lifeinthepause

Rituals In The Pause: Rebecca Casciano

Name: Rebecca Casciano

Menopause phase: Post-Menopause

Place you call home: Pasadena, CA

What you’re creating: I'm writing a book to help women over 40 feel beautiful from the inside out.

Age: 51

1. Rituals can be deeply personal. What is one personal practice you’ve adopted to embrace the transitions of menopause?

My morning rituals are essential, and gratitude is one of them that helps me most. It reconnects me with what I have and what I'm gaining with age, rather than what I'm losing. Whether through thought, prayer, or journaling, practicing gratitude never fails to boost my enthusiasm, and over time, my resilience.

2. Have you redefined beauty in this stage? If so, how? Do any of your rituals support this definition?

I've redefined beauty as something that evolves as we do and is experienced from the inside out. Beauty is rooted in authenticity rather than perfection. Aging is living, and the more I lean into that, the more my relationship with beauty deepens. My rituals support this by making sure my mind and spirit are nourished, above all.

3. Is there a particular practice—whether it’s movement, meditation, or something else—that has become essential to your well-being in this current stage of your life?

It's too hard to pick just one! I love having a toolkit of inner beauty rituals, like meditation and breath work, and outer beauty rituals, like facial massage and skincare. They each play a role in my beauty and wellness, especially during such a transitional time.

4. What role does your community or your sista circle play in your menopausal and aging experience, and do you share any rituals with other women that support this journey?

My sister circle plays a huge role in my life and aging experience. It's so important to have friends I can talk to about all the ups and downs of womanhood, including menopause and aging. Through my work, I've been intentional about creating spaces where we can come together to support one another. Sisterhood is so needed, and gathering is a powerful ritual in itself.

5. What does the concept of sacredness mean to you as you age, and do you honor this stage of life through any special rituals?

Women are sacred. As we get older and navigate this new chapter, our wisdom, beauty, and authenticity deepen. We embody years of laughter, tears, and lived experience that have shaped who we are today. Our journey brings us closer to ourselves and in turn to God, or whatever higher power you believe in. I consider all of my rituals too, an ongoing conversation between my inner and outer selves.

6. Looking back on your pre-menopausal years, is there anything you wish you had known or done differently to prepare for this transition? How does this wisdom shape your rituals now?

I wish I'd known about perimenopause and all the changes it can bring. It's wild to me that I never heard about it until I was in the middle of it myself, trying to figure out what was happening with my body.

If I could do it again, I would've pushed myself to take physical fitness more seriously. It’s been a challenge for me to stick with an exercise routine, and I'm feeling the effects of that now. Taking my daily movement to the next level is a ritual I'm currently building.

7. How do you define well-aging, and what does it look like for you?

Aging well means being as healthy as possible – mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually – as I get older. A glimpse into what that looks like for me:

Eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet
Reading and appreciating all forms of art
Spending time in nature
Going to therapy
Being physically active
Exploring creativity
Staying connected with friends and family
Practicing my daily mind, body and spirit rituals

8. Everyday Rituals: Share one ritual for each of the following, that you've not shared above

Daily Ritual: Journaling is one of my favorite practices that I've coming back to for over a decade. Putting your thoughts to paper is so healing.

Weekly Ritual: Going on a hike in the mountains allows me to connect with nature, move my body and spend time with my fiancée.

Monthly Ritual: Spending time with friends is something I love to do at least once a month, if not more. Girltime is essential!

Yearly Ritual: Taking off 2 weeks for a "staycation", rather than traveling, has become the best end-of-year gift we can give ourselves.