Ritually

Get your headphones reading for this episode and listen along as we test: Can binaural beats really have an affect on our mood and focus? We live in a constant state of “on”, and having recently been diagnosed with ADHD Nelufar finds it especially hard to focus. But besides touching grass, what if there’s another way?…

We’ve all heard of Gua Sha on social media? But what does it actually do? And where does the ancient practice of Gua Sha really come from? In this episode of Ritually, Host Nelufar tries out traditional Chinese medicine technique of ‘Gua Sha’ with the help of Ela. Ela 's story on why she turned to Gua Sha and other tr…

What even is a cacao ceremony and what does chocolate have to do with ritual? While many people treat cacao as a superfood, in a ceremonial context, it is treated as a plant medicine with proven results. Chocolate has an interesting history. Long before it was packaged up as chocolate bars it was considered a “Gift fr…

Could cupping restore your aching body? Cupping therapy or hijama is an ancient healing ritual. It’s been around for an incredible 3,500 years. From the ancient Egyptians to Chinese medicine techniques, through to the Islamic Empire, cupping pops up independently in all sorts of places in the world and in time. So wha…

Can a haircut be spiritual? Can the big chop help manifestation with every snip of the scissors releasing energy? In this episode, we find out how a hair ceremony ritual can not only refresh your look but also your mind and soul. On the eve of a lunar eclipse, come with host Nelufar Hedayat as she opens up her crown c…

00:00 - Intro: Combating Anxiety in a Disconnected World 07:12 - Cleansing the Studio Energy with Palo Santo 11:37 - Tiik’s Double Life: Academia vs. Spirituality 17:16 - Traveling to Nepal & Learning from a Master 21:17 - The Science of Sound Therapy 24:23 - The Water Frequency Demonstration 26:06 - Nels Final Though…

Ritually Season Two is back! Host Nelufar Hedayat and her expert guides bring you a new ritual a week to see if it can make her, and you, feel better! In this six-part season, we will be exploring wellness and sacred religious rituals, incorporating them into our lives to see if it's worth it.  Watch our podcast ever…

This week on Ritually we're sharing an episode from KQED's Rightnowish series, Adornment. Having grown up in South San Francisco, perfumer Mauricio Garcia takes inspiration from flora and fauna that grows along the foggy coastline, golden grassland hills, and nearby redwood groves. Because of his deep reverence for na…

This week on Ritually we're bringing you an episode of another podcast, called ACCESS, that is all about having conversations about abortion. There’s a common misconception that religious people don’t have abortions, or support abortion access. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Meet the robust community of…

If you loved Episode 5, join us for an extended conversation with tarot reader Jen Cownie, co-author of Wild Card: Let The Tarot Tell Your Story, and Laetitia Barbier, the author of Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive.

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 fu…

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 t…

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 spirit…

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…

Nelufar and Producer Sarah sit down to explain how this big spiritual quest all began — and how Ritually got its start during London’s COVID lockdown.

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 nighttim…

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 uni…

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 eac…