Menopause, the Nervous System and the Quiet Medicine of Scent
As an aromatherapist and therapist of 37 years, I’ve seen again and again how scent holds women through the hardest of times. Essential oils are not just “nice extras.” They are one of the most direct ways the body remembers safety. A single breath of oil can bypass the thinking mind and speak straight to the parts of us that hold memory, grief, and emotion.
When we think about menopause, the conversation usually begins and ends with hormones. Yet underneath, another layer quietly shapes our experience,the nervous system.
The vagus nerve, sometimes called the soul nerve, runs like a hidden thread through the heart, lungs, gut and womb. It carries messages between body and brain, letting us know if we are safe or under threat. When well-regulated, the vagus nerve supports calm digestion, steady heartbeat, restful sleep and a sense of being grounded in our own skin. But when it is strained by years of stress, trauma, or burnout, the body struggles to leave survival mode. And menopause, with its natural shifts, can tip that system further.
This is why symptoms like anxiety, palpitations, brain fog, exhaustion and digestive issues can feel so loud during midlife. It isn’t only about declining hormones. It’s about the nervous system asking to be cared for.
Here, scent becomes a quiet medicine. Oils like Rose and Patchouli do more than create fragrance. Rose opens the heart, offering softness and compassion when we feel raw or lonely. Patchouli steadies us, reminding the body it can come back to ground even when the world feels uncertain. Together, they form a beautiful balance,tenderness, compassion and strength.
These practices do not have to be complicated. A drop of oil in the palm, inhaled slowly. A few moments of humming or gentle breathing. A ritual of anointing the skin at night. In these quiet ways, the body learns safety again. Over time, the nervous system begins to recalibrate, and menopause feels less like a storm and more like an unfolding.
Menopause is not just a hormonal story. It is also a nervous system story. And when we tend to both, this season can become one of healing, renewal, and even power.
✨ I share more reflections, rituals and resources over on my Substack: Sacred Menopause
Unpacking the HRT Controversy:
What Every Midlife Woman Deserves to Know
For years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has carried a shadow, a sense of danger, uncertainty, and confusion. Many women, especially therapists, carers, and holistic practitioners, have internalised a silent fear of HRT. But where did it begin?
Let’s go back to 2002,the year everything changed.
The WHI Study: The Research That Sparked a Storm
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study made headlines worldwide when it claimed that HRT significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Almost overnight, millions of women stopped taking HRT. Doctors grew cautious. Therapists and holistic professionals, in particular, turned to natural alternatives, not always from choice, but from fear.
But what most people don’t know is this:
The WHI study was flawed, deeply flawed.
Here’s What Went Wrong:
The study used synthetic hormones (not body-identical HRT that is now widely available).
The average age of participants was 63, and many were years past menopause.
The study was not designed to reflect real-world use for women entering perimenopause or early menopause.
Despite these flaws, the media coverage caused lasting damage to women’s health decisions.
The Truth About Modern HRT
Today’s HRT looks very different from the early 2000s. We now have body-identical hormones (also known as bioidentical), like Oestrogel and Utrogestan, that are molecularly identical to the hormones your body naturally produces.
When prescribed appropriately, ideally during perimenopause or within 10 years of menopause HRT has been shown to support long-term health, not harm it.
Evidence-Based Benefits Include:
Brain Health: Improved memory, mood, and reduced risk of dementia
Bone Health: Stronger bones + reduced risk of osteoporosis
Heart Protection: When started early, HRT can protect cardiovascular health
Symptom Relief: Hot flushes, anxiety, insomnia, and joint pain can all improve
Why It Matters (Especially for Therapists & Holistic Women)
I see so many women professionals, empaths, therapists, silently suffering through menopause, unsure if they “should” consider HRT because they were told it’s unnatural or risky.
But natural does not always mean better. And medical does not mean misaligned with your values.
You deserve to make informed choices.
Without fear. Without shame. Without outdated myths clouding your options.
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Menopause
My role as a trauma-informed menopause mentor is not to tell you what to do, but to help you make empowered, informed decisions that honour your mind, body, and nervous system.
Whether you choose HRT, holistic therapies, or a blend of both, your journey is valid.
Let’s leave fear behind and enter a new era of women’s health: clear, conscious, compassionate, and evidence-based.
Rose
The Menopausal Midbrain: Why We Lose Our Words And How to Get Them Back
A deeper look at memory loss, language, and voice in midlife
We’ve all joked about “menopause brain.”
The lost keys. Even my grandson who is only 2 says when we are ready to leave the house “Where’s nannies keys?”
The forgotten words… like I am often completely mortified when I get my words mixed up, I’m aware of it, but still, it just happens, it also frightens me a bit too… like is this the beginning of alzheimer’s/ dementia… you can’t help think these things when you hit 59 can you!
I tell myself it’s just brain fog, & have a think to see if I have taken my HRT…But what if it’s not just brain fog?
What if menopause is quietly reshaping how we use language, and what we’re really trying to say?
The Midbrain Shift
During perimenopause, fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone directly affect areas of the brain responsible for memory, focus, and verbal recall. These changes are real, and they’re not just inconvenient. They can feel terrifying.
You forget names.
Struggle to find the right words.
Or completely lose the thread of what you were saying.
And in a culture that already devalues older women’s voices, this loss of language can feel like losing power.
The Brain’s Protective Pause
What if this “mental pause” is the body’s way of asking us to pause on a deeper level?
Because what I’ve come to believe, both personally and professionally, is this:
Menopause isn’t a cognitive decline.
It’s a reorganisation.
We’re not becoming less intelligent.
We’re being invited to use our minds differently, less linear, more intuitive.
Less external, more internal.
The “loss” of sharp language often precedes the rise of deeper knowing.
The Voice Chakra + Midlife Silence
Many women also find themselves going quiet in midlife.
Not because they have nothing to say, but because they’re finally beginning to ask:
“Whose voice was I using all this time?”
“What truth have I silenced to survive?”
“What would it sound like if I spoke from my body, not just my mind?”
This is the throat chakra awakening.
And often, it’s not blocked, it’s just waiting for safety.
What Can Help?
If you’re in this stage, here are a few things I offer and suggest:
Essential oils for the throat chakra (like lavender, frankincense, chamomile)
Humming, chanting or gentle vocal release — to stimulate the vagus nerve
Speaking aloud what you fear — in safe, private spaces
Writing down your inner dialogues, without correcting or fixing
Reflexology & nervous system support to help you regulate and reclaim your clarity
This isn’t about “fixing” menopause brain.
It’s about understanding the sacred unravelling that’s happening within your nervous system and giving it the grace to reorganise.
In Closing
Midlife is not the end of your voice, it’s the beginning of your truest one.
You’re not losing yourself.
You’re being reintroduced to her.
If this resonates with you, you might also enjoy my free resources 👉 HERE
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Menopause Educator & Holistic Mentor
37 Years of Experience | Aromatherapist | Reflexologist | Sacred Reset Guide
Menopause, the Chakras & the Vagus Nerve
A Holistic Approach to Healing the Body’s Deeper Story
We often speak about menopause as if it begins in midlife…
But what if it actually began much earlier?
Not with hormones, but with the stories, stress, and survival patterns held in the body for years.
Many of the women I work with arrive in perimenopause feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and disconnected. They’re told it’s “just your hormones,” but deep down, they sense something more is happening. Something older. Something unresolved.
This is where chakra healing and the vagus nerve come in.
The Chakras: Where Energy Meets Emotion
The chakras are more than just energy centres, they are a subtle map of our emotional body. Each one corresponds to a specific theme or life experience. When those experiences were difficult, traumatic, or never fully processed, energy can become blocked or distorted.
The Root Chakra relates to early safety and survival
The Sacral Chakra holds emotions, creativity, and boundaries
The Solar Plexus speaks to our confidence and self-worth
The Heart stores grief, love, and the capacity to receive
The Throat holds our voice, the ability to speak our truth
The Third Eye reflects our inner knowing
The Crown connects us to meaning and something greater
As we move through midlife, many of these themes resurface. Especially if our younger years were shaped by trauma, stress, or disconnection.
The Vagus Nerve: A Pathway to Regulation
The vagus nerve is the body's built-in calming system. It links the brain to the face, heart, lungs, and gut, playing a key role in how we breathe, digest, and feel emotionally safe.
When the vagus nerve is dysregulated, often from chronic stress, overgiving, or unhealed trauma, we may experience:
Anxiety and overwhelm
Insomnia or poor sleep
Digestive issues
Fatigue and burnout
Feelings of being “on edge” or emotionally flat
These symptoms are especially common during menopause, yet rarely recognised as signs of nervous system exhaustion.
A Gentle, Trauma-Aware Approach
In my work, I support women through menopause not just as a hormonal event, but as a deeper initiation. A return to self.
Using:
Essential oils aligned with each chakra
Reflexology and vagus nerve stimulation to support regulation
Aromatherapy rituals for emotional release and grounding
Healing prompts to help the body feel safe again
This is not about quick fixes. It’s about soft, steady reconnection. The kind that honours your story and gives your nervous system a chance to breathe.
📥 Download the Free Chakra Reset Guide
To support your own journey, I’ve created a free guide:
Inside you’ll find:
Simple chakra explanations
Emotional patterns held in each energy centre
Gentle aromatherapy rituals
Essential oil suggestions
Vagus nerve care techniques
Reflective journaling prompts
👉 Click HERE to download the free guide
A Final Word
Menopause isn’t the end.
It’s a deep remembering.
Of your voice.
Of your needs.
Of everything your body has quietly carried, and is now ready to release
Rose
Aromatherapist | Reflexologist | Sacred Reset Mentor
BSc (Hons) Women’s Holistic Health
What is Holistic Menopause Support?
Menopause is not just a hormonal shift, it's a sacred transformation. For many women, it can feel overwhelming, misunderstood, or even dismissed. And yet it doesn't have to be that way.
Holistic menopause support offers an alternative to the clinical, one-size-fits-all approach. It honours your body, emotions, spirit, and story, treating menopause not as a problem to fix, but as a rite of passage to be respected.
In this blog, I’ll gently walk you through what holistic menopause support looks like, how it feels, and why it matters.
It’s More Than Hot Flushes
Menopause isn’t just a medical event, it’s a midlife awakening. You might be feeling:
Emotionally raw or unexpectedly weepy
Disconnected from your sense of purpose or voice
Exhausted beyond explanation
Ready to release old roles and reclaim yourself
These are not symptoms to be silenced, they are invitations to go deeper.
My Approach: Grounded, Soulful, Science-Informed
After 37 years as a therapist and coach, I’ve woven together a gentle but powerful framework to guide women through this time. My approach is:
1. Aromatherapy + Essential Oils
Plant wisdom can be a profound ally. I use essential oils to support:
Hormonal regulation (like clary sage or geranium)
Emotional steadiness (like frankincense, neroli, rose)
Sleep, libido, and stress
Each oil has an archetypal energy, a voice of its own, which can mirror your inner transformation.
2. Reflexology & the Body’s Wisdom
Reflexology offers physical relief from symptoms like:
Anxiety and overwhelm
Insomnia
Digestive discomfort
Mood swings
It also invites you back into your body, especially when you’ve been living in your head.
3. Nervous System Healing
Midlife can resurface old trauma, hidden stress patterns, or burnout. We explore;
The vagus nerve and polyvagal theory
Gentle somatic tools
Recovery for women with autoimmunity or adrenal fatigue
This part is about creating inner safety—not pushing through.
4. Archetypes & Menopause as Initiation
You are not your story. You are evolving.
I work with 4 core archetypes that honour each phase of menopause:
The Story Keeper (Reflect)
The Wild Woman (Release)
The Alchemist (Reclaim)
The Sovereign (Renew)
These offer a soulful lens to understand your emotional, physical, and spiritual journey.
🌕 You Deserve Support That Sees the Whole You
Holistic menopause support isn’t about fixing you, it’s about coming home to yourself. Whether you’re feeling lost, exhausted, curious or ready… this path meets you where you are.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to explore more:
Facebook page
Or browse the blog for more soul-led support
With Warmth & Wild wisdom
Rose
BSc (Hons) Complementary Therapies | Aromatherapist | Menopause Coach
When the Body Says "No More": Essential Oils, Autoimmunity & the Sacred Shift in Midlife
There comes a point in every woman’s life when her body speaks louder than her will.
For me, that voice came through exhaustion, grief, an autoimmune diagnosis, and the slow, unravelling wave of menopause. For me, it was a slow burn, gradually creeping up on me, yes U could see warnings here & there… but not that much.
I was a hands-on therapist for decades…always holding space, offering comfort, formulating blends, making things better. But something shifted when my own body stopped responding to the things I used to offer others. My nervous system was anxious, I could feel it. My energy was disappearing. I just felt an overwhelming urge to hibernate, from everyone. I had no energy for anyone, or anything.
It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with hashimoto’s that I realised this was more than burnout… it was a lifetime of avoidance that had caught up with me.
When Healing Isn’t Linear (and the Body Stops Whispering)
Hashimoto’s taught me that healing isn’t about pushing through.
It’s about learning a new language…one that speaks through fatigue, hormonal chaos, emotional overwhelm, & even fear.
For many of us, the nervous system has been on high alert for decades. Trauma, people-pleasing, care-taking, never quite feeling safe.
By the time menopause arrives, the mask can no longer stay up.
The body stops whispering.
It begins to scream: “I need rest.” I just knew… my god did I just know.
Essential Oils as a Sensory Bridge to Safety
What helped me reconnect wasn’t a grand healing protocol.
It was scent. Breath. Slowness. Ritual.
Essential oils work directly with the limbic brain…the seat of memory, emotion, and fear. When we inhale a blend like neroli, frankincense, or clary sage, we’re not just treating symptoms — we’re sending messages of safety to a nervous system that’s been in survival mode for too long.
This is why I call oils a sensory bridge.
They’re not a fix. They’re a way back… into the body, into breath, into a feeling of safety.
What I Now Offer (and Why I Had to Change)
I no longer offer as many treatments. My body asked me to slow down, and I listened.
Now, I mentor women who are navigating this same unraveling:
Women with autoimmune conditions who feel invisible
Therapists & healers on the edge of collapse
Midlife women in menopause, grief, or full-body overwhelm
Anyone who knows what it’s like to feel unsafe in their own skin
I create rituals, sensory tools, and digital guides that help women begin again gently.
For the Wild, Wise, and Weary
My digital shop on my website was born from this season. It's filled with printables, oil recipes, & soul reflections for women who are learning how to rest, recover, & reclaim.
I’m also writing more now, on Substack , where I share longer reflections on trauma, healing, sovereignty, & sacred ageing.
This blog, this space, is where I hope you’ll land when you’re tired of being “resilient.”
You Don’t Have to Push Anymore
Whether you’re here to browse, breathe, or begin again — you’re welcome.
Take what soothes you. Leave what doesn’t. And remember this:
You are not too late.
You are a woman in transition, it has taken you decades to get to this place, there’s no time to waste… & so yes, the time really is now
With love,
Rose x
🕊 Visit: www.rose-washington.com/shop
📖 Read more: Substack – @rosewashington
📷 Instagram: @rose.holisticmenopausecoach
The Forgotten Voice
The Forgotten Voice
Anointing the throat chakra in midlife and beyond
There’s a silence many women carry into menopause …
Not just the silence of night sweats and changing hormones,
but the deeper silence…
of years spent swallowing truth,
softening tone,
shrinking presence
just to keep the peace.
For years, I dressed how I was expected.
Spoke when it felt safe.
Held emotions in my throat until they became illness.
My diagnosis of Hashimoto’s wasn’t random …
It was a message.
This essential oil blend, The Forgotten Voice,
was born from that silence.
Crafted with clary sage, frankincense, lavender, geranium and chamomile,
this blend is both a balm and a boundary.
A ritual for women who are done performing.
Done apologising.
Done dressing for approval.
It’s for the woman rediscovering her voice,
and ready to anoint it, not hide it.
This is more than aromatherapy.
It’s reclamation.
Apply gently to the throat, wrists, or over your heart before speaking, writing, resting or praying.
Let the scent remind your nervous system that it is safe to be heard again.
Ritual: The Forgotten Voice
A throat chakra healing ritual for midlife women reclaiming their truth.
Evening, during a quiet moment
New moon or waning moon (symbolic of release)
When you feel unheard, unseen, or emotionally “clogged”
What You’ll Need:
A small bowl of warm water
A white or turquoise cloth or scarf
A mirror
Your “Forgotten Voice” oil blend (recipe below)
A candle (blue or white)
Optional: a turquoise crystal or piece of jewellery
Step-by-step Ritual
1. Set the space
Light your candle.
Place your scarf around your shoulders or neck.
Take 3 slow breaths, with your hand resting gently on your throat.
Say aloud or silently:
“I honour the voice that was silenced.
I now invite it to return, softly, safely, completely.”
2. Anoint your throat
Using your blend, apply gently to:
The centre of your throat
Behind your ears
Your wrists (pulse points for emotional flow)
Say:
“I no longer perform.
I express from presence.
I am safe to be heard.”
3. Mirror whisper
Look into the mirror and speak softly:
Your name
A truth you once held back
A word or phrase you long to reclaim (e.g. freedom, sovereign, enough, wild, healer)
Let tears come if they need to. Let silence follow if it feels good.
You are being witnessed by you.
4. Release with water
Dip your fingers in the warm water and gently touch your throat.
Imagine cleansing away old words, shame, or expectation.
Say:
“I cleanse what is not mine. I reclaim what is.”
5. Close gently
Wrap your scarf or cloth loosely around your shoulders.
Rest. Journal. Sleep.
Your voice has been heard.
Essential Oil Blend: The Forgotten Voice
A grounding, heart-opening, soul-centering blend to anoint the throat and soothe the nervous system.
10ml roller blend (diluted in jojoba or almond oil):
3 drops Clary Sage – hormonal harmony & emotional clarity
3 drops Lavender – calming the fear of being heard
2 drops Geranium – heart-truth and emotional balance
2 drops Frankincense – sacred connection, spiritual strength
1 drop Roman Chamomile – softening suppressed emotion
Optional: 1 drop Sandalwood or Vetiver for grounding
🌀 Add a tiny turquoise crystal to the bottle if desired.
Use before journalling, speaking, teaching, or resting.
This is not a perfume, it’s a remembrance.
You are softly transforming. And it’s gorgeous.
Why You're So Tired, And Why It's Not Just Menopause
You’re doing all the right things… eating well (mostly), moving your body when you can, trying to sleep.
But you still feel exhausted.
Not just tired…bone-deep weary.
Like your body’s been holding something for far too long.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And no, it’s not all in your head, and it’s not just “hormones.”
It goes deeper. Let me gently explain.
The Forgotten System Behind Burnout + Midlife Fatigue: The HPA Axis
At the heart of your body’s stress response lies the HPA axis, a communication loop between your brain (hypothalamus + pituitary gland) and your adrenal glands. It controls:
Your stress hormones (like cortisol)
Your energy levels + sleep rhythms
Your reproductive hormones (like oestrogen + progesterone)
Your response to long-term trauma or emotional load
When the HPA axis is out of balance , often after years of chronic stress, caregiving, childhood trauma, or pushing through,your body starts to slow down, switch off, or shout through symptoms.
Fatigue. Brain fog. Mood swings. Sleep disruption. Fibroid flares.
Even autoimmune flare-ups.
Melatonin: More Than a Sleep Hormone
We often think of melatonin as something that helps us drift off at night. But it does so much more:
Protects your brain from oxidative stress
Regulates inflammation
Supports the mitochondria (your cellular energy centres)
Helps reduce fibroid growth
Brings rhythm back to a dysregulated system
Low melatonin isn’t just about poor sleep. It’s about poor recovery. And many women in menopause, burnout, or chronic emotional stress have depleted melatonin — without even knowing it.
How Reflexology Can Gently Reset the System
This is where reflexology becomes so much more than a treatment — it becomes a way home.
Through specific pressure points in the feet, I support:
The HPA axis -calming the stress response
The pineal gland - stimulating natural melatonin release
The adrenal reflexes - supporting energy flow
The womb + ovaries - helping hormonal balance return
The vagus nerve - guiding the body into rest, not just survival
Each session is layered with essential oils, somatic presence, and decades of experience in holding women through transitions that feel invisible to the outside world - but deeply felt within.
You Don’t Need to Carry This Alone
Whether you're in the thick of menopause, experiencing fibroids, or feeling emotionally worn thin ,your body deserves care, not criticism. It’s trying to speak.
My job is to help you listen.
If you're local to me, I offer three levels of reflexology support, click on the link below for more information.
Reflexology packages here
And if you're not nearby, I offer custom oil blends, nervous system mentoring, and PDF guides to help you feel supported from afar. Just send me a note with the word “RESET.”
With warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Menopause Mentor & Holistic Therapist
www.menopausemusings.co.uk
The Silent Struggle. Mental Health and Menopause
Menopause & Mental Health: Why We Must Talk About the Silent Crisis
Menopause isn’t just a hormonal shift, it’s a psychological, emotional, and spiritual transition. And for many women, it can be one of the most mentally vulnerable times of their lives.
The Hidden Pain No One Talks About
While society often associates menopause with hot flushes or mood swings, what often goes unspoken is the rising rates of depression and suicidal ideation during this stage. According to recent studies, suicide rates spike for women aged 45–54,the very age group navigating perimenopause and menopause.
Many women feel like they’re disappearing from their roles, relationships, even from themselves. The shift in hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone can deeply impact serotonin levels, leaving women feeling hopeless, irritable, and emotionally flat. Add to this a lifetime of caregiving, underpaid emotional labour, and cultural silence, and it’s no wonder so many feel lost.
For all you Beautiful Women: You're Not a Burden
If you’ve found yourself feeling low, disconnected, or even having thoughts that scare you, you are not alone.
Menopause is a rite of passage, but without adequate emotional support, it can feel like a cliff edge.
Here’s how you can start gently supporting your mind and nervous system:
Aromatherapy Rituals – Essential oils like lavender, clary sage, and frankincense can calm the nervous system and ease emotional overwhelm. Try a few drops on your wrists before journaling or meditating.
Journalling Prompts:
“What do I feel is ending?”
“What part of me is being reborn?”Support Circles: Seek out safe, non-judgmental spaces, online or in person, where you can speak freely about your experiences.
For Therapists: Holding Space Without Burning Out
As therapists and healers, you carry the weight of others’ trauma, often while managing your own menopause transition in silence. The emotional labour is invisible but immense. Who holds space for you?
Schedule in your own nervous system check-ins.
Incorporate essential oil anchoring in your day, apply vetiver or neroli between sessions to ground yourself.
Build in boundaries, energetic and practical.
Burnout isn’t a flaw, it’s a message. You need tending to as much as your clients do.
💌 Final Words
Let this be the reminder you didn’t know you needed: you matter.
You are not invisible. You are not “too much.”
Whether you are supporting others or struggling in silence, this is a call to pause, reconnect, and find support.
Want more resources and healing rituals?
Download the free guide to calm menopause rituals here 👉 Free Ritual Guide
The Healer’s Healing: A Holistic Path for Therapists and Caregivers Facing Burnout and Autoimmunity
As holistic therapists, massage practitioners, and energy healers, we dedicate ourselves to the well-being of others. Our work is sacred. But when giving becomes constant and receiving becomes rare, our systems quietly begin to fray.
Many in our field are now feeling the weight of this imbalance: emotional burnout, financial struggle, autoimmune flare-ups, and a quiet grief that asks, “Is there more for me?”
If this speaks to you, this post is for you. It’s a sanctuary for the overworked healer. A place to remember that you are just as worthy of healing as those you serve.
The Signs We Often Miss
The body always speaks, sometimes in whispers, sometimes in roars. Here’s what burnout and autoimmune imbalance might look like for the healer:
Deep fatigue that lingers even after rest
Emotional numbness, resentment, or loss of passion
Thyroid issues, skin conditions, hormone imbalances
Undercharging, overworking, or feeling unseen in your gifts
You might brush it off as “part of the job.” But it isn’t. You were never meant to deplete yourself for others.
A Holistic Way Home: Reclaiming Your Energy
Burnout is not the end. It’s a sacred turning point. A chance to restore your energy, realign with your purpose, and rise, not through hustle, but through nourishment.
1. Receive the Medicine You Offer
Book a massage. Say yes to Reiki. Allow someone to hold space for you. Your energy field needs tending too.
2. Sacred Oils for Soul Soothing
Use this daily ritual blend to reconnect with your body and spirit:
Healer’s Restore Oil
5 drops Lavender (calms overwhelm)
3 drops Frankincense (deep grounding)
2 drops Rose Geranium (emotional balance)
2 drops Roman Chamomile (nervous system reset)
Blend in 30ml of jojoba oil and massage into your heart, neck, and womb space
3. Rewrite the Story of “Not Enough”
Your worth is not measured by how exhausted you are. You are allowed to charge well. To rest often. To heal deeply. To be supported.
You Deserve to Rise
As I journey through my own healing, from burnout and autoimmune challenges to womb wellness and spiritual rebirth, I’m now guiding therapists, carers, and space-holders like you to find wholeness again.
If you’re tired of being underpaid, overworked, and disconnected from your own magic…
It’s time to come back to yourself, to honour your womb space, your body, your voice, to remember that your healing is sacred.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Holistic Menopause Mentor
The Healer’s Healing: A Holistic Path for Therapists and Caregivers Facing Burnout and Autoimmunity
As holistic therapists and caregivers, we hold space for others. We offer compassion, energy, and deep presence. But often, the very souls who care for others the most find themselves depleted, drained by emotional labour, energetic exchange, and the unrelenting demands of service.
Burnout in the caring professions is all too common. And in many cases, that burnout can progress to physical dis-ease, manifesting as autoimmune conditions, chronic fatigue, hormone imbalances, or emotional collapse.
This post is a call to the healers, the empaths, the space-holders. It’s a reminder: You deserve to heal too. The saying,'You cannot pour from an empty cup’, is no joke. Let’s explore how to recognise the signs of burnout and begin a nourishing, restorative journey back to wholeness.
Recognising the Signs of Burnout and Autoimmune Overload
Burnout often whispers before it screams. Here are some common signs:
Persistent fatigue that rest doesn’t resolve
Low-grade inflammation, bloating, skin issues
Brain fog, forgetfulness, or low motivation
Emotional numbness or heightened sensitivity
Disconnection from purpose or resentment toward clients
Irregular cycles, thyroid imbalance, or autoimmune symptoms
Autoimmune conditions often follow prolonged stress, unresolved trauma, and burnout. As therapists, we are not immune, if anything, our work can predispose us to this through overgiving and under-receiving.
A Holistic Path Back to Wellness
Healing begins with a pause. It starts with the decision to turn inward and tend to your own sacred needs. Here are practices that support the healer’s body, mind, and soul:
1. Bodywork: Receiving as Medicine
You give healing touch to others, now allow yourself to receive it. Regular massage therapy, reiki, reflexology, or craniosacral work can help restore nervous system balance and clear energetic congestion.
2. Restorative Rituals for Daily Nourishment
Create space for stillness and replenishment:
Gentle movement like yin yoga or walks in nature
Guided meditations focused on self-compassion
Afternoon naps without guilt
Sacred silence to reconnect with your own energy
3. Essential Oil Blend for Emotional Release and Reconnection
This blend is designed to calm inflammation, release emotional tension, and restore energetic boundaries.
Healer’s Restore Blend:
5 drops Lavender – Calms the nervous system and promotes emotional release
4 drops Frankincense – Grounds the spirit and encourages inner reflection
3 drops Geranium – Balances hormones and softens emotional overwhelm
2 drops Sandalwood – Connects to spiritual purpose and deep rest
2 drops Roman Chamomile – Supports emotional surrender and peace
Carrier oil: Jojoba or sweet almond (30ml)
Mix and store in a dark glass bottle. Apply to heart space, neck, and wrists during moments of stillness or before/after sessions.
Why This Work Matters: Honouring the Wounded Healer
Many of us in the healing professions carry the archetype of the Wounded Healer. We have experienced pain, loss, or illness ourselves, and from that place of deep understanding, we guide others.
But your healing doesn’t end when your practice begins. Your body still needs love. Your spirit still needs replenishment. And your inner healer needs tending.
Autoimmunity and burnout are not signs of failure. They are invitations. They ask us to stop, to soften, and to come home to ourselves.
A New Path Forward: The Empowered Healer
As I continue my own healing journey from Hashimoto’s and Autoimmune, I’ve come to specialise in helping therapists, coaches, and caregivers reclaim their vitality through holistic means. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, burnout, or chronic illness, know that healing is not only possible, it’s your birthright.
Let this be your reminder: You deserve the same care and compassion you so freely give to others.
With love and understanding,
Rose
When it’s time to Pivot:Why I’m Embracing Menopause Coaching & Mentorship
There comes a time when you just have to move into alignment with where you are up to, this is easier said than done. As a long standing therapist of over 3 decades, (A yellow pages therapist) if you know you know :) it was all I had ever known. Yes I qualified as a menopause coach & mentor a couple of years ago, yet still, it was being a therapist that had a stronger pull on me…. until it didn’t any more.
I just couldn’t grasp what was happening, it was such a slow, painful process. It was a kind of grief that I was experiencing, my career had always been a constant, through every painful event in my life, I had no choice but to go to work, I loved it, it was definitely my vocation, my calling.
I’ve spent years immersed in healing work,therapy, aromatherapy, soul coaching, and holistic rituals. I’ve supported thousands of women through heartbreak, burnout, and personal transformation. But recently, my own body became the teacher.
My Hashimoto’s diagnosis arrived during a season of deep fatigue, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The kind of tiredness that no bath soak or weekend rest could fix. It was a wake-up call. Not just about my health, but about how I was living, giving, and ignoring my own transitions.
At the same time, I began to notice a pattern: many of the women I worked with were entering perimenopause or navigating midlife change. They felt unseen. Unheard. Unprepared. I recognised myself in their stories, and I realised: this is the work I’m meant to do now.
Why Menopause?
Because menopause is more than hot flushes and hormones. It’s a sacred rite of passage, a threshold into our most honest, powerful, untamed selves.
It’s where everything we’ve been pushing down rises up.
It’s where old identities fall away so we can finally ask, Who am I now?
For too long, this stage has been treated like a decline.
But what if it’s actually an awakening?
So, What’s Changing?
I’m now offering coaching and mentorship specifically for women navigating menopause, burnout, and hormonal transitions. I’ll be weaving together the tools that have supported me somatic rituals, archetypal wisdom, essential oils, and sacred self-inquiry.
Whether you’re deep in the fog of fatigue, feeling the ache of invisibility, or simply longing to feel like yourself again,this space is for you.
A Final Word on Pivoting
It’s not always easy to pivot. There’s fear, doubt, the guilt of leaving old identities behind. But sometimes, honoring your truth is the most healing act you can offer to yourself, and to others.
I’m here now, not as someone who’s figured it all out, but as someone walking this path beside you.
If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to explore my new offerings, download a free ritual guide, or simply reach out. You’re not alone.
With warmth and wild wisdom,
Rose
From Burnout to Balance: A Holistic Approach to Hashimoto’s, Menopause & Midlife Recovery
Opening reflection:
There’s a moment when exhaustion becomes something deeper. When no amount of sleep helps. When your mind feels foggy, your emotions feel fragile, and your body just...won’t cooperate. That moment has a name, and for many of us, it’s burnout. For some of us, it’s also called Hashimoto’s. For all of us navigating midlife, it’s a wake-up call.
I’ve been there. I am there. And I’m learning how to walk the path from burnout to thriving, not by pushing through, but by softening, by listening, by healing.
The Link Between Menopause, Autoimmunity & Burnout
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that often flares in women during hormonal transitions like perimenopause and menopause. Add in modern stress, societal pressure, and the invisible weight many women carry, and it’s no wonder our bodies start to rebel.
Signs this may be you:
Deep fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix
Hair thinning, brain fog, or weight changes
Anxiety, mood swings, or low resilience
A sense of being emotionally “flat” or overwhelmed
Essential Oils as Rituals, Not Remedies
While no oil replaces medical care, the right essential oil rituals can help soothe your nervous system, balance your emotions, and restore a sense of connection to your body.
Here’s one I use in my Menopause Calm Ritual:
The Grounded Heart Ritual
Blend:
2 drops Lavender (calming & soothing)
2 drops Frankincense (grounding & spiritual)
1 drop Geranium (balancing hormones + heart)
Mix with 1 tbsp of jojoba oil or fractionated coconut oil.
Ritual:
Apply to your heart, wrists, and temples.
Close your eyes. Breathe deeply for 3–5 minutes.
Say: “I honour what my body is showing me. I am safe to rest. I am safe to heal.”
Repeat daily. It’s a small act of sacred self-honouring.
Reframing Burnout: Not a Failure — A Signal
What if burnout wasn’t something you caused... but something trying to guide you?
What if Hashimoto’s wasn’t a breakdown… but a breakthrough?
This is where I’m focusing now,not just on coping, but on thriving. Creating a slower, softer, wiser way to live and work.
‘With Warmth and Wild Wisdom’
Rose
Hashimoto’s & Honouring the Body’s Whispers
Lately, I’ve been learning to slow down, not because I wanted to, but because my body asked me to.
After months (maybe years) of feeling unusually tired, foggy, heavy, and emotionally overwhelmed, I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that often accompanies burnout and perimenopause.
It’s been a mix of relief and grief. Relief to know what’s going on. Grief for how long I pushed through, quietly wondering why I wasn’t “coping” like I used to.
But I’m not stopping.
I’m evolving.
I’m listening.
And I’m creating new rituals , ones that support not just my clients… but me, too.
And here’s the thing…
I now find myself walking the same path I once supported my clients through in my 30s.
Back then, I could sense their pain, but I didn’t truly understand it.
Now, with my own lived experience of Hashimoto’s and hormonal burnout, I see them fully — because I’ve become one of them.
And I finally understand what real support looks like.
This is why I’ve put my focus into creating Calm Rituals for women like us.
🌿 Gentle oils
🌿 Nervous system support
🌿 Emotional regulation
🌿 Permission to slow down without guilt
Because you’re not lazy.
You’re exhausted, and worthy of care.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Journalling Prompts for Emotional Release
Writing is a therapeutic tool that allows you to process emotions and gain clarity. These journalling prompts are designed to help release heavy emotions and cultivate self-awareness.
Journalling Prompts:
What emotions have been weighing on me lately, and where do I feel them in my body?
What is one thing I need to release in order to move forward with peace?
How can I show myself more compassion and self-love today?
What is something that brings me joy, and how can I incorporate more of it into my life?
If I could write a letter to my past self, what words of comfort and encouragement would I offer?
What are three things I am grateful for in this moment?
How to Use These Prompts:
Set aside 10-15 minutes in a quiet space.
Write freely without judgment, allowing your thoughts to flow.
Revisit your entries over time to reflect on your healing journey.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Grounding Practices for Inner Stability
Grounding Practices for Inner Stability
When emotions feel overwhelming, grounding techniques can help bring a sense of stability and security. These simple yet effective practices will help reconnect you with your body and the present moment.
Grounding Techniques to Try:
Earthing: Walk barefoot on grass or soil to reconnect with nature and absorb its calming energy.
5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Exercise: Identify five things you see, four things you touch, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste to bring awareness to the present.
Breathwork: Try deep belly breathing by inhaling for four counts, holding for four, and exhaling for four to calm the nervous system.
Body Scan Meditation: Lie down and bring awareness to each part of your body, releasing any tension you notice.
Holding a Comfort Object: Whether it’s a crystal, a soft fabric, or a meaningful item, holding something tangible can provide reassurance and grounding.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Womb Healing After Surgery: The Disconnection No One Talks About
Womb surgery is a quiet trauma. This is something I can relate to, I have had many gynae surgeries, none of them explained clearly, all of them booked in without any discussion as to what was really happening, no aftercare to discuss how this would impact my emotional or physical wellbeing.
I had the operation, was sent home and that was it… I just got on with life. The exhaustion was so debilitating I used to go into work, find a quiet room and fall asleep, hoping no one would walk in and find me. The tiredness was relentless, it was deep within my soul, there was no real recovery time.
No time to grieve what had happened, to time to process anything, if only I knew…
Whether it's a hysterectomy, fibroid removal, endometriosis, oopherectomy, salpingectomy or another gynaecological procedure, the focus is often on recovery of the body, but the emotional and spiritual recovery is rarely spoken of.
And yet, through decades of listening to women in my treatment room, I’ve heard a common thread;
“I feel like something is missing… but I don’t know who to tell.”
The Silence Around Womb Loss
For many women, surgery is life-saving or pain-relieving. But even when it’s “necessary,” the aftermath can feel confusing, isolating, and strangely invisible.
There are no community rituals to honour a womb that’s been taken.
There are no grief groups for the uterus.
No language for the emotional ache that lingers.
Instead, there’s often:
Relief, mixed with unexpected grief
Fatigue beyond the physical
A strange disconnection from femininity, sensuality, or creativity
A loss that isn’t recognised, even by those closest to you
And when menopause enters the scene, either suddenly (as with surgical menopause) or later on, these unresolved layers rise again.
Womb Energy Still Lives Within You
My vision is to support woman so they know that;
Even if your womb has been removed or altered…
Even if you can’t feel her physically…
Even if you haven’t thought of her in years…
Your womb energy still lives within you.
Your womb is more than an organ.
It is a centre of:
Creativity
Emotional processing
Sensuality & sexual energy
Intuition & inner knowing
Feminine rhythm & power
When this space is wounded, physically or emotionally ,we often experience a kind of energetic amnesia. A forgetting. A numbness.
This is the disconnection.
No, it’s not your fault, you are not to blame… and yes, it can be healed.
What Womb Disconnection Can Look Like
Feeling flat, stuck, or emotionally ‘numb’
Difficulty expressing your needs or accessing desire
A sudden loss of motivation or creativity
Chronic lower back, hip, or digestive issues
Feeling like you’ve lost your “spark” as a woman
For many women in menopause, these feelings intensify, not because menopause is a problem, but because it is a time of reckoning and reawakening. The body whispers truths we’ve tucked away for years.
Reclaiming the Womb Space
Healing your womb isn’t about reversing surgery.
It’s about reconnecting to a vital part of you, on an energetic, emotional, and spiritual level.
Here are a few gentle practices that can support your healing:
1. Daily Womb Touch
Place your hands over your lower belly. Breathe.
Say softly: “I remember you. I honour you.”
This small act can reawaken a sense of presence in your body.
2. Aromatherapy Anointing
Use essential oils like:
Rose for grief and softness
Frankincense for reconnection
Clary Sage for womb wisdom
Dilute in a carrier oil and massage gently over your belly and heart. Let this be a sacred moment of self-love.
3. Womb Journaling
Ask yourself:
What does my womb want me to hear today?
What grief have I not given space to?
What kind of woman am I becoming now?
Let the answers come without judgment.
4. Create a Womb Altar
This can be a candle, a red cloth, a flower, or a crystal placed in your space with intention. Visit it when you feel disconnected.
Womb healing isn’t about returning to who you were, it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be, with all your scars, wisdom, and softness intact.
You are whole.
You are worthy of tending.
Your womb ,visible or invisible,still holds power.
If this speaks to you, know that you’re not alone.
This is the work I hold space for.
This is the healing I guide women through, gently, soulfully, sacredly.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Advanced Menopause Coach/ Mentor • Master Aromatherapist •
Making Menopause a Movement not a Mystery
Herbal Tea Blend for Emotional Balance
Herbs have been used for centuries to support emotional and physical well-being. This gentle herbal tea blend is designed to calm the nervous system, uplift the mood, and nourish the body.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp dried chamomile – Reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation.
1 tbsp dried lemon balm – Uplifts mood and eases tension.
1 tsp dried rose petals – Opens the heart and soothes emotions.
1 tsp dried lavender – Calms the mind and helps with restful sleep.
1 tsp dried passionflower – Supports deep emotional healing and reduces stress.
Instructions:
Combine all herbs in a jar and mix well.
Steep 1 tbsp of the blend in hot water for 5-7 minutes.
Strain and sip slowly, inhaling the soothing aroma.
Drink this tea daily or whenever you need emotional balance.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Understanding Burnout & Betrayal Trauma
My Story
This is a somewhat personal blog, one I had no intention of writing, yet the powers of the universe guide us into spaces where everything just aligns up & to dismiss all of this powerful pull is a reminder of just how far you have walked… & to dismiss this, means you are choosing to ignore all of your pain & courage to get this far… Often without realising it, we just don’t recognise how much courage it takes to stay in your own lane… anyway… here goes...
For years, I was the therapist everyone turned to. I built treatments that worked, created healing environments, and poured my soul into helping others recover. I worked in private practice, in healthcare, in retreats, spaces that were meant to be nurturing, holistic, and soul-led.
But the place that was supposed to support me… broke me.
I was working at a renowned holistic retreat, one that claimed to value healing, integrity, and community. I brought my full self to that space… I designed new treatments, supported high-end clients with deep emotional needs, and even brought in outside professional help to enhance client care. I wasn’t just doing a job…I was elevating the whole experience.
My work brought in income for the retreat. My care brought relief to clients. My vision brought expansion.
But when I asked for fair compensation for the value I was creating, everything changed.
I was met not with respect, but with gaslighting and betrayal trauma. I was told clients had “complained” about me. I was asked if I was “on drugs.” Then I was told to just forget it ever happened. The same person who once praised me, now undermined my confidence, my credibility, and my sense of reality.
That moment shattered me.
It wasn’t just stress, it was a betrayal of my profession, my purpose, and my nervous system. What should have been a conversation about value and integrity became a deep wound to my identity.
I walked out. I went to my doctor. I was signed off with stress.
And I haven’t felt the same about my work since.
For a while, I thought it was my fault. That I was “too much.” That I’d caused trouble. That I’d been unprofessional somehow. But now I know the truth:
I was gaslit. I was exploited. I was betrayed by a system that benefited from my work, but couldn’t honour it.
And I’m not the only one.
Too many therapists, carers, healers and empaths have given their hearts to spaces that didn’t protect them. We’ve been taught to hold space for others, but not to advocate for ourselves.
That season in my life led to burnout, soul fatigue, financial instability, and a complete breakdown of trust, not just in others, but in myself.
But here’s what else it did:
It led me here.
To rebuild with power, softness, and sovereignty.
To become the woman who can hold your story, because she’s walked through her own.
To create a new path for midlife women who are ready to come home to themselves.
*There is so much more I want to add to this… & I will… slowly over time I will add more…
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose
Heart-Opening Meditation for Healing and Clarity
Heart-Opening Meditation for Healing and Clarity
The heart is the center of emotional processing, and when grief or sadness builds up, it can feel blocked. This simple yet powerful heart-opening meditation helps release pain, bring clarity, and invite love back into your life.
How to Practice:
Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed.
Sit or lie down comfortably, placing your hands over your heart.
Close your eyes and take slow, deep breaths, inhaling love and exhaling sadness.
Visualize a soft pink light surrounding your heart, warming and healing it.
Repeat affirmations such as:
I am held, I am loved, I am healing.
My heart is open to love and peace.
I release pain and embrace healing.
Stay in this space for as long as you need, allowing emotions to surface and be acknowledged.
When finished, place your hands in prayer position and express gratitude for this moment of self-care.
With Warmth & Wild Wisdom
Rose