Of all the sacred sites I explored with Chief Aikula, Michelle, Hadiya, and Alicia, Erin Ijesha Waterfalls moved me the most. There are no words to describe it. Michelle says the waters of Erin Ijesha healed her. I believe her. I’ve been to Nigeria five times, but this was my first visit to Erin Ijesha. That newness made it especially powerful. There is nothing like standing on the lands of your ancestors, surrounded by ancient spirits who are not symbolic or distant, but present—reminding you of who you are and what you carry. If you feel the pull, listen to it. I’ll be returning to Nigeria in December, and Alicia and I are planning a journey to Ethiopia in September. ✨ King’s Circle members receive priority access to all retreats, along with private discounts not available to the public. You are helping build a sacred ecosystem with your membership and YOU come first.

King’s Circle is growing. In time, we’ll explore cuisine as culture. We’ll explore African, African American, African Caribbean, and African Latino culinary traditions. We’re building toward a living classroom in King’s Circle. It will include shared recipes, conversations with chefs, and stories rooted in history, migration, and creativity. This is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come. In this clip, my friend Orphee from Benin is preparing a dish for me in my kitchen. He made this dish when he visited me with his partner in Oakland last year. It’s a moment filled with memory, generosity, and connection. Orphee teaches traditional dance from Benin. His work is deeply tied to culture, rhythm, and spiritual life. Soon, you’ll get to meet Orphee in King’s Circle. He’ll share his thoughts on Vodun, cuisine, and dance. I began studying the Fon language, one of the major languages of Benin. I started studying Fon in preparation for shooting the film Becoming Light Again with Akua. The film will take place mostly in Benin. Learning the language has been part of my commitment to meet cultures with care and respect. I’ll be sharing my Fon language-learning journey with you in King’s Circle as well. This is the kind of learning we’re cultivating in King’s Circle. Lived culture. Shared openly. Carried forward together.

When Spirit Tests You, It’s Because You’re Growing Several months ago, I wrote a blog post about the late African shaman Malidoma Somé. His work has stayed with me because it reminds us of something we often forget on the spiritual path: 👉 We will be tested. And yet, when those tests show up, we’re surprised. We wonder what we did wrong, or whether we’ve lost our way. But being tested isn’t a mistake—it’s part of the process. It’s how growth happens. In Of Water and the Spirit, Malidoma shows us that initiation, challenge, and discomfort aren’t obstacles to spirituality—they are the path. Tests reveal what we’ve truly integrated, not just what we believe or talk about. Often, when Spirit is preparing us for something bigger, life asks more of us: - More patience - More integrity - More trust - More courage - So, I want to open this up for reflection and conversation: Where do you feel life or Spirit is testing you right now? And how might that test be shaping you—strengthening you, refining you, or bringing you into deeper alignment? There’s no right or wrong answer here. Feel free to share. Sometimes naming the test helps us see the growth already happening. 🌱

When I asked Maya King, a member of the King’s Circle, what inspired her to write her book, she shared a moment from her time in Ghana. Spirit spoke through someone and told her it was time to live in pursuit of her passion. She still had to discover what that passion was. With Jamaican roots and a deep connection to the African diaspora, Ghana helped bring clarity. She realized her passion is literature and children. “I’ve always loved children,” she said. “I’ve loved them since I was a child.” The book came while she was "alchemizing pain into power." She felt called to share her healing journey. She wants others to know healing is possible. Writing this book also marks her step toward wealth and abundance. Maya hopes to do more traveling and public speaking in the future. I’m grateful she’s in the King’s Circle. This community supports creatives as they build and launch their work. No one has to navigate this journey alone. We look forward to learning more about her book and publishing journey.

I’m excited to welcome Yolanda Ramos to the community! We recently connected through a mutual friend, astrologer Christopher Brown, and quickly realized we share so much in common. Yolanda and I are actually relatives—cousins—despite never having met in person. Based on DNA results she’s seen through Ancestry.com, we share lineage and deep ancestral ties. 💫 She was born on St. Croix, which is also where I’m from, and she has roots in Montserrat—just like I do. On top of that, Yolanda has a strong interest in plant medicine, making our connection feel even more aligned. 🌱 We’re hoping to visit the Caribbean together sometime next year to honor and reconnect with our shared roots. Please join me in welcoming my cousin, Yolanda, to the community! 🤍🌴