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Plant Healing Retreat in South Africa


  • The Buddhist Retreat centre Ixopo KwaZulu-Natal South Africa (map)

Plant Healing - The Sangoma Way

An intensive plant healing retreat in Ixopo, Natal

John will be leading a 3 day plant healing retreat in one of the most beautiful retreat centres in the world, The Buddhist retreat centre in Ixopo, South Africa. This is the fourth year John has taught here and every year it gets stronger. John explains South African traditional healing in the form of the Sangoma culture. He will draw on comparisons with mindful traditions around the world like Buddhism and Yoga to help people understand the depth of the Sangoma culture.

Medicinal plants have been used in African Sangoma culture for hundreds of years - to cleanse and help people to connect to their true nature. This is reflected in conscious dreaming and in a more aware wakeful state. The Sangoma healing culture is one of the most ancient and misunderstood healing systems in the world. Yet up until the 1980’s, more than 80% of South Africans consulted traditional healers and Sangomas.

Participants in this retreat will learn about medicinal plants and their uses and the role of ancestors and dreams.  Please note: Sangomas are spiritual doctors. They work with plants in a different way to herbalists. A Sangoma connects to the spirit of a plant and calls this spirit forth to help heal people. Often these are plants which the sangoma has dreams about. John will work with 3 plants that he has dreams  about, and discuss this ancient culture with participants and demonstrate how they can develop an intimate relationship with the plant world.  He will also discuss how plants are harvested, prepared and sold in South Africa today, forming an intricate triangle of relationships from the rural areas to urban towns and cities.

The story of plants is the story of traditional South African culture. He will demonstrate the Sangoma version of meditative absorption through drumming, chanting and dancing. Every morning there will be a “dream circle” in which dreams will be interpreted. 

Important items for participants to bring on the retreat:

  • Please bring a plastic basin which will be used  for  medicinal foot healing. A square washing up basin is sufficient. These can be bought at most supermarkets like Checkers, Pick 'n Pay, Spar etc. 
  • A dream journal, pen and paper to take notes.
  • A meditation blanket 
  • An open mind ***

To Book:

Contact The Buddhist Retreat Centre

Email: bookings@brcixopo.co.za
Telephone: +27 [0]39 834 1863 / 0878091687
Mobile: 082 579 3037
Fax: +27 [0]86 683 9307

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