Menopause. What images does it bring to mind? Hot flashes, periods of anger or depression, loss of fertility, a change of life? Few woman look forward to it and many fear it. For many others they endure it but it is much worse that it needs to be. Did you know that in some cultures woman don't have menopausal symptoms? Why is that? What can be done to make this time important, spiritually fulfilling and as mild as possible?

Our guest today, Dr. Judith Boice, author of Menopause with Science and Soul: A Guidebook for Navigating the Journey, will answer our questions and guide us to a safe passage. Dr. Boice is a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, author and international teacher, and she has a special passion for working with wellness and women's health. She conducts trainings and public lectures on women's health, menopause, and osteoporosis. She's also the author of several books, including Menopause with Science and Soul: A Guide For Navigating the Journey. She describes menopause as a "journey" and shares with us how she came to that understanding. Her book includes interviews with women from several different spiritual traditions, and describes women's experience of menopause in other cultures. (In many cultures, women have no menopausal symptoms, while about 80% of women in our culture have hot flashes.); Dr. Boice says this is because of their similar spiritual traditions - these cultures honor each part of the life cycle: puberty, adolescence, menopause and becoming an elder. She gives examples of how you can celebrate each of these times in your own life.