Menopause as Initiation – Melissa Sophia Joy, ND

Menopause as Initiation

by Dr. Melissa Sophia Joy, ND

Transforming Menopause: Harness the Power of Hormonal Shifts to Heal, Empower, and Embrace Your Inner Wise Woman

Explore the transformational potential of menopause beyond physical symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue, and brain fog. This article explores the emotional, spiritual, and energetic dimensions of menopause, using real-life case studies and actionable insights to help women step into their power and reclaim their inner wisdom.

Menopause is far more than a biological event—it is a profound initiation, a sacred passage that beckons women into deeper wisdom and power. Yet, the way a woman experiences this transition is deeply influenced by cultural narratives. In many Western societies, menopause is framed as a disruptive decline—a phase riddled with hot flashes, mood swings, and the perceived loss of beauty and youth. This negative lens not only amplifies stress but often leads to an overreliance on hormone replacement therapy (HRT).1

In contrast, cultures that honor aging and revere the wisdom of elders offer a radically different perspective. For example, in some Indigenous communities in North America and Australia, menopause is celebrated as a transformative “change of life,” symbolizing liberation from the reproductive cycle and a step into profound authority and spiritual depth.2 This empowering perspective shifts the focus from loss to growth, reducing stress and easing symptoms, making the transition smoother and more harmonious.

By reclaiming menopause as a sacred initiation, women can move beyond outdated narratives of decline and embrace this phase as an awakening into their fullest power. In my 24 years as a naturopathic doctor working with women navigating perimenopause and menopause, I have observed that a woman’s mindset and life experiences significantly influence her journey. When menopause is embraced as an initiatory process—a powerful rite of passage—it enables women to reclaim their sovereignty, wisdom, and inner strength. By shifting the narrative from decline to evolution, the menopausal journey becomes one of profound empowerment, growth, and self-discovery, aligning closely with these more positive, culturally rooted perspectives.

Yet, for many women, menopause is shrouded in mystery, often accompanied by fear of aging, illness, and the loss of beauty. This lack of education creates anxiety and confusion about what is happening in their bodies, leading to a negative experience. This is where we, as naturopathic doctors, can offer guidance. It’s crucial to educate women about the nuances of menopause, not only addressing physical symptoms but also viewing this transition as a spiritual, mental, and emotional initiatory journey of transformation.

Stepping Into the Dragon’s Nest of Perimenopause

For many women, the first sign of perimenopause is a rise in estrogen, leading to more intense PMS symptoms—heightened anxiety, irritability, and agitation. This surge in estrogen can feel like a fiery, activating energy, forcing women to confront aspects of their lives that they may have ignored or suppressed. As estrogen rises, women are energetically pushed to engage with their inner worlds more directly and potently. This process, though uncomfortable, can accelerate spiritual growth and self-awareness. It’s a pathway to higher consciousness and freedom, with the challenges of perimenopause serving as a transformative catalyst.

Case Study: Rebecca’s Healing Journey from Anxiety

Rebecca sought my help for severe anxiety that had recently worsened. During our initial session, it became clear that her anxiety was linked to hormonal imbalances, specifically high estrogen levels. Her primary care physician had prescribed additional estrogen without conducting proper lab tests, but my evaluation revealed her estrogen levels were already elevated. She didn’t need more estrogen; she needed support to metabolize and eliminate the excess. I recommended estrogen conjugators like DiindolylmethaneDi-Indole Methane (DIM) and Calcium-D-Glucaorate alongside a custom-formulated nervine tincture containing Piper methysticum, Valeriana officinalis, Scutellaria laterifloraScuttelaria laterifolia, Verbena officinalisVerbena officials, and Escholzia californicaEscholizia californica to use as needed. These interventions significantly reduce her anxiety symptoms.

However, her hormonal imbalance was only part of the story. Together, we explored deeper emotional and psychological trauma that her high estrogen had activated. This hormonal imbalance became an opportunity for Rebecca to confront and heal past wounds, turning her struggle into a transformative experience. As her estrogen levels stabilized and she healed emotionally, her anxiety became a thing of the past.

Riding the Dragon: Embracing Change

One of the words that best describes the perimenopausal experience is “change.” Perimenopause and menopause are marked by constant transformation, with symptoms fluctuating dramatically over time. For many women, the entire process of perimenopause and menopause can span a decade, during which their physical, emotional, and spiritual landscapes undergo continuous shifts. I have often experienced finally getting a perimenopausal patient stable. Yet that stability only lasts for a few months before a new phase of symptoms comes on the scene.

The shifting tides of the menopausal journey strongly resemble initiatory rites, where the energy of change can overwhelm us if we resist it. However, it empowers us when we recognize it for what it is and harness its transformative power. By navigating the waves of transformation this journey presents, we can access the more profound wisdom within our bodies, minds, and spirits. This is the essence of menopause as an initiatory journey—embracing change as a catalyst for growth and transformation rather than letting it overpower us.

Case Study: Susan’s Changing Menopausal Transformation

Susan, in her early 50s, came to me deeply fearful of menopause…influenced by societal views of aging, she believed menopause would strip her of beauty and identity. Her early perimenopausal symptoms –-—extreme PMS and estrogen surges—had left her anxious and feeling out of control. While she had used her own herbs and progesterone with some success, the emotional toll of her anxiety and fear of losing her femininity was profound. 

Over time, I supported Susan in reframing her fears, helping her see her beauty as rooted in wisdom, not youth. Alongside this emotional work, we addressed menorrhagia with sublingual progesterone, high Capsella bursa-pastoris, and iron supplementation. During somatic healing sessions, she uncovered ancestral trauma stored in her womb. Releasing this energy not only alleviated her menorrhagia but also brought emotional relief. 

Menopause also coincided with significant life changes for Susan: her marriage ended, and her children left home. These shifts mirrored her internal transformation, pushing her to redefine her identity. By the time she entered full menopause, Susan had described the experience as running a constantly changing marathon. Yet, the experience left her with a newfound strength and sovereignty, feeling more empowered, wise, and deeply connected to her inner wisdom.

Heat: Becoming the Dragon

Hot flashes, often associated with menopause, are more than just physiological symptoms. While they arise from the changing physiology of a woman’s body, they carry deeper symbolic and transformative meanings. Physiologically, hot flashes are linked to the hypothalamus’ response to fluctuating hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and norepinephrine, which play key roles in their etiology.3

On a deeper level, hot flashes can also be seen as a primal force rising through the body, activating old patterns, traumas, and energies that require healing. The surge of heat can be understood as a form of kundalini energy –a spiritual force– rising through the body, igniting discomfort and transformation. It pushes unresolved emotions and experiences to the surface, ultimately helping women step more into their wise-woman power. 

Case Study: Selena’s Journey Through Hot Flashes and Trauma Healing

Selena came to me struggling with severe hot flashes and insomnia. She often woke up drenched in sweat, accompanied by vivid, unsettling, and stressful dreams where she ran endlessly. Initially, we addressed her hormonal imbalances with a combination of phytoestrogen and phytoprogesten herbal protocols. When those provided only partial relief, we introduced low doses of bio-identical hormones: Bi-Est (1.5 mg daily) and sublingual progesterone (20 mg daily). This approach significantly reduced her night sweats and helped her sleep, but breakthrough episodes continued– particularly during the most intense periods of her dreams. 

Through mind-body counseling and somatic work, Selena uncovered repressed childhood traumas that were correlated to her dreams. She felt that the recollection of these memories had been triggered by the intensity of her symptoms of menopause, especially the correlation of night sweats and intense dreams. The hot flashes and night sweats were not just hormonal responses; they were acting as a gateway for deeply buried memories to surface. As we continued to explore and heal these memories through deep emotional and somatic work, Selena experienced profound release and peace. By the end of our work together, night sweats and hot flashes rarely occurred, and she slept peacefully. She also felt free from the chains of her past, having integrated her trauma, and found a newfound sense of emotional balance.

Melt Down-Breakthrough: The Call for Inner Rest

As women progress through perimenopause into full menopause (which occurs at 12 months of amenorrhea, or if looked through the lens of the wise woman way—13 months), three symptoms often stop them in their tracks: fatigue, insomnia, and brain fog. These disruptive symptoms deeply affect a woman’s ability to engage in daily life. The now decreased hormonal levels of estrogen and progesterone during this time can severely impact energy levels, cognitive function, and sleep. Fatigue often persists despite adequate rest, leaving women unable to complete routine tasks. Insomnia, made worse by night sweats and hot flashes, further exacerbates daytime tiredness. Additionally, cognitive fog, often characterized by memory lapses and difficulty concentrating, is common during this transition.4

Case Study: Carol’s Shift Toward Inner Worthiness in Menopause

Carol sought my help during her transition into full menopause, having stopped menstruating 15 months prior. She was overwhelmed by extreme exhaustion, rating her energy levels at a 2-3 out of 10.  Neither amount of sleep nor coffee provided any relief seemed to make a difference. Recently, she had also begun experiencing had difficulty thinking clearly. Initially, we focused on improving her lifestyle and sleep hygiene whileand supporting her with adrenal and cognitive-enhancing supporting herbs., I created such as a custom-formulated tincture containing of Eleutherococcus senticosus, Withania somnifera, Cordyceps sinensis, Rhodiola rosea, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Centella asiatica, and Ginkgo biloba, administered at: three dropperfuls /TID. 

In addition, I also recommended a B-Complex, vitamin C, cognitive support through phosphatidyl choline supplementation, and the adrenal glandular support (porcine source)Adrenal Rebuilder’s glandular support at varying high doses.  To address her sleep challenges, I implemented also recommended a rotating protocol of different insomnia supplements that could be adjusted based on her sleep patterns., which would need to shift according to how her sleep would respond. These included were melatonin, glycine, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid PharmaGaba 100 (which I’ve have discovered clinically observed to crosses absorbed through the blood-brain barrier and significantly drastically can impact insomnia), and Valeriana officinalis. 

Over the next few months, these efforts led to shifts where she began to sleep more soundly, slowly regaining her energy (her energy shifted to a 6 out of 10) and increasing her cognitive function. We also explored more profound emotional work around her sense of self-worth, which brought her huge breakthroughs. 

Through our sessions, Carol began to connect with her innate wisdom and tap into her inner “Wise Woman.” As she expressed in a heartfelt email to me, 

“I am not the same person with the same energy I was just 5 years ago. I have less of the “go” hormones. And this forces me to stop getting my reflection of worthiness from outside of myself. I am discovering that what is needed now is my own inner worthiness, my innate wisdom, and my inner Wise Woman to lead my life. I no longer have a choice to get my inner needs met from the outside, and I must get them met from the inside.”  

This profound shift in her self-perception allowed Carol to embrace her menopause journey as an initiation, which helped her gain a sense of empowerment and a newfound sense of self.

Walking Through the Initiatory Threshold

The hormonal shifts of menopause allow women to connect more deeply with their true selves. This transition is not just physical; it’s emotional, mental, spiritual, and energetic. Menopause invites us to ride the dragon of change, to listen to its lessons, and to claim our sovereignty. It calls for women to articulate what no longer serves, break through their internalized limitations, and step into their full power. 

Naturopathic doctors can help patients embrace menopause as a transformative initiation by creating a safe and compassionate space for their journey. By normalizing the process and framing it as a natural experience that impacts not only the physical body but also offers opportunities for emotional healing and spiritual growth, we can gently introduce the idea of menopause as an initiation. Using simple metaphors, storytelling, and supportive dialogue, we can help patients reframe their perspectives and recognize the profound potential of this transition. Additionally, we can provide resources such as support groups or women’s circles to help them know they are not alone and create space for connection, renewal, and empowerment during this transformative phase. We can also encourage personal rituals, particularly as they step into full menopause, to help them honor and step through this initiation with awareness, power, and grace. Ultimately, we can empower women to view menopause as a gateway to renewal, self-discovery, and the freedom to step into their true selves with wisdom and grace.

A variety of somatic and mind-body practices can also support menopausal women on their initiatory journey and foster healing. Grounding exercises, body scans, and gentle movement practices like yoga or tai chi help anchor and regulate the body, while self-massage and dancing release tension and stored emotions. Restorative mindfulness techniques, such as pausing during anxiety or overwhelm to reconnect with the breath and body, can slow the hurried pace and promote presence. Guiding patients through body scans—inviting them to close their eyes, tune into their bodies, and notice areas needing attention—can be a simple yet powerful practice. Allowing these parts to “speak” fosters deeper awareness and connection. Additionally, introducing or referring patients to somatic healing modalities such as Somatic Awakening® or Somatic Experiencing® provides transformative tools for processing, stabilizing, and addressing somatic, emotional, and spiritual challenges. These approaches nurture self-compassion and support profound growth through this transitional phase.

The menopausal journey ultimately aligns women with the primal forces within, allowing them to break through the barriers of the proverbial glass ceiling and embrace their authentic, powerful selves. It also allows every woman to come into contact with the queen within, who is waiting to rise in strength and wisdom. The more we help our patients approach menopause with this awareness, support, and reverence, the more transformational potential it holds for them. It’s up to us as healthcare providers to help women see and embody this truth.

*The names and sometimes specific details of the above case studies have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the patients. 

Bibliography

1. Charity M. Cultural differences in Menopause. The Menopause Charity. https://www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/04/24/cultural-differences-in-menopause/. Published May 14, 2021.
2. Kimani M. Menopause across cultures – NabTA Health. Nabta Health. https://nabtahealth.com/article/menopause-across-cultures/. Published September 12, 2024.
3. Freedman RR. Menopausal hot flashes: Mechanisms, endocrinology, treatment. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2013;142:115-120. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.08.010
4. P. M. Maki & N. G. Jaff (2022) Brain fog in menopause: a health-care professional’s guide for decision-making and counseling on cognition, Climacteric, 25:6, 570-578, DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2022.2122792