Michelle Nicholls

10/27/2025

Looking forward to another daylong retreat with Melina Bondy and Rose Mina Munjee.

TNI Toronto Sangha Daylong Retreat with Michelle Nicholls , Rose Mina Munjee and Melina Bondy
💛🩷🩷✨🩷🩷💛
Join us for a day of meditation in community !

This daylong retreat will include guided and silent meditations from the Buddhist tradition, suitable for new and experienced practitioners of any and no faith tradition. All are welcome!

Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/daylong-retreat-nov-13--2025

When: Saturday, November 15, 10-4 pm (registration begins at 9:30am)
Where: 60 Lowther Ave, Toronto Quaker House
Facilitators: Michelle Nicholls, Rose Mina Munjee and Melina Bondy

The registration fee covers use of the space and administration.

Donations will be received (cash and etransfer) during the retreat in the spirit of dana, generosity.
Meals are not provided - bring your own lunch

Schedule - approximate

9:30 am - Registration Opens
10:00 am - Welcome and Introductions
10:30 am - Guided practices and Dharma Talk
12:30 pm - Silent Lunch (please bring your meal)
1:30 pm - Outdoor Walking Meditation (with indoor options)
2:30 pm - Silent Practices
3:30 pm - Group Reflections, Announcements, Closing
4:00 pm – End

09/08/2025

We are looking forward to a lovely day of practice. This retreat is for BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Colour) participants. Stay tuned for our next daylong retreat for all, in a few months!

Cultivating Peace, Authenticity, and True Love - a TNI Toronto BIPOC Day RetreatSeptember 13, 20259:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.The Buddha said, “Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed; this is the eternal law.” (Dhammapada)This is a profound truth that can take a lifetime to live into....

02/06/2025

https://www.michellenicholls.ca/find-me-here-events

Upcoming events. Feb 8 Meditation, Daylong Retreat, Community Dharma, Community Dhamma, Mindfulness, Mindfulness Meditation, Metta Finding Home in Love and Equanimity Saturday, February 8, 2025 9:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation (map) Google Calendar ICS Findin...

12/10/2024

Shame is actually a social emotion! And, like all emotions that are difficult to experience, it's a signal giving us information - it's not inherently bad.

As little developing humans, we all have an abundance of needs that we look to our caregivers to fulfill (attachment to caregivers = survival). If our needs proved to be too much for our caregivers, or they weren't able to meet them a reasonable amount of time, our little bodies developed a sense of shame around that need to try to stop us from signaling for it. On some level we learned that the need lead to disconnection (a threat to survival), so the shame is stepping in to try to tell us NOT to have that need.

For example, if I learned that my need for emotional attunement overwhelmed my mom, it may have felt like it threatened my connection to her. As a result, I didn't stop having the need but instead, shame would step in to help me stop myself from asking for it.

Unfortunately, though, our needs are just that - needs. We need them to develop into secure, healthy adult humans and so we go on having them. They're not nice-to-haves! So we continue to have the needs and feel the self-protective shame until we do the work of grieving what we needed but didn't get, and learn how to begin meeting those needs in healthier ways.

In adulthood, we often feel ashamed when an old trigger or wound around an unmet need has been touched upon or activated. We still have the need (it's a need!).

Our work is to meet our shame with safety and curiosity, so that we can begin to meet our deeper needs with compassion, validation, and begin to build trust with our knowing selves.

If you're interested in learning more about this way of relating to shame (and yourself), I'll be starting a new program working with Cycle Breakers in January - those who are working to heal and shift old patterns, and are looking to practice new ways of relating to self and others in a small group of like-minded people.
Sign up at the link below to learn more!

https://theeqschool.myflodesk.com/hjxrfctyg0

11/14/2024

High Park Walk for BIPOC with Michelle Nicholls and Rose Mina Munjee

Join us for a BIPOC Walking Meditation in Toronto’s High Park, led by Michelle Nicholls and Rose Mina Munjee. This peaceful gathering offers a space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to connect with nature, ground themselves, and find community. As we walk together, we will engage in mindful practices that nurture our well-being and deepen our connection to the land and each other. Whether you are looking to recharge or simply enjoy a moment of serenity, this walk welcomes you to experience the healing power of nature in a supportive environment.

When: November 24, from 1 to 3 pm
Where: Meet at the High Park Ave & Bloor entrance to High Park (north end of the park, near the subway entrance)
What to bring: Yourself, water and a snack, and something to sit on if you wish - invite your friends from BIPOC communities.
Accessibility: Please let us know any access needs you may have. We plan to travel on smooth surfaces and stop in areas with benches.
Facilitators: Michelle Nicholls, Rose Mina Munjee
Fee: Donations are welcome to raise funds for future TNI Toronto and BIPOC events. Cash is welcome at the event as are e-transfers to rosemunjee@gmail.com or meech.nicholls@gmail.com
RSVP: email rosemunjee@gmail.com or meech.nicholls@gmail.com to RSVP and stay updated in case of inclement weather.