Welcome to The Periodical 💖
The Periodical is about having periods, but it's also about having a life. Here you'll find musings on creativity & cyclical living plus a community of like-minded humans. By women's coach, author & menstrual cycle awareness educator, Claire Baker.
Hi, I’m Claire 👋
I’ve been writing on the internet since 2012. Earlier, if you count MySpace, but let’s not go there. I’m the author of 50 Things You Need To Know About Periods: Know Your Flow & Live in Sync With Your Cycle and the best-selling eBook #AdoreYourCycle. I’m also the founder and lead teacher at Cycle Coach School, a training provider for folks who want to share menstrual cycle awareness with their clients and communities.
I come alive when I get to share the life-changing secrets of the menstrual cycle with people. Spoiler: your period is far more powerful than you realise.
I also come alive when I put pen-to-paper (or fingertips to the keyboard) and share my thoughts, feels, insights and stories with you. This Substack is the latest home for my words.
Here you’ll find:
💖 Fresh articles: I write about cyclical living, menstrual cycles, creativity, spirituality, sexuality, business and the self-employed life, personal growth, neurodiversity, relationships… and other stuff too.
💖 Lists of things I’m loving: books, podcasts, articles, ideas and people I’m feeling inspired by and think you’ll love to know about. This is a much-loved feature! Who doesn’t love a good rec?
💖 Venus Calls: live group 60-minute calls on the first Friday of the month to learn and chat about a chosen topic, write, journal your cycle, and connect with me and our gorgeous community.
💖 Community: One of the reasons I moved to Substack is the COMMENT SECTION. Pinch me, is it 2014 again!? Time to make friends in the comments, honeys. Don’t be shy — we’re all absolutely lovely around here.
Why join the paid community?
I’ll *always* provide some articles for free, but a good chunk of these offerings are for paid community members only. For $5 a month (or $45 for the full year) you’ll gain full access to The Periodical’s archived posts, receive new writing and recommendations in your inbox, join us for our monthly Venus Calls, as well as access giveaways, meet-ups, and more.
Honestly, my desire to spend time on social media has been declining for years now. I don’t really want to be there so much anymore. This is where I am focusing my time and energy. It feels good to read and write long-form again, to connect with more authenticity (and less censorship), and step away from the scroll. It’s really nice here. Come join us.
Some more about me:
I’m an introverted Virgo who loves a hot bath, a good book, sauna, sequins, rose scented anything, new stationery, vintage clothes and excellent chocolate.
Growing up in regional Australia instilled a deep reverence in me for nature, sunshine and community. And though the U.K. has been home for nearly a decade, I’m back on Aussie soil to see if this is where the next chapter of life will play out.
In past lifetimes I suspect I could’ve been a playwright, a midwife, a witch, a magazine editor, a photographer, an academic, a dance teacher, a lingerie maker, a tarot reader...
I thrive being self-employed and am a true creative at heart. Heart-led businesses for the win!
I’m currently learning more about neurodiversity (my own, as well as how to support ND clients as a coach) and it’s illuminating a lot about why I think, feel, live, love and work the way I do.
If I had to choose, I’d say cycle days 3 and 17 are my favourite days in my menstrual cycle! Day 26 less so…
— Find my website here.
— Find me on Instagram here.
— Find my book here.
I’m looking forward to getting to know you! Come say hi in the comments.
Big love!
Media bio:
Claire Baker is a sought-after coach, speaker and author of ‘50 Things You Need To Know About Periods’. For nearly a decade Claire has taught thousands of women how to live in harmony with their menstrual cycle, rather than working against it. Claire believes menstrual cycle awareness is the missing key in women’s wellbeing, empowerment and creativity, and her immersive online courses and workshops inspire women to know their flow and become the authority in their own lives. Claire’s online program Adore Your Cycle has students in over 35 countries.
With a background in visual arts and creative business, Claire is a certified health and life coach, has studied Menstruality Leadership and is a trained natural fertility teacher. In 2019 she founded Cycle Coach School, a facilitator training for professionals desiring to incorporate menstrual cycle awareness into their own practice. Known for her authentic voice and ability to ‘make periods fun’, Claire is regularly featured in publications such as Red, Glamour, and Women’s Health magazine. Originally from Australia, Claire now lives in sunny East London and spends her days coaching, teaching, writing, dancing and being as close to trees as she possibly can. Take Claire’s free cycle class Start to Chart and say hello on Instagram.
