WiseWomanhood School

Supporting Women - Body, Mind, & Soul

Menopausal Change

Becoming a True Elder

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I’ve been studying shamanic practice with Paul Francis, of the UK. He teaches that the basis of shamanism is animism. Our Hunter-Gatherer forefathers & mothers lived in this kind of culture. They lived harmoniously within their human tribe and with the larger community of non-humans – Animal, Plant, and Stone Peoples. They understood all the Peoples are soulful and worthy of respect. They knew there was a Spirit World, unseen unless in a Shamanic State of Consciousness, during a shamanic journey or in a state straddling both the physical world and the Spirit World.

In this animist world, children were initiated into adulthood, signaling that they’d become a True Adult. They were shocked into giving up their childish self centeredness and into connecting more fully to the whole web of life – human & non-human. Using their talents for the good of the whole. That was the makings of a True Human Adult.

I hope to grow into that – and onward to be a True Elder, not just older but seeing beyond the daily world to bigger needs of the whole community and sharing that wisdom.  Paul Francis says that Shamans were Elders ahead of their time, with a foot in both the Spirit World and the physical Middle World. They tell stories to help keep the tribe on the path to being Truly Human Beings.

Luckily, Ayurveda helps us to live long and well as possible. With these supports I hope to make it to True Elderhood.

If you would like to join me on this path, join our free twice monthly Shamanic Study Groups and look into the excellent books and classes by Paul Francis at Three Ravens College. To have your own personal longevity plan, start with a zoom consultation with Terra or try some Ayurveda on-demand classes.

Deepening through Female Initiations

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You can view a woman’s life cycles as a series of initiations into a new state of being, a higher consciousness. When you look at them this way, they become more than a troublesome change. They become an opportunity for your soul to grow.

The phases that women go through are:  Menarche, Menstrual cycling, Female Orgasm, Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause and Later Menopause.  Intertwined with these is Creativity.

These stages have been correlated by the author Uma Dinsmore-Tuli with the traditional Tantric Mahavidya or Wisdom Goddesses.  Most of these Goddesses are very fierce looking, ready to shock you out of your everyday patterns into a state of newness, making them excellent for Female Initiations.

This beautiful graph is from the amazing book Yoni Shakti,by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli,PhD. It clearly illustrates the relationship of the Mahavidyas to the Female Life Cycles:

We can use the teachings of the Mahavidya to bring more awareness to Female Cycles, making them more than physical experiences which are often uncomfortable.

If you’d like to learn from my research and journeys with the Female Cycles and the Mahavidyas, as well as from other women on the journey, join my upcoming live, zoom class in February. We’ll go beyond the mind and enter into the subtle worlds to contact each Goddess for personalized teachings.

I also highly recommend the amazing book Yoni Shakti by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli  , the major inspiration for my own work to learn more and share about her great paradigm.  She delves deeply into women and yoga and also offers wonderful womb yoga techniques for each cycle of womanhood.

Learn more about the Mahavidyas and Women’s Powers class

Is This Perimenopause? Four Things to Remember

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Perimenopause is marked by changes in the menstrual cycle – more irregularity; heavier OR lighter; ovulation may skip a month or two. Typical menopausal symptoms may creep in – hot flashes, sleep problems, unpredictable PMS. It is the boundary land between the Fertile years and the Menopausal years. It can be very symptomatic or easy. The length of perimenopause varies, as well as the time of onset – but on average begins in later 40s and ends in early 50s.

Four Things to Remember

  1. If you or your client suspect it’s beginning, it pays to track your cycles to know where you are in the process. This can inform you about how to surf the changes using natural techniques.
  2. You are entering an unknown territory. You will never be the same. Just as you don’t know what the process will look like for you, you also don’t know what you’ll end up like. Did you really know what it would be like for you after adolescence when you were 13 years old?  It’s a similar process, in reverse.
  3. It is a time to evaluate and make changes in your life. How do you want to live the second half of your time on Earth?  An important time to call on your spiritual forces.
  4. Having support and information from a guide is invaluable at this time.

Learn more about it in my upcoming class:  Perimenopause – Facing and Surfing the Unknown

Or consider a private consultation with me.

About Menopause and Hot Flashes. . .

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This audio interview of Terra, hosted by Karen Spies of THE EVOLVING WOMEN PODCAST, is a brief but informative conversation about menopause.

Hear about Terra’s origins as an Ayurveda Practitioner, some facts about Menopause, and explanation about Hot Flashes and what can help.

Enjoy it Here!

If you want a WiseWomanhood class about menopause, try GRACEFUL MENOPAUSE WITH AYURVEDA or IS THIS MENOPAUSE? KNOW IT TO BETTER SURF IT

Thriving Through “the Change”

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Perimenopause, the Change, is like adolescence in reverse. And we all remember the wonder and craziness of adolescence. So don’t be surprised when you hit your late 40s and life gets more life-y for you.

It’s not written in stone that the Change be uncomfortable and mentally disorienting. By learning more about it and preparing it can be a smoother ride.

The Change is usually a gradual process – unless you have a hysterectomy. Then it comes on fast and furious. It happens when your ovaries no longer respond to hormones telling them to develop eggs so well.

Patterns of Perimenopause

Some women’s bodies respond by creating more and more hormones, stimulating more and more eggs to develop, making more and more estrogen. This sometimes means they get super periods – lots of blood and cramps may ensue. They might bleed every two weeks. Anger may ensue. A Pitta problem according to Ayurveda.

Other women have lighter and further apart periods. The ovaries are already retiring. Estrogen is already dropping. Anxiety and forgetfulness may accompany this Vata problem.

Then some women just stop bleeding. No biggie. This is more likely with Kapha women.

How Ayurveda Helps

Ayurveda can help you by balancing your Pitta, Vata, and Kapha BEFORE (best) or during the Change to allow the natural transition to happen more gracefully. Diet, herbs, and lifestyle make a big difference. And symptoms can be met with something besides artificial hormones.

After the Change, a program of rejuvenation can be instituted to keep you at your peak through the menopausal years.

Learn more about the Change and how to surf its ups and down in these WiseWomanhood classes:

Is This Menopause? Know it to Better Surf It. Perfect if you’re new to Ayurveda.

Graceful Menopause with Ayurveda First presented to the Colorado Ayurvedic Medicine Association, so some Ayurvedic understanding helps.

You might want an Initial Consultation with Terra Rafael CAP to get a personalized plan to prepare / surf your perimenopause or menopause.

Or if you’re an Ayurveda Practitioner and want to increase your knowledge about the Change time or consult about your clients – sign up for Mentoring with Terra