Mid-life as initiation, threshold, and rite of passage
In contemporary society, midlife—especially the time between perimenopause and post- menopause—is often seen as a curse. Women may feel as if they’ve lost their most significant role: the ability to give life. This leads to the belief that we are becoming irrelevant or useless. Many are conditioned to think that menopause marks the end of life, with depression, confusion, and loss as its companions.
However, I believe midlife is not a curse, but an initiation. It is a time of opening and unfolding—a transition rather than a decline. This perceived crisis often arises due to physical changes, shifting hormones, disrupted sleep, and the body’s new rhythms. But it’s also a time for reflection: a deeper understanding of what truly matters. At this threshold, we start to let go of what no longer serves us—relationships that drain us, societal expectations that don’t fit, and illusions that we’ve outgrown. It’s a time of shedding the old and confronting what still needs to be done.
Some cultures refer to this phase as recapitulation, a process of revisiting past chapters of life to learn and integrate what was once left behind. It is a passage from maturity to elderhood, a metamorphosis much like a butterfly’s transformation—from caterpillar to fully realised self.
This process is not without difficulty;
it is uncomfortable, challenging,
and can feel disorienting.
The absence of collective rites of passage, eldership, and community ceremonies amplifies the sense of isolation during this time. Many women face midlife without the guidance of older sisters or elders, feeling like orphans in this crucial journey. With contemporary culture often dismissing the sacredness of women’s bodies and wisdom, this time is not revered as it should be.
This cultural neglect magnifies the crisis. Society tells us midlife is an end, that we are past our prime, and that it’s too late to make meaningful change. But I see it differently. Midlife, post-menopause, and the wild years are an incredible, mysterious time to rediscover one’s wilderness, depth, and inner magic.
I believe midlife is a spiral, not a linear process. Each woman’s journey is unique, and we may face different challenges or areas of growth. We revisit forgotten places in our psyche, perhaps even returning to experiences we thought we had moved beyond. We may think we’ve “figured it out,” only to fall again, rise up, and fall once more.
We may need to restart old processes or embark on inner journeys, looking at familiar landscapes from a fresh perspective.
In midlife and beyond, we may feel more—not because something is wrong, but because we are awakening. Our senses are opening, and our wisdom naturally expands. As we grow, we are called to share that wisdom with others, and yet, to do so authentically, we must continue to retreat inward. The more we desire to give, the more we need to replenish ourselves from the wellspring within.
Midlife, post-menopause, and the wild years are not a linear crisis to be fixed, but a dynamic and rich time of unfolding—full of paradoxes and complexities. It is a time for revelation, for descending into the depths, and for ascending once again. It’s a journey that moves inward and outward, where we continuously fall apart and rise anew.
I’d Like to Have a Conversation with You
At midlife and beyond, we know that we need to love and accept ourselves radically, to feel more comfortable in our skin. If you’re reading this, you’re probably tired of walking this path alone and long for connection. Perhaps you feel the call to contribute to the healing of your community and the world around you.
I believe that, as midlife women, we are being called to step into our authority—to embody our wild essence unapologetically and become active participants in the collective healing process. We are medicine. We are life protectors. We are the wise ones. And this is our time to rise and lead.
Maybe you feel that now is the moment to go deep, excavate your soul, and liberate yourself from what no longer serves you. Perhaps you want to step into your zone of genius, focus on the next chapter of your life, or release toxic shame and outdated beliefs that have held you back. Or, maybe it’s time to simply pause, slow down, and radically accept yourself for who you are—doing less, being more, and trusting life’s unfolding.
You might have tried affirmations, supplements, diets, or exercise plans that helped for a while, but if your inner critic, fear, or anxiety keeps resurfacing, it can feel like you’re stuck in a cycle. This deeper unrest is your soul reaching out, asking to be heard. Sometimes, it feels like a “dark night of the soul.” I’ve been there, and though it’s challenging, each step forward brings you closer to a place of ease, trust, and self-acceptance.
It’s common to feel like you need one more external validation—a certificate, a degree, or another workshop—before you can trust yourself and the wisdom that comes with this life stage. But as the ground beneath you shifts, it’s important to recognize that true transformation starts from within, not from the outside.
The next step lies in trusting your inner voice and the wisdom that has always been there.
Midlife, perimenopause, post-menopause, and the wisdom years bring unique challenges—from physical and emotional shifts to deeper questions about purpose, identity, and our evolving role in the world. You might be feeling…
Overwhelmed by hormonal changes, old traumas, and daily stressors.
Lonely if you’re unsure how to reach out for support and are used to doing it all on your own.
Stuck if your self-help practices aren’t getting to the root of the problem.
This is when the old structures and versions of yourself fall away, and a new, empowered you is born. And perhaps, you’re feeling the call to contribute to the healing of the world around you.
You Don’t Have to Walk This Path Alone
If you’re ready to embrace midlife, post-menopause, and the wisdom years as a sacred initiation, I invite you to join me on this journey. Together, we’ll reconnect with your innate wisdom, release outdated patterns, and step into a vibrant new chapter filled with joy, purpose, and empowerment.