The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenge I go through is the look on people’s faces when I explain what I’m about. Most people’s eyes tend to glaze over when you say the word ‘period’. The most comments I get are things like “Why on earth would you want to celebrate that?”. Isn’t it so sad? So many days, weeks of your life hating your body for doing its normal, healthy function! It can be frustrating. But then I can say: “Don’t I have news for you!”. Instead of raging against our apparent ‘weakness’, we can choose to see this time as a chance for rest, self-care, self-love, and increased psychic capacities. I know we are not allowed to rest and dream in our society, yet. But by letting young women know what it’s about, and that it should be their right to follow their biological imperatives, we have a chance to improve that for future generations.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Not having to be artificially separated from my life and my children to suit someone else’s timeline is so good. In the last few years, the idea of getting up in the morning to go sell my time to someone else for something I didn’t really like was getting painful. I have to carefully pick what I give my energy to. I find it so inspiring and endlessly creative.
On the downside, not getting the attention, or the money I need, can be disheartening and stressful. I often have to choose carefully what I’m going to invest any money I get into. It is a slow process. I have to make sacrifices and live frugally.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I just moved in to where I am now, so I’m trying to create a bit of community around the area – organising women’s circles, meal trains, support for our neighbours. I hope to be able to slip good things about the menstrual cycle to my new friends now and then. Moving to an intentional community with my family is a big dream. I’d love for my children to experience this village living, where people show up for each other.
I’m also learning more about holding space, creating rituals, and honouring the land on which I live. I hope this will help with offering meaningful ceremonies for girls and grown women alike. In the future, hopefully I can learn about being a radical birthkeeper, and support women to stand in their power at this other rite of passage.
Visit the Aurore Ceremony website to find out more, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
