Ancient Aliens: Africa’s Extraterrestrial Contact

I’m super excited to be part of the new Ancient Aliens episode on Africa’s Extraterrestrial contact.

It is season 22, episode 15 - Africa’s Extraterrestrial Contact. it airs tonight, August 6th, at 10:00 PM EST on the History Channel in the US.

The human race as we know it can trace it’s ancestral roots to Africa.

I will be speaking alongside some well known experts. I will touch on African cosmology, indigenous perspectives, and ancient wisdom.

Tune in to watch this exciting episode where we discuss some of Africa’s deeper mysteries and untold stories.

How to Watch & Catch the Episode:

US Viewers: Watch live on the History Channel or stream via the History app.

lInternational / South African Viewers: You can record the show on DStv/satellite, or catch it via streaming services/apps like Disney+ or Discovery+ depending on your local availability.

War & Peace by John Lockley

There is chaos in the hearts of man. And our chaos spreads like a virus into the natural world resulting in species extinction and unimaginable environmental destruction. It’s hard to conceive of war on the level of World War One & Two with millions of deaths and untold destruction.  As we witness the recent war in Gaza and Ukraine, we are all called to ponder the question of ‘Why’? And is it necessary to resort to violence in order to be seen and heard? How can we fulfil our role as custodians of this planet and rightful guardians of the plant and animal worlds? It is clear that we need to face our own darkness and explore our inner shadows meticulously and be aware of what we might project onto people we perceive as other or different. In South Africa we have had many lessons around this from the last few hundred years since the start of colonisation, then apartheid and now democratic South Africa.

For those of us who study nature and have learnt to befriend the changing seasons we know that chaos is part of change and transformation. A thunderstorm brings lightning and rain. The rain nourishes the land and makes new life possible. In order to bring peace to our world we need to befriend our inner weather, and ride the storms of shadow energies involving turbulent emotions like anger and resentment. What do we do when these energies seek to overwhelm us? Attack another, ourselves or transmute them into something more productive? Anger is a powerful emotion that can help us transform the living fabric of society. But to do it effectively requires discernment and respect. First, we need to respect ourselves and not give in to our inner critic and when we find ourselves in conflict with others, we need to also hold a space in our hearts for respecting them. In martial arts from the far east like Karate in Japan, opponents begin and end their match with bowing to each other.

I recall a story of Nelson Mandela years ago who was televised in his meeting with the heads of the Palestinian and Israeli youth leagues. They asked him how he managed to create peace in South Africa. He was very matter of fact and recounted his talks with FW De Klerk in the early years. He said they would start each day shaking one another’s hands and having a cup of coffee together. During the course of the day, they would argue with one another and sometimes it would get quite heated. The Youth league presidents asked him if he ever felt like giving up. He said, “no”, because he and Mr FW De Klerk were aware that millions of South Africans were counting on them to find a peaceful solution. It wasn’t personal.  No matter how difficult their day was they would always say good bye in an amicable and courteous manner.

In order to understand Mandela’s diplomacy and humanitarianism we need to explore an important aspect of his journey. Many people might not be aware of Nelson Mandela’s personal journey around his struggle with anger and hatred over white rule and lengthy incarceration. He recounts his story in his autobiography ‘A long walk to freedom’. He said that one night before he went to sleep a voice said to him “Nelson your anger can kill you”. And when he woke the next morning he remembered this voice and the next thing he heard was “…you need to befriend the enemy”.  These thoughts were going through his mind when the white jailer unlocked his jail cell. All he said to him was, “what made you decide to become a jailer and join the correctional services?” The guard was a young white man and told Mandela he didn’t have a choice because his father died when he was only 15 years old and he had to get a job to help support his mother and four younger siblings. This shocked Mandela because he thought all white people were privileged. He realised in their discussion that he grew up with more privilege because when his father died when he was seven years old, he was brought up in the royal household of the Prince of the Xhosa nation. This enabled him to go to university and become a lawyer. He only knew apartheid when he was twenty-one years old. He asked the young jailer where he grew up. The man replied that his family have a farm in the Eastern Cape. Mandela was surprised and told him that he too was from the Eastern Cape. He then asked him in IsiXhosa if he understood the Xhosa language, and the young jailer replied “ewe, ndiyasaze isiXhosa!” Yes, I know Xhosa. And they finished their conversation in Mandela’s home language, isiXhosa. When Mandela became president of South Africa his young jailer friend was sitting next to him as they had become close friends over many years.

Traditional Zen garden

I took part in a traditional Zen Buddhist retreat in the early 1990’s in a temple in South Korea. The Berlin Wall had just fallen a few years previously resulting in the end of the cold war. There were many ex-soldiers on my retreat from East Germany, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and myself from South Africa. We all meditated like soldiers with discipline and a hunger to find peace within amidst the trauma of our collective experiences. During the 100 days retreat we became like brothers as we sought to befriend our inner demons and the cold of a Korean winter. I had never seen so much snow before. Sometimes our Zen Master would usher us outside at ten o’clock at night to sweep the temple grounds before the old people visited the temple in the early hours. One particularly cold night as the Siberian winds ushered in fresh snow the Grand Master, Seung Sahn was giving a dharma talk. He finished his talk with asking us if we had any questions. Everyone was silent, and then a young Californian woman said, “what do we do when the devil comes knocking?” Seung Sahn replied in his jovial way, “Ahhh, the devil! Well, ask the devil if he would like a cup of tea.” In life we our constantly fighting and blaming the devil for all of mankind’s problems. His answer was a quintessential zen reply. Respect all of life, including the devil. It doesn’t mean we need to side with the devil, but rather take a pause, reflect, bow and listen. This brings to mind a traditional Zen Garden with stones and sand in harmony. Listening within brings about spaciousness.  As we meditate on the stones and the sand, we start to befriend the opposites of light and dark within us.  Nothing is wholly good or bad, light or dark. It is our reactions that make it so.

Many people are speaking about the war in Ukraine and Gaza while the hidden war against animals and nature continues unabated. As humanity fights with one another and with issues of power, powerlessness, wealth and poverty, the natural world is dying. What can individuals do? As a traditional South African healer or Sangoma the answer is simple; we need to connect to our own ‘Ubuntu’ (humanity). This involves befriending our ancestors and our inner demons or conflicts. Ubuntu is a circle and speaks about the importance of all of us to hold hands and embrace our collective humanity. In traditional Xhosa and Zulu culture every human being is seeing as being related when you go back far enough. Why? Because we all have red blood and this blood or life force is transferable from person to person regardless of creed, culture or skin colour. We are the natural guardian and custodians of planet earth. We have an unassailable duty and responsibility to all of life on earth. The animals and plants are counting on us to respect life. And when we look closely at the natural world, we see the teachings of mutual respect and understanding shining back at us. Plants are wonderful teachers and demonstrate unconditional love in their offerings to the world of medicinal plants that spread healing and harmony.

In order to heal our world, we need to look into the past and see how our ancestors dealt with chaos, whether environmental or man-made. We are lucky in Africa to still retain a connection to our distant past.  Southern Africa is thought by many anthropologists to be the birthplace of mankind. Our ancient ancestors are thought to be a small band of hunter gatherers or San Bushmen that inhabited the coastal regions of South Africa. They left their mark with numerous rock art paintings highlighting their incredible spiritual and tracking talents. They are the spiritual ancestors of current sangoma or African shamanic lineages in Southern Africa and represent what is possible when we connect to our spirit through trance dancing, plant medicine and following the tracks of animals in the sand. We are part of nature and in order to heal our environment and prevent species extinction we need to learn the language of nature.

I was on a recent ‘Dreams and Tracking retreat in the Kalahari Desert’ and I was speaking to one of our Bushman trackers about healing and dreams. In my experience as a sangoma I have encountered many people who are not remembering or connecting to their dreams. As we walked through the bush together, hundreds of kilometres away from modernity, I asked him if he could recommend any plants that can help people to remember their dreams and connect to their ancestors. The reason being, as a sangoma we believe that as people connect to their dreams and ancestors then they connect to their ‘Ubuntu’ (humanity), and balance and harmony is returned to the circle of life. The Bushman tracker walked past a shrub, stopped, and broke a piece off and placed it in his mouth. He then smiled in a gentle way and told me about this plant. He said that this particular medicinal plant was very powerful because it can heal conflict in the community. If people are struggling with one another in the community, they bite a piece off and spit it on the ground between them. This will help reduce the conflict and spread harmony. At this time the Ukraine war had just started thousands of kilometres away. The bees were going about their business pollinating flowers, and an interesting flock of birds were gravitating around a nearby bush speaking in the language of nature that we were trying to understand.

One of the Bushman elders started to speak in an animated way with the young tracker and they were pointing at me. The elder then approached me and asked me if he could participate in my ‘shrine tent activities’. He had heard about this white sangoma and wanted to see what I do. I was overjoyed and said, “yes of course, join anytime”. Every year on my Kalahari retreats I create a shrine tent for 7 days in the bush. It is a place where I teach people ‘inner tracking skills’; in particular how to connect to ancestors, dreams and ‘ubuntu’, the circle of life. The next day the Bushman elder called Gqikau joined our shrine tent with about 10 or more of his family/ community members. I beat my sangoma drum and we danced and sang together. I explained how I teach people how to pray in the sangoma way and then we all prayed together. It was a beautiful blend of different languages and cultures. The birds took a flight closer to see what was going on. The bushman band said that people visit them from all over the world but never tell them about their lives only asking many questions about them and how they live. They said they were curious about modern people and how they experienced life. I thanked them for their comment and then we went around the room and each retreat participant gave their name and where they came from in the world. People listened to one another. We then spoke about what was happening in the world, and one of the bushman ladies said the biggest problem she has noticed is that people are becoming selfish, they don’t want to share.  We compensated for this by listening deeper and bridging our ancient and modern worlds.

John and San Bushmen elder Gqikau on retreat in the Kalahari desert in 2023

At the end of our ceremony in the bush I offered Gqikau one of my sangoma fabrics which I draped over his shoulders. At the same time, I noticed a vulture flying towards us, low, almost touching the trees, and then flying over our heads. This was a wonderful sign, as vultures often represent transformation. Sangomas view them as powerful healers, with the ability to transform poison and negativity. This was a realisation of a vision I had for many years, of ancient and modern people sitting around a fire revisioning our humanity.

Excerpt from Odyssey magazine article, summer edition 2023-2024, Click here to view.

Seven Years of Ancestral Bows in the Heart of Zululand

I have been teaching at the Buddhist Retreat Centre in Ixopo, South Africa, for over 7 years with my colleague Makhosi Nomusa who is the resident Zulu Sangoma. The BRC as it is commonly known, is in the heart of traditional Zulu land. We are the first sangomas or traditional african healers to be teaching at the centre. I recently wrote an article in the Odyssey Magazine Summer edition 2022 sharing some of the stories and teachings during these years.

My journey began with Korean Zen practice in the early 1990’s. I went to South Korea in 1992 and participated in a 3 month silent retreat. At the end of it I was invited by the late grand Zen master Seung Sahn to become a Zen monk and join his “monk army”. I declined because I felt the call to become an african dancing monk instead. Click below to read the full story.

We will be leading our 8th retreat at the Buddhist Retreat Centre next year 2023 from the 27th - 30th Jan. Our ceremony is called ‘The Way of Ubuntu’. Ubuntu means humanity. It involves a circle of interconnectivity, starting with ourselves and spreading into the the plant and animal worlds. The focus of the ceremony is helping people to re-connect to their soul or umoya, the part of us that does not die, followed by our Ancestors and the natural world. As we do this we connect to the tree of life. If this speaks to you then join us.

Traditional Zen garden

At the end of our ceremony in the bush I offered Gqikau one of my sangoma fabrics which I draped over his shoulders. At the same time, I noticed a vulture flying towards us, low, almost touching the trees, and then flying over our heads. This was a wonderful sign, as vultures often represent transformation. Sangomas view them as powerful healers, with the ability to transform poison and negativity. This was a realisation of a vision I had for many years, of ancient and modern people sitting around a fire revisioning our humanity.

Excerpt from Odyssey magazine article, summer edition 2023-2024, Click here to view.

'Leopard Warrior' talk in Dublin at Positive Nights

I spoke at Positive Nights with Paul Congdon in Dublin recently about my upcoming book, 'Leopard Warrior'. It was a wonderful night. I received a warm welcome and the people seemed to enjoy my talk. It was important for me to speak from my Mother's original home, Dublin, where it all began for me many years ago. It was in Dublin along the coast on DunLaoghaire peer that my Mother dreamt of Africa. She had a vision of African elephants calling her. The vision was so strong that she felt compelled to listen and travel to Africa. As she said to me years later, "she wanted to witness African elephants in the wild before it all goes..." Hopefully that won't happen. But the wilderness of Africa is under threat by poachers. The only way for this to stop is for there to be more awareness and education about the wilderness and how important it is for each person to reclaim their own wilderness, the landscape of their soul. This is part of my journey, and I was delighted, humbled and very grateful to kick off my world book tour in my second home, the lovely and enigmatic Dublin City. 

John Lockley – a traditional African/Irish Sangoma (shaman) from the Xhosa tribe of South Africa – spoke to Paul Congdon at Positive Nights in Dublin on the 31st of August 2017. In this wonderful interview John covered a variety of subjects, including his early life in apartheid-era South Africa, how he came to accept his Sangoma calling, and the importance of dreams. John’s new book ‘Leopard Warrior,’ which describes his incredible journey, will be released later this year.

Tags John Lockley, Leopar Warrior, Positive Nights, Paul Congdon, Dublin, Powerscourt Theatre, Spirituality, Mindfulness, Shamanism

African Zen - 'Ubuntu' in Action

Ixopo BRC

IMG_3131

I just completed another retreat in Ixopo at the Buddhist retreat centre. We danced, sang, drummed and prayed. I was overjoyed to be joined by the Zulu cooking staff who helped keep the rhythms sweet and joyful. It is always such an honour for me to be able to share the wisdom of Sangoma culture with people. The Sangoma people of Southern Africa are equivalent to the Buddhist monks and nuns in the Far East. After my time in South Korea in the early 90's studying Korean Zen under the late Zen Master Su Bong, I discovered a number of similarities with my Sangoma colleagues in South Africa. The similarities involved an emphasis on prayer, humility and connecting with the divine through chanting.  This included working together as a team, putting differences aside for the common good. In this way we all help to realise our ‘Ubuntu’, our humanity, and thus also our spiritual direction.

IMG_3132

I was delighted to see the dedication of fellow South Africans to learn about Sangoma traditional culture. This is the future, and it gives me great hope. We had a number of elders with us who were over 80 years old. One of them said to me that this weekend retreat at the BRC in Ixopo was ‘a wish come true’ for her, and she quietly said that she had wanted to learn about Sangoma traditional culture her whole life, and now she had. She was very happy. This warmed my heart and inspired me to continue sharing the beauty of South African traditional medicine.

I will be back at the Buddhist Retreat Centre in Ixopo again next year from the 15-17th January 2016, and I welcome all South Africans to join us.

John Lockley April 2015.

In Blogging Tags African Zen, Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, John Lockley, Sangoma Medicine, Ubuntu

Portland Events

John will be leading public talks, workshops & Sangoma private sessions as part of his Way of the Leopard World tour.

In Events Tags African Shaman, John Lockley, Nelson Mandela, Portland, Sangoma Medicine, traditional Shaman, USA, Way of the Leopard World tour, Xhosa Medicine

New York City Events

Way of the Leopard world tour with public talks in New York & weekend workshops.

In Events Tags African Shaman, Ancestral Medicine, John Lockley, New York City, Sangoma Medicine, USA, Way of the Leopard World tour, Xhosa Sangoma

Syracuse, NY Events

Way of the Leopard world tour, Thursday talk & Weekend workshop. Sangoma private sessions by appointment only.

In Events Tags Ancestral teachings-, John Lockley, New York, Syracuse, traditional South African Shaman, USA, Xhosa Sangoma

Dancing into Dreamtime

Dream retreat in the UK featuring Charlie Morley on Lucid dreaming & John Lockley on Sangoma dreaming.

In Events Tags Ancestral Medicine, Charlie Morley, Dancing into Dreamtime, dream lineages, John Lockley, retreat, Tibetan lucid Dreaming, Xhosa Sangoma practice

African Zen Retreat

John will be facilitating a retreat at Ixopo Retreat Centre in Natal, SA. He will be exploring Sangoma medicine practice & similarities with Buddhism.

In Events Tags African Zen, Ancestral practice, Buddhism, Indigenous Medicine, Ixopo retreat centre, John Lockley, Sangoma practice, Xhosa Sangoma

Modern Shamanism & the Sangoma's Song

I was recently interviewed in New York City by Sam Liebowitz from Talking Alternatives radio. I was joined by my good friend, Itzhak Beery from the New York Shamanic Circle. We discussed the relevance of ancient shamanic practices for the modern world. I enjoyed the interview, and I hope you do too.

Link to Interview no longer available.

In Blogging Tags Ancestors, ancestrally trained, Dream Healer, dreams, indigenous healer, Itzhak Beery, John, Lockley, Nelson Mandela, New York Shamanic Circle, Sangoma, Shaman, Talking Alternatives, Xhosa, Xhosa Sangoma

African Zen Retreat

John will be running the first African Zen retreat of it's kind in South Africa at Ixopo retreat centre.  

In Events Tags African Zen, Ancestral world, humanity, John Lockley, Nelson Mandela, Sangoma, Ubuntu, Xhosa tribe

Sangoma Training

John will be working in the Eastern Cape, South Africa with his community running traditional Sangoma ceremonies.

In Events Tags Ancestors, John Lockley, Nelson Mandela, Sangoma, Traditional Medicine, Xhosa nation

Tribute to Mandela 1918-2013

As the sun sets on our first national day of mourning here in South Africa, I pause to reflect on an extraordinary human being, Nelson Mandela.

Words fail to describe the man we know as Nelson Mandela. As a traditional healer, Sangoma in Mandela’s tribe, the Xhosa nation, I look to nature as a source of renewal and strength. Yesterday I witnessed a bird die in a strange and tragic way. I felt that something powerful was going to happen and true enough on waking this morning I was told of Mr Mandela’s passing.

Mandela’s life was characterized by struggle and harmonized by love. Even though he was old, we ‘South African’s’ could never truly believe that one day he would die. His life and message held us all together. He gave us hope, and made us believe that one person can make a difference. His message of equality, freedom and love between all people on the planet has become a symbol of ultimate goodness for all of us.

Sadly I never met Mr Mandela, however those friends of mine who did describe him as a man of incredible goodness, humour, strength and dignity. He was as he appeared to be on TV, a man who ‘walked his talk’ and demonstrated his beliefs through his everyday actions.

When he was released from prison in 1990 we were all spell bound by his oratory gifts and whenever he spoke on TV we would crowd around and listen to him avidly. He made us laugh, cry and believe in ourselves.  Mandela made us South Africans believe that we can love one another regardless of race, creed or ethnicity. That are future is bright and that we don’t have to live in fear of one another. He was funny and always surprised us when giving serious political talks. He would finish his talks with a human interest story of things that happened to him behind the political veil. We loved him all the more for this and we felt safe and secure in the future of South Africa.

In 1994 we held our first democratic elections. I was in South Korea at the time. I was invited to become a monk in a Zen Buddhist order by my grandmaster, Zen Master Seung Sahn Sunim. I declined, deciding to rather return to South Africa to follow my African calling and becoming an African monk, a Sangoma, traditional healer in the Xhosa nation. During South Africa it was illegal for a white person to walk around in the townships. These were strictly ‘black’ areas and unless you were in the army or police you had to have a special pass to walk in these areas. This made it near impossible for me to find my teacher and follow my calling to become a Sangoma. However after Nelson Mandela became president in 1994 everything changed, and the door to my work and life in townships around South Africa, swung open. I was greeted with warmth and love, like a lost son by my teacher Mum Ngwevu. When she asked me what took me so long to find her, I said, “Apartheid”. Her response was “Ah Thixo, enkosiam”. “Oh God, I’m so sorry!”. I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards Mr Mandela for making it possible for me to fulfil my destiny and calling to become a Xhosa Sangoma.

During the Apartheid years we were all imprisoned because we couldn’t express our human feelings for one another. No-one epitomized this more than Nelson Mandela. He came out of prison like a diamond from the roughest soil and taught us how to be human again without restrictions and fear. We will always honour his memory, and be forever blessed that he walked amongst us, and showed us how we can empower ourselves with dignity and grace. He set an example for us all to follow. Like many South Africans today I feel proud to have had him as my mentor, guiding me along the road of how to be a human being.

In Xhosa we say: Uthando lo thando, ubuntu olothando. ‘Love is love, humanity is love’.  It means that when we act with compassion from the deepest part of us, then we realise our humanity. Mandela was a fine example of a man who overcame huge obstacles and demonstrated ‘Ubuntu’ (humanity).

Hamba Kahle Tata Mkhulu ! Go well reverend Father.

Written by:  John Lockley  6/12/2013

In Blogging Tags anti-apartheid, apartheid struggle, iconic world leader, John Lockley, Nelson Mandela, Sangoma, South Africa, South African philosophy-, Ubuntu, Xhosa nation

Mind, Body, Spirit Festival in Brighton, UK

John will be performing live at this years Mind, Body, Spirit Festival in Brighton, UK.

• Private Sangoma Divinations on Sunday 3rd Nov.

In Events Tags African Shaman, Ancestors, Body, Brighton, Divinations, John Lockley, Mind, Sangoma, Shamanism, Spirit Festival, Traditional Medicine

Sangoma Medicine coming to the USA

Ancient prophecies predict that African and American teachings will help save the planet. The reason is that they still remember the old ways and how to reconnect us to Mother Nature. I have been encouraged by my Xhosa teachers and medicine colleagues to bring our ancient teachings to the Western World. These teachings are simple and profound, focusing on helping people to reconnect to their Ancestors and Dreams.

The Sangoma tradition in Southern Africa is literally thousands of years old. I am lucky to be part of the Xhosa lineage that represents one of the oldest living shamanic cultures in the world today. The ceremonies we perform are simple and profound encouraging people to go deep within themselves and their roots (ancestors).

The ancient ways teach us that it is no important how high we travel but how deep we go within ourselves. Because all life's questions about destiny, pain and suffering reside in our DNA. Our ancestors, and all of life within the great mother have battled with these questions. When we sit and ponder the question of 'why are we alive' and what is life all about we are left with a deep question ? This question takes us directly into the world of the mystic, sage, shaman, where it is okay to not know and this not knowing world opens our minds to multiple dimensions beyond time and space.

In South African Sangoma culture all spiritual journeys begin with saying our name out to the universe and announcing ourselves to all our Ancestors. For we believe that the first gift our parents gave us was our name. And our name holds within it the seeds of our destiny. In the same way that a small acorn holds the seed and potential of becoming a great oak tree. Gratitude is central to Xhosa ritual. We invoke our ancestors by showing gratitude to them for the gift of life. For without them we wouldn't be here.  The question is never 'what can our ancestors do for us, but rather what can we do for them'. For the circle of life needs to be healed now more than ever before. We heal the circle by welcoming our elders home to us and thanking them for the sacrifices they made.

Join me in ceremony. Here are a list of dates and places  where I will be in the USA.

I look forward to meeting you.

Warmest wishes,

John Lockley,

Ucingolwendaba (Above) I stand  with my medicine colleagues, Elliot Rivera from Puerto Rico, brought up in New York; and Dancing Thunder, medicine chief of the Susquehannock nation.

Portland, Oregon

1

st -

10

th  October

• 3rd Thursday - Renaissance Book shop

• Public Talk: Dream Tracking the Indigenous Way

• 4th - 6th, Workshop: Dancing with our Ancestors

• 7th - 9th, Individual Sangoma Healing or Divination Sessions.

• Booking for Workshop & private sessions:

• Contact: Jan Engel-Smith, jan@lightsong.net,

• Tel: 503-669-3013

• www.lightsong.net

New York City

10

th - 

30

th  October

• 10th Thursday - Edgar Cayce Center (ARE)

• Public Talk: Introduction to Xhosa Sangoma Medicine

• 11th - New York Shamanic Circle (NYSC) - Open Circle

• A time for the Community to gather, pray, rattle, drum and dance.

• John will lead the group in some dancing, drumming & praying.

• By Donation: $20

• 12th - 13th, Workshop: Healing through Dreaming

• To Book: Click on ARE website

• 20th - New York Shamanic Circle's 15th Annual Gathering in Central Park.

• A gathering of indigenous & urban shamans from all cultures and walks of life.

• 15th - 17th, Sangoma Sessions with John focusing on

• Individual Healing Or Divination

• 21st - 24th

• To Book: Email Lubaina, empoweredheart444@gmail.com.

• Tel: 978-595-2926

• Cost: $151 preferable in cash

• 26th & 27th, John will be leading a ceremony over the weekend entitled, 'Ancestral Blessing Ceremony'.

• To book: email nyshamaniccircle@gmail.com

• Phone: Irma 718 396 4246

In Blogging Tags ancient traditions, Dancing Thunder, Elliot Rivera, Indigenous Medicine, John Lockley, New York City, Oregon, Portland, Sangoma Medicine, Xhosa Medicine

Sangoma USA Tour

John will be touring the USA going to Portland, Oregon & New York City.

In Events Tags African Shamanism, Indigenous Medicine, John Lockley, New York City, Oregon, Portland, USA tour, Xhosa Sangoma

Trance Dancing the Ancient Way

In Southern Africa we 'Sweat our prayers' through the trance dance or ‘xentsa’ .

This dancing practice is an integral part of traditional Southern African life. Traditional healers known as Sangomas use the dance to connect to their ancestral spirits. The word ‘Sangoma’ literally means ‘people of the song’ because they use particular kinds of chants and rhythms to connect to the spirit world. Sangomas are the traditional Shamans or medicine people of Southern Africa. The job of a Sangoma is to ‘nceda abantu ukuvula indlela’ – to help people realise their spiritual calling. For we believe that when people are in harmony with themselves then they are in harmony with the world around them. There is no word for depression in the Xhosa and Zulu language from SouthAfrica, only ‘umoya phezulu’ okanye ‘umoya phantsi’. Spirit energy up or spirit energy down. Through rhythm and song the Sangoma helps to uplift people and in doing so helps them realise their spiritual potential.

The Sangoma rhythm is part of the sacred music from South Africa. Whenever a Sangoma plays their drum in a particular way it is said that they invoke the spirits of the land and community. The drum beat is a particular heart beat rhythm that helps ground, calm and connect people to their roots (ancestors). I have been playing my drum and singing my Sangoma chants all over the world. I am pleased to say that no matter where I am people connect with their ancestors in the most profound and humbling ways. I have often been touched to hear people in New York or Mexico come to me a few days after a ceremony, recounting beautiful and uplifting dreams from their ancestors. Music is truly universal, and the Sangoma drum is a call to spirit and the unseen world. Now let us wake up! Now let us rejoice in the beauty of being alive. With our chants, hands and feet, we pound the earth and feel at one with all things. Camagu!  (We honour & praise the divine).

On the 17th August Londoners will dance and shake their bones like never before. Are you ready to wake up?

In Blogging Tags John Lockley, London, Nelson Mandela, passing clouds, traditional African medicine-, trance dance, Xhosa Sangoma

Ancestral Blessing Ceremony in Ireland

A one day workshop dedicated to healing the land through healing our Ancestors. Participants will learn how to connect to their Ancestors & how to understand their dreams.

• Sun 25th - Private Sangoma Divination sessions

In Events Tags Ancestors, Buddha Bag, dreams, Drumming, Dublin City, Ireland, John Lockley, Oscailt, Xhosa Sangoma

Sangoma Talk in Dublin

John will be giving a Sangoma talk at Buddha Bag on Baggot Lane. The talk will include a discussion on Dreams & Ancestors.

It will feature live South African drumming & singing.

In Events Tags Ancestors, Buddha Bag, dreams, Drumming, Dublin City, Ireland, John Lockley, Xhosa Sangoma