“Many of us come to astrology in search of ourselves. In search of the meaning of our lives. In search of some clues about what it is we are here to do and whether or not we are on the right track.”

— Chani Nicholas, You Were Born For This

When we think of this pathway, Spirituality & Meaning, we think of anything that can bring wisdom into our lives, orientate us in our days, and find our way forward in ways that make sense for us. These podcasts share this open approach to what belief, ritual and faith can look like. They cover how to use the Enneagram, Tarot, and Astrology as tools of understanding. How the practice of prayer or the modern church can show up in our current lives. And how to locate joy and healing even when faced with the darkest times.

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Tell Me About It | I finally understand astrology... with Chani Nicholas

Host Jade Iovine talks to astrology expert Chani Nicholas about what astrology really is (not the same as the zodiac), and how it can be used to better understand our compatibility in relationships, find our way through difficulties and understand ourselves better. Chani even explains here what Saturn Return means (taking responsibility for life, growing up, and dealing with the consequences of our choices). This one is for anyone curious about modern-day astrology. Pair with Chani’s book You Were Born for This and the app to explore more.

Ctrl Alt Delete | #366 Julia Cameron: Navigating Worries, Doubts & Fears

Host Emma Gannon talks with Julia Cameron — of the popular Morning Pages approach — on her latest book Seeking Wisdom which connects the practice of prayer with creativity. Talking about her recovery from addiction, her attempts at finding direction, and how she finds compassion as relationships evolve, Cameron shares her life-earned wisdom. You don’t need to believe in a certain type of faith for this one; more an openness to asking, seeking and guidance in whatever form it comes.

This is Love | Episode 41 Finding Joy

This conversation with Kate Bowler took our breath away. Aged 35, the mother of a toddler, Kate is diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and this shatters her world, and those of the people she loves. The Duke University Religion Professor who grew up in a Mennonite family talks openly about where she looked for comfort and where ultimately she found some joy. Kate is the author of New York Times bestsellers Everything Happens For A Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved and No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear).

“I think it was my friend Nadia who said it. She was like, “Pain can scoop out of you, like carve out of you, spaces that joy can then fill.” I thought that was such a wise, just a true thing to say, because, I mean, this has been a long stretch of a lot of like sorrow that weirdly, one of the only things that really cuts through all the noise, is usually surprising and ridiculous joy. “

Underneath It All | 1. Exploring the Enneagram

What does your Enneagram number mean? Actually, let’s back up, what is the Enneagram? In this mini-series from Underneath It All, therapist Grizel Caminas departs from her usual exploration of mental health and nature to take a deep dive into the Enneagram. In this episode, with Enneagram Coach Stephanie Barron, she takes us through the nine core motivations and how you can use them as a tool for mental wellbeing. To find out your type, how best to use it, and how it can become a source of compassion and empathy, also check out Steph’s website.

Dear Gabby | How Do I Know I'm Manifesting

Where we lived in Northern California people talked about manifesting the way they talk about the weather in the UK. It’s just something people practice, but what is it and how do you know it’s working? In this episode, spiritual entrepreneur, Gabby Bernstein takes us through her most asked question: how do you know that what you are trying to manifest is on the way? Here she answers this with her usual candor and practical advice, with three ways you can identify signs from the universe that what you desire is coming to you. If you’re curious about meditation, affirmations, and manifesting, this podcast series has some wisdom for modern times.

Life Kit: Pick a Card, Any Card

If you’re curious about Tarot — which more and more of us seem to be — but don’t know where to get started, this episode of Life Kit isn’t a bad place to start. Michelle Tea — author of Modern Tarot: Connecting with Your Higher Self Through the Wisdom of the Cards — introduces beginners to this practice and how it can be used as a tool of self-care from how to choose a deck to learning the cards. Listening to this episode, made the tarot more approachable and gave us a way to understand how it can fit into our everyday lives.

Truth Be Told | Unwavering Love

In this episode of Truth Be Told, editor James T. Green explores how it’s possible to be queer within the context of the Black Church in which he was raised. In conversation with poet and writer Nikki Giovanni, who shares her own understanding of faith across the decades, they talk about belonging and acceptance, how faith can be connected with expressions of love and community, and the importance of finding your people.

There Are No Girls On The Internet | Whitney Houston: The Zombification of an Icon

A technological-enabled future that takes away grief? A hologram of a loved one – whether a star or a family member – that brings them back even if they don’t want to return. This episode looks at how ghosts are being rendered by the internet, and how in our current moment we’re trying to blend the divide between the living and the dead. Spiritual writer Brooke Obie takes a fascinating look at how technology is shifting our relationship with the iconic cultural figure Whitney Houston — how even in death her image continues to be manipulated in similar ways to when she was alive — and what this means more generally for living an authentic, self-determining life.

“Our future-focused, technology-obsessed world seems to be hurtling down a bad path. People are turning to ancestral practices for a sense of enduring longevity, and comfort. To help stay sane and grounded in the midst of so much cultural insanity. To source a different kind of power in hopes of making changes both personal and political. From learning meditation to fighting off a cold with some homemade fire cider; from indigo-dyeing your curtains to strengthening your intuition with the aid of the Tarot, such old-world practices are capturing our imaginations and providing us with meaningful ways to impact our world.”

— Michelle Tea, Modern Tarot

All these selections can be found in our Spotify playlist for Spirituality and Meaning. You can listen here:

Let us know what you’ve been listening to this month to help you think about your own approach to Spirituality & Meaning. Which podcasts have inspired you to think more about meditation and manifesting, Tarot and Astrology, ritual and faith?

To seek out more resources for how to bring more Spirituality and Meaning into your life take a look at our guide.

Main Image: Photo by Ashley Inguanta on Unsplash