The spiritual value of the transition

Few topics are discussed as often as menopause, and usually not in the most positive light.

Hot flashes, sleepless nights, mood swings, and other physical symptoms are cited as an unavoidable reality. It often seems like an ordeal that women must endure.

But is menopause really as dreadful as it’s made out to be? Or is it rather a gift from God that carries a valuable message?

What is the menopause?

From a physiological perspective, menopause marks the end of the fertile phase in a woman’s life. The production of estrogen and progesterone declines, eventually causing menstruation to stop. This process of hormonal change can be accompanied by physical and emotional challenges.

The decline in estrogen affects the nervous system, bones, metabolism, and cognitive function. At the same time, it frees up energy that was previously directed toward fertility, allowing it to be channeled toward other forms of self-awareness.

A systemic perspective on menopause

Menopause is not only a personal change, but it also affects your role within the systems you’re part of: family, work, and society. During this period, responsibilities often change: children become more independent, and your focus at work may shift.

This raises questions such as: How does my role change now that the children have left home? What does my work mean to me now?

The menopause through the centuries

In traditional societies, the transition was often viewed differently than in modern times. While today we primarily speak of loss (of youth, fertility, beauty), in some cultures this phase was instead seen as a transition to wisdom and spiritual power.

Among many indigenous peoples, older women were regarded as wise bearers of knowledge. They offered advice, provided healing, and were known for their deep connection to the spiritual world.

In the West, respect for old age has shifted toward an ideal of eternal youth. This influences women’s self-image and causes us to forget the deeper wisdom of this stage of life.

What can we learn from the shamanic Wheel of Life?

Many shamanic traditions work with the concept of the Wheel of Life, in which the different stages of life have their own qualities:

Spring

The young woman, the virgin: a time of growth. The world calls out; everything is blossoming. The Self awakens in relation to the greater whole.

Summer

The mother, the fertile woman: a time of creation. Life is in full bloom; you’re building relationships and projects and caring for others. There is a sense of surrender to life.

Autumn

The wise woman, the time of transition: a phase of contemplation and reflection. This is a time to acknowledge and let go of old pain. Value is placed on what was meaningful.

Winter

The old woman, the immortal, the world of the ancestors: a time of stillness. In the silence, the knowledge of the generations before us whispers. Here lies the wisdom that is not learned, but remembered.

Complaints as messengers

Frequent and severe menopausal symptoms can be a sign that something needs attention on multiple levels. Of course, there are physical causes, but the body also acts as a messenger.

Are you ready for more peace, healthier eating, less stress or alcohol? Or is there perhaps something from the past that still needs to be addressed, such as pent-up grief, pain, or unresolved memories? Is the path you’re on the right one for you?

It is precisely when you take your symptoms seriously that you can discover where you can make different choices.

How does masculinity relate to menopause?

Although menopause is primarily viewed as a female experience, it also affects the balance between the masculine and feminine, both within ourselves and in our relationships.

For many women, their energy shifts from the outside to the inside. From doing to being. This affects the dynamics of a relationship: what was once taken for granted is suddenly called into question.

Men, too, go through their own inner transition. For them, it often involves a reorientation toward identity and purpose. The urge for external validation gives way to questions such as: What truly nourishes me? Where does my meaning, my contribution, lie?

When you consciously experience this phase together with your partner, a new balance can emerge, in which growth and connection go hand in hand.

How can you consciously navigate this transition?

Start by listening to your body. What does it need from you? Maybe it needs more rest, a different diet, or gentler exercise.

Practice letting go. Which parts of your old identity can you lovingly leave behind? What has served you well, but is now complete?

Be open to self-reflection. It is often in the midst of discomfort that you find the gateway to healing. Old pains may resurface, not to hinder you, but so they can finally be acknowledged and processed.

Let your intuition guide you. Trust the inner knowing that is becoming increasingly strong. This is a time to deepen your spiritual connection.

Find a new form of expression. Whether it’s writing, painting, dancing, or silence, let your inner world flow outward.

Seek the power of connection. Share your experience with like-minded people. Recognition fosters support, and that’s how we find our place.

Conclusion

The transition is not so much an ending as it is a gateway. A transition to a new way of being. It is a time of deep transformation, during which you have the opportunity to let go of what no longer nourishes you and make room for something that is much closer to your true self.

Instead of viewing it as a loss, we can honor this period as a phase of wisdom, strength, and spiritual growth.

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ir. Marieke de Zwaan
Keynote spreker voeding 5D, systemisch coach & trainer