Menopause: A Natural and Spiritual Journey Paperback – May 16, 2012

I was DESPERATE to find uplifting, positive, reassuring information about what my mind and body were going through during this "change" of life. My endless Internet searches did nothing but scare me!!! Then I found Colette's amazing book and read it in one weekend, highlighting every page of her wisdom that was pertinent to me, I scribbled notes of self-encouragement in the margins, and I knew, no matter what, everything was going to be alright. How can one express enough gratitude for that? I will keep this book with me always. Thank you so very much for telling your story Colette!

This is a very helpful book for someone who may be entering menopause (and I would imagine, at any point in the transition). I've read it once already and am sure I will read it again. There's SO much familiar, in it! :) That helps!!!I love Colette's books!

Let me begin by saying I have never written a review on Amazon before but this book was so wonderful that I just had to!"Menopause: A Natural and Spiritual Journey" is far being from being a medical journal or a greying pamphlet unrecognisable in content but instead offers a meditative exploration of Menopause that is at all times fresh, funny and completely genuine. Brown emphasizes the deeply personal and sometimes unbecoming details of her journey; the book is leaden in pure emotion because these events are lifted straight from her life.The exploration of the symptoms of menopause through good-humoured anecdotes is at all times accompanied by a recurring theme of physical and spiritual regeneration and Brown as a former pharmacist turned writer/clairvoyant seems like the ideal person to tackle this subject matter in an ultimately balanced way. Brown impresses upon the reader she is `being honest' and this truthfulness is potent from the first page and indeed one of the strongest qualities of the book.She presents notion of everything being connected, the physical, spiritual and emotional and provides mediations and mantras to help the reader through the process. These meditations are very useful and can be personalised in the way that suits the reader. The colourful anecdotes are without a doubt entertaining and you can feel the friendly, supportive nature of the author through the book.There is not one bit of dull psychobabble to be found but instead a journey detailing the many complexities of Menopause in which the author exquisitely shows the darkly humorous side which often escapes other books written on the subject.Brown also challenges the negative identity that society has cultured of older women and urges the reader to dissociate themselves from the idea of `old crone." She disputes this perception in a media age where there seems to be little accurate representation of older women and I admire her for doing so."Menopause: A Natural and Spiritual Journey" is a very personal, intimate book that presents Menopause as a positive experience. It is at all times both uplifting and hopeful and I highly recommend it!

This engaging and highly unique work went beyond the boundaries of what I had expected. It gives a different and yet, simplistic take on the menopause. Trained as a pharmacist, the author understands the shortfalls of medication only too well and presents an original template on working with the menopause by using North American wisdom in the form of smudging, various crystals and the Four Directions. Being in the midst of menopause myself I particularly found the South and North polarity helpful which is moving from the place of the child(emotions) to the North (intellect) . Her suggestion of stilling the emotions by aligning with the mind, intellect has always worked very well with me in the past and it is interesting to know why!The book is divided into sections such as 'Mood Swing Purgatory','Sweaty Betty',Chin Hair and Belly Hell'! Concluding each of these with meditations for mood swings, exhaustion, lack of confidence and an alignment with a higher power through a mantra. The author writes with humour and empathy and there is a sense of not being alone in the menopause, but being aligned with a spiritual far reaching and vibrant energy which is deeply healing. On a more sober note, she writes' If our children and grandchildren see us raging against the aging process by filling our faces with botox and our breasts with silicone, what message does that give them about the dignity of ageing?' Highly recommended!

This book is a unique and beautiful GIFT! Simple yet effective, emotional yet practical, deep yet easy to read, written with exquisite sensitivity, it is empowering to the max. With reference to the most powerful symbols in history - moon, circles, blood, spirit, smoke, fire, plants, bees and more - this book reclaims modern society's tragic disconnection from nature and myth. The book invokes spiritual and feminine power to the point that you will experience the resurrection of the powerful Goddess within you while you're reading .... if you dare!!! If modern medicine were geared to the spiritual ways of thinking that Ms Colette Brown suggests, then there would be no negative views and experiences of menopause in our spiritually lost society. As a Psychologist with 20 years professional experience, I assure you that if you want to be truly happy and healthy, then don't miss a book that acknowledges the empowering spiritual side of menopausal health, OK? Dr Julie-Anne Sykley

My close friend suggested I read Menopause: A Natural and Spiritual Journey. It is an extremely enjoyable read, of which the author should be proud. The advice contained in this book is extremely beneficial, however it is the honesty of the author and the humorous way in which she describes the journey through menopause that particularly held my attention.I appreciated the advice contained on the benefits of meditation during this wonderful (albeit at time times trying) time of my life.I would highly recommend this book, as it is refreshing, informative and honest. I also dare you to attempt to read the whole book without laughing out loud on several occasions.

Reading this book I really related to the link with menopause and spirituality. I have come through menopause in recent years and spirituality has been a natural consequence for me. If you feel you are at a crossroads in your life, then I recommend this book. I personally did not do everything naturally as the author was able to. She herself is a pharmacist and understands the importance of good medical care. I had a pretty bad hormone imbalance and have a good doctor to help me with that, but the book certainly relates to how I feel at this important turning point in every woman's life. A good read for those of us looking for answers in life.

I downloaded it to my Kindle on Friday...and read it cover to cover in one sitting. I then ordered the paperback copy because I am going to work through it properly and I prefer to do that from a 'real' book.When I had finished reading, it was as if a light bulb had been switched on and was followed by a huge flood of relief that someone else had experienced what I was going through and had come out the other side relatively unscathed. This book is going to be my life saver, I just know it.Colette takes you through her very own personal journey and I found myself nodding the whole way through - "yep I have that, yep I feel that, yep that's happening to me". But then she provides the reader with the framework and structure to deal with each symptom and issue from a spiritual perspective. I say framework because she shows you how she dealt with it from her shamanic perspective but encourages you to make it your own. There are meditation and mantra suggestions and the idea to find your own goddess to work through it all with.I cannot tell you how relieved and happy I am to have remembered about this little gem, I haven't even started working with it properly yet but already I am feeling better!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me understand a bit more hat the feelings I'm having, are not me going mad, but are totally natural! I'm not afraid to very nowand it the author has made me realize that the negative feelings WILL pass. Thank you Colette Brown. In reading your journey, I now understand mine more clearly.5 stars. Xx

Does not elaborate on other spiritualities is strickly one way.

Not what I expected from the reviews. No real advise and I stopped reading half way through as it was a little boring. Save your money.