In this episode of RenFare, we’re bridging two very different legacies — one rooted in science and bioethics, the other in symbolism and spiritual seeking.

First, we share the powerful story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were taken without her consent in 1951. Her HeLa cells became the backbone of modern medical research — but her name was nearly erased. We unpack the scientific breakthroughs her cells made possible, the ethical violations of her case, and the long-overdue recognition her family received in 2023.

Then we turn to the history of tarot — from its origins as a 15th-century card game in Europe to its rise as a tool of mysticism, self-reflection, and resistance. Who used it, how did it evolve, and why are we still drawn to its imagery centuries later?

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks/upholding-the-highest-bioethical-standards

https://time.com/4746297/henrietta-lacks-movie-history-research-oprah/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeLa

https://apnews.com/article/henrietta-lacks-hela-cells-thermo-fisher-scientific-bfba4a6c10396efa34c9b79a544f0729

https://www.statnews.com/2023/08/01/henrietta-lacks-family-settlement-hela-cells/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Syphilis_Study#:~:text=The%20Public%20Health%20Service%20started,care%20and%20promised%20funeral%20expenses.