Menopause is more than a transition—it’s a creative awakening. Discover how this threshold reopens the flow of energy and reconnects you with your creative power.
This is literally the soul and center of what I know at this point, this unique moment in my personal evolution. I embrace multiple creative expressions but I'm preparing to publish my first book, which I started writing in 2020---during that stillness and sitting with myself as I turned 60 after "officially" entering menopause at 59. Now my first herbal history mystery is fully revised, edited, formatted and perched ready to publish. I'm ready to release it but I struggle with this feeling of the emptiness of the cultural idea of monetizing and commodifying this creative process. I'm already mentally in the next explorations but my culture has a whole agenda that goes along with publishing a book that's all about promotions and marketing and managing platforms. It bores me to tears and stresses me out just thinking about it. At 64, I'm no longer interested in those things and I remind myself that I can do it however I want and need to. This is my play, my creative exploration. I'm not attached to outcomes or results. That's not my motivation. Thank you so much for writing this so clearly and affirmingly!
Leenie, wow! That's amazing and so exciting that you spent that time writing and listening in that quiet space. And now, having a whole book be complete and ready to be in the world in some way. (That's huge!) I hear you on the whole cultural marketing thing, I absolutely struggle with that kind of thing as well. But I love what you said about this being your play and your art and you get to do things in the way you want to. That's such a powerful Crone statement! And I look forward to seeing where you go with your book. Congrats!
So very true for me and thank you for refocusing this. I experienced menopause early so felt like a lone rider. I retired early, needing a change and yes, my creativity absolutely reasserted itself. Feeling sacred! 🙏
Krista, I hear ya on the lone rider thing, that was my experience too. Creativity saved me. Sounds like it has had a big impact on you as well. Feeling sacred... that's yummy!
I love this! I'm 52 and by 40 began shifting in big ways then a massive spiritual awakening. By trade I'm a WWI-Vietnam researcher, writer/publisher, teacher so my work for the last 15 years has been death. then this year as I'm in the midst of menopause and other massive shifts, I made a choice to start taking one new art class a month. I never considered myself an artist. I can write but not make art. However in January I took a watercolor class and bought some stuff. In February I took a mosaic class and created something my boyfriend even hung in the condo. March was so busy but by the end of the month I started painting. I'm shocked at what's come through and how it actually looks like what it is supposed to. Is it perfect? No. Is it fun? Yes. It's pulling me out of war and all these energetic shifts into a different reality. I mostly watch Tiktok videos and try to recreate what i see but I am seeing progress. I also signed up for another watercolor class early May so I can continue learning.
I think between menopause, boys in college, and all my other life shifts plus the consciousness of humanity shifting - art is an incredible way to express myself and get lost for a while and in that I find myself.
You have described my experience exactly, which feels extra affirming. I have always had a creative life, as my work up until late 2021 was as chef/baker/restauranteur who owned a series of bakery cafes. But now I am an entirely creative being whose creativity answers to no one else’s rules. Restaurant/cafe life can become widget making production work, always making your patrons’ favorites and experimenting increasingly rarely because you make what sells, what people show up for every day. But now I am an explorer—of materials, methods, concepts, shapes, combinations, and, most importantly, my own inner terrain. I make what I am curious and excited about, and sell whatever I feel like selling, doing no custom work. I don’t want to create other people’s dreams.
And I agree that the invisibility of this time in life is a superpower. I told my son’s dad that I’ve begun to forget that I have an “outside”, a me that people see and identify as me, and he said, “Are you worried about mental health?” “Mine?” I asked. He laughed, “Yes.” Which cracked me up. “No. Oh no, not at all. I’m thrilled! I feel liberated!” I have been utterly transformed by menopause (which happened 12 years ago at age 48), and, as Stanley Kunitz said in my favorite poem, “I am not done with my changes.” Hurrah!
Thank you Trish, for this... all of it! I love that you are exploring with your work and creativity. We so rarely get to do that. It does feel like freedom when we finally can and do. That inner world that open to us with menopause is so clarifying. I too feel so transformed by menopause - the physical is there, but the emotional and spiritual and powerful changes in me make all that worth it! Thanks again for your comment. Hurrah indeed!
All of that and more. We have a fundamentally different purpose. We have menopause because our child bearing, if we are lucky enough to, if we wanted, to have children, years have passed. Now we become the Grandmother, the Matriarch. Time to impart the knowledge, the memories, the creativity, the story teller, the bakers, the menders.... Decades of experiences, some good some bad, some seemingly mundane. We may fade into invisibility for many but we deserve to be cherished and loved and know how much we mean to our children and grandchildren. And, cherish ourselves and enjoy the time to learn a whole new side of ourselves. I started to knit during our first lockdown. I love knitting socks. I must stop wearing them myself as soon as they are off the needles and give others the pleasure of hand knitted socks. 😊
Libby, indeed! It is a time to re-learn who we are. Step out into the world as that. I often tell folks that the invisibility thing can also be our super-power, a time to practice this new us, our new voice without so many eyes on us! Then, bam, there we are! And I bet anyone would love your hand knitted socks! What a gift!
This is beautifully written. I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago, so the change was very sudden and immediate for me. I am now searching for a way to connect more with my creativity and nature. To be more at peace with myself. I'm glad I found you.
Thank you, and I'm glad you found your way here... and me to your posts. Coming back to ourselves as we age is a true inner journey that unfolds. Sounds like you are on your path. It's beautiful to have creativity as a guide.
this is another beautifully written post. i'm not yet 55 (almost) but i very much feel the pull you write of. with it is this sense of no longer needing to be ashamed of who i am. of wanting to hide it. of trying to be something, someone, more palatable. i'm moving, ever steadily, in that direction. and creativity is a huge piece of that. thank you stace!
Thank you ❤️ Yes indeed. I see Creativity (that flow of creativity as life and vitality) flowing through you as you step further and further into that direction. It's powerful.
My mother called Menopause “The Change of Life.” Indeed, it was.
My sister-in-law told me “You seem angry.” Indeed, I was.
It was like a volcano. All that suppressed anger welling up, trying to find expression and creativity gave me that outlet.
I was guided to a watercolor mandala class by a friend. My first piece was opening to creativity like a lotus. My second piece was of transforming anger.
And yes, indeed it was.
It is now years after this opening and transformation but I am continuing to do art. Now I meet weekly with two neighbors with no agenda except to set aside the time to create. It’s a wonderful way to bring joy into our lives!
I don’t know you but your writing was spot on from my experience and from that I would highly recommend your classes.
Thank you Laurie - thank you for sharing your story. Yeah, I think so many of us know that anger. And I love that you found a way to process that. Creativity is that gift. And how wonderful that you have your neighborhood artsy meet-up! I love that--just time to create with no agenda or direction. I encourage that with almost everyone I work with. It does bring joy... and so much more. Keep on making!
This is literally the soul and center of what I know at this point, this unique moment in my personal evolution. I embrace multiple creative expressions but I'm preparing to publish my first book, which I started writing in 2020---during that stillness and sitting with myself as I turned 60 after "officially" entering menopause at 59. Now my first herbal history mystery is fully revised, edited, formatted and perched ready to publish. I'm ready to release it but I struggle with this feeling of the emptiness of the cultural idea of monetizing and commodifying this creative process. I'm already mentally in the next explorations but my culture has a whole agenda that goes along with publishing a book that's all about promotions and marketing and managing platforms. It bores me to tears and stresses me out just thinking about it. At 64, I'm no longer interested in those things and I remind myself that I can do it however I want and need to. This is my play, my creative exploration. I'm not attached to outcomes or results. That's not my motivation. Thank you so much for writing this so clearly and affirmingly!
Leenie, wow! That's amazing and so exciting that you spent that time writing and listening in that quiet space. And now, having a whole book be complete and ready to be in the world in some way. (That's huge!) I hear you on the whole cultural marketing thing, I absolutely struggle with that kind of thing as well. But I love what you said about this being your play and your art and you get to do things in the way you want to. That's such a powerful Crone statement! And I look forward to seeing where you go with your book. Congrats!
Yes! The creative crucible of menopause has me awakening now!
🙌🏼 woo hoo!
So very true for me and thank you for refocusing this. I experienced menopause early so felt like a lone rider. I retired early, needing a change and yes, my creativity absolutely reasserted itself. Feeling sacred! 🙏
Krista, I hear ya on the lone rider thing, that was my experience too. Creativity saved me. Sounds like it has had a big impact on you as well. Feeling sacred... that's yummy!
I love this! I'm 52 and by 40 began shifting in big ways then a massive spiritual awakening. By trade I'm a WWI-Vietnam researcher, writer/publisher, teacher so my work for the last 15 years has been death. then this year as I'm in the midst of menopause and other massive shifts, I made a choice to start taking one new art class a month. I never considered myself an artist. I can write but not make art. However in January I took a watercolor class and bought some stuff. In February I took a mosaic class and created something my boyfriend even hung in the condo. March was so busy but by the end of the month I started painting. I'm shocked at what's come through and how it actually looks like what it is supposed to. Is it perfect? No. Is it fun? Yes. It's pulling me out of war and all these energetic shifts into a different reality. I mostly watch Tiktok videos and try to recreate what i see but I am seeing progress. I also signed up for another watercolor class early May so I can continue learning.
I think between menopause, boys in college, and all my other life shifts plus the consciousness of humanity shifting - art is an incredible way to express myself and get lost for a while and in that I find myself.
You have described my experience exactly, which feels extra affirming. I have always had a creative life, as my work up until late 2021 was as chef/baker/restauranteur who owned a series of bakery cafes. But now I am an entirely creative being whose creativity answers to no one else’s rules. Restaurant/cafe life can become widget making production work, always making your patrons’ favorites and experimenting increasingly rarely because you make what sells, what people show up for every day. But now I am an explorer—of materials, methods, concepts, shapes, combinations, and, most importantly, my own inner terrain. I make what I am curious and excited about, and sell whatever I feel like selling, doing no custom work. I don’t want to create other people’s dreams.
And I agree that the invisibility of this time in life is a superpower. I told my son’s dad that I’ve begun to forget that I have an “outside”, a me that people see and identify as me, and he said, “Are you worried about mental health?” “Mine?” I asked. He laughed, “Yes.” Which cracked me up. “No. Oh no, not at all. I’m thrilled! I feel liberated!” I have been utterly transformed by menopause (which happened 12 years ago at age 48), and, as Stanley Kunitz said in my favorite poem, “I am not done with my changes.” Hurrah!
Thank you Trish, for this... all of it! I love that you are exploring with your work and creativity. We so rarely get to do that. It does feel like freedom when we finally can and do. That inner world that open to us with menopause is so clarifying. I too feel so transformed by menopause - the physical is there, but the emotional and spiritual and powerful changes in me make all that worth it! Thanks again for your comment. Hurrah indeed!
All of that and more. We have a fundamentally different purpose. We have menopause because our child bearing, if we are lucky enough to, if we wanted, to have children, years have passed. Now we become the Grandmother, the Matriarch. Time to impart the knowledge, the memories, the creativity, the story teller, the bakers, the menders.... Decades of experiences, some good some bad, some seemingly mundane. We may fade into invisibility for many but we deserve to be cherished and loved and know how much we mean to our children and grandchildren. And, cherish ourselves and enjoy the time to learn a whole new side of ourselves. I started to knit during our first lockdown. I love knitting socks. I must stop wearing them myself as soon as they are off the needles and give others the pleasure of hand knitted socks. 😊
Libby, indeed! It is a time to re-learn who we are. Step out into the world as that. I often tell folks that the invisibility thing can also be our super-power, a time to practice this new us, our new voice without so many eyes on us! Then, bam, there we are! And I bet anyone would love your hand knitted socks! What a gift!
This is beautifully written. I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago, so the change was very sudden and immediate for me. I am now searching for a way to connect more with my creativity and nature. To be more at peace with myself. I'm glad I found you.
Thank you, and I'm glad you found your way here... and me to your posts. Coming back to ourselves as we age is a true inner journey that unfolds. Sounds like you are on your path. It's beautiful to have creativity as a guide.
this is another beautifully written post. i'm not yet 55 (almost) but i very much feel the pull you write of. with it is this sense of no longer needing to be ashamed of who i am. of wanting to hide it. of trying to be something, someone, more palatable. i'm moving, ever steadily, in that direction. and creativity is a huge piece of that. thank you stace!
Thank you ❤️ Yes indeed. I see Creativity (that flow of creativity as life and vitality) flowing through you as you step further and further into that direction. It's powerful.
My mother called Menopause “The Change of Life.” Indeed, it was.
My sister-in-law told me “You seem angry.” Indeed, I was.
It was like a volcano. All that suppressed anger welling up, trying to find expression and creativity gave me that outlet.
I was guided to a watercolor mandala class by a friend. My first piece was opening to creativity like a lotus. My second piece was of transforming anger.
And yes, indeed it was.
It is now years after this opening and transformation but I am continuing to do art. Now I meet weekly with two neighbors with no agenda except to set aside the time to create. It’s a wonderful way to bring joy into our lives!
I don’t know you but your writing was spot on from my experience and from that I would highly recommend your classes.
Thank you Laurie - thank you for sharing your story. Yeah, I think so many of us know that anger. And I love that you found a way to process that. Creativity is that gift. And how wonderful that you have your neighborhood artsy meet-up! I love that--just time to create with no agenda or direction. I encourage that with almost everyone I work with. It does bring joy... and so much more. Keep on making!