Down the Rabbit Hole

In this episode, we explore the practice of keeping an eternal or long-burning flame—from sanctuary lamps that have glowed for centuries to the simple votive candle we light for a loved one. We begin with the hook of a flame that never dies, then trace the history of perpetual lights across traditions, from ancient temple fires to modern memorial candles. Our panel unpacks the psychology of why a...

In this episode, we explore the universal yet deeply personal practice of breath as a sacred bridge. From the ancient pranayama of India to the whispered prayers of monastic traditions, breath is the one constant that ties every spiritual path together. We dive into why slowing down the inhale and exhale can shift our awareness, how breathwork acts as a gateway to altered states without any extern...

In this episode, we explore the surprisingly universal practice of sacred sound—specifically, the bell, the gong, and the chime. From temple bells that mark the hours to the tiny singing bowls on a meditation cushion, we ask why a single struck note feels like an invitation to step out of ordinary time. Sam shares how bells are used in spiritualist practice to signal the start of a séance or to cl...

Every step we take can be a prayer. In this episode, we lace up our boots and explore why walking has served as one of humanity's most powerful spiritual practices across cultures and centuries. From the labyrinth paths of medieval cathedrals to the long pilgrimages of Compostela and the mindful strolls of Zen monks, the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other has always been a way to...

In this episode, we unravel the ancient and enduring practice of walking spirals and labyrinths as a form of moving meditation. From the stone-carved spirals of Newgrange to the famous Chartres Cathedral labyrinth, humans have long used winding paths to quiet the mind, mark transitions, and invite reflection. Our panel explores the psychology of the spiral—why a curved path feels more sacred than...

Every day, millions of people place a piece of fruit at a temple, drop a coin into a well, or set an extra plate at the table for ancestors who aren't there. It seems illogical—we lose something tangible for something we can't see. But this episode dives into the surprising psychology and spirituality behind offerings. Sam shares how spiritualism frames giving as a way to shift energy and open the...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating spectrum of vocal expression in spiritual practice. From the hushed whispers of a confession booth to the thunderous shouts of a revival tent, the way we modulate our voice when addressing the sacred is a window into our relationship with the unseen. Sam Ellerby shares how spiritualist mediums often shift to a soft, breathy tone to channel messages, whil...

In this episode, we explore the surprisingly deep roots of communal drinking as a spiritual practice. From ancient Greek symposia and Celtic mead-sharing to the Christian Eucharist and modern coffee rituals, humans have always used the shared cup to seal friendships, honor the divine, and mark life's turning points. We'll uncover why the act of drinking from a common vessel feels so intimate, how...

Every day we step across a line we rarely notice: the threshold. But for thousands of years, humans have marked that line with paint, chalk, carvings, and hanging tokens—from the red paint on Greek doorways to the mezuzah on Jewish homes, from horseshoes to fresh flowers. In this panel episode, Sam, Tamara, and Eric explore the universal instinct to guard the entrance. They discuss how a simple ma...

In this episode, we explore the profound role of silence in spiritual practice across traditions. From Quaker meetings where worshippers wait in stillness for the inner light, to Buddhist vipassana retreats that cultivate deep inner listening, to the ancient Christian practice of contemplative prayer—silence is not an absence but a presence. We unpack the science of how silence calms the nervous s...

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we explore the surprising and universal practice of honoring rocks and stones as sacred. From the Kaaba in Mecca to the Blarney Stone in Ireland, from smooth prayer stones carried in pockets to massive monoliths that mark burial sites, humans have always reached out to touch, kiss, and anoint the earth's oldest furniture. Why? We dig into the psychology of...

Every day, millions of people tie a red string around their wrist, knot a prayer belt, or wear a sacred cord blessed by a teacher or loved one. But why? In this episode, Eric, Sam, and Tamara untangle the surprisingly universal practice of sacred cords and threads—from the Hindu rakhi and Buddhist protection cords to the Catholic scapular and the Jewish tzitzit fringes. They explore how a simple,...

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Eric, Sam, and Tamara follow the curling thread of incense smoke across cultures and centuries. We start with a simple question: why do so many traditions—from Catholic churches to Buddhist temples to modern yoga studios—fill the air with fragrant offerings? Together, we explore the science of scent and how smell bypasses our rational brain to trigger memor...

In this episode, we explore the universal yet often overlooked practice of ringing bells in spiritual and everyday settings. From the deep resonance of a temple bell to the soft chime of a wind chime on a porch, we ask why a single note has the power to shift our attention, calm our minds, and mark a transition into the sacred. Sam reflects on the personal, meditative experience of sound as a door...

In this episode, we explore one of humanity's oldest communal acts: dancing in a circle around a fire. From prehistoric campsites to modern music festivals, the fire circle is a universal stage for connection, storytelling, and transcendence. We'll unpack the psychology and spirituality behind why moving in a circle feels so powerful—how it dissolves ego, creates a shared heartbeat, and opens a do...

In this episode, we explore the surprising world of labyrinths and sacred walking paths—ancient tools that are less about getting lost and more about finding ourselves. From the famous labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral to the spiral stone patterns left by Indigenous cultures, we uncover why humans have long used winding paths as a form of moving meditation. We discuss the difference between a labyri...

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we dive into the surprisingly deep waters of wish-making: why a simple coin toss at a well, a fountain, or a wishing tree has carried human hopes for millennia. We explore the hidden mechanics of this everyday ritual—how the act of giving something small but tangible transforms an abstract desire into a sacred transaction. Sam shares how different spiritual...

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, hosts Eric, Sam, and Tamara gather around the idea of setting a place for the dead—a practice found in cultures across the globe, from Mexico's Día de los Muertos to Victorian death dinners and modern-day family traditions. The conversation unpacks why this ritual feels so universally human, exploring the psychology of grief, the spiritual belief in ongoing...

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, hosts Eric, Sam, and Tamara explore the profound and often mysterious power of sacred vows—from wedding promises and monastic oaths to the quiet, personal promises we make to ourselves. Why do words spoken aloud carry such weight across cultures and faiths? How do these commitments shape identity, memory, and even our sense of the divine? The panel unpacks...

From the flickering oil lamps of ancient shrines to the string lights on a modern porch, the practice of placing light at the threshold is one of humanity's most enduring and universal rituals. In this episode, Eric, Sam, and Tamara explore why a single flame at the door feels so powerful—whether it is meant to guide a wandering soul, warn away unseen forces, or simply signal that a home is a plac...

In this episode, we take a whirlwind tour of the surprising ritual of turning, spinning, and rotating during sacred practices. From the whirling dervishes of Sufism to the clockwise circumambulation of temples and the simple act of turning toward the sun, we explore why so many traditions encode direction and motion into their prayers. Sam shares the spiritual psychology of movement as a way to qu...

In this episode, we explore the universal yet deeply personal practice of saying a blessing, grace, or simple word of thanks before eating. From ancient pagan offerings to modern mindful moments, we uncover why this small pause matters—not just for the religious, but for anyone seeking a moment of presence in a busy day. Sam shares how a daily gratitude practice transformed her relationship with f...

In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Sam, Tamara, and Eric unravel the surprisingly universal ritual of tying threads on the wrist. From the Hindu rakhi ceremony to the Buddhist sai sin, from Kabbalah’s red string to simple friendship bracelets, this tiny loop of fabric carries an outsized weight of meaning. We explore the psychology of knots as memory anchors, the spiritual idea of binding ou...

In this episode, we step across the threshold of one of humanity's oldest and most sacred rituals: welcoming the stranger. From the Greek concept of xenia, where Zeus himself protected guests, to the Jewish tradition of the tent open on all sides for travelers, we explore why nearly every culture treats the open door as a holy act. We unpack the psychology of the threshold—that liminal space betwe...

In this episode, we explore the profound, often overlooked power of silence in spiritual and everyday life. From the hush that falls over a cathedral to the deliberate pause before a meditation, silence is more than absence—it's a presence that speaks. We'll journey through the science of how silence affects the brain, the cultural rituals that honor quiet, and the personal practice of finding sti...