2943 W 71st St, Chicago, IL 60629
Operating since 2023 from a space that blends holistic healing with spiritual practices, Tola has become a cornerstone for those seeking mental, physical, or spiritual health. “Spirituality is the beginning of everything,” she begins, explaining how spirituality is the foundation everything else is built on.
For Tola, spirituality must work hand in hand with physical healing—not as a substitute or even a stand-alone practice, but as a complement. “They both have to work together,” she says firmly,
believing that spiritual work can help lessen the severity of an illness. “There are herbs that may help, spiritual works that I might do to lessen the seriousness,” she explains, emphasizing that her role is to support healing in a way that complements medical treatments. “I’m in favor of everything—whatever is going to work to heal you, I’m in favor.”
Not everyone that walks into Tola’s space immediately trusts in the spiritual practices, but she knows that the trust must be built. She recalls a client who had come in for help and received a reading that revealed something deeply personal no one else knew. “Once that message was given to her, it was like a waterfall of tears.”
She explains these are the kinds of moments that often turn those doubts into faith, when they realize, “Oh, wow, nobody knew this… this is for real.”
However, healing is not just about offering spiritual advice, it’s about being a part of the larger community’s wellness. From offering workshops like “Talk About it Tuesdays” to collaborating with licensed therapists during Mental Health Awareness Month, Tola creates an environment that prioritizes healing in all its forms.
“It’s not just about herbs and spiritual services. It’s about providing a space for people to talk, to heal,” she adds.
Tola reflects on her time as a dispatcher and later as a sheriff, where she witnessed firsthand the struggles of those in need of mental health support. “A lot of these people… they need mental health services,” she says, recognizing the lack of resources in many communities, particularly among Black and Brown populations. “Some sicknesses come from spiritual things, not necessarily physical ailments. That’s why they go in conjunction with each other.”
Tola believes that more people are embracing spiritual practices today, “people are learning more for themselves… They’re seeking their own truth. We’re in the age of information.” She notes many no longer feel bound by the rigid structures of traditional belief systems. “It’s just not so rigorous and strict anymore,” she explains.
“People are more open now because they’re not condemned for thinking or acting a certain way,” Tola says, and this openness is what allows individuals from all backgrounds and religions to enter the space in search of healing. “You don’t have to stop believing in what you believe in to get spiritual,” she adds.
Healing, in all its forms, is a process of reclaiming one’s own power, which Tola connects to the historical struggles of marginalized communities. Reflecting on the Haitian Revolution, she shares, “[they] were reclaiming their power with their spiritual practices. It was empowering.”
As her practice continues to grow, Tola remains committed to offering a space where wellness, spirituality, and community come together. As she puts it, “you have to see it for yourself… just try it. You won’t regret it.”
