menopause symptoms

We’re thrilled to be welcoming mythologist and author, Dr Sharon Blackie back to the podcast today, to take another journey into the mythic imagination together.

We explore how the ancient myths of our land weave us into connection with ourselves as natural, cyclical creatures, to our place in the world, and to the wisdom of our ancestral lineage.

Many of you will have read and loved Sharon’s 2016 book, ‘If Women Rose Rooted’, and today we look at three of the ancient stories through a menstrual cycle awareness / conscious menopause lens, including; 

• What the ‘Well Maiden’ shows us about how to act as a bridge to restore the Feminine in our world, particularly by cultivating the skill of listening to the wisdom of our dreams.  
  
  
• How the wild character of ‘Mis’ can guide us to find solace in the wilderness, particularly during the phases of our cycles and lives which can be full of grief and are often misunderstood by "civilisation", like the premenstruum and menopause.
  
  
• How the story of the ‘Selkie’ can inspire us to reclaim our wildness, our authenticity and our sense of belonging.

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

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Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy
Sharon Blackie: @sharonblackiemythmakings - https://www.instagram.com/sharonblackiemythmakings

Today we’re actually replaying Dr Lara Briden's first episode with us, How to Feel Better in Perimenopause, because it’s the most popular episode we’ve ever shared, listened over 3500 times, and shared widely, and because we receive more questions about perimenopause than anything else.

In the conversation Lara demystifies this major transition that happens in our bodies in the years that lead up to menopause, when many people are left wondering if they’re going crazy, experience symptoms which can seem to come out of nowhere; including anxiety, depression, irregular cycles, insomnia, night sweats, hot flushes, migraines and more.

Lara is a naturopathic doctor and the author of The Hormone Repair Manual, Every Woman's Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40, a practical guide to navigating the change of perimenopause and relieve symptoms with natural treatments such as diet, nutritional supplements, and bioidentical hormone therapy.

We explore:

• The four phases of perimenopause and how to navigate them, including the ‘waiting room’ where your periods are very irregular, but you haven’t yet reached the 12 month pint which defines the beginning of menopause. 
  
  
• The science behind this life transition and the hormonal events that can drive symptoms like irregular / heavier cycles, sleep disturbance and hot flushes.
   
• Lara's rescue prescription for peri-menopause and how it can help you to look after your whole being, and especially your brain and nervous system - Lara assures us that there is always a way to feel better. 

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

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Social media:
Red School: @red.school (https://www.instagram.com/red.school)
Lara Briden: @larabriden (https://www.instagram.com/larabriden)

In today's episode Marianne is speaking with Amanda Lewis, a Midwife & Nurse Practitioner, and the Founder of Vivacious Women’s Wellness. Amanda’s journey has been one of transformation, from being burnt out and overworked to prioritizing self-care and stepping into the realm of women’s health service.

In this episode you will hear Marianne and Amanda talk about:

Amanda’s Journey

• Amanda shares her personal transformation story, highlighting her shift from burnout to finding purpose in serving women's health.
• Emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care and the challenges she overcame to get where she is today.

Weight Loss 

• Medication
• Daily Habits
• Selfcare

Understanding Hormones

• Discussion on when women should consider getting their hormones checked and the importance of doing so.
• Exploring the challenges women face in getting hormone tests done and practical steps to navigate this process.
• Amanda sheds light on the significance of hormone test results and the potential implications for women’s health.
• Definition and explanation of hormone replacement therapy, along with considerations for determining its suitability for individual cases.

Navigating Perimenopause/Menopause Symptoms

• Strategies for initiating conversations about perimenopause/menopause symptoms and minimizing their impact on daily life.

Sexual Health

• Addressing common issues such as exhaustion, low libido, and slow arousal in the context of sexual health.
• Amanda offers insights into potential solutions and approaches to improve sexual wellness.

Connect with Amanda:
Website - https://www.vivaciousww.com/
Website Resource Page- https://www.vivaciousww.com/resources
Libido Magazine - https://mailchi.mp/b4a5e45c98b6/d51x0c0hiw
https://www.prosayla.com

Books Amanda Mentioned:
Hormone Intelligence - https://a.co/d/8jmaVxp
The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution - https://a.co/d/gvmtDSw

Connect with Marianne:

Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne
Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/
Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne

What causes menstrual pain? Why do periods go missing? Why do we get PMS and how can we treat it naturally? What is happening in our bodies when we're on the pill? What is a good alternative to the pill?

We hear questions like these all the time from our community, and in today’s episode we’re talking with a great ally of Red School, Dr Lara Briden who answers all of these questions and more. The conversation is an amazing resource, and one that we hope you’ll share with your friends who may be experiencing challenges in these areas.

Our guest, Dr Lara Briden is the author of the Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods. She’s also the author of a second book - the Hormone Repair Manual: Every Woman’s Guide to Healthy Hormones after 40.

She has treated 1000s of women with menstrual health symptoms, and has a wealth of wisdom and experience as well as an amazing capacity to make complex health topics and challenges seem simple.

We explore:

• Why ovulation is so important, the common false narrative that the pill can regulate the cycle, and Lara’s five favourite alternative forms of contraception.
  
  
• Lara’s lifestyle and diet approaches for menstrual pain - they have supported 60-70% of her patients to relieve their pain. (And when to know if you could be dealing with endometriosis).
  
  
  
• Underlying health factors that can cause PMS, and how to make it a thing of the past through natural approaches.

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

---

The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy
Lara Briden: @larabriden (https://www.instagram.com/larabriden)

I get so many messages from women thanking me for increasing their awareness of perimenopause and I realized I've never really done an episode specifically on perimenopause. So here it is.

In this episode, I go through what every woman should know about perimenopause. I also share my own crazy journey, and how I survived it.

I hope this episode reaches you before you need it. 

x Lynn

If you’re enjoying the podcast, and would like to support my work please consider buying me a cup of coffee – link’s in the show notes! 

Start your transformation by learning how to work with your peri/post menopause body:

• Join my Strength Training Kick-Starter Programs (home or gym options) >>
• Start 1:1 coaching with me >>

Support the show: Buy Me A Coffee ☕

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Follow & chat with me on Instagram: befitafter40_withlynn/

Looking for dumbbells or a walkpad? Here are my recommendations >>

Around 20 years ago, in London, Sjanie was living her life with great abandon. Bold, confident and out there…she was invulnerable.

But she had no menstrual cycle - she had been on the contraceptive injection for seven years.

It was only when she started to have intense pain after orgasm that she suddenly sensed something was missing and that she needed to get her cycle back… and today we hear the amazing story of what happened once her cycles returned.

We also hear the full story of how the menstrual cycle also changed everything for Alexandra, including her long journey to heal debilitating menstrual pain, and the immense gifts she received along the way, by surrendering to the power of menstruation. 

We explore:

• What Sjanie’s mentor Maggie meant when she said that Sjanie was living life with her gloves on?!
  
  
• What happened when Alexandra’s partner held her through the worst of her pain, even as she was cursing the patriarchy.
  
  
• And how the intimacy with the menstrual cycle awakened a profound sense of purpose for both Alexandra & Sjanie.

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Join our Cyclical Wisdom Quest - Feb 20th - 22nd: www.redschool.net/quest

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

In this episode of Message in the Middle we are talking about an important topic that affects millions of women worldwide: menopause. Joining us is Lisa Boate, a Menopause Consultant, coach, and the host of Transforming 45 podcast. Lisa's dedication to guiding women through the challenges of midlife, particularly during the phases of empty nest and perimenopause/menopause, makes her an invaluable resource in this space.

We start by defining the basics: what exactly is menopause and perimenopause? Lisa provides clarity, setting the stage for our discussion.

Next, we delve into the symptoms. From night sweats to lesser-known symptoms like anxiety and lack of word recall, Lisa sheds light on what women experience during this transitional phase of life.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Lisa shares practical tips for minimizing these symptoms, emphasizing the importance of exercise, stress management, and quality sleep – the four pillars of well-being.

We address the myths surrounding hormone replacement therapy, debunking misconceptions and offering insight into its benefits.

We explore the importance of designing our lifestyles now for our future well-being. Lisa highlights the significance of "backwards engineering" our lives to ensure a fulfilling and healthy last decade.

And let's not forget about the workplace. As the founder of Liberated Menopause, Lisa explains why organizations should care about menopause and how they can create empowering workplaces for women.

Thank you for tuning in to Message in the Middle. Until next time, stay informed and empowered and if you would like to connect with Lisa or Marianne:

Connect with Lisa:

Connect with Marianne:

Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne
Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/
Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne

Today's episode is for you if you’re curious about how to maintain healthy boundaries when you are working to create change for a cause that you deeply care about. It’s especially for you if you self-identify as a highly sensitive person.

Many people come to cycle awareness because they are feeling burnt out from a system that pushes them beyond their natural limits. Our guest today, Dorcas Cheng-Tozen is someone who knows burnout intimately, and - luckily for us - has devoted herself to a study of how we sensitives can find our way to contribute to creating a more just and beautiful world, which doesn’t break us in the process. 

Dorcas Cheng-Tozen is an award-winning writer, editor, speaker, and communications consultant whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and today we’re diving into her brilliant new book: Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways.

We explore:

• The "Activist Ideal" and the peer pressure that exists within activist circles to be ‘on’ all the time, willing to sacrifice mind, body and soul on the altar of the cause.
   
• A wide variety of activist approaches and roles for sensitive, introverted empaths; including research, art as activism, record-keepers, builders, and what Dorcas calls relational activism.
  
  
• The ‘seasons of activism’ and how to find your own natural ebb and flow as you work to increase the love, compassion and justice in the world. 

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

---

The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy
Dorcas Cheng-Tozen: @chengtozen - https://www.instagram.com/chengtozun/

From finding oneself again through perimenopause, to helping to move through depression, to transforming communication with loved ones, today we’re exploring real life stories of how menstrual cycle awareness has changed the lives of our listeners.

We explore:

• How discovering cycle awareness supported Melanie to move through a bout of severe depression to a sense of deep alignment with her true self.
  
  
• Erin’s journey from feeling lost in perimenopause to returning home to herself, making sense of the process and finding grounded clarity.
  
  
• How cycle awareness has brought Rebecca back into a sense of belonging to the earth, and it was such a life-changing realization (and a gift) that she’s made it her life's work.

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

---

The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

It walks us home to our own natural rhythms. It keeps us close to what truly matters to us. It’s a innate self esteem builder. It even prepares us for menopause…

Menstrual (and lunar) cycle awareness are a huge game-changer, and powerful spiritual practices for our wild times. But the truth is that most of us live in cultures that value productivity over rest and profit over health - so we all need inspiration to stay committed to our personal cyclical rebellion.

That’s why today’s Menstruality Podcast episode is devoted to all the ways that menstrual cycle awareness can transform our lives. (And ok, we may not have quite reached 100, but we easily could have given a couple more hours!)

We explore:

• How cycle awareness helps us to pace our our bodies, energies and unique nervous systems, rather than allowing the culture around us to dictate who we have to be.
  
  
• When we lean into our own cyclical experience we help to deshame the menstrual cycle and menopause, and instead dignify and honour them as powerful sources of wisdom. 
  
  
• Cycle awareness as a foundational wellness practice, bringing soothing and ease, and helping us clarify and hold our boundaries.

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

---

The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

Today, we're shouting from the rooftops about a topic that's as natural as it is misunderstood - Menopause. Yes, the M-word that often comes with myths and whispers, but here, we're celebrating it as a powerful transition. From perimenopause to post-menopause, we explore the stages, symptoms, and surprising benefits of this natural transition. Join me as I uncover the myths, share practical tips, and celebrate the empowerment that comes with this new chapter. Whether you're experiencing it, approaching it, or simply curious, this episode offers valuable insights and a supportive community for all women. Embrace this vibrant new beginning with us! #MenopauseAwareness #CreateTheBestMe

•  Introduction to Menopause
• Let's Break the Menopause Myths!
• From Perimenopause to Post-Menopause
• Discover the Hidden Benefits!
• Managing Menopause Symptoms
• Decode Your Body's Messages
• The Total Menopause Transformation
• Ease Your Journey with These Tricks
• Unlock Your Menopause Superpowers
• Welcome to Your Thrilling New Era

Call to Action: 

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this video for more empowering insights on menopause. Join the “Create the Best Me” community today!

Next Episode Preview: 

Inspiring Midlife Success Stories with Kylie Hayes! Tune in for tips on business, life, and thriving in midlife.

📕 Resources: 

https://createthebestme.com/ep047

https://createthebestme.com/ep046

https://createthebestme.com/ep045

https://createthebestme.com/ep043

https://createthebestme.com/ep024

Related Podcasts:

🎙️ Listen to this episode: 

Transform Your Health: Menopause Fitness https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/14286176

Vibrant 50’s: Midlife Health, Menopause & Wellness https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/14236661

Transform Midlife: Rediscover You! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/14181430

Midlife Magic: Transforming Women’s Lives with Jack Perez https://www.buzzsprout.com/1949561/13364277

#MenopauseJourney #EmbraceChange #MidlifeEmpowerment #WomenWellness #LifeAfter50 #MenopauseHealth #CreateTheBestMe #EmpoweringWomen #SelfCare #MenopauseAwareness

📨 Newsletter:

https://createthebestme.com/newsletter/

👀 Connect With Me:

Website: https://createthebestme.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createthebestme

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmenhecox/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@carmenhecox
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@createthebestme
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-hecox

📽️ Video Request:

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Our guest today, Lazola MaDuka lives a homesteading life on a biodynamic farm amongst giant mountains and trees in South Africa. Her life is utterly wedded to the land, the weather and the seasons - her land tells her what it needs and when. 

Lazola is also a Period + Menstrual Cycle Embodiment Coach, a Red Tent Facilitator and a certified Menstruality Mentor  - she’s a graduate of the Red School Menstruality Leadership Programme. So, in our conversation today, she connects the dots between her relationship to the seasonal landscape around her, and her relationship to the cyclical landscape within her own body. 

Along the way she illuminates how menstrual cycle awareness can be a pathway home to our body’s ever-changing needs, as well as to creating sustainable ways of living personally and collectively on our earth. 

We explore:

• What the soil and compost has taught Lazola about the power of inner winter and how to claim rest as a natural birthright.  
  
  
• How cultivating more intimacy with both our inner seasons and the seasons in nature around us creates a vivid sense of belonging (and what Lazola’s baboon neighbours have taught her about belonging together!). 
  
  
• Lazola’s vision for how the practice of cycle awareness could transform the way we live on earth. 

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

---

The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy
Lazola MaDuka: @wombflow_ - https://www.instagram.com/wombflow_

Welcome to our penultimate Wild Power conversation series. These ‘round-the-kitchen-table’ chats with Alexandra and Sjanie were first released when we published Wild Power: Discover the Magic of the Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power. They unpack the book’s teachings through powerful, practical and funny real-life stories and examples. 

Episode seven is about how to enter what we call the ‘Temple’ of Menstruation. Inside each of us lies a hidden ‘temple’, a place of bliss, love and deep belonging and today we reveal how your menstrual cycle prepares you to enter this ‘temple’ each month at menstruation.

In this episode you’ll:

• Discover how you’re wired for bliss, love and ecstasy when you bleed
• Learn how your menstrual cycle prepares you enter your inner temple at menstruation
• What you can do to get a full blast of this blessing

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Registration is now open for our 2024 Menstruality Leadership Programme. You can explore the curriculum here: https://www.menstrualityleadership.com

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

Ladies, have you ever felt dismissed by the medical community when voicing your experiences with menopause? Meet Dilyana Maliva, a former lawyer and now a holistic menopause coach, who will validate your experiences and guide you through this transition. Sharing her own journey and the countless women she's helped, Dilyana tackles the challenges of menopause - the hormonal roller coasters, the mental and physical changes - with grace and grit. She emphasizes the importance of understanding your body's changes, finding the proper support, and, most importantly, acknowledging and valuing your experiences.

We also journey through the bewildering path of perimenopause. Its signs, impacts, and the crucial role of self-care and awareness during this time. Calling upon professionals like gynecologists, acupuncturists, and sleep experts, we strive to give you an arsenal of knowledge and comfort. Further, Dilyana's podcast, Menopause Made Easy, is highlighted - a trove of resources just a click away. Tune in, subscribe, and join us in this empowering discussion for every woman to thrive during menopause. You're not alone, and your journey is validated here.

Offer: 10 Steps to Create Consistent Restful Sleep

Offer Link: https://goddnightsleep.now.site/?_gl=1*vznk4q*_ga*MTAwODIyMzIyOC4xNjM1Nzg5MzMw*_ga_7DCQZTWRKC*MTY2MDg3ODU3OC4zNTcuMS4xNjYwODc4NjUxLjAuMC4w

Connect with Wendy Manganaro:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymanganaro1/

Welcome to our sixth Wild Power conversation. These ‘round-the-kitchen-table’ chats with Alexandra and Sjanie were first released in 2017 when we published Wild Power: Discover the Magic of the Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power.

They unpack the book’s teachings through powerful, practical and funny real-life stories and examples.

Episode six is all about the  inner seasons of your menstrual cycle - where the initiatory action takes place. We call it the workhorse of your journey to come home to your Wild Power.

In this episode you’ll:

- Learn about the inner seasons of your cycle and the natural powers they hold

- How to get into gear with them to capitalise on those powers

- And how awareness of the inner seasons can reveal your strengths and vulnerabilities

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Registration is now open for our 2024 Menstruality Leadership Programme. You can explore the curriculum here: https://www.menstrualityleadership.com

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

Happy New Year from all of us at Red School 🥳 May your entry into 2024 be full of everything you most long for.

This conversation with Alexandra and Sjanie today is especially for you if you’re very much in inner winter mode, we’re exploring a topic which we’ve been wanting to since the podcast began, which is the deep spiritual power of menstruation, and how it unfolds in five distinct phases.

Alexandra starts by sharing how she came to understand the five chambers of menstruation starting with a story with a lover in Stockholm, then together with Sjanie they map out the profound gifts of these chambers as a gateway to the 'inner temple' of menstruation.

We explore:

• What to do if you want to explore the five chambers of menstruation, but are dealing with menstrual pain and symptoms - including Alexandra’s story of how the chambers were a key part of navigating her extreme menstrual pain.
  
  
• The one key practice that opens up the way for the five chambers, even if you can only carve out 10 minutes to be with your menstrual process. 
  
  
• How to work with these five phases in other ways - such as the turn of the year that we’re all currently experiencing, as well as during the great inner winter of menopause.

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Join us for our free, online, New Year retreat, "Your Menstrual Cycle, Your Oracle" on January 11th - https://www.redschool.net/oracle

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

Welcome to number five of our bonus Wild Power series. These ‘round-the-kitchen-table’ chats with Alexandra and Sjanie were first released when we published Wild Power: Discover the Magic of the Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power. They unpack the book’s teachings through powerful, practical and funny real-life stories and examples. 

Today we're diving deep into an exploration of the "cosmos" inside you. We reveal the basic pattern of this cosmos - the two energy dynamics (the way of the Feminine and the way of the Masculine) - that form the underpining of your cyclical life journey.

In this episode you’ll:

• Learn about the energy dynamic of the menstrual cycle
• Discover the two creating currents that underpin your initiatory journey through the menstrual cycle
• And how you can come into right relationship with both the Masculine and Feminine within you

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Registration is now open for our 2024 Menstruality Leadership Programme. You can explore the curriculum here: https://www.menstrualityleadership.com

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To get a free copy of Wild Power to gift to a friend, we are offering a buy one, get one free until 21st December: https://www.redschool.net/product/wild-power-book-bogof 

(We’re also offering the same deal with our new menopause book, Wise Power: https://www.redschool.net/product/wise-power-book-bogof )

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

We just passed the darkest night of the year here in the northern hemisphere - the dark moon before the solstice, and it feels like a good moment to explore how cycle awareness can hold us during dark times; personally, collectively, and seasonally.

Like many of you, we’re grieving the suffering and conflict in the world, and doing what we can to educate ourselves, take meaningful action and contribute to building peace.

So, as Sjanie says beautifully in this episode, the menstrual cycle is such a profound teacher in the mystery and the darkness - and if you’re going through a dark night of the soul personally at the moment, or are needing sustenance as we navigate these dark times collectively, we hope this episode is balm for your heart.

We explore: 

• What Alexandra learned from painful encounters with her inner critic just before menstruation. (She would always find herself sitting in the bath with her inner critic at the other end tearing strips off her! And feeling strong self-rejection just before the ecstasy of her bleed).
  
  
• How the wisdom of the second half of the menstrual cycle held Sophie through a recent time of personal grief and hopelessness.
  
  
• How we can each yield to this phase of darkness as we complete the cycle of this year, so that we can be deeply regenerated and receive new visions at the beginning of the next annual cycle. 

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Please join us on for our free New Year retreat: Your Menstrual Cycle: Your Oracle on January 11th  https://www.redschool.net/oracle

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

---

Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

This is our fourth bonus Wild Power conversation. These ‘round-the-kitchen-table’ chats with Alexandra and Sjanie were first released when we published Wild Power: Discover the Magic of the Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power. They unpack the book’s teachings through powerful, practical and funny real-life stories and examples.

In the fourth installment of this bonus series, we explore the initiatory process that is unfolding from menarche to menopause, leading you ever deeper into embracing your Wild Power. We illuminate how this initiatory path is working you - an amazing hidden intelligence that is leading you Home.

In this episode you’ll:

• Learn about this initiatory journey takes us from ‘me’ consciousness to a participatory  ‘us’ consciousness.
• Find out how to reframe your experience of your first period (menarche), if it was slightly less that perfect.
• Discover the steps of this initiatory path that helps you to fully face yourself, understand your Calling and grow into new levels of maturity. 

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Registration is now open for our 2024 Menstruality Leadership Programme. You can explore the curriculum here: https://www.menstrualityleadership.com

---

To get a free copy of Wild Power to gift to a friend, we are offering a buy one, get one free until 21st December: https://www.redschool.net/product/wild-power-book-bogof

(We’re also offering the same deal with our new menopause book, Wise Power: https://www.redschool.net/product/wise-power-book-bogof )

---

The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

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Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy

Chloe Isidora is the creator of My Moon Power, a set of essential oils to help you connect to yourself and your inner seasons. She's also the author of 'Sacred self-care: everyday rituals for a more joyful and meaningful life' and is a graduate of our Menstruality Leadership Programme and has a deeply devoted practice of menstrual cycle awareness. 

We invited her to the podcast to explore her creative process over the past several years, through a cycle-aware lens. It’s a beautiful, inspiring and very relatable journey from self doubt, uncertainty and low self esteem, through a series of unexpected twists and turns to a wildly creative life.

We explore:

• The surprising underground spiritual influences that have sustained Chloe’s connection to herself, her womb wisdom and the soul of the project. 
  
  
• How to practice letting go into deep self-acceptance throughout the inner seasons, as a way to prepare for the great letting go at the bleed.
  
  
• How Chloe is navigating the bumpy, challenging ‘birthing’ moment of this project; including holding herself through increased visibility and staying true to the visions through moments of slower momentum.

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Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love

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The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net

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Social media:
Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.school
Sophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardy
Chloe Isidora: @chloeisidora - https://www.instagram.com/chloeisidora