In this profound episode of How to Be Magical, host Nikki Buchanan sits down with Rish De Terra, a cultural memory keeper, curator of The Annual Hoodoo Conference, and creator of Nine Minds Radio. The conversation delves into the importance of reclaiming ancestral roots, the role of community in spiritual practice, and the power of remembering as an act of resistance.
Rish shares her journey of spiritual awakening, from leaving the Nation of Islam to discovering Hoodoo and confronting cultural commodification by outsiders. She recounts pivotal moments, such as her transformative encounter with Mama Jean Taiwo and her viral Conjure Culture Demystified series, which sparked a movement to reclaim Hoodoo from exploitation.
The discussion explores themes like:
Cultural Memory Keeping: Honoring ancestors without the need for external validation.
Community as Protection: The resurgence of communal living and mutual support in spiritual practice.
Neurodivergence and Ancestral Gifts: Reframing "mental illness" as ancestral communication and the importance of grounding practices.
The Hoodoo Renaissance: How digital spaces like The Witches Brew fostered a decolonial resurgence in Black spirituality.
Rish also teases her upcoming docuseries, Conjure, which will spotlight Hoodoo’s elemental roots (Earth, Fire, Air, Water) and feature elders’ wisdom. The episode closes with a playful word-association game and a call to support Rish’s work.
A must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their connection to ancestral traditions and the magic of authenticity.
Connect with Rish:
IG @NineMindsRadio
IG @freestyle_since_1984
LarishaStone@gmail.com
