Seasons and Cycles: A Transformational Weekend Exploring Womanhood
This past weekend, I crossed a profound threshold during an experiential workshop led by Samara Hawthorn of Wellmama CIC. Among the many powerful rituals, we all found strong themes relating to each other and the women in our own lives.
It’s hard to put into words the transformation that happens when women come together in this way. Perhaps that’s why it’s referred to as the “blood mysteries.” The workshop introduced the concept of life’s seasons, mirroring the menstrual cycle’s inner seasons:
Summer: The peak of ovulation and high energy.
Autumn: A time of introspection as energy wanes.
Winter: The low-energy bleed, a retreat into stillness.
Spring: Energy begins to rise once more.
These same rhythms echo through the larger seasons of our lives,
and over the weekend,
we journeyed through each one with reverence and reflection.
Spring: Maidenhood and New Beginnings
Spring is the crossing from child to maiden, marked by menarche – the first bleed. Though society rarely celebrates this initiation today, it is a powerful moment of transformation, ushering girls into their fertile years. Imagine creating a supportive community for our daughters, honouring their transition with love and ceremony. When we heal our own stories, we heal our lineage – past and future.
During the workshop, two women revisited and celebrated their menarche, connecting with their inner child to heal and reclaim parts of themselves. We were reminded that the wounds of our younger years can be transformed, and the nurturing energy we needed then can be recreated now.
Summer: Motherhood and Creation
The season of summer represents the creative force of motherhood – whether through birthing children or nurturing projects and passions. A woman’s body becomes the vessel for creation, surrendering to the miracle of life.
We also explored the concept of the Blessingway, a sacred alternative to the commercialised baby shower. Unlike baby showers, which often centre on gifts and games (sometimes even binge drinking!), a Blessingway honours the mother-to-be. Friends gather to braid her hair, whisper blessings, and offer heartfelt support. I experienced this beautiful tradition before the birth of my second child, and the energy from that gathering carried me through months – even the labour itself.
During the weekend, we held space for women who were mothers that hadn’t experienced this kind of celebration before, or who were calling in their fertility. Honouring these mothers in such a sacred way was deeply moving, reminding us of the importance of true support during life’s major transitions.
Instead of indulging in consumerism, perhaps we can channel resources into postnatal care: meal rotas, postnatal massage, or hiring a doula. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among mothers between six weeks and one year postpartum. We’ve got it so wrong – let’s shift the focus back to nourishing and honouring the mother.
Autumn: Reflection and Discernment
After the intensity of mothering or years spent pouring energy into life’s creative projects, autumn brings a slower pace. It’s a season of reflection – a time to sift through life’s experiences, keeping the gold and leaving behind what no longer serves us.
This is the time of the matriarch, a woman stepping into wisdom and discernment. Each path is unique, yet when we share our stories, we weave a collective tapestry of strength.
At the workshop, I was honoured at the threshold of my own transition from motherhood to matriarch. Society often shames ageing women, but this ceremony encouraged us to embrace this chapter of life with pride. Let’s bring back rituals to honour the wisdom gained through a lifetime, allowing us to reflect, pause, and step forward with clarity.
Winter: The Wise Crone and the End of Life
Winter marks the crone years – a time of wisdom and preparation for the ultimate transition: death. This weekend, we confronted mortality with reverence, practising the art of shrouding in a deeply moving ceremony.
Death is often feared or avoided in modern society. The sacred rituals once carried out by communities have been commercialised into sterile funeral homes. Yet death, like birth, can be a meaningful rite of passage when embraced with love, presence, and shared grief.
This work reminded us to reclaim sovereignty over death – whether through choosing a death doula, planning ceremonies, or exploring natural burial options. By preparing for the inevitable, we honour both life and death with grace.
The Profound Power of Ceremony
One of the most transformative moments of the weekend was the sweat lodge. Midway through our time together, we joined with our wider community sisterhood and entered the womb-like space, bare and vulnerable. Inside, we sang, sweated, laughed, cried, and connected deeply with the earth beneath us. Emerging hours later, something had shifted. We were the same women, yet transformed – stripped of adornments, more deeply connected to ourselves and each other.
This weekend gifted me a deeper understanding of what it means to be a woman, here and now. I feel immense gratitude for the sisters who walked this path alongside me and for Samara, whose wisdom and humility created the container for such profound healing.
If this resonates with you,
I encourage you to explore Samara’s 13 Moons Training
or check out Well Mama CIC on Insta.
It’s an honour to be part of this growing movement to reclaim our sacred rites of passage,
not just for ourselves but for the generations to come.
Some of My Great Teachers Along the Way
& Some Useful Links
Uma Dinsmore-Tuli:
Author of Yoni Shakti and the incredible teacher who initiated me as a teacher of Pregnancy & Womb Yoga. She is also the founder of Santosa Living Bhakti and the Yoga Family Camp.
Visit Uma’s WebsiteJanine Hurley:
Founder of Creative Calm Studio in Prestwich, Janine introduced me to the world of yoga and opened my eyes to a whole new way of living and being.
Explore Creative Calm StudioEdwina Staniforth:
Medical herbalist, hedge witch, wild crafter, and all-around wise woman. She now runs Wild Weeds and Medicines online alongside the equally brilliant Danielle – two powerful teachers sharing their gifts.
Discover Wild Weeds and MedicinesRed School:
The work of Alexandra Pope and her team, focusing on menstruality and cyclical living.
Though I’ve not yet met Alexandra, Uma often spoke highly of her, and much of her teachings have been passed on through the yogic path I’ve walked.
Learn More About Red SchoolVanessa Brooks and Deb Rhodes of Da-a-Luz Post Modern Midwifery School:
The co-creators of the Path to Midwifery Course, held here each year over nine months.
Their teachings and vision are the very reason I am here, immersed in this work.
Discover Da-a-Luz Post Modern Midwifery School
Of course, there are far more incredible teachers and guides who have touched my journey, but these are the ones who stand out in relation to this work and who continue to offer teachings today.
Hi I’m Emma
I would love to support you in creating some of these rituals and ceremonies in your own lives.
Check out my Mothers Blessing packages, or feel free to get in touch, leave a comment, or join a Mama Circle every Sunday at 5pm – completely free of charge.
These circles are small, intimate talking ceremonies, and that’s how we start – with the small things.