Staffordshire residents aim to empower women with menstrual cycle awareness journal

Pic: Journal creators Susanna Guest and Liz Berwick

Two Staffordshire women have made a journal to raise awareness of emotion, creativity and energy during the menstrual cycle.

Women's therapist, menstrual cycle and menopause educator Susanna Guest, 50, of Cold Meece, helped hundreds of clients to live a life in tune with their natural cycle through coaching, retreats and workshops.

She has collaborated with her friend and client, Liz Berwick, 41, of Eccleshall, to create The Wild Wisdom Journal for menstrual cycle awareness, menopause support and wellbeing.

Susanna said: "Liz and I are both experienced at exploring our cycle shifts and bringing that cyclical living - the ebbs and flows - into our lives and businesses.

"We use journals, but we both felt that the journal we really needed and wanted didn't exist yet.

"So we created it, and the feedback so far has been amazing!"

Described by others as 'a beautifully crafted journal and an anchor' and 'a gift everyone should give to herself', The Wild Wisdom journal is designed for daily use for 12 months.

It includes daily menstrual cycle tracking, inspirational prompts, a guide to the lunar phases, seasonal intention setting, a yearly overview and space for 'creation and dreaming'.

The journal is for women with or without a menstrual cycle and women going through menopause.

Liz and Susanna feel passionate about living in alignment with both inner and outer cycles and empowering other women to do that, too.

Co-creator Liz owns Simply Scrumptious Cupcakes, the Liz Berwick Cake Academy, and is a wellbeing adviser for Weleda UK.

Liz said: "Understanding the different phases of my cycle and living life and working more in sync with those has been such an empowering process.

"With three businesses to run, two young children and the challenges the pandemic has thrown at us all, being in tune with myself, my energy and the natural cycle has been important.

"It has helped me be all the things I need to be, do all the things I need to do, but at a more sustainable pace compared to pushing myself all the time."

She said it gave her space to reflect and process emotions in a healthy way that feels powerful and enlightening.

Susanna said: "The women I work with tell me that the simple art of paying attention and witnessing their cycle shifts helps them meet their inner tendencies and step into their power.

"That's what it's all about."

An online book launch event will take place on Friday, November 19, from 7 to 8pm, with in-person events in the local area over the coming weeks.

For every journal sold, priced at £25, the Period Power charity will receive a donation.

The charity works towards eradicating period poverty in Staffordshire, the West Midlands and beyond.

Liz and Susanna have also pledged to plant one tree for every journal sold through the TreeSisters social change and reforestation charity.

For more information, visit the website here.

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