The 2-hour and 16-minute conversation that took place this week between Madonna and Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast was a remarkably candid and spiritual exploration of the pop icon’s life, encompassing her near-death experience, past emotional turmoil, and spiritual foundation.
Madonna shared extensive, raw details about her June 2023 health crisis, which paused her “The Celebration Tour.”
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The Sepsis Diagnosis: She revealed she was diagnosed with sepsis due to a bacterial infection. While she previously stated she was in an induced coma for 48 hours, she clarified to Shetty that she was actually unconscious for four days in the ICU.
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A “Conscious Moment” with Her Mother: While in the coma, Madonna recounted having a “conscious moment”where her late mother appeared and asked if she wanted to come with her. Madonna stated she said “no,” a refusal her assistant confirmed hearing.
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The Lesson of Forgiveness: She realized that saying “no” was about her deep-seated need to forgive and “make good with people whom I still held grudges against.” This spiritual realization influenced her recovery and helped her later reconcile with her late brother, Christopher Ciccone.
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Recovery and Radical Acceptance: Madonna, who “always saw myself as superwoman,” struggled with a slow recovery, feeling she had “no strength, no energy.” Her spiritual teacher guided her to “radical acceptance”—accepting that the suffering was meant to happen—which she credits with helping her heal.
The pop star shared the moment in her life when she felt the most extreme despair, leading her to contemplate suicide.
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The Most Painful Moment: Madonna identified the custody battle with her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie, over their son Rocco in 2016 as “probably one of the most painful moments in my life.”
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Emotional Turmoil: She admitted that during this period, she “honestly couldn’t see the forest for the trees,” saying, “There were moments in my life I wanted to cut my arms off. I actually contemplated suicide… I can’t take this pain anymore.” She described being on tour at the time and having to go on stage every night despite being on the floor of her dressing room “sobbing,”feeling that losing her child was equivalent to being killed.
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The Role of Spirituality: She repeatedly stressed that her spiritual life, particularly her decades-long practice of Kabbalah, was the only thing that saw her through that dark period and that she “wouldn’t be here” without it. She confirmed that she has since repaired the relationship and is now “really good friends with my son.”
The conversation’s central theme was Madonna’s 29-year spiritual journey with Kabbalah, which she calls the true key to her strength, longevity, and sanity.
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The Spiritual Path: Madonna detailed how her commitment to spirituality, which she began shortly before the birth of her first child, Lourdes, helped her navigate career challenges, find meaning in suffering, and practice radical acceptance. Her teacher, Eitan Yardeni, joined the conversation to provide spiritual insights.
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Forgiveness in Song: Madonna revealed she is working on new music that directly reflects the emotional and spiritual growth from her health and family challenges. She has written a song titled “Fragile,”dedicated to her late brother Christopher, and another called “Forgive Yourself,”emphasizing the need to forgive both others and oneself.
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Future Projects: She confirmed she is preparing to release a new dance album in 2026 and is developing a limited series about her life for Netflix.
