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A Sankofa Soul Care Meditation: Periods, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Postmenopause, A Spring Blessing - Mental Health Awareness Month Edition
- Andrea Angie (GA)
- May 14
- 4 min read
Updated: May 15
Today, we welcome Periods, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Postmenopause as we Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah)—a word + practice from Ghana meaning “go back and fetch it.”
With open hands + contemplative hearts, we reach back for what is precious, bringing it forward as a blessing for our present lives. In this season of Mental Health Awareness, we remember: the wisdom of the past is a wellspring for our healing + wholeness today.
As we journey through God's gift of the sacred seasons of menstruation, perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, we honor the body’s cycles as ancestral wisdom in motion. Our foremothers lived these transitions with rituals, community, and rest, reminding us that these changes are not just biological, but deeply spiritual.
A Holy Haiku - Periods, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Postmenopause
Wise, changing bodies
Sisters flow from phase to phase
Hear the body speak.
Amen + Asé
This haiku invites us to reclaim the sacredness of our changing bodies, the practices of listening to our bodies, nourishing our souls, and supporting the wisdom woven through our cycles + collective wholeness. As we fetch what is precious, we bring it forward in a peace pace.
This is the heart of Sankofa: returning to the gift of collective care that nurtures our souls + bodies together. Our ancestors understood that care was never meant to be solitary but shared like breaking bread—a communion that sustains us all.
Reflection for Your Journey
SOULjourner,
Where can you invite more collective care—gentle support from sisters, aunties, cousins, friends, or community, into your cyclical phase? How might you extend that same care to others walking alongside you?
How might you honor your body’s language—rhythms, the aches, the quiet invitations to rest or rejoice?
Remember, you are not alone in these transitions. Each phase is a sacred portal, a chapter in a story much larger than your own. Reach for the rituals, the recipes, the songs, and the prayers that have nourished women before you. Let their tenderness become your own.
Blessing:
May you remember the wisdom God has woven into your being.
May you honor each season of your body as holy ground.
May you find rest in the embrace of community,
And may the voices of solidarity remind you:
You are whole, you are worthy,
You are held, always in the sacred flow of cyclical, collective care.
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, affirm: "Through empathy, I/we return to our belovedness + reclaim in the spirit of Sankofa, to go back and get it, by the enablement of the Holy Spirit”
A Special Free Gift for You
To deepen your journey into sensory awareness + sensing pleasure, I invite you to download my complimentary PDF guide, Savoring Sensuality with Soul.
This pastoral guide explores the importance of presence, surrender, and gratitude in experiencing life's replete pleasures more fully. It offers pastoral care on how to engage your senses and celebrate your neurology.
Download Your Free PDF Here:
As you explore this resource, remember that your unique journey is a celebration of soulful living. May you find daring shalom + sensual pleasure in every moment.
With soul,
Pastor Angie
SOULjourner, go Deeper on my Autism+ page for more resources.
A Gift Set SOULution
Featuring the botanical-themed Charcuterie Gift Box
Elevate your next collective care gathering with the Melanated Musings Charcuterie Board Gift Box Set.
In the heart of your home or gathering, add flair wherever you dare with a fusion of art, Black culture, and whimsical elegance.
Add a pop to any tabletop for your hors d'oeuvres + desserts.
Let the captivating charm bring a touch of soul to your next soirée (bridal shower, hostess gift, team party, bachelorette party, birthday party, anniversary celebration, or just to feel lavished), as they remind you that sometimes, the most beautiful stories begin with a simple, heartfelt gesture.
What’s Included: Free Gift Wrapping
1 x Choose board shape: Round Charcuterie Board with Groove - 13.5” x 13.5” or Rectangular Charcuterie Board with Groove - 12" x 9"
1 x Choose Board Design: Noir + Leaves or Mocha + Leaves
1 x Tamarind Oh! Sauce, 10.5 oz. Ingredients: Guava, Water, Tamarind Puree, Ginger Juice, Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Lime Juice. A phenomenal sweet and tangy sauce for veggies, meat, and YES—desserts. Use it on your charcuterie boards to replace jams + jellies.
Or you can BUILD YOUR OWN GIFT SET >>
Until next time,
Gift from your soul.
✧
Deepen Your Soul Care Journey
Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.
Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique. Be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
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