Menopause : The Wisdom Years - Mini Retreat

“Menopause is not called The Change for nothing.

Menopause is ultimately about you coming Home to yourself. Finally recognising fully who you are and what is most important to you…

And you have to be prepared. And so you find yourself examining everything you have ever done or failed to do, experiencing deep feelings - possibly grief, may be loneliness, probably anger if not rage. All indicate some inner business that needs to now be attended to. To make peace with. To relinquish. You don’t want to carry this baggage into your new life. It’s time to rewrite the story of menopause”.

- The Red School

As you move through menopause or peri menopause we welcome you to our mini retreat devoted to this deep shift into the wisdom years. Join a community of woman and 3 practitioners who will guide you through empowering perspectives and practices tailored to this transition. At the core of this morning retreat is a chance to share experience in sharing circles throughout the morning.

Our speakers include:

9am – 10.30am = Wiseblood: A Witch’s Guide to Menopause – Tree Carr

10.45pm – 11.45pm - Mindfulness for Peri-menopause and Menopause – Joanne Jewell

12 – 1pm = Yoga, Breathwork & Yoga Nidra (Deep Relaxation) tailored to Menopause - Anna Brook

Wiseblood: A Witch’s Guide to Menopause

Tree Carr

Throughout history, spanning from the witch trials of Europe's Early Modern Period to the 21st century, society has consistently cast a negative light on menopausal women, subjecting them to feelings of contempt, fear, shame, and misogyny. Whether it was through capital punishment or confinement in insane asylums, or even contemporary prejudices against "women of a certain age," High Priestess witch Tree Carr aims to shed light on the extensive history of the oppression faced by older women.    “Wise Blood" represents the phase of perimenopause and menopause for a witch as she transitions into her cronehood, which is considered the most potent period for a magical woman. Witches, or the "Wicce" (an Old English term for Wise Ones), embrace their wisdom during this stage. It marks the initiation into the wise woman years, signifying a woman's menstrual cycle's gradual decline. Although it may commence in one's 40s, these changes are often noticeable as early as the mid-30s, lasting anywhere from 4 to 10 years on average.    During this stage, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, resulting in a range of symptoms that may resemble persistent PMS. In this lecture, participants will learn how to harness this transformative period for empowerment. Topics covered include working with the shifting energy, herbal remedies, addressing hot flashes, meditation, self-care practices, energy movement techniques, embracing solitude, and embracing the role of the wise woman.    Tree will lead attendees through the enchanting journey of embracing their Wise Blood and provide guidance on utilizing various tools, techniques, and lifestyle adjustments to consciously navigate the perimenopausal and menopausal chapter in a positive and life-altering manner.

Tree is a published author and TEDx speaker who works in the field of transpersonal psychology and is a high priestess witch and master of Wicca. As a writer, Tree is a regular esoteric columnist at Woman & Home magazine and has been featured in The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, ES Magazine, Stylist Magazine, Grazia, VICE, Daily Star and Express

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Mindfulness for Peri-menopause and Menopause

Joanne Jewell    

During this session we will explore how mindfulness can support you to bring more compassion, acceptance and nourishment to your life.    Awareness of symptoms can help us to understand more about our experience, combining this with ways to nurture, support and connect to ourselves, lovingly and confidently are all skills that the practice of mindfulness can bring into our lives.    

Jo is a therapist and mindfulness teacher with 20 years experience of providing support and care.

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Yoga, Breathwork and Deep Relaxation for Menopause

Anna Brook

To close the mini retreat, you’ll be guided through a nourishing yoga, self massage and breathwork practice (suitable for all) tailored to the shifts in our bodies that can take place at menopause. Then we'll close with some guided deep relaxation or yoga nidra.

Yoga is a tool we can use to understand and manage the typical symptoms associated with menopause such as stress, physical pain, mood swings or trouble sleeping.

Yoga for menopause can:

· Reduce stress and calm the nervous system

· Relieve menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, joint and muscle aches.

· Release phsyical stress and tension

· Balance your moods and emotions, such as meno-rage, anxiety, low mood.

· Restore energy that can be caused by insomnia and fatigue.

· Boost and invigorate slow metabolism and boost heart health

· Strengthen muscles and build bone density

Anna is a Senior Yoga Teacher and Breathwork Coach.