It’s just past 10 pm, and I get a frantic message. “HELP. ” I open up my email to find a note from a client who has a history of gynecological issues and PMDD. Over our time working together, those few days before starting her menstrual cycle are fraught with extremely challenging emotions ranging from […]
Author: Saran Vaughan
Afro-futurism in the diaspora: storytelling and well-being
I recently taught a workshop on the importance of storytellers in West African culture to students in a youth mentorship programme. Griots are the creatives that tell stories through music, movement and spoken word. They use rhythm and sound to heal, preserve culture, and appeal to the community’s subconscious memory. Sitting by a fire at […]
Breast Massage for Hormone Balance
Breast Massage is useful for self-examination and supports hormone balance. Practiced for thousands of years by Taoist Practitioners to recirculate sexual, it is believed to reduce pain and even shorten the duration of menstruation. Breast Massage can prove to be a treasured part of your self-care routine, especially if you tend towards tenderness and Fibrocystic […]
The Impact of Trauma on Reproductive Wellness
Trauma Therapist and author Resmaa Menakem defines trauma as experiencing Too much, too fast, too soon. Trauma activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing us to either fight, flee or freeze. The energy of traumatic experiences often stays in the body, mainly if there wasn’t an opportunity to process this experience through somatic healing, body or […]
5 Foods that contribute to Inflammation & Premenstrual Syndrome
Do you experience period cramps, general aches and pains or breast tenderness before starting a new cycle? What if a few simple dietary changes could relieve much of this discomfort you might be experiencing? Fortunately, it is possible to have complete relief from PMS with lifestyle and nutritional modifications, so let’s examine how inflammation might […]
Exploring Tarot Archetypes & The Menstrual Cycle: The Hanged One
Tarot is a beautiful tool for exploring the energies that we move through during the menstrual cycle. Archetypes allow us to understand and explore aspects of the subconscious mind and offer the gift of cultivating compassion for our humanity. The Hanged One For the purposes of this post, we will explore card 12 in the […]
Transitional Seasons
In the Northern Hemisphere, we are moving through Fall, while our friends in the Southern hemisphere are experiencing the season of Spring. Both are transitional periods in the Life/Death/Life cycle. Collectively and personally, we are all experiencing the energy of transition. A global pandemic, uprisings worldwide, ranging from the Black Lives Matter Movement to the […]
Internalized Racism & its effects on Wellness, Sexual & Reproductive Health
I remember my 8th-grade history class, learning about the slave trade from my white Canadian, History teacher. I have a very vivid memory of going to her apartment with a small group from her class to watch Amistad and the discussion that followed. I’ve always had such a strong desire to know more about my […]
Advocacy & Activism in Health & Wellness
How do we get to the root of what ails us? How do we start the process of addressing the complexity of anti-black racism and its far-reaching effects in our communities? Much of my work is centered around reproductive wellness, primarily working within our community to create a space for healing from the inside out. […]
Anchoring & Grounding with Valerian
That moment when you feel the energy from the mind moving downwards, stopping by the heart and gently easing palpitations, descending into the stomach, settling the nervous anxiety held there. The deeply nourishing feeling of being grounded in something other than the creations of the mind, sensing a rooting down that is both healing and […]