Redefining Menopause – Rethinking the Heroine’s Journey

What if menopause isn’t the end of your story, but the beginning of a whole new chapter?

Yes, I know - it’s Tuesday.

But in true midlife fashion, Menopause Monday arrives when it’s good and ready.
(And really, isn’t that half the point of midlife? You stop rushing to meet everyone else’s schedule and start honouring your own rhythm.)

This week’s episode is especially close to my heart. I’m diving into the idea of menopause not as a breakdown, but a breakthrough - a rite of passage that brings you back to your true self. Think less “hot mess express” and more sacred unravelling. It’s vulnerable, empowering, and honestly, a perspective I wish I’d heard years ago.

But before we get into that…

A quick update on The Daily Renewal.

You know, the book I’ve poured my heart, soul, and about 187 hours of cover design trauma into?

I think we’re nearly there.

The release is (hopefully) happening on June 2nd - although Amazon likes to keep things vague, like an aloof cat that may or may not turn up for dinner. I’ll keep you posted.

Also, yes - I changed the cover. Again.

This will be version 4 (or is it 5?). The earlier designs were too structured and didn’t match the spirit of the book - which is gentle, fluid, and very human.

So I’ve gone for something more organic, featuring a soft background and a simple Enso symbol that feels truer to the energy of the book. Fingers crossed it prints well - KDP has a habit of making things look like they’ve been left out in the rain.

Anyway, if you’ve ever tried to do something deeply meaningful and found yourself knee-deep in second guesses, smudgy test prints, and “oh jeepers, not another round of edits”… I see you. You’re not alone.

And that’s actually what this week’s post is all about - embracing the messy middle, especially during menopause, and recognising it as a powerful, even sacred, transition.

Scroll down to read or watch - and if this lands for you, I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via reply.

With love and design fatigue,

Kate 💛

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been handed a script your whole life - one where menopause equals decline - hot flushes, brain fog, random rage, dry everything… and then apparently, we just fade quietly into beige cardigans.

But what if that’s not the whole truth?

What if menopause is not the end of the story, but a very particular kind of beginning?

What if it’s not a malfunction… but a metamorphosis?

Today I want to talk about menopause as a rite of passage—a heroine’s journey.
Because when we stop pathologising this phase, we start to reclaim its power.

The Myth We Inhaled

You don’t have to look far to see how our culture views menopausal women.

We’re either invisible, cranky, or punchlines. Or we’re seen as delicate and broken - something to be managed with medication, silence, and a bit of wine.

And sure, symptoms are real. I’m not bypassing that. But we’ve been conditioned to only see the suffering - not the symbolism.

What if those symptoms… are actually signals? Not signs you’re broken, but invitations. To slow down. To reassess. To stop betraying yourself in the name of being ‘nice’ or ‘useful.’

It’s like your soul has had enough of your people-pleasing. Enough of the performance. And it’s sending in the hot flushes and insomnia like little spiritual alarms going, “Right then. Time to wake up. Time to stop pretending.”

Sound familiar?

The Heroine’s Journey: Our Missing Map

You might have heard of the Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell. Star Wars. Lord of the Rings. All about a man going off to slay a dragon and come back with a treasure.

But that’s not our story, is it?

Our journey isn’t linear. It’s cyclical. Seasonal. Deep.
Less slaying dragons, more shedding skins.
Less marching forward, more spiralling inward.

Our heroine’s journey often starts with something being taken away.
Our roles shift. Hormones shift. Our tolerance for nonsense definitely shifts.
And the first part of the journey? It’s often disorienting.

But it’s not decline; it’s descent.

The Descent: What the World Calls Falling Apart

Let’s call this the initiation phase.

It can feel like you’re falling apart, but what’s really happening is that you’re being dismantled. Lovingly. Relentlessly. From the inside out.

You start forgetting appointments.
You walk into a room and forget why.
You feel irritated by things you used to tolerate.

You might find yourself crying for no reason - or suddenly realising you’ve been living out someone else’s expectations for the past twenty years.

This isn’t just hormones - it’s disruption.
It’s the archetypal descent into the underworld.

Like Persephone. Or Inanna.
Every wise woman has had to go underground. Strip back.
Die to who she was, to remember who she really is.

So no - you’re not broken.
You’re in the cocoon. You’re moulting.

The Brain Changes Too: It’s Not All in Your Head—It Is Your Head

This is where the science gets juicy.

During perimenopause, your brain is literally being rewired. It’s not your imagination that you can’t multitask like you used to, or that you don’t care about the same things anymore.

The parts of your brain responsible for people-pleasing, perfectionism, and over-functioning? They start quietening down.

You’re losing the neural noise and gaining clarity.

Neuroscientists have shown that after menopause, many women report increased focus, confidence, and creativity.

So yes, you may cry in the middle of Tesco. But you also might start writing that book. Launching that business. Saying no without guilt for the first time in your life.

Your brain is not declining. It’s refining.
It’s shedding the excess and sharpening the signal.

The Initiation: Trials, Truth, and the Yurt Fantasy

This is the middle of the heroine’s journey - the trials and temptations phase.

You might fantasise about moving to a yurt.
Or quitting your job. Or ghosting half your contact list.

This is normal.

Why? Because menopause is an unmasking.

You’re no longer hormonally wired to smooth things over.
You see through nonsense.
You stop apologising for existing.

You might start setting boundaries.
You might have long-overdue conversations.
You might leave relationships that are long past their expiry date.

This isn’t selfishness. This is sovereignty.

You’re not turning into a dragon. You’re turning into a woman who finally knows her worth.

The Elixir: What You Bring Back

So what happens when you emerge from that cocoon?

You bring back the medicine.

The wisdom.
The laugh lines that came from surviving.
The authority that doesn’t need external approval.

You become the woman younger women need to see.
The one who says: ‘It’s okay to take up space. It’s okay to change. You don’t have to earn your rest anymore.’

You stop shape-shifting to fit the room - and start letting the room shift around you.

Your Invitation To Unfurl

So… if you’re somewhere on this journey - whether you’re in the rage, the fog, or the breakthrough - I want you to know:

You’re not broken. You’re being rebuilt.

You’re not fading - you’re unfurling.

And this journey? It’s not just yours. It’s ancient. It’s necessary. And it’s powerful.

This isn’t the end of your story.
It’s the chapter where you finally become the author.

If this landed for you, share it with a friend.
Comment below with where you’re at on your own journey.

This is your rite of passage. You are allowed to honour it.