We Carry Light Until the Light Returns: Further Reflections

Attending the Doorway to Joy retreat was an incredibly meaningful and emotional experience for me. As a Zoroastrian whose family left Iran generations ago because of religious persecution, Iran has always felt both distant and deeply familiar to me. I have never had the opportunity to visit, but I grew up hearing my grandmother’s stories of her childhood there before she left as a teenager. Through her memories, I developed a connection to a homeland I had never seen.

Being surrounded by women who share my faith—many of whom grew up in Iran—brought so many of my grandmother’s stories to life. There was something profoundly moving about hearing their memories, recognizing familiar traditions, and realizing how much history and culture we shared despite having grown up in different parts of the world.

We prayed and meditated together, created art, walked along the beach, shared stories and laughter, and listened as beautiful Persian folk songs were sung to the sound of the daf. In those moments, I felt connected not only to the women around me, but also to my grandmother, my ancestors, and a part of my heritage that I had previously experienced mostly through stories.

I left the retreat with a full heart, a renewed appreciation for my Zoroastrian faith and Persian heritage, and immense gratitude for the remarkable women who created this beautiful space for connection, reflection, friendship, and joy. It truly felt like a doorway—to our shared past, to one another, and to joy.