Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

This tome has been a "go to" guide for me in many ways over the years. It has helped me get pregnant, understand thyroid and menstrual cycle irregularities and has eased any fears that I've had regarding my body. It is written by Christiane Northrup, a physician with extensive experience with women's medical needs as well as our strong emotional connection to our bodies. She writes over and over again about the mind/body connection and how if we are not healthy in our minds and hearts (our emotions), we might be causing issues in our bodies.

Recently I experienced an extremely painful rupturing of a large cyst on my left ovary. After 3 weeks of pain, a pelvic ultrasound and doctors appointments, I finally consulted my trusted reference - WOMEN'S BODIES, WOMEN'S WISDOM. In the section regarding ovaries, there is most definitely a section on cysts. What surprised me was what Dr. Northrup sees as the reason that cysts develop. "We women are meant to express our creative natures throughout our lives. Our creations will change and evolve as we ourselves grow and develop. Our ovaries, too, are always changing, forming, and reabsorbing those small cysts. As long as we express our creative flow deep within us, our ovaries remain normal."

So what does this mean for me? I don't feel like I've been particularly blocked in my creativity. Yes life has been stressful over the past six months, and I have not done as much writing as I would like, but I didn't think that I was denying myself to the point to create such a painful "wake up call" from my body.

Dr. Northrup goes further to say that cysts on the "left side of the body represent the female, artistic, reflective side, while the right side is the more analytic, male side." I have had two ruptured cysts previously on the right side and this is my first on the left (and the most painful). Never have I tried to imitate male ways of being in this world, as that is not my nature at all. My personality has always been one that is creative, not analytical or technical. So how can I best re-energize my creative outlets and heal my body? I dance, I read, I write, I dream, I laugh...where else can I express myself?

I know that my answers come in time, but I thought this book was worth sharing. It was first published in 1994, in 1998 and again in 2010. Like I said, it has walked me through two pregnancies, a myriad of cycle problems and will help me through menopause (a ways off). I highly recommend that every women has this book on hand to answers questions for yourself, your daughters, your mothers and friends.