Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause; Herbal Allies for Midlife Women and Men
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"Illuminates the way through the deeply spiritual and transformative journey we call menopause."
Gail Faith Edwards challenges us to consider midlife to be a shamanic journey, then beckons us to join her on this path wrought with wisdom, grace and beauty, as well as discomfort and pain. Gail describes the chemistry of menopause and andropause in great detail, explains how hormonal changes affect both women and men, includes an entire chapter on male menopause and offers groundbreaking insights into how our shifting chemistry affects our lives together as couples.
You’ll find comprehensive information on dozens of herbs that will help ease menopausal woes, enhance physical, emotional and spiritual health and well being, and increase sexual pleasure and performance for both sexes, as well as herbs to protect your heart, bones, and brain, nourish your immune, endocrine, digestive, and nervous systems, alleviate chronic pain, and so much more.
Gail takes us on a poetic journey, shares her life and her dreams, and most of all inspires and empowers the reader to walk a beauty path through midlife leading to the door of rebirth as a wise and healthy elder person with many, many gifts still left to offer.
Excerpt from FOREWORD
By Rosemary Gladstar:
"When you open up the pages of this book, you will step into the `wild terrain of menopause’ from a fresh and unique perspective. Though a book loaded with good advice, traditional herbal remedies and natural therapies that make this transition easier for women ~ and men, Gail goes a full step further. She beckons us along a path that leads to a simpler and saner way of living...into a realm that seems at times far removed from the busyness of the everyday world. I felt at peace here and was enthralled with these sweet glimpses into her personal life, a life of simplicity and dedication to living gently on the earth...Skillfully blended into the tapestry of Gail's story, are practical time tested recipes and remedies for maintaining wellness and vitality through the cycles of menopause...Let the magic take hold as you begin your journey into the ‘the wild terrain of menopause’ with Gail Edwards, a wise wild woman, as your guide.
Rosemary Gladstar, Sage Mountain, Vermont
"Like "New Menopausal Years - The Wise Woman Way", Gail's book will lend you a helping hand during your wild Change. A fun compilation of fancy and fact, story and experience!"
Susun Weed, Wise Woman extraordinaire,Woodstock, New York:
"Gail Faith Edwards’ “Traversing the Wild Terrain” may fool some into thinking it’s another herb book. It is not. This book is like a comforting evening in front of a warm fire and reading it evokes the satisfaction of sipping a hot cup of your favorite herbal tea. While society has largely neglected midlife changes in men, Gail has not. Her words help women and men to understand the changes within themselves. It is more than an herb book. It is a rich tapestry of ideas, information, and stories which brings a confusing subject into comforting focus."
Steven Foster, herbalist and President of the Steven Foster Group, Inc., Brixey, Missouri.
"No herbal that I know of combines the depth of information about herbs (including some that are currently illegal), spices, foods, human anatomy, physiology and nutrition, and the upheavals and promises of midlife that Gail's book does. Sometimes intensely personal, always useful, this book holds interest for anyone who wants to know more about herbs, and life."
Jean English, Editor, The Maine Organic Farmer and Gardener
"Just wanted to drop you an email and say thank you for your wonderfully inspiring and informative book. Most books on menopause come from a very female viewpoint and often make men feel excluded and even a bit angry. I read out loud to my husband as he drove for 700 miles and he loved it - so did I. We are celebrating our 25 wedding anniversary soon and so thank you from those of us that are in long term relationships with men we love so much and long to understand." Kathleen Gould, American Herbalists Guild
"Both my husband and I are in the midst of our mid-life journey. Gail's exploration of the spiritual aspects, along with the emotional and physical aspects of this journey, is very encouraging. Nowhere else have I found information on BOTH women and men in one volume. The herbal "allies" recommended in this book are proving to be valuable support. I'm very grateful!" Jane W.
"Gail Edwards' "Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause" inspired me, even to tears at times, especially when she let me in to her life. Gail's advice is sage cut with mint and chamomile - wise, refreshing, and soothing medicine for young and old alike." Linda Tatelbaum, Colby College English Professor, Author
"'Traversing the Wild Terrain' is a must-have for men and women of all ages. Gail manages to weave her personal life stories together with her herbal wisdom to create a beautiful collection of helpful advice to serve anyone interested in improving their body and spirit. Gail makes it easy to incorporate the healing power of plants into our daily lives by providing simple, practical suggestions. Having just turned 30, I no longer fear the aging process, but anticipate the continued growth and self-knowledge that come with the passing years." Marisa Miyashiro, Occupational Therapist
"This book is food for my soul. I never want it to end!" Holly Elliot, Menopausal Woman
Read an excerpt from Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause; Herbal Allies for Midlife Women and Men
By Gail Faith Edwards below:
Soul-Shaman
From a shamanic perspective, menopause is an initiation process into ageless and ancient midlife mysteries. Why look at menopause from a shamanic perspective? Because shamanic awareness implies deepening, as well as developing personal power, or spirit power. Not power over anyone, or anything, but an inner strength, a power from within.
Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause from a shamanic perspective is walking a beauty path of inner knowing and self realization. Soul work. We are talking about a natural, chemically induced, spiritual growth process, an age-appropriate initiation that connects us to every other human who ever lived to midlife on the planet throughout time. This ancient passage also links us in an unbroken line back to the ceremonies held by ancient indigenous peoples throughout the world, such as the ancient Goddess cultures, the early Mesolithic hunting-gathering societies of Eurasia, and New World cultures.
Like all true shamanic initiations, menopause is a complete metamorphosis that consists of three distinct phases. In today’s world, if you are a woman presenting early menopausal symptoms, your medical doctor may refer to the first phase of this initiation as peri-menopause and offer you hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) to ease the symptoms.
If you are a man, your midlife changes likely bewilder you, and may drive you to take pharmaceutical antidepressants to mask your pain. You can certainly choose these routes if you want to. But please consider another option. Consider a life-affirming, life-honoring surrender to the natural world. Consider Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause from a shamanic perspective.
Allow your unique passage, your sacred story to unfold, unsuppressed, before you. Honor the soul of your menopause and welcome your changes. Allow your menopausal/andropausal symptoms to point the way toward the nourishment you need.
Heart palpitations? Nourish the heart. Uptight? Anxiety-ridden? Jumping out of your skin? Nourish the nervous system. Depressed? Nourish your spirit. Generally run down? Feel like shit? Nourish your immunity. Trust the infinite wisdom of your body/mind/spirit. Allow yourself the opportunity to choose a path that will bring you to the door of self realization, self acceptance, and self love. A path that will lead you into relationship, and therefore connection, with Mother Earth and all your relations. A path that will bring you into resonance with the medicine plants, the nourishing, tonic, and blessed herbs. I encourage you to choose a path of healing and nourishment, a path of beauty, a path of grace. This ancient path I lay before you now.
289 pages
Introduction by Rosemary Gladstar
Published by Bertha Canterbury/Rosina Publishing
Gail Faith Edwards challenges us to consider midlife to be a shamanic journey, then beckons us to join her on this path wrought with wisdom, grace and beauty, as well as discomfort and pain. Gail describes the chemistry of menopause and andropause in great detail, explains how hormonal changes affect both women and men, includes an entire chapter on male menopause and offers groundbreaking insights into how our shifting chemistry affects our lives together as couples.
You’ll find comprehensive information on dozens of herbs that will help ease menopausal woes, enhance physical, emotional and spiritual health and well being, and increase sexual pleasure and performance for both sexes, as well as herbs to protect your heart, bones, and brain, nourish your immune, endocrine, digestive, and nervous systems, alleviate chronic pain, and so much more.
Gail takes us on a poetic journey, shares her life and her dreams, and most of all inspires and empowers the reader to walk a beauty path through midlife leading to the door of rebirth as a wise and healthy elder person with many, many gifts still left to offer.
Excerpt from FOREWORD
By Rosemary Gladstar:
"When you open up the pages of this book, you will step into the `wild terrain of menopause’ from a fresh and unique perspective. Though a book loaded with good advice, traditional herbal remedies and natural therapies that make this transition easier for women ~ and men, Gail goes a full step further. She beckons us along a path that leads to a simpler and saner way of living...into a realm that seems at times far removed from the busyness of the everyday world. I felt at peace here and was enthralled with these sweet glimpses into her personal life, a life of simplicity and dedication to living gently on the earth...Skillfully blended into the tapestry of Gail's story, are practical time tested recipes and remedies for maintaining wellness and vitality through the cycles of menopause...Let the magic take hold as you begin your journey into the ‘the wild terrain of menopause’ with Gail Edwards, a wise wild woman, as your guide.
Rosemary Gladstar, Sage Mountain, Vermont
"Like "New Menopausal Years - The Wise Woman Way", Gail's book will lend you a helping hand during your wild Change. A fun compilation of fancy and fact, story and experience!"
Susun Weed, Wise Woman extraordinaire,Woodstock, New York:
"Gail Faith Edwards’ “Traversing the Wild Terrain” may fool some into thinking it’s another herb book. It is not. This book is like a comforting evening in front of a warm fire and reading it evokes the satisfaction of sipping a hot cup of your favorite herbal tea. While society has largely neglected midlife changes in men, Gail has not. Her words help women and men to understand the changes within themselves. It is more than an herb book. It is a rich tapestry of ideas, information, and stories which brings a confusing subject into comforting focus."
Steven Foster, herbalist and President of the Steven Foster Group, Inc., Brixey, Missouri.
"No herbal that I know of combines the depth of information about herbs (including some that are currently illegal), spices, foods, human anatomy, physiology and nutrition, and the upheavals and promises of midlife that Gail's book does. Sometimes intensely personal, always useful, this book holds interest for anyone who wants to know more about herbs, and life."
Jean English, Editor, The Maine Organic Farmer and Gardener
"Just wanted to drop you an email and say thank you for your wonderfully inspiring and informative book. Most books on menopause come from a very female viewpoint and often make men feel excluded and even a bit angry. I read out loud to my husband as he drove for 700 miles and he loved it - so did I. We are celebrating our 25 wedding anniversary soon and so thank you from those of us that are in long term relationships with men we love so much and long to understand." Kathleen Gould, American Herbalists Guild
"Both my husband and I are in the midst of our mid-life journey. Gail's exploration of the spiritual aspects, along with the emotional and physical aspects of this journey, is very encouraging. Nowhere else have I found information on BOTH women and men in one volume. The herbal "allies" recommended in this book are proving to be valuable support. I'm very grateful!" Jane W.
"Gail Edwards' "Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause" inspired me, even to tears at times, especially when she let me in to her life. Gail's advice is sage cut with mint and chamomile - wise, refreshing, and soothing medicine for young and old alike." Linda Tatelbaum, Colby College English Professor, Author
"'Traversing the Wild Terrain' is a must-have for men and women of all ages. Gail manages to weave her personal life stories together with her herbal wisdom to create a beautiful collection of helpful advice to serve anyone interested in improving their body and spirit. Gail makes it easy to incorporate the healing power of plants into our daily lives by providing simple, practical suggestions. Having just turned 30, I no longer fear the aging process, but anticipate the continued growth and self-knowledge that come with the passing years." Marisa Miyashiro, Occupational Therapist
"This book is food for my soul. I never want it to end!" Holly Elliot, Menopausal Woman
Read an excerpt from Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause; Herbal Allies for Midlife Women and Men
By Gail Faith Edwards below:
Soul-Shaman
From a shamanic perspective, menopause is an initiation process into ageless and ancient midlife mysteries. Why look at menopause from a shamanic perspective? Because shamanic awareness implies deepening, as well as developing personal power, or spirit power. Not power over anyone, or anything, but an inner strength, a power from within.
Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause from a shamanic perspective is walking a beauty path of inner knowing and self realization. Soul work. We are talking about a natural, chemically induced, spiritual growth process, an age-appropriate initiation that connects us to every other human who ever lived to midlife on the planet throughout time. This ancient passage also links us in an unbroken line back to the ceremonies held by ancient indigenous peoples throughout the world, such as the ancient Goddess cultures, the early Mesolithic hunting-gathering societies of Eurasia, and New World cultures.
Like all true shamanic initiations, menopause is a complete metamorphosis that consists of three distinct phases. In today’s world, if you are a woman presenting early menopausal symptoms, your medical doctor may refer to the first phase of this initiation as peri-menopause and offer you hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) to ease the symptoms.
If you are a man, your midlife changes likely bewilder you, and may drive you to take pharmaceutical antidepressants to mask your pain. You can certainly choose these routes if you want to. But please consider another option. Consider a life-affirming, life-honoring surrender to the natural world. Consider Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause from a shamanic perspective.
Allow your unique passage, your sacred story to unfold, unsuppressed, before you. Honor the soul of your menopause and welcome your changes. Allow your menopausal/andropausal symptoms to point the way toward the nourishment you need.
Heart palpitations? Nourish the heart. Uptight? Anxiety-ridden? Jumping out of your skin? Nourish the nervous system. Depressed? Nourish your spirit. Generally run down? Feel like shit? Nourish your immunity. Trust the infinite wisdom of your body/mind/spirit. Allow yourself the opportunity to choose a path that will bring you to the door of self realization, self acceptance, and self love. A path that will lead you into relationship, and therefore connection, with Mother Earth and all your relations. A path that will bring you into resonance with the medicine plants, the nourishing, tonic, and blessed herbs. I encourage you to choose a path of healing and nourishment, a path of beauty, a path of grace. This ancient path I lay before you now.
289 pages
Introduction by Rosemary Gladstar
Published by Bertha Canterbury/Rosina Publishing