Ep.10: Imagination as the Great Alchemizer of Grief w/ Fariha Róisín

Imagine a world where your creativity has the power to heal your past, build bridges of connection, deepen your spirituality, and dismantle systems of oppression. Fariha Róisín—-a Muslim, queer, Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist and writer—has used their writing to do just that. Today on the podcast, they’re joining Carter to cast a vision of the true alchemical power of writing toward healing both the personal and the political. Fariha wonders at the impulse they had to write a book as a twelve year-old, the ripple effect of vulnerability and sharing your work, and why we should be looking to the wisdom of the Earth to teach us about repair...We’re also getting into…- wellness outside of appropriation and commodification- creativity as a safe container for emotional exploration- Fariha’s mission to demystify Islamophobia and claim their Sufi intellectual ancestry- the power of vulnerability and the ripple effect of sharing your work- …and what this all has to do with the character of Trump, the Epstein files, global genocides, and the war in Iran..Born in Ontario, raised in Sydney, and now living in the UK, Fariha Róisín is the author of two poetry books—How to Cure a Ghost and Survival Takes a Wild Imagination—a novel called Like a Bird, the guided journal, Being in Your Body, and the part-memoir, part-journalistic takedown of Western wellness culture, Who is Wellness For?...Stay in touch with Fariha Róisín:Via their website: fariharoisin.comOn Substack: @fariharoisinOn Instagram: @fariha_roisin or https://www.instagram.com/fariha_roisin/...This podcast is hosted by Carter Umhau--a therapist, artist, and writer--who offers one-on-one work and creative workshops.Keep in touch with Carter:Subscribe to the How To Be Alive newsletter: https://carterumhau.substack.com/Carter’s website: https://www.carterumhau.com/Get on the list to hear about Carter’s next classes and events: https://carterumhau.myflodesk.com/kwt3u8rfleIf you’re interested in receiving support from Carter in a therapeutic, coaching, or consulting capacity—or you just want to say hi!—please reach out at [email protected] I can’t wait to hear from you!...Original music by Aaron DavidsonEditing by Hans Anderson..DISCLAIMER: The opinions and views expressed in this episode and are not intended as mental health advice, nor as a replacement for therapy. Please seek mental health support if needed! Get full access to How to Be Alive at carterumhau.substack.com/subscribe