93. Making Sense of Womanhood, Modern Life, Rites of Passage and Menopause Truths with Midwife, Author and Healer Susan Willson Awakening Aphrodite

No matter who you are, what you believe or how you identify, chances are that your human experience consists of phases, changes and transitions. Whether you choose to share these stories or hold your experiences closely shrouded in secret, the all-consuming (and at times downright intense) nature of these inevitable life transitions unites women, men and children alike. In the past, important phases of life were culturally acknowledged and supported by traditions, rituals and generational wisdom. To the detriment of our health and collective sense of pleasure and fulfillment, many transitions have come to be ignored or even dreaded in our modern time. Women’s physical rites of passage in particular, also known as the blood mysteries: birth, menarche, first sexual experiences, pregnancy (including the gestation of new ideas and ventures) and menopause have been shamed, suppressed and controlled in recent generations.

My amazing guest, Susan Willson, is a Yale-educated Certified Nurse Midwife with 45 years of experience guiding and healing women on their rites of passage. She’s spent the last two decades working exclusively with women through their menopausal transitions. Her new book, Making Sense of Menopause, gives readers the foundation to reframe their concept of menopause from a culturally dreaded “ending” to a transformative, potent phase brimming with the power to fully embody the authentic self. In this fascinating and empowering episode, Susan and I unpack some of the more complex ideas presented in the book and Susan shares life-changing tips on how to prepare for a smooth transition into menopause, how to cast off internalized shame and how (and why!) to prioritize pleasure in your life. 

We talk about the role of epigenetics in our experience of menopause, the Grandmother Hypothesis, and the key role that wise women have played in the evolution of human cognition and culture. Susan tells us about the effects of generational trauma, stress and shame on DNA in the womb, and how your lifestyle NOW will predict your health and happiness not only later in life but for many future generations to come. The REALITY is this: menopause is a time to self-actualize, own your power, not apologize for your wants, needs or desires, not to silence your voice but to live your TRUTH and blossom your gift to the world.

Tune into my episode with Dr. Nathan Riley (see here) for more information and tips on women's health and holistic wellbeing! And if you feel empowered or inspired by this episode, please SHARE! I would also love to hear your thoughts in a review :)

00:09:59 Susan’s Thoughts On Writing Making Sense Of Menopause

00:13:56 Our Lost Rites Of Passage

00:15:14 What It Means To Be A Woman In Our Culture

00:23:00 Addressing The Cultural Expectations Of Menopause

00:31:05 How Stress Affects The Menopausal Experience

00:36:03 How Pleasure Can Change Your Life

00:46:15 The Grandmother Hypothesis

00:53:14 There’s More That Unites Us Than Divides Us

00:53:26 Join My Free Online Women’s Circle

01:02:42 Sex Education

01:07:03 The Wisdom Of Being Your Authentic Self

01:12:41 See Episode 80 with Dr. Mario Martinez

01:17:14 Find Susan at makingsenseofmenopause.com to join her ongoing conversation!

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