Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a curandera, author, Indigenous foods activist and natural foods chef whose work is deeply rooted in the healing properties of all earth medicines.

Judika Illes is an American author of esoteric nonfiction books, aromatherapist and tarot reader. She has written the books Daily Magic, 5000 Spells, Encyclopedias of Spirits, Saints, Witchcraft and more.

Pam Grossman is a writer, curator and teacher of magical practice and history. She is the host of “The Witch Wave” podcast and the author of multiple books on witchcraft, including Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power. Vulture magazine called her “the Terry Gross of Witches.”

Lynsey Ayala, a Brooklyn-based artist and curandera, is the founder of BreadxButta, a small pop-up shop featuring art, traditional plant medicine and residence opportunities for art and creative projects. Ayala works  with plant medicine to provide healing, using traditions passed down from her Taíno ancestors.

This edition of ReligionLink explores seven issues that may deserve attention in 2022.

The Information Network for Epidemics’ Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of working with religious communities during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and has trained religious communities and leaders on best practices to confront the all-embracing global health emergency.

John G. Turner (department of religious studies) and Lincoln Mullen (department of history and art history) at George Mason University run the site “Pandemic Religion.”