OK, so I’ve realized that the whole menopause thing is carrying alot of energy for myself and my friends, neighbours, current clients and peers! In the past week, three women have said that they would love to have a coach to support them through their menopause and/or that they wish there was someone to talk with about their menopause in a way that is about more than symptoms! We are all saying that there is not enough significance given to this very powerful and significant time in women’s lives.
I have re-engaged with my health care background through my favourite reference books and am re-reading “The Wisdom of Menopause” by Christiane Northrup, MD and the section of menopause in “Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” by Tori Hudson, ND. Both of these books are hugely helpful from the perspective of the physical changes and symptoms and Christiane Northrup also talks about the emotional and psychological changes but I are yearning for more about the potential spiritual gateway that this transition time may bring. I am also yearning for and the other women are saying, they are yearning for an opportunity to talk with other women and hear their menopause stories. I am reminded of the short article by Barbara Marx Hubbard where she coins the word “regenopause” and speaks about the sexual changes that menopause can bring.
In the midst of all this pondering and reading, I am wearing layers, easy for stripping off in a hotflash and adding back on with the chills. I am going through a cycle of not sleeping well, waking up totally charged at about 3:26 am (by our digital clock) and noticing that at this time of day it is easy to start “catastrophizing and worrying”. Even with my meditation and breathe work, it is difficult to calm myself and fall back asleep. For some interesting reason, the visualization that helps is to imagine myself being rocked to sleep on a boat. Hmmm, boat, water, rocked, safe, calm, am I wanting to return to the womb at the same time as my womb is going through alot of changes!
Wow!
namaste,
Zoey, life and business coach for (menopausal?!?) women