Hey everyone, welcome back to girl at dog about it brought to you by Hannah Carol and Estelle Allen the podcast bringing women together to have real and seriously deep conversations about love life hell. Health and everything in between and today's episode. We are going to explore the imbalance between masculine and feminine energy within our society today and how we can reconnect to our feminine. We will explore some of the major contributors for why women have become disconnected to their bodies their womb their moon cycle and their feminine energy in particular. We will chat about our patriarchal society women as people Please has Body Image Pressure lack of Education the birth control pill and shame around sexuality. As we go through each of these topics, we will explore firstly some of the challenges of the current modern-day structure and then we will chat about how we can return to the feminine. I think you know when the woman is disconnected from her body. It can impact all areas of her life her career her self-worth or health relationships and it can manifest into major hormonal imbalances infertility eating disorders and mental illness. This is a really important topic. Yeah, and it's a topic that Hannah and I have become incredibly passionate about you know, as we have dive deeper into our own healing and personal development. Inez and into our own femininity tuning into and reconnecting reconnecting to our bodies and our femininity has been I would say one of the most healing and empowering experiences. Oh my God. Mmm times are changing the old patriarchal Paradigm is no longer serving us and as women now is the time for us to step into our femininity and regain a true place in society for not only ourselves. Elves but our children and their children hashtag. That future is female. Yeah, it is before we dive in we thought it would be a good idea to start just by asking you some questions to get you thinking and reflecting. Do you feel connected to your body? Do you understand the different phases of your moon cycle and do feel gratitude for it? Do you feel connected to your womb? Do you feel that it guides and leads you through? Life, do you know your body intimately sexually physically and emotionally, we really invite you to reflect on these as we go through today's Deep dive. And before we do dive in we really want to start off by exploring the concept of the womb. It's the epicenter of our bodies. So we do know that for many this is not a word that is used regularly or that you may be familiar with you may have also heard it referred to as your Yoni, which means divine gateway to life. So when we say the word wound, which is still and I do talk about a lot we're talking about the most sacred. Through an intimate part of your body including your vagina. Yes. I just said vagina uterus that word on this podcast uterus clitoris Fallopian tubes cervix, really all of your female reproductive organs. Vedic Tantra Buddhism Hinduism and taoism all believe that this is a part of a woman's body which is incredibly holy and sacred. It is a difficult embodiment of the goddess. There is also believed to be a direct connection between a woman's Yoni and a heart which I a hundred percent believe in. I so believe that I've had experience is the confirm that so it is the center of a woman's body and being where all life and creation is burst and where we store, you know, things like our emotions our past experiences trauma blocks fear shame and unprocessed feelings. It's where We experience love deep connection pleasure fulfillment. Sexually, it's where oxytocin the feel-good hormone takes the stage mean the clitoris alone contains 8,000 nerve endings. What? eight thousand and that's just the clitoris one job of the pelvic nerve is to relay pleasurable Sensations to your brain that then releases the neurotransmitter called dopamine and dopamine is responsible for things like Clarity courage confidence feeling like a million bucks knowing that you can do it and knowing what it is when we tune in and allow ourselves to be guided by our room and we Embrace both masculine and a feminine we We really can start to live more harmoniously and both Hannah and I have experienced that so speaking of our own personal experiences. One of the things that we love to do in our podcast is to be real and vulnerable with you guys so that the topics are relatable. So we really want to share our own personal thoughts and experiences on this topic and we always want to be vulnerable with you. So hack me. Yeah. Me to go you go first. Actually. I feel like I was ready to intro you. Okay, I'll go. Okay. So when it comes to my connection to my body. I guess looking back throughout my late teens to my early 20s. I was not connected to my body. I was trying to be perfect. What I thought was perfect baked based on my you know, I guess societal assumptions in a constantly pushed my body to be perfect and it in an intern I really was suppressing my femininity. So, you know, I worked in previously in the corporate world in the private Equity Real Estate corporate world for eight years. Very long hours. I was constantly hustling. I didn't prioritize sleep. I was most of the time overwhelmed and stressed, you know, I got into drinking coffee, you know to add to this. I did take birth control for 10 years and that wasn't because you know, I saw my cycle as an inconvenience, but because I had acne as a teenager and I just never really considered coming off it until I wanted to start a family, you know, I was having a monthly bleed and I thought everything was normal. Normal, I also I didn't understand my cycle. I really honestly I did not understand my cycle and my reproductive system and organs and I didn't adjust my lifestyle based on my monthly cycle and where I was at each stage. I just continued to hustle and push through and be on autopilot and never give myself time to stop and I think that was also because yeah, I was working in the corporate world and masculine world. Going to dive into soon. I definitely also fell prey to the pressures of society to look a certain way by over-exercising and not feeding myself enough nourishing fats and carbs and you know this we're going to chat about this this really impacts your connection to your body your femininity and yet impacts your hormones. So I'd say like all in all I was not connected to my body but you know through this hormonal Journey that I've been on for the last three and a half four years. I had become incredibly connected. It's my body and to my work and it's just been this. I feel like over the years. It's just been this pulled my womb if you've probably asked me about this a couple of years ago, like I wouldn't have been comfortable comfortable to say the word womb and to talk about it, but for net like for me now, it is just like it's a part of my my Daily Language and I'm part of my life. You know, the Gen being on has forced me to go to the depths of my being and it's empowered me to become the person that I meant to be and to ultimately lead from my womb and a hundred percent believe that that you know, this happened for a reason and yes just so important to me today and it has such a huge impact on my life and when I'm not bleeding and living from my womb I really noticed and I feel like I'm denying myself being me. Yeah, keep talking about it. But let's talk about you sister. Now my turn. Okay. Thank you for sharing all of that, sweetie. So I guess yeah, I relate to a lot of your personal journey and experiences with this topic. Hugely like the body image, you know, like I just think you know growing up there was a huge pressure and emphasis. I remember reading like a fashion magazines. Wanting to look like super skinny and you know that led me down. Like I really like horrible part of having an eating disorder and just completely being so disconnected from what my body needed and like the beauty of my body and the miracle that it was and just yeah, like really denied it, you know, like over training at the gym thinking that I needed to get exercise for hours every single day push myself Beyond, you know what I was capable of Like just depriving my body of food and nutrients and my whole perspective on like food was just from this. Like I was just depriving myself rather than focusing on how can I know if my beautiful feminine body and the focus was definitely not on health. It was just a pain like body image and I look back now and I think yeah Mike physical appearance. It's so sad, but that was my focus for my teen years and I'm like I was willing to do whatever it took to achieve that really high standard. And that as well as like hello perfectionist, sorry to interrupt sister, but I think physical appearance which we're going to touch on like so many women. I know we'll be able to relate to this. Yeah. Yeah so many and particularly I think during that part of our life, I think so many of us are vulnerable to that mentality because you know, we're still growing up we're finding ourselves were understanding our bodies. Our bodies are changing. We're redefining what it means. You know, we go from being a little girl to a woman and a Body starts to change and yeah, I just trying to fit in and work out who we can be a really vulnerable stage. Yeah, and I think yeah, it's like you obviously want to feel like you belong and like you're loved and I think unfortunately for women a lot of the time that falls to their body image. So yeah, I was very disconnected from my body. I definitely deprive myself and myself to of like carbs and healthy fats to really nourish my body. I would also say in terms of my femininity. Like I had a huge disconnect from my femininity with in my relationships. I would say like I felt safer in my masculine and I think growing up in a world where obviously that is the predominant, you know, those are the traits that are kind of praised or have been praised in the past. Yeah. It was very rigid like just like you said hustling forcing myself like to be Yang all of the time. I never really allowed myself to rest and Be ye in and you know take care of myself just like constantly striving for Perfection. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, and I definitely I would say like I didn't feel safe to be seen in like my feminine and to be like open and receptive and to soften like I definitely saw that as weakness and I've had to totally like redefine my definition of that. You know even something as simple as I think about, you know, when I think about femininity like even receiving gifts and compliments and love like as you know, as a young like prior to my early 20s, I was super uncomfortable with stuff like that. And I think that's as well part of like the feminine gift is to like be open and receptive and you know an experience connection. I then in terms of my body like I was on the birth control pill as well liked you for a long time and that just to me from my period and my hormones and I used to constantly take I would skip my period because I did see it as an inconvenience and I thought oh, well, I don't want this inconvenient thing. So I'm just going to skip it and I had no idea the impact of that upon my hormones and my health and then I would say just in terms of like my femininity like sexually and just in terms of sexuality which will dive into later in this episode. I think, you know like our Eddie there's so much shame and guilt placed around sexuality ignorance of those plastic more into boo, and I think so. It's so sad to me that women grow up as young girls in that environment and then hold so much shame around their bodies and their sexuality and that definitely was my experience, you know for so many years. I felt a lot of Shame. Yeah, and I thought as well to like I had this really distorted view as well that like so X was something that you do to gain someone's love and we'll talk about this later in the episode but just around really tuning into your womb as to do I want to have sex with this person. I was never empowered in that. So I think you know like diving into things like the armoring learning to feel safe in my body really opening myself back up like yeah feeling empowered in my femininity that has definitely been a huge Journey for me and I'm so grateful that I've taken it like I would say it's definitely been the last couple of years. Mainly that I've been deepening my dive into femininity and I'm so glad I've done it because I feel so much more like harmonious and I don't feel like there's a part of me missing anymore. And don't you think sister cause I like honestly feel that my journey. It happened for a reason and I think for yourself as well because we were so disconnected and so the hormonal imbalances, you know, the challenges like we went through them because the universe was like, okay, you're so disconnected. Yeah, you need to go and eat and you need to reconnect your family. Yeah and like items for me like it just became so clear to me but by going through this journey how disconnected I was for my body and how at the end of the day. I was not respecting my body. I wasn't doing it on purpose. Yeah. I just wasn't aware. I wasn't conscious. Yeah, and I think that's what I guess this whole episode is around is just like learning to honor, you know, like your body your physical body, you know, like a month and like your emotions and what you need and like your sexuality like just honoring yourself. I think that's like a huge part of this and I think yeah, it's like just through awareness. I think you learn to start to really honor yourself and know that yeah, like when we're talking about your une like your womb is so sacred and we really need to shift, you know from that disempowered plays into an empowered place where we feel like we can really honor what we need as women and I think as you listen to this don't feel like I don't know about the stuff like feel bad or guilty because maybe you're not aware of this stuff or you're not connected I think Feel that you can now, you know knowledge is power and that and that's exactly what we're saying is like, you know, we're being honest and saying like, yeah, we weren't we weren't honoring our bodies. We weren't honoring our wombs. We were you know, we were so disconnected both you and I were so disconnected, but it's been a slow steady journey to getting to a place where we are connected and most of in particular have had a lot more like compared to when we first met we had a lot. Conversations in the last 6 months around you know our womb and you know our Yanni and wanting to explore things like the awning massage and just releasing trauma and just really diving into that space and that aspect of ourselves. So yeah, we're still diving deeper into this. Okay, shall we get started? Let's do it. Let's start off by chatting about how the patriarchal society in which we have grown up and live in today has impacted women embracing their femininity take it away sister. Let's do this. So the reality is that we operate in a masculine world the hustle and bustle the nine-to-five work Paradigm the corporate rat race. Was created for men and as such an embodies very masculine energies over the past couple of decades women have had the opportunity to step into a career outside of the home and whilst this has been a huge step forward in gaining equality with men. This has also forced women to embody more masculine qualities in turn Freedom major in balance. Women operate and compete in a man's world in order to keep up and seek approval with little to no room to embrace and lead from their feminine. So now let's talk about how we're going to shift into this new paradigm and how we can reconnect back to the feminine in this aspect of the topic though. The awesome thing today though is that you know, we really are starting to see a shift in this. We you know, there are new ways. Of working that are becoming the norm, you know, for example conscious network marketing companies social media entrepreneurship. These are all allowing women to create their own work and lifestyle Paradigm that truly starts to serve the feminine women can have a fulfilling career without expending themselves to a place of burnout and you know in particular for women that want to have children. This is a game changer because they can have both the career and stay at home with their kids which is is just amazing. Yeah, I think so many women, you know that our corporate world, you know, you only get so much time off and then once you have children potentially have got to put your kids in daycare and it's this constant juggle and they miss that time with their kids. So I think this is just an absolute game changer. Okay. So the next topic we want to explore is women as people pleases so I think we can all relate to this as women on a fundamental level. It's a part of our wiring. We really want to please and be everything for everyone looking at the mall but a mother she father's role, but she's maintained the role of a mother to in this massive glioma overloads the female nervous system and it really He does put our body into a constant state of fight or flight, you know within the scenario at leaves a little room for women to embrace their femininity and to live in alignment with their with their moon cycle. So in order to you know shift back again to the feminine with regards to this, you know, we know it can be hard but learning to say no to others means that we get to say yes to ourselves. We spoke a lot about this in episode 3 of go. Let's talk about it the They're called The Magic of saying no which we explored the importance of saying no and we shared some ideas for how you can really start doing this. You know, when we do this we create space for self-care and that is so nurturing and nourishing to the feminine. We all need that as women. It's like space to begin in our lives. We also suggest getting to know your moon cycle and aligning your lifestyle as best. You can to this. So that you're supporting your body and it's differing these at different points in your cycle. So for example, you know during your period you know for both Hannah and I like, you know, allowing yourself to take time off, you know going to the gym and giving yourself extra space to rest like for you and I sister. Yeah, like when we get our cycle, we're just like it's like full relaxation Epsom salt bath little movement might be light walking or some stretching. Narcs and won't Foods T. Like it's just your whole. Yeah, your lifestyle pivots based off. What you'll need is in that moment. Yeah. So at the end of the day, you know, we are in control of who we spend our time with them what we spend our time doing. We don't have to be everything for everyone. You know, let's create a new paradigm that really serves women and serves the feminine. and I think that's really empowering because we have the power. Yeah, like it's in our control. So let's start to do it. Please respect ourselves and respect our time and honor our feminine and what she needs exactly. Okay. Next topic is body image which we both touched on in our personal stories. The emphasis on physical appearance in today's world, especially since the rise of social media puts. Oh my gosh the most enormous amount of pressure on women to look a certain way and it starts such a young age sadly. This really does see women compromise their body their femininity that curves their moon cycle their fertility and really their overall health so that they can fit into society's box so they can look a certain way and feel like they fit in and feel like they're worthy comparison is literally everywhere and we feel like we aren't enough. Hmm. So there is so much emphasis on the outer superficial layer with Hardly any any consideration of how our endeavors to look a certain way actually impact our health and they do particularly in that's exactly what we're talking around like particularly mental health, you know over time constantly pushing our body to be something that it's not puts a huge amount of pressure on our hormones our thyroid adrenals and ultimately fertility long-term and like you heard Hannah and I speak about, you know, personal stories, you know, pushing our bodies to that certain. Ville to look a certain way completely throw off our hormones and all of those systems within our bodies and we both went through body image Journeys in our late teens and early 20s, and they definitely contributed to our hormonal imbalances and we just want to remind you as well that a healthy regular moon cycle is a Vital sign of a woman's health. So whether you want to have a baby now or ever having a regular healthy Moon cycle it shows that you are healthy as a female. Yeah, so important which shows that the lifestyle you're living is really supporting you. So we wanted to take a minute to look at the traditional role like shape of women of the body, you know, they were voluptuous curvy and that was a beautiful thing and it was also a good sign of good health and wealth, but in the last couple of decades we've gone from wanting to be stick model thin to now wanting washboard abs now Estelle and I are not saying that being strong and athletic is not something to be proud of or to want as a female. But I think what we're trying to sort of I guess really hone in on is are we taking this too far? No for many women when they do exercise too much and they focus solely on the physical appearance. It's very common for women to lose menstruation. You know, it's a lose their cycle. Can I like that was I didn't share that in my personal story, but that actually happened for me as well. So I I'm not sure I did share a little bit about this in the real cost of birth control, but around the time that I lost my period when I came off the pill to add to that. I was exercising to a really severe amount like I was you know in the gym for at least like I was waking up at like 5 o'clock every morning going to the gym for at least like an hour and a half two hours and then I obviously as well then do like cardio at night like my body. I had like no fat Mass on me. Whatsoever. I had the washboard abs. I was really fit and I was striving for this really like masculinize body. We healthy but I wasn't healthy because they didn't have a cycle and it was interesting. I remember going to my I think I went to my GP and this was around the time. I was trying to get my cycle back and she questioned me and said, you know like your you don't have any fat Mass like you maybe, you know, maybe you need to consider training less and letting your body. We actually put on a little bit of weight so that you can gain your menstrual like your menstrual cycle. So I think this just really ties into like that was my experience. I was exercising too much. Oh and just like you're not alone. I had a very similar journey and I know so so so many women out there who Have experienced it all that currently experiencing it. And so I guess yeah, we I mean, I think athletic women who are strong. I really I think that's an amazing quality and something to look do. I think we're just saying that I think in society, it's so put in front of us constantly, especially on social media that sometimes we lack that balance and we take it too far and it comes at the detriment of our health. So, you know, can we consider as a collective of women by? I mean is you know are we striving to masculinize our bodies? And are we losing our femininity are we not, you know willing to accept our own feminine body as it was created to be and as our own unique body was created to be its kind it is kind of crazy when you think about it. I think it's crazy. I look back now in hindsight. I think what I did was crazy. Hmm. Yeah same so we have some questions for you and we suggest either pausing the podcast episode here to grab your journal and go through these or you can always come back to them in a later time, but just to get you really thinking so do you compare yourself to others put yourself down and strive to look like someone else on social media? If so, maybe explore this. Do you actually know? Feels like to be in your body. Do you know what your individual body shape is not what you see on social media have you actually allowed your body to just be in its natural state where you're still eating healthy for your needs and moving in ways that feel good for you. So then they support you and they nourish you. I think a lot of women. Probably don't know what their natural body state is in a maybe haven't allowed themselves to be in that wagon. I'd say for myself like in the last couple of years. Like that's when I've truly got into my natural body State. Yeah, I would agree and we were having this conversation before we started recording where we're just talking about how like how how backwards we had it when we were younger where it was like we thought we needed to push and strive and stretch our bodies beyond what they would Gent like what they were genuinely telling us they needed and as soon as you and I took a step back and you know, like chose the foods that worked for us chose the movement that actually felt good for us. Yeah, and once so fixated on and actually was like starting to really like accept and love our bodies and shift the focus from the physical appearance to the nourishment and the support and nurturing our bodies. It's like I feel like then our bodies have actually shifted in into a state where they're just like thriving and it's optimal and it's effortless. Like I really don't feel like I have to do a great deal to maintain my body and its natural state like because I'm taking care of my stress levels because I'm eating well and doing movement that actually brings me joy and feels good for me. My body is driving so much more than it was and I think maybe you and I and I kind of took us experiencing. Health Challenge make us really stop and reflect and change the way we were doing it. We were treating our bodies Mmm Yeah a hundred percent. I think that's a powerful Focus for all women to really like at least work towards in their life is taking them mindset from physical appearance to health and thriving and you know nourishment and supporting your body and it will then when it's you know, nourished and supported and healthy it will Shift into the best state it's ever been in. And for me like I guess the Forefront of all that is like actually loving yourself and accepting yourself because if you don't like it just holding your holding this up, you're not accepting yourself. You're robbing yourself. Anybody. Let's I think we're going to touch on this. So let's dive into how we can shift back to the feminine when it comes to body image. How can we accept our beautiful bodies as they are meant to be? And I think the number one thing is that we have to stop stop stop stop comparing ourselves to each other. We know that it can be hard but when you do this When you compare yourself, you are devaluing yourself and you are rubbing yourself of your uniqueness. Do you do that? You are uniquely beautiful and perfect and you're put on this planet for a reason and to be yourself, you know, do you want to get to the end of your life and think wow, I spent a lot of time trying to be someone else trying to look like someone else. Rather than actually getting to know myself and being myself and showing people who I am probably not let's go on social media and create a new paradigm. That is authentic. No one is perfect, you know, maybe from time to time consider letting the world see your imperfections so that we can start to remind each other that we all have them now. This is starting to happen on social media and Instagram And when I do see people being really vulnerable and authentic and you know, maybe wearing no makeup on Instagram and it's not a perfect picture. That's what I actually really relate and resonate with people. So I would agree get to know your moon cycle a hundred percent get to know your moon cycle your menstrual cycle and adjust your lifestyle throughout the month to support your body. That could be you know, how you exercise how you eat how social you You are your sleep, you know, listen to rest signals instead of pushing your body to look a certain way. It is okay to stop and just be we do not have to be doing something 24/7. We don't have to be hustling. We don't have to be busy. We don't have to be stressed out get to know your body in its natural state and fall in love with yourself. This really is key in order to truly show up. World as it as yourself, if you can't love yourself, how can you expect others to be others stood love you introduce self-love and affirmations into your daily routine. This has been an absolute game changer for me. It is a part of my daily routine. It is embedded into it. And yeah it on myself love journey and my connection it has just helped so so much. I know that for the both of us one of our favorite things to do, but in order to use like man who is when it comes to body image. I know that we both love to dry body brush our bodies like we both do that each time before we shower and then it's like after we shall we cover ourselves in like our homemade body moisturizer with essential oils? And I know that you know, I will do that and I'm thinking like, oh my gosh, like I'm rubbing my legs and I'm like, ah such beautiful strong legs that allow me to walk and Even something as simple as when you are doing stretching or you're doing something in yoga, like just really like holding your body and just acknowledging how much of a miracle it is, you know to have working limbs to have a beautiful body. That's you know, your hearts beating all of these amazing things that it does for you. And maybe you know, maybe feel a little bit silly at the start doing it. But you know why it's just you and your body and without your body and without it being a healthy, you know, you can't thrive in life. So that cultivating that connection to your body is so important. I mean affirmations. Yeah, I love to do that dry body brush and then, you know level either myself and beautiful essential oils. I take, you know, multiple times a day I take I'm to say affirmations to myself as soon as I wake up. I say them to myself when I go to bed when I'm walking, you know, when I'm meditating. It's just yeah really hundred percent recommend trying it and someone that can help you with it is Louise Hay her books are incredible to food. Also. Sorry sister you go. I was just going to say fun fact I've ever told you this before but the Louise Hays. Book you can heal your life. That was the very first self-development book I ever read. And it was life-changing. I have read the head books and I've actually got them right now. I'm rereading them. I probably read them at least 10 times but yet it is reread them and reread them. Yeah, okay. So another thing in terms of reconnecting to your feminine within body image is you know, as we were talking about before with your cycle a I asked it throughout the month, maybe the foods you're eating but you know really just in general choose foods based on what your body needs and it feels like in order to thrive in tune to what your body what works for your body not someone elses. So don't look to someone else's Instagram profile and see them eating. I don't know it keto diet or whatever is because they're achieving a result, you know, don't deprive yourself, you know really tuned in to what your body needs to be fulfilled to know. Rush to be nourished in to be healthy and I think at the end of the day, we just want to hone in that, you know, everyone is unique and different what works for one person doesn't necessarily work, you know for another person. So what works for Estelle like a still and I have completely different bodies and you know, bio and devout bio individuality and embracing who are truly is everything. You know, like we said you're robbing yourself of you kind of brace yourself. You can't show up in the world as who you are and embrace your beautiful self. You're just rubbing yourself. mic drop My truck, so we're going to move into now lack of education and you know, it's just really important to consider. Do you actually understand your cycle the different phases and the role of your hormones. Do you understand actually the basic anatomy and structure of your womb, you know, there is very little education about our reproductive system our hormones and our moon. Michael when we are girls and young teenagers, you know Hannah and I can both remember one sex ed class but it was like super brief and we basically left just feeling super sticky goop and unsure and definitely not empowered. I would say the main things that were drilled into us in sex ed was do not get pregnant and a live demonstration of basically how to put a condom on a banana real helpful guys real. Oh, I mean, that's what's Julian to us is like in society with birth control everything what's drilled into US is you could get pregnant at any moment in your cycle. Take every measure to not get pregnant. Yes. And that's not the reality at all, which we talk a lot more about in the real cost of birth control, but will also cover that a lot more when we were going to do an episode or on the moon cycle and hormones and how to understand it. Oh, alright, so moving on from that, you know, we have really grown up in a society where our cycle is seen as an inconvenience and something that we want to shut down. I know I've been guilty of doing that, you know so that we don't have to deal. With it. And so that we don't fall pregnant doctors prescribe the birth control and we think that that's the solution but the reality is it's not hmm. No, it's not. Okay. So let's chat about how we can reconnect to our feminine and become more educated. So I think the first thing is that, you know, we have been given this incredible gift as a female of reproducing and bringing new life into the world and And you know, let's really start to embrace our menstrual cycle and our womb. Let's dive deep into understanding our cycle and get to know it intimately because when you fully understand it and you know how truly significant it is. You will naturally adjust your lifestyle your perception of the body the way you speak to your body and the way you care and look after your body self care and self cut love will be a priority because you'll just You were mocking how incredible it is. We would point you in the direction of napkin Curtis Lara Bryden. Dr. Libby. These are some incredible with Dani of your cycle and the role that hormones playing your health as a still mentioned. We are going to do an episode dedicated to the menstrual cycle and the female reproductive system shortly. So stay tuned guys. So now we're going to dive into the birth control pill we talked on this a lot in the real cost of birth control, but we're going to touch on it in terms of this episode and how it affects, you know our connection to our feminine because of our modern lifestyle are busy modern lifestyle. We have become so reliant on the birth control pill to shut down our moon cycle so that we don't have to deal with the inconvenience. But by doing this we are shutting down what our bodies are born to do. Like Hannah said and it's hugely impacting our hormones and our reproductive Health, you know, this is not to mention the fact that birth control has become the solution for so many other non contraceptive imbalances today. So endometriosis acne PMS painful periods Etc. The list truly does go on we take birth control to make these symptoms go away. But all we are really doing is ignoring important messages. From our body placing a Band-Aid over the root cause and then creating more and balances, you know guys our body always has our back and is trying to look after us what we really want to ask you is are you listening to its messages or are you ignoring them? Yeah, that's so important when it comes to our fertility today. We are facing an epidemic of women coming off extended periods. Birth control to find that their moon cycle doesn't return and that their hormones their adrenals their thyroid and many other things are all over the place. It's kind of crazy that we expect our cycle to come back straight away when we have been telling our body for years sometimes decades not to cycle. That's me is insanity. I know and I I sit in that bucket. So I also G. Gosh, how can we reconnect back to our femininity when it comes to this whole issue around the birth control pill? So check out our episode number 2 the real cost of birth control as a collective of women. Let's really reflect on why we're taking birth control how it makes us feel and the alternatives let's change our view of our cycle from as an inconvenience to it as a freaking magical and sacred process that we get to experience. What a blessing my job. Boom feminine gift we get that. So become your own detective and if you are experiencing imbalances lack acne and O painful periods weight gain, you know, thyroid issues work with a health practitioner that can help you get to the root cause because the root cause is the key the absolute key in order to truly bringing the body back into balance. If you are not looking to conceive right now, you know use the fertility awareness method to track your cycle and prevent pregnancy, but really get to know your cycle intimately because as we've spoken a little bit about this on episode 2 the real cost of birth control when you know your hormones in your cycle, very intimately you understand your fertile periods a lot better. Yeah. We're really empowered place. Just knowing your cycle in your body. You know what it needs. Throughout the month, I think sadly so many women don't understand their cycle or their hormones and we really that's why we really want to do an episode completely did that. Yeah understanding it is and what the hormones roles are because sadly so many women don't know much about it. And that's no one Squall is just a lack of Education in our services in our society. Okay? No topic that we want to chat today about is is shame around sex and sexuality. There is so much freaking stigma around this topic very much. I mean most women don't speak to each other about this and acknowledge that part of themselves because there's this year. There's a shame there's this awkwardness and this is an even more reason to talk about it right now and to make a shift, you know, sexuality is a hugely important part of our bodies and our health and we just simply can't ignore it. We can't keep ignoring it. in the bedroom, the majority of the emphasis is on men orgasming and more often than not women and what they want is forgotten many women fake it because they are too scared to voice how they feel and what they want and more often than not women experience pain or nothing can talk or nothing at all and much of this comes from the fact that you know, women are disconnected to their room and we are told that our society our sexual It's just not as important as the man's. now like we said earlier as women, we hold everything our emotions our feelings hurt pain traumas in our room and if we completely ignore it over time, it builds up like any other muscle in our body, it needs love and attention and there's this stigma, you know that if you speak about your sexuality that you are seen as a slut and gosh I definitely Like I saw that in high school just that culture that we have around, you know, if a woman at all and I still see it now, you know an adult women. It's like if they are to speak up from like, you know an empowered place around this sexuality or to embrace and really acknowledge that part of themselves. They are seen as a slot that whole culture of slut-shaming women, but the weird part is is that when a man is like You know really outwardly sexual. He's actually praised for it ashamed and called a slut if they step into, you know, more sensuality and step into their sexuality in their life. So it's this really weird gender bias between men and women where I think it has created this suppression of women in their sexuality and in their sensuality and I think now and it's really freaking exciting so many women are you know reconnect? Their worm inviting more sensuality into their life exploring their sexuality feeling really empowered in that and just working let go of all the shame. I definitely I used to be like I would I was so scared of this topic. Like I was terrified. I was so scared of it talking about it to like girlfriends to my sister to a boyfriend like because I just thought no like this is not something he talked about and I would be so awkward. Word, whereas now I'm just like it is so open and free and honestly, yeah, it's all because of this journey I've been on and I feel like I've become so liberated and free and empowered and I want other women to experience it. Yeah, that's the same. I'm like, if only I feel like I'm not I'm not even fully there and I know that you don't feel like you are either and we're still on a journey when it comes to our own sensuality and sexuality. I always Will be I want to keep like exploring it forever. Yeah, but I'm like, I've only had like I would say I've only like I'm In Like A Drop in the Ocean of this and I already feel so much more liberated than I did years ago able to have like really just like open conversations with you about it. And you know, I'm really trying to make it normal with in my other relationships with girlfriend and even just like when it comes to like our bodies like You know, even I haven't told you this but my mom the other day my mum's hanging a painter and the other day. She's like, oh, I really want to paint you nude and she was like, would you be comfortable doing that? Like we don't have to show like, you know, you have a job. She didn't even say the word vagina funny that she's like, you know, we don't have to show down there and I was like Mom it's fine like and she was like, will you be comfortable with that and like, yeah, like let's do it. I was like, I'll embrace my body like I don't care like I like I have a beautiful Honey, let's do it. I'd love that Hound very amusing. I want I want to get a nude painting of myself Yeah. Well, yeah and Mom said she's like how amazing would that be to have? You know, this gorgeous painting of yourself when you're just like mmm feminine power and I was like, yeah, and I think also if we can start to I think normalize it and become comfortable talking about it then in our relationships can talk to our partners about it and come from a place of empowerment. Okay, let's dive into now before we I keep you and I we could just discuss the stuff forever. Let's talk about how we can make this shift and reconnect to our feminine and yet normalized this crazy silly shame around sexuality. So I think the number one thing is like just let's drop the stigma. Let's drop the stigma about around sexuality and sensuality now more than ever. We need people to lean into this conversation with friends and people in your life so we can create A new Norm where we can speak openly and freely about this topic and express ourselves in that way without feeling ashamed and awkward and I just want to add to that. I know that for the majority of this episode we have been talking about, you know, releasing this stigma within you know, friendships and with relationships with our partners, but I want to also just really briefly touch on the fact that this is so important because as well when we do this in our own lives and in our own relationship relationships we also have to remember that when we have kids like I don't know about you but I really want my daughters to feel really comfortable really empowered really, you know, I don't want them to carry any shame around their body or you know, there were my want them to fully understand their body and their hormones, you know, so doing this work is so important so that we can as well raise girls They're not feel like I'm insecure about their body or like it's dirty it key thing that can't be spoken about and that's why I'm so happy that I've gone through this before I do have kids. We'd also invite you to explore D armoring which we mentioned earlier. So the armoring is this. Oh my God incredible practice that it's done. I we've done we've done it where you can release tension past emotions and Trauma from the tissue within your vagina. We are going to do a whole episode. Sit on this soon, but for now we do invite you to look up Rosie Ruiz and read some of her blog post on this, you know Explore her Yoni pleasure Palace shop where she has Crystal ones that you can use as part of this practice. It's an incredible practice and I think you know, probably it might make someone feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but honestly it is do with yourself and that's the best way to start so that you're comfortable with your body hmm during that and releasing and then you know, and then that close out into your other relationships and it'll flow into all areas of your life. Like how you feel as a woman your hat like what you feel when you have sex your orgasms like just amazing stuff all areas of your life how you lead from your womb how you feel emotionally physically yeah, I think in terms of like having sex become aware of who you are inviting into your womb because you know everywhere every person that you do have sex with you are essentially exchanging energy with them and if it's someone that you don't want Indle acreage womb space it really is an act of dishonoring your knee now. I still and I do want to say that, you know, sadly we know that there are many women that have had sexual experiences that haven't been consensual and you know that maybe this is triggering but If you are someone in that situation, we would you know, probably encourage you even more to do with allow your body to heal and and process that experience. I just said to you earlier that I'd seen on Rosie Ruiz has Instagram page that yeah, she's sharing, you know, even some Anonymous stories of women who have had experiences like that in their sexual history and they've used, you know, Yoni eggs and from her pleasure ones to really work with the armoring and release. The variances and some of the stories I've read have been really amazing. So definitely encouragement or that when it comes to your relationship with your partner tune into how you feel throughout the month based on where you are at in your cycle, you know physically and emotionally do you want to have sex, you know, and that can change based on where you're at really honoring that and communicating that to your partner get to understand what you desire and need to feel fulfilled. Actually and get comfortable voicing this to your partner, you know communication in the bedroom is huge and it's so important so you can get to understand each other and what you desire we know it can be super scary. Like we know how scary it can be to try and express your desires and communicate your needs. But when you do do this, you know, it's empowering not only for you, but you know your partnership and also your other half will respect you even more for it. You know and if they don't then the reality is that probably not the right person for you. You want someone who's going to respect you? And yeah want to make you feel safe and comfortable and fulfilled we can only change the current Paradigm when we intimately know ourselves respect ourselves and are confident to voice how we feel. Okay, so we've explored some of the major contributors to this disconnect that women are experiencing to their feminine so we wanted to share just a couple of really amazing resources if you want to dive into this topic further to gain inspiration when it comes to books our faves some of our faves are when wisdom wild feminine The Power Within The Red Tent women code the dance of the dissident daughter women who run with wolves dear lover Other resources, for example people to follow include Rosie Ruiz Sahara Rose Fern Olivia Mel. Ambrosini, Jenna Kutcher John Wineland and David deida. Knackering Buddhist and Laura Bryden and we're going to include these books and incredible people in this donate. So don't worry if you didn't write all that down. Okay, so we want to wrap up now guys, and we want to summarize Summarize what we've gone over today by going over some of the ways that you can cultivate greater connection to your feminine. We want you to walk away from this episode feeling empowered with to your feminine to create a greater connection. So I think number one is just get to know your body intimately explore experiment take the time to get to know your body and what it needs get comfortable with your giant vagina even get comfortable saying the word vagina. Vagina vagina. It's so silly. When you say the word vagina people get really uncomfortable. It's so funny. But at the end of the day, the reality is that it is called a vagina like all the women here have them so we all have one. So you have nothing to be ashamed of our scared about, you know, as we mentioned the Armory is an incredible practice where you can release tension past emotions trauma. from the tissue within your vagina and you know, maybe yeah just think with the thought of doing something like d armoring make you feel awkward and ashamed because you know, that could be a really good reflection of whether you are connected to that part of your body or whether you are holding a lot of Shame and disconnect you find girlfriends who you can talk to this about or even you know, maybe ask your girlfriend's hey, would you be willing to and open to chatting about This I'd love to explore this topic. We could do it together get to know your moon cycle intimately and respect what you need at each stage of your cycle. So what food, you know, do you want to eat how you want to exercise? You know, how social do you want to be what self-care activities do you need? Do you want to have sex? What intimacy? Do you want and need and what sleep and rest you need throughout your cycle respecting yourself throughout your site. Cycle is so important get to your not get to know your body in its natural state. You know what you're naturally meant to be what your morning to be born to be and fall in love with yourself. You are not the same as the woman on social media or any of your girlfriend's. In fact, we are all completely unique. Let's create a new body image Paradigm that is real and authentic and reflected all body shapes and sizes. And yeah, just let your body be in. Natural State it's you know, it's weight and shape and you know tune in to what foods do you need to eat? What movement your body needs to be in that state and feel feel like itself if you are experiencing physical imbalances get to the root cause it's key listen to the messages from your body reflect. Are you living a life that you want deep down or are you trying to please others and fit into society? Boxes constantly ask yourself. How do I feel what do I need is? Okay. If you don't hear your own answers to begin with that's totally okay this connection to self and to your body takes time slowly you'll begin to understand your body's cues and exactly what it is honor your body and what it needs to give yourself permission to build you and finally pause and reflect daily on the freaking miracle that you're Party is and remember that the masculine enough thinks the feminine feels while the masculine enough reasons the feminine into its masculine in US compete while the feminine collaborate the feminine give to the world is to create and nurture rather than to control and dominate. And yeah, maybe maybe write some affirmations and mantras to yourself. Like I love myself. I love and accept myself fully I approve of myself. I am a miracle, you know, all of these kind of things cultivate connection to your feminine. These are some of the managers that are still and I both say to each other and that I would say have had a huge impact on us. Moving slowly I deserve I am worthy all of those beautiful juicy things. I just wanted to add that in before we close. So guys, thank you so much for listening. We are so grateful to have had you here with us and to be sharing this super uber important topic for you which we are. So passionate about we really hope that you learned something and that you feel more empowered as a woman because you are freaking incredible. If you feel that there is someone that may benefit from hearing this message. We really encourage you to share it with them and on the ground and remember to tag us at the still Alan and at the wildly finally we would be so grateful. If you can head on over to iTunes and leave us a beautiful five-star review. This helps us so much in getting our message out there to more people and more women like you we love you guys. Thank you for embarking on this journey with us and continuing to be here with us. And thanks for just being a part of this epic girl. Let's talk about it community and I'd still next some thoughts of love.
Do you feel connected to your body? Do you understand the different phases of your moon cycle and feel gratitude for it? Do you feel connected to your womb? Do you feel that it guides and leads you through life? Do you know your body intimately, sexually, physically and emotionally? In today’s episode we are going to explore some of the major contributors for why women today have become disconnected to their bodies and how we can reconnect to our feminine. In particular, we will explore:   The sacredness of our Womb  Our Patriarchal society    Women as people pleasers   Body image pressure    Lack of education    Birth Control Pill   Shame around sexuality    Resources   RESOURCES: BOOKS:    Womb wisdom by Padma and Anaiya Aon Prakasha    Wild Feminine by Tami Lynn Kent   The power within you by Louise Hay    The Red Tent by Anita Diamat   Women Code by Alissa Vitti    The Dance of the Dissident Daughter By Sue Monk Kidd   Women who run with the wolves by Clarissa Pinkola   Dear Lover by David Deida  PEOPLE TO FOLLOW FOR INSPIRATION:    Rosie Rees   Sahara Rose   Fern Olivia    Melissa Ambrosini    Jenna Kutcher - body positivity    John Wineland / David Deida - male point of view    Nat Kringoudis / Lara Briden / Dr Libby - female hormones 