Healing retreat, Massachusetts

A Weekend Retreat in rural Massachusetts, including;

  • 2 Personal individual healing sessions with Sangoma John over the weekend. Healing sessions will involve divination and plant medicine treatments.
  • Morning & Evening group Meditation
  • Sat night Fire Chat & Story telling
  • Venue: The Roundhouse

Mon 6th private Sangoma divination sessions open to the public, by appointment.

Public Talk, Massachusetts, USA

John will deliver a public Sangoma talk. He will discuss ancient South African, Sangoma medicine as it pertains to his Xhosa lineage. Topics to be covered will include: Ancestors, dreams, plant medicine, trance dancing, etc.

John will sing in Xhosa, dance and play his drum. The audience will have a chance to take part as well.

Venue: The Round House, Colrain

Time: 7:30 - 9pm

Exchange: By Donation

Mon 6th - Private Sangoma Divination sessions open to the public, by appointment only.

Plant Healing in Ireland

After receiving a plant medicine treatment from John a wonderful healing occurred for me. I slept soundly and peacefully for the first time since 2006 and the next morning I felt lighter and brighter and felt more like my old fun-loving, mischievous self. Having read an article in Spirit & Destiny Magazine about John Lockley last summer I knew had to meet him. But time went by and I totally forgot until I received an email from a friend saying John would be giving his Ubuntu 101 workshop in East Clare. At that time there were severe weather alerts due to the unprecedented frost and snow  that Ireland was experiencing. People said "your crazy" but I knew I had to make this journey.
To be honest I didn’t know what to expect and it took me awhile to get used to John's rather direct form of teaching! But it really is the only way to get through to some of us! I really enjoyed listening to John speaking in Xhosa and in some strange way I instinctively knew what he was saying before he translated it into English (which proves that Ubuntu has no language barriers). The singing, dancing and drumming were so beautiful and you could literally feel your spirit come alive and soar.
From honouring my ancestors and doing my heart beat meditation (which is a really effective and beautiful experience) I now see people differently and feel much more connected to myself and  to my sense of oneness with Mother Earth & to all living beings and things.
I left East Clare feeling happy & peaceful with the singing of the Xhosa tribe ringing in my ears.

Lelia

East Clare, Ireland

December 2010 Ubuntu Workshop

Read more

Traditional Sangoma Thanksgiving Ceremony

On the 21 January this year 2011 I hosted an ‘umsebenze’ (spiritual work) at my teacher’s home in the Eastern Cape to give thanks to my teacher & husband for their support and encouragement. I also wanted to give thanks to the guiding ancestors from both their families. A third aspect of the thanksgiving was to give thanks to the elders and fellow community members who have stood by me from the early days of my apprenticeship and supported all my ceremonies. I also mentioned the international community, people in Ireland, UK, USA & Mexico who have supported my workshops, and I thanked them.

A key aspect of all Sangoma work is ‘ukuqula’ which means to honour and praise. The elders were particularly proud of my work and said it was unusual for a Sangoma to return to their teacher and say thank you. This use to happen in the olden days, but a lot has been forgotten.  I always say that if it wasn’t for my teacher and husband’s support, and the support from the elders in the community, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Also it is important to mention that I was very sick with the calling illness, ‘twaza’ when I arrived at the ‘Sukhwini’ home and I was treated with love and support. And I can never forget this.

I was trained and apprenticed by one of the poorest communities in South Africa. Many people ask why it is that I return every year to work with the poorest of the poor in a township in the Eastern Cape. And my response is always the same. The depth of spirit and humility which I have felt at my teacher’s home is beyond comprehension. And her community have stood by me for many years and assisted and supported me through all my ceremonies.  A Sangoma is a community medicine person, and their job is to serve their community. My primary community is in the Eastern Cape and they in affect have loaned me to the international community. Even though I travel all over the world bringing my Xhosa medicine and Sangoma teachings, it is imperative that I return every year to fill my elders in with what I am doing. They initiated and trained me, so I am first and foremost their Sangoma.

I took time during the weekends ceremony to talk about my work overseas and to tell the elders, fellow Sangomas and other community members about how ‘Ubuntu Ubunzulu’ (depth of humanity, Sangoma teachings)  has been received overseas. I told the community that the people overseas love my Xhosa singing and drumming, and they love the teachings on how to connect to the Ancestors, dreams, and natural world.

In South Africa amongst my community in the Eastern Cape my job is to hold a mirror to the people and show them how beautiful their culture is, and how beautiful they are. In Europe and the Western world I show people how to remember their ancestors and dreams through prayer, meditation, ceremony and medicinal plants.

With grinding poverty in the Eastern Cape, disease and a high death rate it is very easy for hopelessness to sink in. Also the empty glamour of westernisation with all that it brings can sometimes lure the youngsters away from their traditions and culture. I teach people to remember the old ways of their ancestors, the ways of dreaming and plants because these ways are so fragile and so beautiful. I talked to the community about the Western World, and how people have forgotten their ancestors, and how to work with dreams and medicinal plants. I spoke to them about the high levels of depression which is spreading in Europe and America. I encouraged the people to continue to follow their old traditions which are still alive and strong in the community, and are held by Sangomas, like my teacher, and myself.

When I finished my 'Indaba' one of the elders stood up and said with tears in his eyes, "Ucingolwendaba uyahamba phesheya ukufundisa abantu". John go overseas and teach the people. I had his support. The other elders nodded their heads in approval.

One of the jobs of a Sangoma is to channel information from the ancestral or spirit world and give this information to the community. So one of my primary roles as a Sangoma is to give ‘indaba’ or spiritual news to the community. We wear white clay around our eyes to signify our job as channelers, seeing into the spiritual world.

Please read a copy of ‘Indaba’ or spirit news that I read to the community, elders and fellow Sangomas, below. I have translated the Xhosa into English further down.

Indaba Zikacingolwendaba

Isixhosa

Ndihambile phantsie omhlaba wonke, Australia, England, Ireland, Germany, France noMzantsi Afrika wonke. Kuzo zonke ezindawo andikubonanga okanje andiluvanga unxibelelwano eninalo apha eRhini/ Joza.

Mawethu zingceni ngamasiko nezithethe zenu. Nenethamsanqa nobutyebi obungaphaya. Anina mali kodwa ninxulumene nezinyanya zenu.

Xa nisombela nikwaxhentsa, ninyusa umoya wabaphantsi nivuselela nathi.

Ndixelela abantu phesheya, apha Mzantsi Afrika sinayo igolide engamagqirha.

Elizwe liyathsabalala bahlobo bam.

aEurope abantu bakhona balibele ngendlela endala yokuphila. Leyafa elizwe labo, ngenxa yokunyoluka nokungabina buntu.

Ninika ithemba kuba apha ndifumene ubuntu obunzulu. Naphina apho ndikhoyo ndiyaliva ifuthe lobuntu.

Botata nanimadoda sanakulibala ukufundisa abantwana benu ngamasiko nezithethe zenu.

Xa nisenza omsebenzi apha eJoza nithumela ilitha ehlabathini. Ninika abantu ithemba, Enkosi.

Spirit News by John Lockley 'Ucingolwendaba'

English

I have travelled all over this world, such as Australia, England, Ireland, Germany, France and all over South Africa. In all these places I have not seen or felt the connection to the Ancestors that I have felt here in the Eastern Cape, Joza location.

Ladies and Gentlemen be proud of your culture and customs.

You are lucky and rich. You have no money but you are connected to your ancestors.

When you sing and dance you raise the spirits of the Ancestors. I tell people overseas that here in South Africa we have gold, the Sangomas.

The world is dying, my friends.

In Europe people have forgotten the old ways of living.

The world is dying because of greediness and a lack of humanity.

You give hope because here I receive the depth of humanity through Sangoma teachings. Wherever I am in the rural Eastern Cape I feel the presence of humanity and the Ancestors guiding us.

Fathers and men don’t forget to teach your children your culture and customs.

When you do spiritual work here in the Eastern Cape you send light throughout the world.

You give people hope, thank you.

Credo Mutwa Appeal

Credo Mutwa

Credo Mutwa is one of the world's leading authorities on african spirituality. He is an icon of world mythology and african traditional knowledge. His book 'Indaba my children' won widespread acclaim both locally and internationally. It highlighted the rich tapestry of African spirituality.

Last year I had the good fortune of spending some time with him and his wife, Virginia. I was deeply saddened to hear how much they are struggling financially. Virginia is also in the process of building a hospice for AIDS sufferers.

The world owes a debt to Credo Mutwa and all the sacrifices he has made to spread African spirituality around the world. Through his wonderful gift of storytelling he demonstrates the common links between all people.

As the world is a global village, we have a responsibility to making sure medicine elders like Credo Mutwa and his wife Virginia live out their golden years with dignity.

I encourage all people to make a donation to this worthy cause:

Bank Account Name: Virginia Mutwa

Bank: Standard Bank, Kuruman, South Africa

Account Number: 236059556

IBAN/BIC SWIFT Address: SBZAZAJJ

Many thanks,

John Lockley

Xhosa Sangoma