Conversations What leaving my family’s Baha’i faith taught me about love and life
4 snips
Jan 27, 2026 Sita Walker, Brisbane teacher and author of The God of No Good, reflects on being raised in a matriarchal Baha’i family and the rituals that shaped her. She talks about grief after losing a sister, the practical spiritual care of her aunts and grandmother, leaving nightly prayers, separating and finding unexpected new love. Short, personal stories about family, faith and starting again.
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The Day Rani Died
- Sita recounts the 1989 car crash that left her sister Rani in a coma and the family's decision to turn off life support.
- She remembers the funeral details vividly, including her aunt's scarlet sari and the cold grass under her feet.
Matriarchs Took Charge
- After Rani's death, Sita's aunts arrived to clean, welcome visitors, pray and cook, each taking a practical role in supporting the family.
- These matriarchs provided hands-on care, spiritual consolation and sustenance during grief.
Egg Ritual To Ward Off The Evil Eye
- Sita's grandmother performed an egg ritual to draw out the 'evil eye', smashing the egg on the back steps to vanquish wickedness.
- Her father, John, dismissed it as superstition and hosed the evidence away.
