(inner) winter - Spiez, Berner Oberland

“My cycle has become more consistent latey - now 33 days instead of the unpredictable 50-day gaps I used to have. The bleeding is heavier but steady, as if my body has found its rhythm.

The last winter phase came while I was in Chamonix. A phase that once felt uncomfortable, this time, I expected it, and felt fearless. I climbed, I bled, and for the first time, I truly noticed it. "I’m a woman, but I’m still able to do things."

Since moving to Spiez from Bern in May 2024, something has shifted. Maybe it’s the comfort of my new home, a feeling of stability, that has aligned my body. I see menstruation now like paragliding, a moment of preparation, launching, and starting again.

A quiet replenishment from the inside, building courage for what’s next.

It wasn’t always like this. My cycle used to be erratic, sometimes months without a period. In autumn and winter, my body warned me before the first drop - sore breasts, stomach pain, mood swings, irritability. Some relief would come with the bleed, but also confusion. Was it really happening? Too light, too heavy, or unpredictable?

Now, when I bleed, I feel a sense of relief - a reassurance that things are still working as they should. It has become a cycle of letting go and starting again. A quiet power in the background, always guiding me forward.”