Menopause

"Menopause- The Initiatory Journey"

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We are like caterpillars in the cocoon, turning into “mush”, before emerging into our new wise selves.

We want to give it the space it deserves and come together with women at this stage of their life to connect, share and be witnessed.

 

We will work with embodiment, play, personal story and inquiry, paying attention to our needs and nervous system regulation.

 

Themes we will explore:

• Taking care of ourselves

• Elements of transformation

• Change and the unknown

• Embracing our gifts and power

• Relating to symptoms

• Other aspects arising from our experience 

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Menopause - The New Story 

Campaign by Stories for Change funded by Rosa in 2023

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We wish to normalise and re-frame this important life transition: as a time of initiation and maturation for women, requiring care and attention. It is a critical window for health, during which we need more rest and attention to our well-being. Resourcing and reducing stress levels is crucial at this time, as our adrenals need to work extra hard.

 

There are also many mental/emotional changes, that are all part of this body-mind transformation. If we support them, we will emerge with new capacities, like that of our brain hemispheres working together in a balanced way.

 

Agata and Rooh, who are delivering the project, believe that the world at this point is desperate for the wisdom of menopausal women. Luckily there are more of them on the planet now than ever before.

 

From reading books (list below) by wise menopausal women , talking to many of them and observing ourselves we’ve gathered that: 

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• It’s a life review time, to prioritise and let go

• You need more rest and nurturing and less stress

• It’s the time when all that is unhealed comes to the surface

• You might crave time alone

 

You might find yourself less tolerant and less accommodating  

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It’s the time to bring self-compassion and cut down on expectations

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It is a journey and you will emerge 

  

There is no “right way” to do it 

 

It’s helpful to connect with other women 

 

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR BODY DURING THIS TRANSITION

 

1. BALANCE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR

2. SUPPORT YOUR LIVER

3. COOL INFLAMMATION AND GET ALKALINE

4. NURTURE HEALTHY GUT AND MICROBIOME

5. FIND A MOVEMENT PRACTICE RIGHT FOR YOU

6. SOOTHE YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM

7. NURTURE A HEALTHY CIRCADIAN RHYTHM (DAY AND NIGHT CYCLE)

8. REST, RELAX AND RESTORE

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SUPPORT YOUR INNER LIFE

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This helps wellbeing of the mind-body-spirit continuum. If needs are met here, you will feel less stressed, more rested and more supported – which makes everything easier.

 

Cocoon time, rest

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Saying NO, Putting your own needs first

 

Delegating, Asking for help

 

Letting go of perfection, lowering standards

 

Nature connection

 

Body work/massage

 

Expression – dance, music, art, poetry, singing etc.

 

Sharing – sister circles & listening  partnerships

 

Ceremony, spiritual practice

 

Soothe your nervous system 

 

Losing oestrogen and progesterone is destabilising for the brain and nervous system. It needs extra resilience. Recovery occurs in the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for rest, sleep, digestion and healing).

 

Role of the vagus nerve- trauma resolution exercises (Irene Lyon on youtube)

 

Calm by sending signals of safety.

 

Soothing activities:

• being in nature

• co-regulation (friends, pets)

• slow breathing with longer exhale

• yoga, attuned movement, meditation

• self parenting

• self touch, tapping, squeezing, EFT

• returning to our senses-direct experience 

 

BOOKS

 

“Hormone Repair Manual – every woman’s guide to healthy hormones after 40” by Lara Briden ND.

 

This is a very good book on what happens in the body and how to support optimum health, as well as discussing many symptoms and treatments. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you need to now how to support health, to lay good foundations for the rest of your life. Naturopath approach, and she covers both hormone therapy and alternatives.

 

“Second Spring-The self-care guide to menopause”- Kate Codrington

 

“Wise Power: Discover the Liberating Power of Menopause to Awaken Authority, Purpose and Belonging” - Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer 

 

“New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way” by Susun S Weed.  Super useful book for herbal support, goes through many symptoms and has a positive ‘menopause as empowerment’ framework.

 

“The Wisdom of Menopause – creating physical and emotional health through the change” by Christianne Northrup, MD – a huge bible of health from a medical doctor turned alternative expert, so straddling both worlds.

 

“Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life” by Sharon Blackie- Rich with the combination of myth, landscape and eco-feminism. 

 

‘Goddesses in Older Women’ by Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD 

‘Me and my menopausal vagina’ by Jane Lewis[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]Websites:

 

Red  School, Alexandra Pope: https://redschoolonline.net/ 

Lara Briden https://www.larabriden.com/ 

Magdalena Wszelaki – https://hormonesbalance.com/ 

The Menopause Charity - https://www.themenopausecharity.org/ 

My Menopause Doctor / Newsome Health Clinic -  https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/ 

 

Menopause Matters, an independent magazine sharing info and options: http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/ 

Daisy Network -For women experiencing premature menopause: https://www.daisynetwork.org/ 

The British Menopause Society: www.thebms.org.uk 

Menopause Cafe: www.menopausecafe.net 

Rock My menopause: https://rockmymenopause.com/ 

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Participants share:

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What did I receive from this work? 

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This work - though it felt more like play a lot of the time - was a total sigh of relief. It gave me permission to go to the places which we calling out to be known and witnessed, but were waiting for the right container, one which was strong and inclusive enough. The invitation to include really all aspects of myself, including the ones which have been socialised out of me, ones which felt ugly, awkward or shameful, has helped me to access new layers of nourishment and self care, better able to hold space and support others too, because I am more able to be myself - or able to be more of myself. The atmosphere of deep nourishment and warmth of a group of women in their element will stay with me for a long time. This has been my first moment of turning toward the menopause consciously, so a true initiation, and has totally changed my sense of what it is to be a woman and to age, mature. I face menopause with so much more curiosity and self care than before. 

 

Why fund this work? 

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This work is a direct line to nourishing the archetypal feminine, which the world needs more than ever in these times! The radical combination of holistic play, gentle and brutal honesty, and full-bodied nurture brings the mature woman into focus as the shining light she is, raising her up from the too often repeating story of feminine burnout.