s life. In the menstrual cycle, Mother energy corresponds with the follicular phase, when oestrogen rises and energy begins building towards ovulation. During this life phase, women often juggle multiple roles; mother, partner, professional, and community member. More than just biological motherhood, the Mother archetype encompasses any form of creation and nurturing, whether that involves raising children, building a career, supporting family members, or contributing to community initiatives. The Mother is the part of you that takes ideas from the Maiden phase and gives them form in the physical world. She’s practical, resourceful, and incredibly capable of managing complexity. This is often when women develop their strongest organisational skills, learning to prioritise and multitask out of necessity. During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, you return to this Mother energy, feeling optimistic, clear-thinking, and ready to tackle new challenges. This is when many women feel most social and collaborative, ready to plant seeds for future growth. The Mother energy thrives on fullness, productivity and forward momentum. The Apple Women’s Health Study, a collaboration between Apple, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is deepening our understanding of how the menstrual cycle influences overall health. One key takeaway from the study is the connection between menstrual health and broader physiological and gynecological conditions, reinforcing the idea that working with these natural cycles can lead to improved health outcomes. This aligns with the Mother archetype within the menstrual cycle, a phase associated with nurturing, creation, and action. Just as the Mother archetype represents a time of growth and stability, this phase in the cycle is ideal for initiating new projects, engaging in meaningful conversations, and taking decisive steps toward personal and professional goals.
The Maga: Autumn Energy & Menopause
Life Season: Mother to Menopause and beyond Menstrual Phase: Post Ovulation through to mid Luteal Phase Element: Fire and radiance The Maga archetype embodies magnetism, confidence, and creative expression at its peak. This life season transitions from mother into peri menopause into menopause and beyond, usually spanning from fifties through to the late-sixties – seventies. The term “Maga” comes from the root meaning “magician” or “wise woman”, she who has mastered her craft and now wields her power with intention. Within the menstrual cycle, the Maga corresponds with the early to mid luteal phase. This archetype was developed by Jane Hardwicke Collings, a midwife, educator, and founder of the School of Shamanic Womancraft. And a dear guest teacher for our courses at Cyclical School. Her work focuses on women’s health, rites of passage, and the wisdom of life cycles, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with natural rhythms. The Maga represents a woman who has moved beyond the intense caregiving demands of the Mother phase and now focuses on her own creative expression and personal power. According to Jane, the Maga has raised her children and/or established her career, and now has the freedom to pursue what truly matters to her. She’s no longer bound by societal expectations of who she should be. Think carefree responsibility. During this life phase, many women experience a surge of creative energy and confidence. Free from the monthly hormonal fluctuations and cycles of fertility, the Maga can channel her life force into artistic pursuits, mentorship, travel, or new career directions. She’s magnetic because she’s authentically herself, no longer performing roles but living from her truth. Post ovulation in your monthly cycle, you tap into this Maga energy, experiencing heightened confidence, improved communication skills, and magnetic presence. This is the phase when you’re most likely to take calculated risks, put yourself forward for opportunities, and express your authentic self without apology. The Maga phase is perfect for presentations, negotiations, creative projects, and stepping into leadership roles. She reminds us that owning our power and expressing our desires isn’t selfish, but an essential for living fully and inspiring others to do the same.
The Crone: Winter Energy & Luteal Phase
Life Season: 75 years + Menstrual Phase: Mid Luteal Phase through to next Menstruation Element: Air and transformation The Crone archetype represents integration, discernment, and deep knowing. This life phase begins with retirement and continues through to death, though women can access Crone energy much earlier through life experiences and spiritual development. In the menstrual cycle, it corresponds with the latter part of the luteal phase, when progesterone peaks and then drops before menstruation. The Crone has lived through all the previous archetypes and emerged with hard-won wisdom. She has moved beyond the need for external validation and is now focused purely on authenticity and truth. This archetype doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations or uncomfortable truths. She’s learned that speaking up serves everyone better than staying silent. During this life season, the Crone often becomes the family and community elder, sharing wisdom gained through decades of experience. She may face physical challenges, but possesses emotional and spiritual strength that comes only through living fully. The Crone understands mortality in a way that brings clarity about what truly matters. During the premenstrual phase of your monthly cycle, many women experience what’s often dismissed as “PMS irritability,” but the Crone reframes this as heightened discernment. This is when you’re least tolerant of what isn’t working in your life, not as a character flaw, but as inner wisdom guiding you. The Crone phase, both in life and our menstrual cycles, is ideal for evaluation, boundary-setting, and strategic planning. This is when you naturally want to declutter, both physically and emotionally, releasing what no longer serves your highest good. The Crone’s gift is her ability to see through illusions and speak truth with compassion.
Integrating the Archetypes for Optimal Living
Think of the archetypes as supportive guides on your journey, not definitions of who you are or should be. Instead, it’s about recognising the natural ebb and flow of your energy and learning to work with it rather than against it. The key to integration lies in honouring each phase without trying to force yourself into constant productivity.
- When you’re in your Maiden phase, resist the urge to push through fatigue.
- During your Mother phase, channel that natural energy into meaningful projects.
- Let your Maga shine without dimming her light for others’ comfort.
- Trust your Crone’s discernment even when it makes others uncomfortable.
Each archetype offers gifts that the others cannot provide. The Maiden brings fresh perspective and dreams, the Mother provides nurturing strength and practical action, the Maga offers magnetic confidence and creative power, and the Crone delivers wisdom and truth. When you stop pushing against your natural rhythms and start flowing with them, life becomes easier and effective.
Conclusion
The journey through the four menstrual cycle archetypes; Maiden, Mother, Maga, and Crone, offers a powerful framework for understanding yourself across both life seasons and menstrual cycles. Rather than viewing changes in your energy, mood, and capabilities as inconsistencies to overcome, these archetypes invite you to see them as natural rhythms to honour and harness. Each phase brings its unique gifts and challenges, and each deserves respect and attention. The beauty of this system lies in its fluidity. You’re not locked into any single archetype, you’re invited to dance with all four, allowing their wisdom to guide you through the magnificent complexity of being a woman in all her seasonal glory.
