Mycelopause (eBook)

Uncovering the Magic of Menopause Through Psilocybin

Kelly McGinty, Patricia Singh (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
260 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
9798350995510 (ISBN)

Infos

Menopause is not an end-it is a new beginning. 'Mycelopause' explores the profound transformation that occurs in midlife, drawing on the wisdom of fungi, neuroscience, and psychedelic-assisted healing to challenge outdated narratives of aging. Blending science, spirituality, and personal experience, this book offers a holistic perspective on menopause as an opportunity for self-discovery, empowerment, and renewal. Through discussions on hormonal shifts, mental health, and expanded states of consciousness, it provides insight into how psychedelics can help women navigate midlife with greater clarity, resilience, and purpose. 'Mycelopause' offers guidance for those seeking to embrace this stage of life with strength and intention. Whether curious about alternative healing or looking for new ways to approach menopause, readers will find a roadmap to transform fear into empowerment and transition into the next phase of life with grace and wisdom.

Kelly McGinty, MSN, FNP, is a Colorado native who found her way to the Pacific Northwest as a child. With a lifelong passion for natural science, biology, and social justice, she dedicated over a decade to serving as an emergency department nurse practitioner before embracing a more holistic approach to healthcare. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Gonzaga University and became board-certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 2012. Her firsthand experience on the front lines of the pandemic and the growing mental health crisis led her to seek deeper, more integrative healing modalities for burnout, depression, and anxiety. Turning to sacred plant medicine, mindfulness, and nature, she discovered the profound therapeutic potential of psilocybin-a revelation that rekindled her passion for healing and prevented her early departure from medicine. Inspired by this transformation, she pursued certification in psychedelic-assisted therapy through the California Institute of Integral Studies. Kelly's practice blends Western and functional medicine with herbology, Reiki, and ancestral wisdom, incorporating entheogens to support first responders, wounded healers, end-of-life patients, and those with treatment-resistant mental health conditions. A devoted mother and partner, she shares a love for music, travel, and service with her family, striving to empower women to embrace their inner strength and healing potential.

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Menopause is often framed as a period of decline, a time when women are expected to shrink, fade, and accept a lesser version of themselves. What if menopause wasn't an ending, but an awakening? "e;Mycelopause"e; challenges outdated societal narratives, offering a radical reframing of midlife as a powerful transformation-a threshold into deeper wisdom, self-discovery, and renewal. Rooted in science, holistic healing, and personal experience, "e;Mycelopause"e; explores the intersections of menopause, psychedelics, and personal evolution to offer a groundbreaking perspective on how women can navigate this life stage with clarity, strength, and intention. Co-authored by Dr. Patricia Singh, a psychotherapist and psychedelic integration specialist; and Kelly McGinty, CNP, a nurse practitioner with expertise in emergency medicine, hormonal health, and integrative wellness; this book serves as both a guide and an invitation to step into midlife with curiosity and empowerment. Menopause has long been viewed through a medicalized, symptom-based lens, reducing women's experiences to hormonal imbalances, mood swings, and biological deterioration. This book offers a different approach one that honors the transition as a profound physiological, emotional, and spiritual shift. It explores how this stage of life is akin to a mycelial transformation where decay and renewal exist simultaneously leading to new potential, personal reinvention, and deeper consciousness. At its core, "e;Mycelopause"e; weaves together biological understanding with emotional and spiritual insight, helping women embrace this transition as a powerful initiation into a new chapter of life.

Textauszug

Introduction

Why Mycelopause?

Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine, branching threads called hyphae. These threads extend throughout soil, wood, or other substrates, forming a complex mycelial network. This network is the forest’s internet, a wood-wide web crucial in ecosystems. It facilitates decomposition and nutrient cycling, the breaking down of organic matter and the recycling of nutrients into the environment. Mycelium can also form symbiotic relationships with plants, exchanging mutually beneficial nutrients. The interconnected nature of mycelium even allows for communication and resource sharing within and between ecosystems. For instance, decomposing nutrients from a dead tree can be gathered and transferred to the same tree’s surrounding offspring, all through messaging facilitated by the mycelial network.

In this book, we pose a theoretical ideology that plant medicine can be utilized as a modality to ease, enhance, and even embrace the journey through menopause. Like the mycelial network connecting the forest, women share an interconnectedness through the universal experience of menopause. Using psilocybin therapy, we can weave together the mystical threads of shared female wisdom, mindfulness practices, and knowledge of earth’s abundant nutrients to make the final feminine transformation into the Crone stage magical. We aim to break ground and educate on the transformative potential of psilocybin mushrooms for navigating the intricate landscape of menopause.

Menopause represents a significant and sacred transition in a woman’s life—a journey that unfolds from Maiden to Mother and ultimately to Crone. Each phase of this journey carries its unique significance and wisdom. In the Crone phase, there is a convergence of societal perceptions of aging and a multitude of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms. This intersection challenges both views of the self and notions of health, well-being, and interpersonal relationships. It is a time of introspection and transformation, where the wisdom of age meets the complexities of human experience.

Throughout this book, we embark on a holistic healing journey for navigating menopause. Drawing upon a coaching narrative and integrating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin therapy, nutrition, and holistic mindfulness practices, we offer a comprehensive approach to embracing this transformative stage with grace and resilience. We invite women on an exploration of the depths of their inner landscape, reclaiming their power and wisdom as they navigate the challenges and blessings of menopause. With compassion and insight, the following chapters serve as a guide, offering practical tools and empowering strategies to support a journey toward holistic well-being and self-discovery.

We envision a world where women can access transformative healing experiences within the comfort and safety of their own homes. Our home-based psychedelic-assisted coaching program is dedicated to fostering personal growth, mental well-being, and spiritual exploration in a supportive and controlled environment. We aspire to redefine wellness, embracing the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a catalyst for positive change. By integrating risk reduction principles, we aim to minimize risks and maximize the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic experiences.

Risk reduction continues to evolve as a pragmatic and evidence-based approach to addressing substance use issues, public health, human rights, and the dignity of individuals affected by substance abuse. Risk reduction in the context of psychedelic-assisted treatment refers to a set of practices and principles designed to minimize the negative consequences and risks associated with psychedelic use while maximizing the potential therapeutic benefits. This approach prioritizes safety, autonomy, informed decision-making, and holistic well-being, aiming to support women in navigating the complexities of menopause with mindfulness and care.

The goal of harm reduction is to promote the safer utilization of psychedelic medicines and to reduce negative consequences. Through this approach, we aim to show the medicinal effects of plant-based medicine and destigmatize these entheogens and, subsequently, the people who use them for therapeutic benefit. We delve into largely uncharted territory, understanding that while psilocybin remains illegal in many parts of the world and lacks FDA approval for use in the United States, its potential merits cannot be dismissed outright.

Our vision extends beyond conventional therapeutic and coaching approaches, emphasizing the significance of self-discovery and empowerment. Every woman has the right to explore the depths of her consciousness in a setting that prioritizes safety, respect, and compassion. We aim to create a global paradigm shift in women’s health, where personalized and accessible psychedelic-assisted therapy becomes an integral part of a comprehensive and compassionate healthcare system. Together, we envision a future where healing is accessible, transformative, and guided by harm reduction principles, paving the way for a more enlightened and resilient feminine presence.

Through embracing the transformative power of menopause and integrating holistic healing practices, including plant medicine, women can navigate this sacred transition with grace, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. This holistic protocol is a beacon of light, illuminating the path towards healing, empowerment, and wholeness from maturity to the Crone phase of life.

Trish’s Story

Throughout my life, I have been drawn to seeing the world with hope and optimism despite facing a challenging childhood marked by abuse, neglect, and abandonment. My journey of healing has been unconventional. At the age of 12, I proactively sought therapy for myself, although it was perceived as “attention-seeking” at that time rather than a positive step towards healing. Growing up, I was part of a culture where dysfunction was openly acknowledged, yet discussions about healing were not encouraged.

The importance of “doing your work” in therapy was emphasized throughout my training as a mental health counselor. This aspect of my training motivated me to explore various modalities of healing. I have incorporated hypnotherapy, yoga therapy, trauma therapy, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and Jungian therapy, among others. Engaging with these diverse therapeutic approaches has significantly contributed to my personal growth and professional development. This extensive exploration has positively impacted the thousands of clients I have served over my 25 years as a therapist.

My quest for healing, both for myself and for others, feels like a dharma—my life’s purpose. This journey always reminds me that there is a path to light and healing, even in darkness. In 2018, psychedelic-assisted therapy began to gain attention and show promise of becoming a legal and approved treatment for various mental health issues. As a doctoral student in integrative medicine, I found myself deeply drawn to the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy in addressing mental health issues, existential distress, and personal growth. I was fascinated by the idea that these substances could offer healing and insight when used in a controlled and therapeutic setting. As I delved deeper into literature and ongoing studies, I became convinced this could be a revolutionary mental and emotional well-being approach.

My interest was also driven by personal struggles, particularly those related to aging and perimenopause. I managed significant stress and balanced the wife, mother, and student roles. Perimenopause compounded these challenges, bringing brain fog, weight gain, and an identity crisis. Feeling overwhelmed, I began to wonder if psychedelic-assisted therapy could offer the relief and healing I desperately needed. I saw firsthand the struggles many women faced during this life transition and the limited options available within conventional medicine. The potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy to provide relief and transformation in these areas seemed like a beacon of hope in otherwise uncharted territory. Advocating for this groundbreaking approach has become a professional and personal pursuit.

My quest led me to two compassionate healers in New Mexico. With their support, I embarked on a transformative process of trauma-informed therapy, enhanced with a touch of psilocybin magic. The decision to explore psychedelic-assisted therapy wasn’t made lightly. I had researched extensively, weighed the potential risks, and considered the legal and ethical implications. After thorough consideration, I felt this approach offered a promising path to address my current state of disillusion in perimenopause as well as a greater understanding of how my past trauma still impacted me.

Microdosing psilocybin brought a spark of creative energy, helping me dive into self-discovery and readdress deep-rooted trauma with a gentler, more compassionate approach than I’d experienced before. The gradual introduction of psilocybin into my therapeutic journey allowed me to explore my inner landscape with newfound clarity and emotional openness. It wasn’t a quick fix but rather a tool that supported me in confronting and processing long-standing emotional wounds.

Through a series of therapeutic sessions and psilocybin ceremonies spanning over three years, I began to discover my path to healing. It wasn’t simply a matter of checking off a box to indicate that I had addressed my trauma. Instead, it evolved into a transformative...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 16.4.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Naturheilkunde
• ISBN-13: 9798350995510 / 9798350995510