In this minisode, Five and Nine joins Azad, an artist, healer and “forever cheerleader,” who’s working on a kite to fly in the desert winds of Wadi Rum. We tune in to the element of air in particular, an important one in tarot, which shows up in both the cards we draw and in the environment around us. We travel back in time to the quiet, haunting streets of New York City early in the pandemic, discuss the value of rest, and the explore the role of the arts in times of crisis.

Five and Nine Season 4 is about crisis. It’s our first season recorded on location, with the majority of our episodes produced in the beautiful Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, thanks to a special artist residency hosted by One of Many Studio (OoM).Music performed by Hashim Bin Muaitiq. Both the music and the kite flying audio were recorded live in Wadi Rum.

Season 4 is co-presented with One of Many Studio, an experience design & consulting studio connecting people with what it means to be a Future Ancestor. One of Many works at the intersection of immersive experiences and social change, elevating critical conversations to transform the way we relate to ourselves, each other, and our legacies.

Five and Nine is a podcast and newsletter at the crossroads of magic, work and economic justice. We publish “moonthly” — every new moon 🌚 and full moon 🌝 — , and we provide an ongoing critical discussion through readings, reflections and debate. Five and Nine is produced by Five and Nine Futures Lab, a research, design and strategy consultancy that helps organizations and companies build better futures through the lens of work, care and magic.

In this new world, we’re all rethinking the meaning of work and justice in our lives. Our lives and livelihoods are more essential than ever in identifying ways forward for society that can be grounded in care, compassion and sustainability.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fiveandnine.substack.com/subscribe