Issue 17 - InJoy Magazine

health& wellbeing • • • •IntegrateCosmic Cycles of Conceptionby Eeka BerghoferThe Discovery of the Lunar CycleThe lunar cycle was discovered (or re-discovered)by Dr Eugen Jonas in the 1950’s in Czechoslovakia.He was a practicing psychiatrist and a Catholicwith an interest in astrology. It was this exactcombination of interests that fuelled his discovery.He started to wonder about what seemed to be acyclical emotional problem afflicting some of hismore high-strung female patients, an edginessthat did not seem to follow the recognised patternof pre-menstrual tensions. With the pill still in theexperimental stages and the recent legalisationof abortion he began to get concerned aboutthe emotional trauma that these practices mightreflect in his patients.Jonas pondered how the creation of a new humanbeing could just be a matter of chance and foundsolace in the astrological dictum ‘as above, sobelow’. In a library of very old astrology books,Jonas discovered an Assyrian-Babylonian claim,‘Woman is fertile during a certain phase of themoon’.After spending a long time researching, testing, re-working, andfinally verifying, he formulated 3 rules;1. The time of a woman’s fertility depends on the recurrence of thelunar phase cycle2. The sex of the child depends on the position of the moon atconception3. Certain configurations of the nearer celestial bodies at the time ofconception can affect the viability of the embryo.The aspect of Jonas’s work which has received most attentionworldwide and been tested most thoroughly is Rule 1 and it’s stillused for natural contraception and conception methods.It is with great luck that I first became aware of the lunar phase fertilitycycle whilst studying astrology when I was 18. I totally disregardedthe application of this form of natural birth control then until someyears later when I met a woman whilst studying acupuncture, a fellowstudent (also a gynecologist and obstetrician) who had an extremelysuccessful career helping seemingly infertile women conceive via theJonas’s method of fertility. She introduced me to Francesca Naish’sbook ‘Natural Fertility- the complete guide to avoiding or achievingpregnancy’.It was just the extra nudge I needed from the universe tostep into the connection with my fertility as I was at the beginning ofa new relationship. For 5 years my partner and I successfully used theJonas’s system of natural contraception until the time we were readyto consciously conceive our first child and we conceived that veryfirst moment.Evidence & Effectiveness . . .Jonas was amazed by the patterns he uncovered. For 2 years hecollected further data to investigate lunar phase fertility cycle. Aswell as receiving much support he was also met with a great dealof opposition; the unconventional nature of his ideas touched a fewraw nerves.In 1958, Dr Kurt Rechnitz, a professor of gynecology inBudapest, tested the combination of abstinence at the lunar phasereturn with the rhythm method and verified Jonas’s findings. Thenormal success rate of the rhythm method (between 30 and 85percent) jumped to approximately 98 percent.The benefits of woman being aware of her lunar phase fertiletime and being able to assess her mid-cycle fertility is immeasurableand allows her a natural and free method (once this birth controlsystem is established) that results in people having children whenthey are wanted.Eeka is an Acupuncturist at Bayside Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Clinic. She also does Natural Fertility consultationsand prepares Lunation Phase Fertility Calendars. To request an appointment please phone 02 66 851088“I am passionate about practising Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to assist women towards vital health,fertility, conception, radiant pregnancy and a natural and harmonious birth.” Eeka14 Park Street Brunswick Heads02 66851088www.baysideacupuncture.comDavid King7injoyAcupuncture • Chinese Medicine • HerbsMassage • Spiritual Healing & CounsellingEeka Berghofer