Ritually

What role do spiritual and wellness rituals play in our fast-paced, secular world? Join journalist-turned-guinea pig Nelufar Hedayat as she tries a new ritual in every episode. From following the Muslim call to prayer to sacred readings of Harry Potter, Nelufar dives in with the help of a different spiritual guide each week to see if these practices can actually make us feel better. Coming July 10 from Brazen Media, wherever you get your podcasts. For more, check out www.ritually.fm

As a progressive Muslim woman, Nelufar struggles with patriarchal interpretations of Islam and the constraints of organized religion. So with the help of feminist spiritual practitioner Sarah Zaltash, she tries a new ritual to deepen her connection to Islam: following the daily call to prayer. It’s a practice that unites 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. But this version is different — radical, actually! — because it’s in a woman’s voice. Will waking up at dawn every day to hear Beloved Sarah’s call help Nelufar feel more connected to Islam?

When Nelufar is haunted by violent, terrifying dreams, her parents step in with a series of Afghan pagan rituals to cleanse her energy and ward off evil. With their help, and some added perspective from mystic Jewish priestess and dreamwork scholar Rabbi Jill Hammer, will Nelufar finally be able to tackle her nighttime demons?

What makes a text sacred? And can our favorite secular books become as holy to us as the Quran or the Bible? With the help of Vanessa Zoltan, an atheist chaplain and co-creator of the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Nelufar and Producer Sarah try out the ancient ritual of florilegia. It was used by medieval monks, and it’s a lot like keeping a quote journal. Will this practice help them create their own personalized sacred texts?

Nelufar is feeling burnt out and disconnected — especially from the earth, which fuels her sense of activism as a vegan and environmentalist. Will a ritual rooted in African traditions help her rekindle that connection with the natural world? All she needs is a cup of water, and a few tips from Black farmer and spiritual activist Leah Penniman. With her unwitting and let’s say… skeptical… boyfriend Matt along for the ride, Nelufar takes this ritual on a road trip to find out.

Nelufar is facing some big decisions in her life and turns to a tarot reading from UK-based Jen Cownie for guidance. Will this centuries-old practice help her figure out what to do? With Jen’s help, Nelufar discovers tarot is less about telling the future, and more of a choose- your-own-adventure book where she gets to pick an ending that empowers her.

Last year Nelufar had an abortion. The decision to terminate her pregnancy wasn’t difficult, but the process was. Though studies show abortion pills are safe and around 95-99% effective, in Nelufar’s case, they didn’t work. Shaken by her experiences seeking what should have been routine healthcare, Nelufar turns to full-spectrum doula Sara Bakr for rituals to help her heal from the trauma of medical gaslighting. At a farm and retreat center in the English countryside, Sara and the community who live and work there support Nelufar to process and move on from the experience. If you’re pregnant and want to talk with someone about your options, you can contact 1-888-493-0092 in the US and Canada, or the British Pregnancy Advisory Service at 03457 30 40 30. For more resources and a confidential talkline in the UK, check out abortiontalk.com/talk.