Entering the Wild Woman Phase of Life

When I was about to enter my 40s I felt a strange invisible cord pulling me into another world. This world was linked with new gifts wrapped in fears and doubts as I became aware of what society thinks of women who are nearing "middle age".

I always found the term "middle age" vastly misleading, as though entering one's 40s means it's all downhill from here. My grandmother is still alive and kicking at 106, and there are loads of women (most of them raw vegans) who are vibrant at 70, 80, and beyond, so to dread this new phase of life seemed contradictory.

However, let's be honest, there are physical changes that take place in a woman's body as she nears the end of her Bleeding Years. Did you know that 80% of perimenopausal women experience some hormonal and neurochemistry issues from the age 40 and over. 1 in 3 women over 40 have a low libido. 75% of women 40 and over in the USA, UK, and Australia experience night sweats &/or hot flashes, compared to Asian countries. 85% of women 50 and over have vaginal dryness, and 52% have pain with sex in the US. And on average women gain an extra 12 to 15 pounds between the age 40 to 55. That is a lot of change and loss of control in one's life!

There is also a shift in the mental, spiritual, and social expectations of a woman moving into a less (physically) fertile space, creating new desires to surface which may also create confusion. Some women leave their marriages, come out of the closet, or get divorced, others find themselves at a loss when their children leave home wondering what to do with their time.

Some women, including myself, who look young already, resist the changes by sticking with hip clothing, going on various cleanses, and fasts, and doing intense workouts to stay slim. Some women get physical work done with Botox or body augmentations. Personally, I have no judgment toward any woman who decides to do any of the above, as we are each sovereign beings.

For me, I went behind the acts and asked myself why and for whom, which led me to anger and a desire to find more! The level of disrespect women feel from family and society for their aging body is unreal! Regardless, this particular time of life has many women feeling lonely, confused about their body, longing for connection, community, and desiring something more! This feeling is so intense it creates frustration and mood swings so profound many women go on anti-depressants. In fact, 1 in 4 women ages 40 and over are taking antidepressants, increasing 40% in the last ten years.

I didn't belong in the Maiden and Mother phases anymore, but there wasn't a positive name for the transition I was entering in my 40s. I wasn't quite an Elder, and while I will always be a mother, I felt myself in a transitory stage of life with its own unique aspects, aces and pains, and levels of invisibility that brought on increased frustration. I felt myself evolving but unseen and unsupported. I knew my body was changing, my skin and hair looked different, my energy levels changing, my concentration levels challenged, and my eyesight worsening. Was this perimenopause or did I need a liver cleanse and less time on the computer?

My patients were also unsure if they were entering perimenopause and what could be done about it if they were. Should they take hormones? Go on birth control? Antidepressants or microdose? Why is my menstrual cycle getting heavier with more pain? What was happening?! And where was correct and empowering information, backed by science for women, to be found??

The more I listened to myself, my patients, my clients, and my community I saw the re-wilding aspect taking hold and inviting the Wild Woman back into each of us in a way that gracefully  (and also challenging) accepted the Changing Woman within.

“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
― Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves

The scars and big emotions are messengers guiding women towards what needs their attention. in fact, perimenopause is the pulse of health and lifestyle changes that are necessary for a balanced and potentially symptom-free menopause/ Wise Woman years. Understanding one's menstrual cycle and womb before the bleeding time ends, along with honoring this time as a Rite of Passage preparing you for Initiation, is vital to a long and happy life.

The Wild Woman asks us to come home to the intuitive wisdom held within every cell of our beings and HONOR her. Listening to HER has been the most healing journey I have been on over the last 5 years, preparing me for the initiation into my Wise Woman years when my Bleeding Time ends.

Traditions all around the world have held space for women during their Changing Woman time through ritual, ceremony, new titles in the community, herbal medicine, and honored respect. It is time we do the same with added details for modern times. Listening to my Elders and being proud of this powerful Rite of Passage has healed the fears and doubts that plagued me, while also giving me tools to understand what was taking place in my body. This is the empowerment that is so needed in the world right now! For women to embody this phase of life...The Path of the Wild & Wise!

I have created a 6-week program to support women to understand what is happening in their bodies from a hormonal and neurochemical approach, learn from the Wild & Wise Women Archetypes, connect with The Mushroom of Immortality; Reishi in a soft plant dieta, learn about nutrition, herbs, and supplements to support themselves, and receive practices to help them embody their Changing Woman. There is even an upgraded option to microdose in order to alleviate symptoms and create allyship.

Early Bird pricing ends September 30th, 2023.

This program has been made low-cost to allow for you to benefit from the wisdom laid out, and for me to gather feedback from the community for the next cohort. This is women building community! I look forward to seeing you there! And as always, reach out with any questions....

Stay Wild!

Seven Crow