A year of slow, sustainable healing — New Moon in capricorn
I’ve been deep in hibernation and solitude since December - living slowly, tending to steady habits, caring for myself like a tender little baby, and spending time with family. And while all of that has been deeply nourishing, I can feel restlessness stirring. That quiet sense of the holidays are over, it’s a new year, it’s time to move forward. I’m also super excited for Year of the Fire Horse after the intense Year of the Snake - momentum is calling!
I’ve been loving these small bursts of energy and creativity that have been coming online - something I attribute to consistent self-care and being deeply attuned to my body and its rhythms. I feel renewed. Which brings me here, back to my journal, returning with a new cadence.
This year, I’ll be sharing “moonly” writings - released with each new and full moon - where I’ll be musing on all the things: nourishment for hormones and metabolic health, menstrual cycle wisdom, nervous system regulation, and healing insights, all woven together through the lens of the moon phase and the season I’m in at the time of writing.
So, with that said…
Welcome to 2026, and happy first new moon of the Gregorian calendar year.
We’re beginning the year with a New Moon in Capricorn, reminding us that meaningful change is not rushed, it’s cultivated through steady, intentional choices over time. As we turn our calendars and set intentions for the year ahead, I’ve found myself reflecting on the past 365 days.
One year ago, I was not thriving - physically, mentally, or emotionally. It felt as though my body was rejecting everything. I was coming off five years of being vegetarian, craving physical strength and grounding, and began reintroducing animal protein and dairy. My body did not receive it gently. Nearly everything I ate caused extreme bloating and painful gas. At the same time, I developed a UTI and a yeast infection. My hair was falling out in clumps. My skin was breaking out for the first time since puberty. I was thin, weak, crying often, and felt profoundly unstable.
I felt hopeless, like everything I tried wasn’t actually helping me heal. And even when I experienced brief moments of relief, they never lasted. This was about nine months after coming off the pill and roughly eight cycles in, so I assumed my hormones were still finding their footing. And they were, and still are.
Fast forward one year later, and I’m feeling the best I’ve felt in a long time.
I’m writing this on day four of my bleed, celebrating the most regulated cycle I’ve experienced since coming off hormonal birth control. I can now predict, to the day, when my period will begin - something that felt impossible a year ago. This cycle, I woke in the middle of the night on day one with some intestinal cramping, which has historically been my main menstrual symptom. And that was it. Truly, woohoo!
Cramping is commonly driven by an increase in prostaglandins, hormone-like compounds involved in uterine contractions. While this is normal physiology, pain is not a requirement. What if I told you that your period doesn’t actually have to hurt? That symptom-free menstruation is not rare or magical, but physiologically normal?
Painful periods have been normalized because we live in a world where estrogen dominance is common, stress hormones run chronically high, blood sugar instability is widespread, thyroid function is often suppressed, gut inflammation is rampant, and modern diets skew heavily toward inflammatory fats. Dysregulation may be common, but it is not normal.
The more I’ve learned to be in relationship with my body, rather than constantly trying to fix it, the more clearly I can understand the language it’s speaking. I’ve learned to attune to her messages and anticipate her needs. I can feel the subtle hormonal shifts throughout my cycle. I know when my period is approaching. I can sense when something was out of alignment earlier in my cycle and is now showing up during menstruation.
Living in rhythm with my body has been profoundly rewarding, offering me a deeper sense of self that I didn’t have a year ago. This is your reminder that healing takes time.
If you’re struggling with your health - physical, mental, emotional, or otherwise - be gentle with yourself. Slow down. Talk to your body. Ask her what she needs. Remind her she is safe, beautiful, and healing. Give yourself the time and patience required to truly arrive in your wellness.
If you’d like support along the way, I’m here to serve you.
Let’s connect over a free 30-minute call.
“Slowing down and lowering the volume of your life is the way to begin hearing what your physiology and emotions are trying to say, to attend to their needs, and to dream yourself into the future you long for.”
WHAT NOURISHMENT LOOKS LIKE FOR ME THIS SEASON
Part of rebuilding trust with my body has been learning how to nourish her in ways that feel supportive, grounding, and easy to receive, especially during winter.
I’ve been loving stewed apples, carrots, potatoes, and beets. These foods have been gentle on my digestion while still providing the carbohydrates and fiber my body needs to feel safe and steady. There’s something incredibly regulating about choosing foods that don’t ask your system to work overtime.
My morning ritual includes sipping dandelion root tea, which supports the liver and keeps detox pathways moving - something I’ve found especially helpful as my hormones continue to recalibrate and my body processes old stagnation.
And I’ve been leaning into seasonal fruits, like citrus and pomegranate - juicy sources of vitamin C and antioxidants that feel like little bursts of life during these darker months. They’ve been a reminder that nourishment doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.
If you’d like support learning how to nourish your body in rhythm with your cycle and the seasons, I’d love to walk alongside you. Let’s get on a call.