In the Menopause Transition the Hidden Treasure of Our True Nature Emerges

Get ready to clean out the closets, clear out the inner critic and make room for great things to come into our life.

Chinese Medicine believes that each season has a unique energy! Fall is all about the Energy of Metal. It follows Earth energy of late summer and keeps things centred and grounded, adding a greater Yin aspect.

As the weather gets cooler and drier, and plants start hibernating or dying, we can see how Metal is associated with autumn. It's also linked to the sun setting each day and the Venus planet in the heavens.

The Metal element represents dryness, and in the body, it corresponds to the Lungs and Large Intestine, as well as the skin, hair, respiratory system, and sense of smell. Interestingly, according to Confucian tradition, the mental poison of the Metal phase is criticism or judgment – Nao (惱).

Do you know what else is similar to autumn? Perimenopause!

It's like we're in the autumn of our first half of life. It's a time of transition that might call for some habit changes or becoming more centred and grounded. When we learn to work with the flow of seasonal elements, we can allow their energy to guide us, making life more flexible. With the Metal Element, we release and let go of things that no longer serve our highest good.

Working on our Body, Mind, and Spirit is essential to clear away the layers of no longer-needed "junk" that gets stuck in our cells and minds. This way, we can connect our Spirit to the Great Source, the Tao energy.

How the metal element can be beneficial in managing perimenopause.

Acupressure

As we all know, we might experience grief during perimenopause, which can be tough to deal with. Massaging specific acupressure points on your body can help you cope with those feelings.

One of these points is Lung 1, also known as ZhongFu, which can help you reconnect with your sense of self, value, and dignity. It's like a breath of fresh air that can inspire you to see things in a new light!

Another excellent point for unresolved grief and emotions is Lung 2, or Yunmen. I like to imagine a rain cloud hovering over me, and pressing this point helps to part the cloud so that the sun within me can shine again. It's like a ray of sunshine!

When you press into these points, particularly L1, you might feel a bit sensitive, but that's okay! Just trust your instincts and go with what feels suitable for you. It's all about exploring and finding what works for your unique needs.

So go ahead and give these points a try! You might be surprised at how much they can help you feel better during this challenging time.

Self-Reflection for Autumn

The mind and body are inseparable? In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), autumn and perimenopause are times when it's important to reflect on yourself and reach inner peace during the Metal phase. An easy and profound way to do this in Asian tradition is through a Japanese method called Naikan. It's a great tool to help you achieve that much-needed tranquillity!

Naikan is a practice that originated from a rather austere meditation known as Mishirabe (身調べ). It involves reflecting upon one's relationship with one's mother, which is similar to the reflections we do in the Alchemy of Menopause to help heal the ancestral wounds and trauma that we all carry so that we can become wiser elders ‘Crones’.

It's worth noting that this practice of Naikan has a rich history and is still relevant today.

1.     母親からしていただいたこと - What have I received from my mother?

2.     母親にして返したこと - What have I given to my mother?

3.     母親に迷惑をかけたこと - What troubles or difficulties did I cause my mother?

In Naikan, there is an intense focus on actual activities done or real things given or received. 

It's a fascinating approach that encourages us to take a closer look at the objective facts of our lives. By doing so, we can better understand our realities beyond just the narrow slices of our experiences or what we've been conditioned to see. It's like taking a step back and seeing the big picture for the first time! That is why Naikan is such a practical and effective way to "enter into the truth."

Even though we just mentioned three basic questions as the Naikan framework for reflection, we should be aware of a fourth question – “What troubles or difficulties did others cause me?”

This question, known in Naikan practice as “Gaikan” (Wai Guan in Chinese 外觀), or “external viewing,” is purposely not asked during Naikan reflection. Focusing on how “I” have been wronged is, in most cases, the cause of one’s suffering. This self-focus is the fast track to missing the love, support, and grace that allows us to live at all in society.

As an exercise for perimenopause, try practising Daily or Weekly Naikan. At the end of each day (or each week), set aside 15 to 30 minutes of quiet reflection time.

Reflect first on what you have received during that day or week. Then, focus on the second question of what you gave to others during that same day or week.

Lastly (please spend about 60% of your reflection on this last question), reflect on what troubles or difficulties you have caused others during that same day or week.

My own experience with doing Naikan is usually that I receive far more than I give, and I certainly cause a lot of difficulty for others! Doing this reflection reminds me how much I rely on the grace and kindness of many people around me almost every day, and in doing so, I find it a little hard to be judgmental about others. For more information on Naikan, please visit the ToDo Institute (www.todoinstitute.org).

Next week, I'm going to dive into the foods that are great for perimenopause and draw on the Metal element. These foods are especially helpful for dealing with the dryness that comes with peri and menopause.

I'm also excited to share that I will start brewing my own Herbal Winter Tonic Wine called YAO JIU, a recipe created by the amazing Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, Rob Aspell. At this stage all I can tell you is that it smells amazing!

This formula is designed specifically to support vitality during the darker and colder Winter months and is taken as a 20ml shot each evening for a 3-month spell. It is particularly helpful for perimenopausal and menopausal women as it

• enriches the Yin and Jing (essence) to support the Kidney Qi (vitality)

• preserves the Yang and helps it remain ‘upright’, ensuring that our Fires (Kidney Fire and Heart Fire) keep burning

• tonifies the Blood and Qi

• supports the Heart and Shen (spirit)

Stay tuned for more postings on this on my YouTube channel where you can also watch the latest podcast with Dr Krista Coombs on Hashimotos. You can get her freebie here too https://www.theeasyway.ca/hashimotostheeasyway/

Sending love and healing as we approach the Autumn Equinox, transitioning from the external focus of summer to the introspective nature of autumn and turning inward.

Clarissa x