At the end of each podcast episode, I close by saying, "we will see you again on the dark side of the moon". I chose this language because of the way moon phases have been divinely associated with menstruation throughout antiquity. The dark side of the moon is under the dominion of the crone, the wise one, the astrological sign of Scorpio, the goddess Hecate, and Orisa Oya. It is a place of power, ancient magic, healing, ancestral connection and transformation. The idea of the dark side of the moon may also illicit an image of place that is cold, barren, volatile and inhabitable. If I'm honest, the latter imagery has also come to mind for me more than I wanted to acknowledge and I felt conflicted about wanting to intentionally explore a space that felt like a distant dark outpost---uninviting, isolating and possibly dangerous. How would I reconcile these feelings and step more fully into this unknown?
It sounds simplistic, but I decided to trust my gut because my wisdom and the ancient wisdom of the people who have come before me lives there. I had a hunch that there had to be more to the dark side of the moon. I had a hunch that in the place ripe for the deep shadow work of unlearning the hard wiring we have received around the evolving and aging bodies of women, women identified and gender expansive people, there would be evidence of life flourishing in a new form.
Much like the deeper depths of the ocean, the dark side of the moon, menopause and aging has been woefully unexplored leading to cultural and societal assumptions and norms that problematize and pathologizes this transformation. I decided to focus on the dark side of the moon, for people navigating menopause and aging, as a potent place of liminality and rites of passage. An in betweenness and a pathway of exploration in need of illumination. A place where we could re-write the story menopause and aging together honoring ALL our voices.
Welcome to our first recap! In this dispatch from our basecamp on the dark side of the moon, you will hear some of the voices, narratives, questions and wisdom offered to our podcast during Season 3. As we prepare to launch Season 4 of the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, the entire team wants to thank you for joining us on this journey. We also hope to continue to carve a wide and well lit path for other folks finding their way and we are eager to learn more about the rich experiences of people navigating menopause at the intersections of their personhood, truths, hopes and dreams.
See you soon!
PS
THANK YOU Season 3 guest: Cherizar Crippen, Aja Taylor, Makani Themba, Paris Hatcher, Chass Grissom, Shannon Houston, Aunjanue Ellis, Dr. Sunyatta Amen, Goody Howard, Dr. Cindy Duke, Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas, Luenell, Stacy London and Dr. Jennifer Mullan!!
To LEARN MORE about the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, click www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com
FOLLOW US on IG @blackgirlsguidetomenopause and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BlackgirlsguidetoMenopause
Become a PATRON https://www.patreon.com/blackgirlsguidetomenopause
Credits:
Produced by Mariah M.
Narration by Omisade Burney-Scott and Mariah M.
New Opening Theme Music by Taj Scott
Youtube (opensource) sounds effects provided by:
- Q Suay's channel | UI Sound Design by Erik
- z3n pnk's channel
- Universe (Serge)'s channel
