The Virgin Forest: A Perimenopause Portal

This is part of the Weave the Unfolding series that honours our mid-life awakeneing. This circle is dedicated to perimenopause. It is not focused on the physical change but rather the spiritual transformation that comes alive alongside the hot flashes and brain fog.

Autumn is connected to the queen, virgin, mage or wild woman archetype. It is also the perimenopausal portal for folks with wombs and blood cycles. Just like a queen or virgin forest, we are whole unto ourselves.The threshold that stands in our way at menopause is the chance to reclaim our life, and what our soul's code was meant for. It is a time to remember what we love, reclaim what we were meant to do with our life, and also to re-wild in the best possible way.

Fall is the time where we balance light and dark. It is the time where we start to compost and shed what is coming to completion. Known as the harvest season, we honour the Earth and the Earth that is our own body. September honours the turning of the wheel, October is when we notice the veil is the thin between our world and our ideally departed. If our womb is our oracle, the luteal stage is the shape-shifting truth teller.

We’re turning even more towards the darkness.

What needs to die in you in order to be reborn as the autumn queen that you are? What roles have you been playing for others, but at your own expense? It is time to step into your sovereignty and let go of the roles of servitude.

Come Join the Ceremony

I would be so honoured if you would join me and others as we celebrate this threshold and rite of passage. It is not acknowledged with reverence as it should be and so this circle gathering is one way to create more ceremony for this radical transformation.

Together we will celebrate becoming whole unto ourselves, honouring our Inner Queen or Mage, caring for our wombs and red thread line, and honour the cycles of the earth and our own bodies. This container centres our crown, heart and wombs as a way to hold space for perimenopause. This is a sacred journey to honour your in your fullest mind body and soul.

To Prepare and Arrive

In this circle, we will discuss the cyclical nature of our menstrual cycle, connect to the story of our red thread menstrual line, and also weave in some magic with a snakeskin shedding ritual craft and a guided meditation. This circle also blends somatic practices like womb breathwork with story-telling and listening. We will also incorporate journal reflections and a soothing cup of tea. We will follow a spiral path that flows by honouring the rites of passage - grief, separation, transition, and integration.

Tentative Flow:

1:30 Arrival and Landing

1:45 Introductions and Landing Together

2:00 Casting the Circle

2:15 Red Thread Journey Meditation

2:30 Journal Reflections and Discussion about our Cycles

3:00 Ritual Craft honouring what we are shedding

3:30 Embodiment Practice and Setting Intentions

4:00 Closing the Circle

**Give yourself lots of time to arrive.** There is limited street parking nearby and the closest subway is Lansdowne. Please do not arrive earlier than this as it takes me time to set up and cleanse the space beforehand. There is a coffee shop below the venue.

Please bring a seat cushion and/or yoga mat, a journal and pen, altar item for the communal altar that represents your in your fullest essence.

Location: a beautiful community space in the Junction Triangle. Please note there is a set of stairs to this venue.

A detailed email will be sent upon registration, including more about what to bring. The agenda flow may change based on what calls to me and is present in the group container.

This circle is for women and femme folk with wombs who are in perimenopause, are close to this life stage, or have crossed the portal into menopause and want to be held and seen for this rite of passage.

This circle is in celebration of World Menopause Day on October 18, please come join us!

About Your Guide Vania Sukola

Vania is a ritualist, moon witch, and pleasure alchemist. Her pleasure work conjures a deeply felt aliveness, by connecting to the present moment rooted in beauty and nature, with all senses attuned to a delicious moment of awe. In her work as a feminist therapist, breathwork coach, circle facilitator, and grief tender, she holds space for women as they navigate rites of passage. She centres her work with feminism, somatic nervous system resourcing, and sacred feminine spirituality. Her most treasured identities are mother, friend and partner. As a daughter of immigrants, she is finding her Slavic roots after losing her own mother. As someone who honours the sacred feminine and how it lives in each of us, vania is coming to the end of her journey with perimenopause, and is embracing the gift of apprenticing as a future Crone. Dancing, good chocolate, flowers, making practical magic, and howling at the moon with friends turns her on, and lights her up!

Go tohttps://vaniasukola.ca/weave-the-unfolding-circles/ to learn more about my offerings and stories.

“Vania holds space so beautifully, leading with her heart. The care that goes into preparing for a circle is so clear when in the space with her. The ability to drop into such a safe container makes it possible to be all the more present and connected to the hands-on play and exploration of ritual craft, which invites in both levity and a sense of grounding.” Candace

Host or Publisher vania sukola