From Menarche to Menopause
Madeleine Shaw shares her wisdom and insight on the need for ritual and ceremony surrounding menarche and menopause. We explore finding ways to acknowledge our first period and our last period, as well as ways to honour our menstrual journey and reframe our relationship with menstruation.
From Menarche to Menopause
Madeleine Shaw shares her wisdom and insight on the need for ritual and ceremony surrounding our first periods (menarche) and our last periods (menopause).
During our conversation, we talk about the yearning for rituals connected to menstruation and the need to mark these rites of passage with ritual and ceremony. Madeleine shares the story of her daughter’s first period ceremony, as well as her desire to ritualize her initiation into menopause.
The Need For Ritual In Menstruation
The menstrual cycle is a natural and essential part of a person’s life, yet it’s often shrouded in secrecy or treated as a taboo subject.
By acknowledging and honouring a menstruation journey with rituals, we can create a more meaningful and empowering experience. Ritualizing menstruation can help us feel more empowered and confident about our bodies and the natural experience of aging.
Who is Madeleine Shaw?
Madeleine is a social entrepreneur, writer, gardener, feminist and multi-purpose creative spirit. She is best known as the co-founder of Aisle (formerly Lunapads), one of the earliest commercial reusable menstrual product ventures.
She is also the founder of G Day, a national rite of passage event series for girls, and Nestworks, a family-friendly co-working community. She is the author of The Greater Good: Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World. Learn more: madeleineshaw.ca.
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