sacredcycles

Sacred Cycles: the spiral of women's well being

Have you ever thought about how you would like to be born, wondered why tampon adverts always use blue liquid or dreamed of living in a society with Government-funded luxury hotels for women who needed space? Have you ever wondered why so many women living in the West still believe their bodies are inferior to men's and that others hold responsibility for their health and well being? By comparing the things we have been taught about our bodies to real women's experiences, women-centred research and common sense wisdom, this book explores women's reproductive health and well being through the eyes of women themselves, examining myths and opinions and questioning whether the things we learn from the media and through education systems are serving us well.

Using the image of a patchwork quilt bringing together different fabrics and threads, the chapters explore a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives and aspects of women's life journeys. Drawing on the experiences of over 100 women, the major transitions of women's lives are explored, and woven in with consideration of how we 'know' things about our bodies. Does science have all the answers, or is there a space for other ways of knowing? Are medical recommendations more accurate than old wives' tales? How do women care for themselves during their menstrual cycles, or during menopause, and would it be better to turn our ideas of health and healing upside down?

From procreation to menopause art, this is also a book about celebrating women's lifespirals and creativity, in every sense of the word. In offering an overview of the issues in different areas, lists of key resources to enable further exploration and words which honour women's experiences and knowledge, this book enables women to realise that they are the experts in their own lives and health, and enables men to deepen their understanding of who we are.

Sacred Cycles was written by Sara Wickham; a midwife, teacher, researcher and workshop leader whose passions include knowledge, chocolate and enabling women to centre themselves in their own lives and health.

Sacred Cycles the spiral of women's well being


Welcome! This web page is an extension of a book ~ and links to a list of resources for women. If you haven't read the book and would like to know more about it, then read on, or click the link on the right to buy a copy of your own! If you have read the book, then thank you, and I hope you enjoyed it! If you keep scrolling down, you will find a link to a page of resources and more information on some of the topics discussed, along with links to related books and web sites...		Buy the book!





Sacred Cycles: the spiral of women's well being Have you ever thought about how you would like to be born, wondered why tampon adverts always use blue liquid or dreamed of living in a society with Government-funded luxury hotels for women who needed space? Have you ever wondered why so many women living in the West still believe their bodies are inferior to men's and that others hold responsibility for their health and well being? By comparing the things we have been taught about our bodies to real women's experiences, women-centred research and common sense wisdom, this book explores women's reproductive health and well being through the eyes of women themselves, examining myths and opinions and questioning whether the things we learn from the media and through education systems are serving us well. Using the image of a patchwork quilt bringing together different fabrics and threads, the chapters explore a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives and aspects of women's life journeys. Drawing on the experiences of over 100 women, the major transitions of women's lives are explored, and woven in with consideration of how we 'know' things about our bodies. Does science have all the answers, or is there a space for other ways of knowing? Are medical recommendations more accurate than old wives' tales? How do women care for themselves during their menstrual cycles, or during menopause, and would it be better to turn our ideas of health and healing upside down? From procreation to menopause art, this is also a book about celebrating women's lifespirals and creativity, in every sense of the word. In offering an overview of the issues in different areas, lists of key resources to enable further exploration and words which honour women's experiences and knowledge, this book enables women to realise that they are the experts in their own lives and health, and enables men to deepen their understanding of who we are. Sacred Cycles was written by Sara Wickham; a midwife, teacher, researcher and workshop leader whose passions include knowledge, chocolate and enabling women to centre themselves in their own lives and health.





what women think ... about their menstrual cycles "Well I can tell you we remember it because nobody talked to us about it, we could never consult with anybody about it, well they just had to get on with it because I don't think it was really recognised. We used to feel low and think that's the period coming along. That's something we used to have to fight for ourselves." (Rose, 80) "You're not allowed to acknowledge it, to pander if you like to your biological status at any given time because life goes on in the same pattern and you have to keep on the hamster wheel. Society just doesn't make allowances for normal fluctuations in the hormonal state and it's a bit of a joke isn't it really, you know 'why does it take 3 women with PMS to change a light bulb', [shouting] 'BECAUSE IT JUST DOES!'. It's not given serious consideration." (Jasmine, 39) (Sacred Cycles is partly based on interviews with over 100 women; the excerpts on this page are taken from the book: these are from Chapter 9: A Time to Dance.)





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a few thoughts on ... the sensations of pregnancy and birth "There is little doubt we have reached a point in our social and cultural development where we have a tendency to medicate lots of aspects of our lives. There are drugs or treatments available for almost everything that causes us any kind of pain. We learn that pain is bad, and that it can and should be removed from our lives. Yet, if women didn't experience sensations when they went into labour, we might be having our babies in supermarkets, or other places that are less than ideal ... Perhaps we become confused by the fact that there is more than one kind of pain; the kind of pain that tells us that something is not right with our body, and the kind of pain that comes from doing hard work for a long time." (Sacred Cycles; Chapter 13: the sensations of labour and birth)





a few thoughts on ... the in-between "Where is the sacred space for the middle-aged woman? She may be busy working hard and successfully in her career, supporting the young women and men who were once her children but who have now gone away to study or start families of their own. She may be at home, having waved her children goodbye as they went into the world, wondering what will happen in her life next. She may be making plans to study or take a 'gap year' herself, or she may, as is increasingly common, still be at home with young children, having started her own family later in life. Wherever and whoever she is, she may be on a journey that isn't visible from the outside. The in-between-ness may be soaking into her pores, causing her to enrol for a PhD or pick up her knitting again, like Monika, or, then again, perhaps she will not experience the in-between at all. Is it a coincidence that a fair number of women reach this stage and then decide they are not, after all, happy with their marriage? Were Shirley Valentine and Thelma and Louise exploring the in-between?" (Sacred Cycles, Chapter 20: celebrating the matriarch)





what women think ... about the menopause [What I was offered was] HRT or a long walk home ... When I said I was worried about HRT and didn't want to [take it] unless I really had to, he wasn't interested. What I wanted, though … I just wanted to know more. (Fiona) "I think it's difficult when you're start going through it because you sort of lose your own confidence … having been a very confident woman you start to swing and think 'oh, you can't do that'. On the other hand it's great fun because people expect you be that bit more batty and outspoken. Then there is that feeling that because you're older you've experienced more life and looked at it longer … that what you say is worth considering, not necessarily following, but considering." (Frances) (Sacred Cycles is partly based on interviews with over 100 women; the excerpts on this page are taken from the book: these are from Chapter 22: Positive Menopause.)
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