The Three Biorhythmic Cycles
The Emotional Cycle is a 28-day cycle, divided into two 14-day periods that influence our emotional states -- feelings of love and hate, passion and indifference and depression and elation. During high or peak periods, we will tend to be more creative and positive and open to social and relationship interactions and communications. In the low cycles, there will be a tendency to be withdrawn, easily irritated and more negative toward things in life.
The 23-day Physical Cycle affects our energy level, strength and endurance. During the peak phase (11 1/2 days), we will feel more fit and be better suited for tackling tasks that require physical endurance and resistance. Whereas a low phase is better for resting because our energy won't be as vitalized.
The Intellectual Cycle lasts days 33 days and influences our memory, mental alertness, reasoning faculties and speed of learning. A high phase (16 1/2 days) is considered a time when we are the most intellectually responsive and open to grasping and accepting new ideas, theories and concepts. We will have more difficulty doing this in a low phase.
The Critical Periods
Your individual cycles will cross the 0 line as they follow the ascending and descending motions of their cycle. These periods are considered critical days for you as the energies are considered unpredictable and the conditions will not be favorable.
Interpreting Your Biorhythm
Checking your biorhythm daily helps to keep you up-to-date on the state of these three cycles, which fluctuate at different rates over the course of your lifetime. During each cycle's high or ascending phases, your capacities are running at their strongest. Such periods are ideal for action, new undertakings, and taking risks. Low or descending phases are said to reflect a passive period and indicate that you should slow down and be more reasonable in your expectations of your energy and undertakings.
Naturally, our activities and commitments will not always correspond to our biorhythm, so it is best to take this information in stride rather than consider it something that is set in stone. For example, there is no need to cancel an engagement just because one of our cycles is in a low period. We should keep our appointment, but realize that our particular faculties will not be at their strongest, and as a consequence, we should proceed accordingly, meaning more conservatively or by taking less chances.
How Biorhythms Came About
The theory behind biorhythms originated at the turn of the 20th century as a result of the clinical and observational work of three men, Wilhem Fliess, Alfred Teltscher and Hermann Swoboda. While carrying out their own scholarly research and professional interests in human psychology, they discovered that human beings experienced regular cycles of highs and lows in their thinking and feeling processes and physiological health. Over the course of their research, they were able to track and determine the duration and frequency of each cycle.
These theories eventually evolved into the speculative science called biorhythmics. International companies, in particular railroads and airlines, have used biorhythms in the workplace to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of their employees. However, they can also be useful to individuals.
