The Practices We Make w/ Jamila

Po' Chop
Mar 31
2 min read

A collage-style banner featuring Jamila in a moment of prayerful gesture, layered with images of movement and the text “The Practices We Make.”

Welcome back to The Practices We Make, an interview series uplifting the artists, teachers, and culture-bearers shaping practice inside House of the Lorde.

Today we sit with Jamila, our inaugural 2024 artist fellow and creator of Rest and Renew and Community Pilates.

A portrait of Jamila standing outdoors by a body of water, looking calmly into the camera with trees and sky behind them.

How do you introduce yourself these days?

Jamila/J

My Practice is

Rooted in intuition and repetition

Who are the lineages, teachers, or communities that show how you move?

Black spiritualist traditions, nature as teacher and listener, the moon and bodies of water. Ancestors familial and not including Pearl Primus and Nina Simone, Tibetan Buddhist lineage and practices. Of course there are more

Jamila moves dynamically through a studio space, mid-motion with arms lifted, in a rehearsal environment marked by blue tape on the wall.

What are your current curiosities?

Death as portals of migration. Always the relationship of deep listening to and and with the body through movement. Also curious about the building, marinating, sustaining and disappearance of platonic relationships during this time.

Do you have a ritual, playlist, or grounding practice that holds you while you create or teach?

Absolutely. Connecting with breath and body is a must, although what I do and for how long differs.

A flat lay of ritual objects arranged on a purple cloth, including cards, books, ribbon, and small ceremonial items.

What drew you to House of the Lorde?

The values as living praxis. The ability to cultivate space as sanctuary and sustain it—impressive.

What do you hope folks feel or discover when they learn from or witness your work here?

The greatest technology and access to awe, spirit and change lies within AND it becomes amplified when we collectively gather.

What does Black feminist practice mean to you?

Embodiment and equality

What is bringing you joy or laughter lately?

Believe it or not, I recently watched all the seasons of Ted Lasso. it was how I would end my evenings and was left with a warm feeling.

How are you tending to yourself in this season?

Trying. Trying to be grounded in reality, grounded in my body and identify what habits, actions etc have extended their stay.

What future or world are you imagining through your work?

Gatherings. Different ways and themes to gather around.

Jamila sits cross-legged in front of a textured wall installation, surrounded by glass bowls and objects used for sound and rest practices.

Is there anything else that you want to share with the House of the Lorde community?

Keep showing up! When you show up for yourself, for people and spaces that tend to your body, mind and soul pathways of connection are set alight. Keep showing up–you/ we are absolutely worth it.

Gratitude to Jamila for sharing her practice with us at House of the Lorde

Join Jamila for Community Pilates on April 27.