The light in the darkness

Noelle Khalila NicollsLove Letters

Four points on the compass, Esu-Elegba gate keeps. At the hands of the orisha, the monotony of triumph turns to chaos, and I am brought to my knees. Thunder and lightening, Shango illuminates the way. In the midst of my storm, surrounded by light, I can see. Once upon a time, there was a woman who was stuck in a …

Learning to live off the land

Noelle Khalila NicollsLove Letters

I used to play a lot of competitive sports: gymnastics, football, tennis, athletics, swimming, volleyball, and softball: the list could on and on and on and on. I thought I knew all the muscles in my body by now, but working with a pickaxe brought an entirely new level of awareness. The last time I played barefoot in the dirt …

Starting my Vegetable Garden

Noelle Khalila NicollsPrayer Book

The spirit finally moved me to create my backyard garden. I have never experienced a labour of love quite like this before. I give thanks for the hands of my grandmother leading my hands. I give respect to the farmers of the world, and my ancestors. Slave labour has taken on a whole new meaning. Click here for Vegetable Garden: …

The right time to have children

Noelle Khalila NicollsLove Letters

“I am the dream and the hope of the slave.” Maya Angelou I just discovered this quote, and found it extremely touching, particularly because I have been thinking about children recently. I was thinking about how warped my view of motherhood has been. If you asked me a year ago if I was ready to have children I would have …