Adrienne Irizarry of Moon Essence on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Adrienne Irizarry HWH shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Adrienne, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start my day with meditation. I have an infant and even though he wakes me up during the night still – morning meditation is a non-negotiable. I spend 30 minutes grounding, clearing my mind and getting clear on my energy for the day before I ever pick up the phone or launch into motion. Sometimes this practice means I have to wake a little before my baby does, but I am a better mother, wife, friend and professional when I take these few quiet minutes to still my mind.

After I meditate my son is usually waking up so I play with him and start our day connected. Often we go outside to enjoy the morning light and some fresh air before starting the busy day. I try to get 15 minutes or more of movement of some kind as well. Sometimes that’s a short walk with my son in the fresh air. Sometimes its 30 minutes of weight lifting. I focus better during the day when I work my mind, my breath and my body.

I have made it a habit to not pick up my phone for the first two hours of the day so that I can be present – in my body, in my family and in my day before the notifications, emails and demands invade my space. I find that I feel more ease in my body since I’ve made this a ritual start to my day – even on the days that are overscheduled.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Adrienne Irizarry and I am the owner of Moon Essence®. I’m a women’s holistic health practitioner with an East Asian medicine focus and a true reproductive rebel. I bring ancient wisdom to the modern woman.

So many women struggle with period problems, fertility challenges, perimenopausal symptoms and more because our modern world does not work with our natural rhythms. When we work in harmony with these rhythms instead of against them we have more energy, perform better and reduce symptoms.

I spent years suffering with endometriosis symptoms and fertility challenges because I was just trying to “work like a man” pushing through fatigue, the pain that came with my bleed and not show weakness. It took me years to learn that this kind of grind only makes symptoms worse. It was recurrent pregnancy loss that made me pause and reconsider the way I was moving through the world. I knew if I was struggling with this others were too and I turned my grief and heartache into a resource for others. I became the answer I couldn’t find on my own journey and in 2023 was named Top 10 Health Industry Disruptor by Apple News and Grit Daily – how’s that for creating the change so many like myself needed!

I spread the word about simple but powerful practices on my podcast Reproductive Rebel. I want to empower others with the information they need to live with fewer symptoms holding them back. I am honored that Reproductive Rebel was named Best Podcast of 2025 by Best Holistic Life Magazine.

I am excited to be teaching the next wave of reproductive rebels through my practitioner program as well as offering ritual offerings for daily practice, education and support through customized offerings and group programs. I always found the answers for my health challenges in the wisdom of East Asian medicine and it is my mission to make it accessible to weave into the fabric of modern day life.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the most powerful moments for me as a young woman was in my first professional job during college.

I was an undergraduate and working in a marketing department at a bank. I loved to write and offered to contribute articles to a publication they were releasing.

I had a female executive appear at my desk with the draft of what I had written and she said something to me that shaped who I was personally and professionally for over a decade.

“You think, you believe, you know – you never feel. Successful women don’t feel in business.”

With that she walked away. I sat puzzled and then looked at the draft she brought to me. No red pen. No modifications to the page in any way. What the heck was she talking about?

I read and re-read my submission. I didn’t see any edits to grammar or punctuation. My young self started getting a bit indignant because I had no idea what was wrong with it. After several times through the draft – the word jumped out at me. Feel.

I had used the word ‘feel’ in the draft in a few places. The voice of the article was feminine. I went back through and edited changing the word ‘feel’ to ‘think, believe and know’ where it was appropriate. I re-submitted and they published the draft.

That moment changed how I spoke, how I wrote and even the energy I moved through the world with. The more disconnected I became from that word ‘feel’ the sicker I became. I had cramps, migraines, clots and irregular cycles. I struggled with digestion. For a woman in her 20s, I felt decades older.

Years later, while working with clients in my practice, I realized how important feeling is for women in their understanding of the world, their navigation of it and their health. Denying that I was a feeling body made me sick. Owning that I am a feeling body, because emotions are energy in motion and need to move – regardless of gender, I healed. I became a more successful business woman, mother, friend and practitioner.

I learned that I am powerful as a feeling being. Stuck energy makes us sick. Much of my work today is creating an unrestricted flow of energy and blood in the body which eliminates negative symptoms.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are perfectly imperfect. Perfection is an illusion and as long as you do your best, show up with authenticity and vulnerability – you can’t go wrong. Work and speak from the truth in your heart and you will always be in alignment with your truth.

The world will try to tell you that you have to look and act a certain way, but the truth is, everyone feels like they don’t measure up in some way – this isn’t unique to you. Competition and judgement keep us small and controlled – knowing your worth to the core of your being gives you ultimate freedom.

You are enough – just the way you are.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! I love that you asked this question. There are so many people that have a “persona” online and even rent apartments to keep it looking perfect and not lived in for recordings and photos. It’s what they want you to see.

Me – I’m real. If you watch my videos online, many times I have crazy hair, I swear for emphasis and clarity or I’m talking while walking because that’s when I feel called to say something important.

I spent a lot of years feeling like I had to “perform” a business persona but the reality is that I’m a human just like you. I have crazy family schedules, sleep deprived nights with an infant and don’t always look put together – just like you. I’m teaching you how to care for yourself despite what life throws at you because that is reality.

I am real and authentic. You get a look into my life. We are far too stressed about our houses not looking like Pinterest boards. It’s not reality. Real life is messy. I want people to know that I understand their struggles and I’m offering them the answers to their real world problems because I’m living it too.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I could give my best even if I wasn’t praised for it because I live with integrity. I am the kind of person who will do the right thing even if no one was watching.

I don’t need praise. I deeply want to see the transformation in the lives of others because that will shape the future.

Long after I’m gone I want the wisdom that I share to continue being shared woman to woman, mother to daughter because only then can we reclaim our health long term. While testimonials go a long way in today’s world – I do this work from my heart because you deserve it. The education I provide is your birthright.

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Image Credits
Photos by Ruby Jean Photography

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