Sangoma Premonitions

Many people have asked me if Sangomas have predictions? Recently a journalist contacted me and asked if Sangoma people have anything to say about the recent natural disasters occuring in the planet. I said yes we do and it all revolves around the importance of man re-aligning with nature in a wholesome way.

In 1992 I had a strong vision whilst walking around my garden. I was told about a tidal wave that would result in the largest loss of life in recent history. I was told that it would happen in about 10 years time, and it would signal the time for me to start working in a spiritual way to help people re-align themselves with nature in a respectful way.  When the Tsunami struck in December 2004 I was on a yoga retreat off the West Coast of Ireland. It was a snowing  outside and a bit chilly. At that time I was planning on going on a 3/4 month yoga retreat, training course in Australia. The realisation of the Tsunami struck home the importance of all of us to live with more respect and love for the natural world. I was already in training to become a Sangoma, and the hurricane was a clear sign that I needed to move forward with my training.

I have had many dreams since, and a few of them speak about natural disasters. The message is simple 'we need to reconnect, and re-align ourselves with nature'.

In the last few years I have had other dreams about the collapse of the world as we know it. My last dream was just before the banks collapsed in the UK in 2008, America and then globally. In that particular dream I was told that things would change in the sense that there would be more natural disasters and a greater loss of life. I was told that it is natures’ way of bringing us back into balance. The lesson here for us is ‘RESPECT’ or as we Sangomas would say in Xhosa or Zulu ‘hlonipa’. We need to learn to respect one another, our communities, our old people and Nature. But respect not just in words but in actions. As a Xhosa Sangoma I teach people ‘Ubuntu Ubunzulu’ which are the sacred Sangoma teachings of the Xhosa people related to our humanity ‘Ubuntu’, and the depth of our humanity (Ubunzulu) which speaks of our interconnectedness to nature and the ancestral/ spiritual world.

Our human race is arrogant, and we think we are in control of nature, and that we own nature . This is not so. The recent volvano in Iceland (begining of May '10) which grounded European planes for almost 2 weeks was a sobering reminder that 'we' are not in control, and that we are all at the mercy of Mother Nature. As a Sangoma I found this very humbling and beautiful despite having to change my return flight to the UK. I was happy to spend another 2 weeks in South Africa.

I was on the BBC, radio 4, ‘Saturday live’ show with Fi Glover on 5th September 2009 (see my home page for interview). Before the show, Simon, the producer asked me if I had to look back on my career for the last 50 years or so what would I like my legacy to be? I said for the old people to be respected and loved, and likewise for our Ancestors to be respected and loved, because then we as human beings would be more in balance. I think this is what these natural disasters are calling us to do. To be more loving, more caring and more respectful of ourselves, one another and nature.

So where does this leave us in the future?? I think mankind as we know it is going to have to become more sensitive in order to survive. This can only be a good thing.

In Blogging

Beyond Black & White - Ubuntu

"Sinamandla Kunye "- Together we are Strong

Many people ask me "how can it be that a white man is a Sangoma?" I then reply "we all have red blood, and we all have ancestors".  I normally then ask people if it is okay for black people to become doctors, lawyers, priests, etc. The answer is always a resounding YES OF COURSE!  I then say "well then it must be okay for white people to become Sangomas, because to say otherwise is tantamount to reverse rascism"!  I then ask people if they have heard of Nelson Mandela or Desmond Tutu. Again most people have. Well Nelson Mandela is a lawyer, an advocate, and Desmond Tutu is an English priest, an Anglican Bishop. Both these men are my elders as both of them are Xhosa. So they have entered Western culture and excelled. Now as a white man I was called to become a Sangoma, and now I am a senior Xhosa Sangoma.

For us Sangomas, 'Ubuntu' means humanity. And people realise ubuntu through their conduct in the community.

When I give talks I relate a story during the early days of my training in a township in the Eastern Cape.  Apartheid finished in 1994, I started my training in 1997, so understandably people were cautious and a bit suspicious of me.  I remember one traditional ceremony which I attended. The people were very wary towards me. My teacher felt all this and when she went into trance she became like a lioness protecting her young and she shouted at the community. "U sika apha egazine ibomvu, uyasika Cingolwendaba egazini ibomvu. Ngamanye amaxesha ndapupa abelungu izinyana zithetha mna. Ngamanye amaxesha uCingo upupa Amaxhosa izinyanya, zithetha nina. Abantu Bafana".

"When you cut my arm red blood flows, when you cut John's arm red blood flows. Sometimes when I dream the white ancestors (Abelungu Izinyanya) speak to me, sometimes when John dreams Xhosa ancestor spirits talk to him. We are all very similar. Once more, I was told in a dream by the Great Spirit (uThixo) to train John, and that is what I am doing. When he came to me he was very sick, now he is much better. He treats me with respect. I met his parents and they also show me a lot of respect.  John is like one of my own sons" (translated from Xhosa to English).

After this there was silence by the community. And after 5 years of training I was accepted. Now I am treated with love and respect.

Again "Ubuntu" means humanity, and "Ubuntu Ubunzulu" is the sacred Xhosa Sangoma teachings relating to our connection to one another and our ancestors. If someone trains to become a medical doctor they have to pass a series of tests and examinations regardless of skin colour. At the end of their 6 or 7 hard years they are examined by other doctors and if they are deemed worthy they are rewarded with the title of 'Doctor'. A similar process occurs with Sangoma training. It is a traditional apprenticeship. If someone, regardless of skin colour demonstrates the Sangoma calling, and they act upon it respecting and honouring their teacher and community then they have realised 'Ubuntu Ubunzulu' (our sacred humanity & our connection to community) and skin colour should never be an issue.

In Blogging

Sangoma Lockley is a healing connector

This article appeared in the South African Daily News 25 Feb 2010 It features John working as a traditional Sangoma on a South African farm helping to bring healing after domestic upheaval.

JOHN Lockley is a sangoma. He is one of the few white men in South Africa to be initiated in the Xhosa tradition of sangomas. Ironically, Lockley, who also holds an honours degree in clinical psychology, does not like being referred to as a “white”... read more...Daily News 25 Feb 2010

Please download adobe reader to read the following pdf

In Press

A Sangoma Blessing for 2010

As 2010 opens, and starts to flow like a gentle river with ever increasing speed towards the sea I would like to make a special blessing for our Elders, the old people in our community and our Ancestors who have passed on. A few months ago I had the good fortune of appearing as a live studio guest on BBC Radio 4 and before the show, Simon, the producer asked me what would my wish be in 50 years time if I looked back at my life and work. I replied "that the elders in our community are once again held with love and respect, and likewise, that our ancestors are respected. Because when we can remember to respect and love our old people, and our ancestors, then the cycle of life and death will be restored".

At the moment in Western culture there is an over glamourisation of the 'youth'. And this puts great pressure on young people, as well as relegating old people to second class citizens. As soon as people get a bit older they are pushed aside and no longer valued. If we look at traditional cultures like the Xhosa people, older people (traditonally) are seen as the elders in the culture, and they are given a respectful place in the community. I remember in the early days during my apprenticeship I was disheartened that their weren't many people who had arrived for one of my initiations and when I expressed this to my teacher's husband, Tata Sukwini he exclaimed "ungakatazeki Cingo, jongani abantu, abantu badala, wena uthamsanqa!"  Look at the people who have arrived, they are old, very old, you are very lucky!  You see in traditional culture the old people need to be introduced to someone or something first.  When the old people come and support ceremonies and initiations it is seen as a blessing because they are seen to bring ancestral energy with them.

I saw this beautiful poem written by an old man before he died. I would like to share it with you.

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in country NSW, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne . The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . .  . . .What do you see? What are you thinking .. . . . . when you're looking at me? A cranky old man, . . .  . . .not very wise, Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food .. . .. . . . . and makes no reply. When you say in a loud voice . . . . .. 'I do wish you'd try!' Who seems not to notice . .  . . .the things that you do. And forever is losing . . . . . . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not .. . . . . . . . . . . lets you do as you will, With bathing and feeding  . . . . . .The long day to fill? Is that what you're thinking?  . . . . . ..  Is that what you see? Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . . you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am . . . . . . . As I sit here so still, As I do at your bidding, . . . . . . as I eat at your will. I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . . . with a father and mother, Brothers and sisters .. . . . . . . . who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . . with wings on his feet Dreaming that soon now . .. . . .. ... . a lover he'll meet. A groom soon at Twenty .. . . . ... . . my heart gives a leap. Remembering, the vows .. . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . ... . . . . I have young of my own. Who need me to guide . . . . And a secure happy home. A man of Thirty . . . . . . . . .. My young now grown fast, Bound to each other . . . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons .. . . . . have grown and are gone, But my woman is beside me . . . . . . . to see I don't mourn. At Fifty, once more, .  . ... . . . ..Babies play 'round my knee, Again, we know children . . . . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me .  . . . . . .... My wife is now dead. I look at the future ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . I shudder with dread. For my young are all rearing . . . . . . young of their own. And I think of the years . . .. . . . . And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . . . . . . and nature is cruel. It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool. The body, it crumbles .. . . . ... . . . . . grace and vigour depart. There is now a stone .. . . . . .. . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass .  . . .. A young man still dwells, And now and again . . . .. . . . my battered heart swells I remember the joys . .. . . . . . . . .. . I remember the pain. And I'm loving and living . . . . .. . . . . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years . all too few . . . . . . gone too fast. And accept the stark fact . . . . . . . . that nothing can last. So open your eyes, people . . . . . . . . open and see. Not a cranky old man .   Look closer . . .. . see . . . . . .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within . ... . . . we will all, one day, be there, too!

John & Credo Mutwa - Zulu Sangoma/ African Sage

May our elders be blessed, and the correct relationship between all of us re-established.

In Blogging

South Africa 09/10

Updating traditional Xhosa knowledge – During this time John works & studies alongside his Xhosa teacher.  This includes traditional ceremonies honouring Xhosa ancestors.  The whole township community is invited to take part in these festivities. All donations received by John go towards supporting these traditional ceremonies. John will be available to give phone/ skype  sessions during this time. If you would like a session with him then please email or click on the bar below.

In Events

Shamanic Practitioner's Workshop

A weekend dedicated to helping Shamanic practitioner's go deeper with their practice. This will include the traditional 'Ubuntu' Sangoma recipe of:

• Heartbeat Meditation

• Xhosa Songs, dance & trance rhythms

• Blessing Ceremony using medicinal plants

• Ancestral re-connection work with indoor & outdoor ceremony

A time to find one another in community. Also to discuss challenges with one's practice and a way of going deeper with clients.

Energy exchange: £200 - Includes accomodation & sangoma teaching.

To book please contact Caroline on 0754-539-3629, or click the booking form below.

In Events

BBC Radio 4

John appeared as a live studio guest on BBC Radio 4 'Saturday Live' with Fi Glover on the 5th September 2009. Listen to the full interview here:

Alternatively you can listen to the whole show on the BBC Radio 4 website.

In Press

Ancestral Celebration

The theme of this workshop is 'Ancestral Celebration' & Grace.  It is a special workshop because it will include closing Pip's 'Kraal', as Pip will be moving home. The Kraal is an ancient ancestral structure based on the Xhosa & Zulu spirituality in South Africa. It was opened by John, and is a space or 'ancestral doorway' where people connect deeply with their ancestors.

The weekend will involve:

• Outside Ancestral Ceremony in 'the Kraal'

• Meditation

• A blessing ceremony to enhance dreams & visions using medicinal plants.

Energy exchange: £200 - Includes accomodation & sangoma teaching.

To book please contact Caroline on 0754-539-3629, or click the booking form below.

In Events

Ubuntu News September 2009

A welcome to the first Ubuntu Newsletter, this month's news and upcoming events.

• Ubuntu News September 2009

In Newsletters

Deepening Ubuntu Workshop

I enjoyed the dancing, it felt as if I was totally on my own in a mist.  When John played the drum I could see and feel images of my ancestors passing before me. The singing and clapping gave me so much energy that even when my hands felt tired, I could continue on. While we pounded the medicinal herbs for the finale ceremony, we all came together in unity.

Jackie Evans, retired Nurse.

In Ubuntu

Intact Medicine Tradition

It is a very special and unique experience to be taught by someone trained in a living, breathing, intact medicine tradition.  You bring the teachings to us with dignity and integrity and have inspired me to want to connect deeply with my own ancestral lines.  You also show us your own humility and humanity and sense of fun to produce an experience which is strong, but gentle.  I look forward to continuing working with such an inspirational teacher. Thank you!

Elizabeth Caldwell, PhD

University Lecturer, UK

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In Testimonials

Southern African Blessing Ceremony

A Unique synthesis of Southern African music & spirituality Friday Night - 7.30-9.30pm   £10/£8 (conc)

Featuring Linos Wengara Magaya, acclaimed Zimbabwean mbira player & spiritual healer,

AND  John Lockley Xhosa Sangoma/ African Shaman.

The evening will feature John & Linos playing music together, interspersed with a brief discussion on South African spirituality. Linos will be assisted by Tim Dziva Lloyd.

Private Consultations with Sangoma upon request, Sunday

To book, please call 01235 847401 or email admin@theabbey.uk.com.

For further information please see www.theabbey.uk.com

In Events

Deepening Ubuntu - Wales

A workshop geared towards people who have already done some 'Ubuntu' work with John. This workshop will focus on:

• Stillness

• Cleansing/purification with plants

• Connecting with our Ancestors

• Dreams, listening to our souls

• Dancing, singing & community

Energy Exchange: £200 - Includes accomodation, wonderful home cooked meals & Shamanic instruction.

For more information please contact Pip Waller on 0149-046-0493, Caroline Evans 0754-539-3629, Or click the booking form below. 

In Events

After the Calling Dream

Feature article appearing in the 'South African Newspaper' in the U.K., 14th July 2009. The article features John's journey from the townships in the Eastern Cape to teaching 'Ubuntu' workshops to people in the United Kingdom.

Please download adobe reader to read the following pdf

• This content is no longer available

In Press

African Spirituality

What does African spirituality mean to you? Voodoo, witch doctors, black magic? I can’t remember now if those where some of my first thoughts, but I certainly hadn’t ever found myself particularly drawn to African work. Yet somehow, in September 2007, I found myself on a weekend work shop with Sangoma (shaman), John Lockley. I still couldn’t understand what I was doing there. It was held in a beautiful shamanic centre in the hills of North Wales, a secluded spot near Corwen that I had visited a few years earlier. I hadn’t been up there for a while, but something was calling me, and when I looked at the workshop list the only thing that caught my eye at the time was this African Shamanic work. Even though there was no single thing about the workshop that jumped out at me, it just kept popping into my head and then someone gave me a free copy of Sacred Hoop magazine that happened to have an article about John’s initiation, so I decided maybe I was supposed to go along.

The introductory weekend is now a bit of a blur in my memory, but I remember particularly enjoying the trance dancing that John taught us -which is great fun! I also remember feeling my heart really open over the weekend. Another thing I clearly recall is John telling us that the work can set things in motion in your life, which stuck in my mind because the following week a couple of fairly big changes happened in my personal and work life. These were not easy things for me, and left me unsure of whether I wanted to continue the work further. It was not long after this that I did a shamanic journey to the spirit of water. It was a beautiful journey and during it I was told that it would be good for me to do more work with John. Not being one to ignore the advice of the water spirits, I signed up for a 9 month African Shamanic practioner’s course!

Having talked later to other people on the practioner’s course, I found my journey was not unusual. Many of the others felt a great deal of resistance to the work, but just kept getting called to it in various ways. And I have to tell you that I am so glad that I followed my intuition. The practioner’s course has been amazing.

Africa is a continent of great spiritual power, where the old shamanic ways are still alive and shamans can trace their lineage back through ancestors going back many hundreds, if not thousands, of years. I have felt this work more deeply than I have felt any other spiritual work before. I have found a path which is based on being humble, open hearted, respectful and digging deeply into your soul. It is about finding your humanity, and an understanding that my humanity is bound up with your humanity. It is about respect for the old ways, the elders and our communities. It is about working with dreams, nature, the plant spirits and our ancestors (both our blood lines and our spiritual families). The work has subtly, yet powerfully worked itself into every fibre of my being. It has truly and deeply touched my life on every level.

There is often a lot of negative press about African spirituality. I think that the great power found there can bring up fear in many of us. And yes, where the light is very bright, there can also be found darkness. But in John’s work I have found only the purest light. And I would urge any one who is drawn to shamanism and the old ways to come along and experience one of John’s workshops.

Caroline Evans, Teacher, Wrexham.

In Ubuntu

The Way of the Sangoma, Bath

Fri. 10 - Evening Blessing & Talk - 8pm to 10pm - £10

• Sat. 11 - One Day Workshop - Ancestral work, medicinal plants & Dream work - 10am to 5pm - £75 (concessions are available)

• Sun. 12 - Private Healing Sessions by appointment

To book call Denise on 077233 29414 or Carla on 07946 364898, or click below.

In Events

Love & Peace

From what I have experienced so far I would say that UBUNTU involves opening up to great power through learning to be humble and to open the heart. Whilst honouring and praising my ancestors outdoors with the group I have felt levels of love and peace that I rarely achieve elsewhere. And through the personal practice of honouring my ancestors in the UBUNTU way I feel I have been able to connect with my helpers and guides in a much more profound and deep way.

Caroline Evans

School Teacher

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In Testimonials

oh my gosh can John dance...

John and all the people were amazing. So much more than I could have hoped for, and oh my gosh can John dance... 

P.P. Chester

Retreat participant

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In Testimonials

Heart Sings

So good, so good, truly beautiful. My heart sings...

S.T. Chichester

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In Testimonials

In my job as a Chiropractor

When I saw an advertisement for a weekend course with John Lockley, a white South African member of the Xhosa tribe and a practising Ubuntu Sangoma i.e. shaman or ‘medicine-man’ or even ‘witch-doctor’ as we in the west might call him, my curiosity was aroused. I decided I had to find out more and approached the course with nervous but open-minded anticipation. I was not disappointed. I do not want to give too much away about the weekend except to say that it was a mixture of instruction and participation. Some of this I found emotionally very challenging, nothing we did was unacceptable to me, and the benefit was enormous. I felt elated for days afterwards.

There is one thing that surprised me. Although my knowledge of Romany Chovihano shamanism is limited (I am of mixed Anglo-Irish-Romany descent and Chovihanos have all but died out, at least in the west), what I do know tells me that Xhosa and Romany shamanism are so similar that it cannot be coincidence. Since the two peoples can hardly have met and exchanged ideas, they must have independently developed two systems whose closeness, in my opinion, tends to add credence to their value and utility.

In my job as a Chiropractor I am very aware that there are emotional and spiritual aspects of peoples’ lives which have negative influences on their general health contributing to their overall ‘dis-ease’, and which are left unresolved by modern health care (of any kind), psychology, and religion. I feel that Ubuntu may go a long way to filling that gap.

Dr. Peter Smith

Chiropractor, Llandudno, North Wales Member of the Scottish Chiropractic Association

Member of the College of Chiropractors

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In Testimonials