Peri-menopause, elderhood, cultural mythology, psychology and midwifery -An interview with Dr Sharon Blackie

The Midwives' Cauldron

In this episode of the cauldron we have Dr. Sharon Blackie; award-winning writer, psychologist and mythologist. Her highly acclaimed books, lectures and workshops are focused on the development of the mythic imagination, and on the relevance of myth, fairy tales and folk traditions to the personal, cultural and environmental problems we face today.

As well as writing five books of fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling If Women Rose Rooted, and her new book Hagitude, her writing has appeared in anthologies, collections and in several international media outlets – among them the Guardian, the Irish Times, the i and the Scotsman. Her books have been translated into several languages, and she has been interviewed by the BBC, US public radio and other broadcasters on her areas of expertise. Her awards include the Roger Deakin Award, and a Creative Scotland Writer’s Award.

Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and has taught and lectured at several academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world. Her TEDx talk on the mythic imagination can be viewed here.
During the episode

• We delve deep into the world of wise and influential women in native mythology and what this means for navigating peri-menopause and elderhood.
• We ask Sharon what we can learn from the myths embedded in our cultures.
• We take a look at the profession of midwifery as traditionally midwives were the older women, not mothers themselves or past the mothering stage. We talk about how it is this group of women that can be leading the changes in the birth world. Not leaving it only to the younger midwives to fight.
• We discuss the overarching patriarchal messages which purport that menopause is an ‘illness’ to be fixed, cured, or masked so we can continue to look like young maidens.
• And we hear about the power of elderhood, and what we can learn even if we are still in our mother years or just coming into perimenopause.

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