Mehregan: The Iranian Holiday of Harvest and Justice

In this episode of Halva for the Heart, I invite you into the ancient Iranian holiday of Mehregan - a celebration of light, justice, truth, and friendship.

I share the mythic story of Kaveh the Blacksmith and Fereydoon’s uprising against the tyrant Zahhak as told in the Shahnameh, and reflect on what these ancestral teachings offer us today: how we resist tyranny, anchor ourselves in community, and transform our grief into courage.

I also speak about the upcoming Palestine Grief Circle on October 10th, a virtual space I’m co-facilitating with my friend Shivani (listen to my interview with them in episode 8). This donation-based offering is a way to honor our shared grief and fight for collective liberation, and to remember Mithra as the honored god of Mehregan and the guardian of truth and justice, and allow him to guide us in standing for what is sacred.
👉 Join the Palestine Grief Circle

Throughout the episode, I share ways you can celebrate Mehregan from wherever you are: creating a sofreh or altar, honoring the changing light, and tending the threads that bind justice, grief, and love.

In this episode, I reflect on:

• The mythology of Mithra, Kaveh, Fereydoon, and Zahhak
• How Mehregan invites us to act for justice and truth
• The connection between grief work and liberation
• Simple seasonal and altar practices for Mehregan

If you'd like to go deeper with the themes of Mehregan, I invite you to download the Mehregan Guidebook or join us in Dard-e Del.
👉 Note: The Mehregan Guidebook is free for Dard-e Del members

If you'd like to share what this episode brought up for you...

• Leave me a 90 second voice note
• Message me on Instagram
• Send me an email

Learn more about my work at my website www.hafezdeathcare.com
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🎵 Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân