Spirit & Destiny Magazine - The Sangomas Apprentice

John was featured in the June 2010 edition of Spirit & Destiny Magazine in the UK.  He speaks about his role as a Sangoma in post Apartheid South Africa and how recent scientific evidence suggests that we are all descended from Africa. Read the full article here:

• pdf The Sangomas Apprentice

In Press

Shambala Festival 2010

John will be giving an 'Ubuntu' workshop and performing a sacred Xhosa blessing with live drumming and dancing at the Shambala festival in Northamptonshire.

In Events

Afro / Celt Shamanic Weekend

The way of the 'Spiritual Warrior'

• Learning to Dance in a tribal way, Dreamwork, Honouring & praising our Ancestors & Plant Medicine

• Mankind was born in Africa. Using Xhosa Sangoma techniques to help reconnect to our Irish roots.

• Afro/ Celt Sacred Sound Performance on Friday night 10th Sep with John & Tommy Hayes on the Bodhran.

In Events

Ubuntu Newsletter July 2010

In which John discusses three important themes or processes along the spiritual or medicine path; the importance of dreaming in your spiritual life; and his latest workshops.

• Ubuntu Newsletter July 2010

In Newsletters

Ubuntu Newsletter June 2010

In which John discusses the role of Sangoma shamanism in the 2010 World Cup; the growing interest in Sangoma medicine; and his recent radio interviews and workshops.

• Ubuntu Newsletter June 2010

In Newsletters

Herb Fest 2010

HerbFest - A Celebration for Herbalists Bringing People & Plants together

An eco friendly festival open to all people with a love of plants

John will be giving a series of lectures called 'Dancing with our Ancestors'.

In Events

The Way of the Sangoma - in Oxford

Sangomas are the traditional priests/ nuns of Southern Africa. To find out more please join us in Oxford at the Iffley Village Hall.

• Friday 9th July, Public Talk & Blessing Ceremony - 7.30 to 9.30 pm - £15

• Saturday 10thJuly, Workshop - 10am to 5 pm - £75

• Sunday July 11th– Private Healing Sessions - by appointment

To book please call Stuart on 07968 451730, or email stuartlandart@googlemail.com.

In Events

Reconnecting to my Ancestors

Reconnecting to my ancestors through ceremony and dreams has truly been an empowering and life-changing event. I will be forever grateful to John for facilitating this experience.

Lorraine

Galway, Ireland.

Read more

In Testimonials

London Talk

John will be giving a public talk on 'The Sangoma Way' in  Neals Yard, Covent Gardens on Saturday 12th June. Public Talk: 5-7pm, £12

• The talk is open to the public and will involve a discussion on the traditional Sangoma/ African Shamanic path.

• It will also include drumming & singing.

• People will have an opportunity to ask questions

Sunday 13th June: Sangoma Divinations, £70

To book please click below or phone 0207-379-7662

In Events

Sacred Fire Magazine - The Lone Leopard

John was featured in the latest edition (issue 11) of  'Sacred Fire' magazine in the USA where he talks to Jeff Baker about his journey to becoming a Xhosa Sangoma. Read the full article here:

• pdf Sacred Fire Magazine issue 11 - 'The Lone Leopard'

In Press

UK Ubuntu Weekly Gatherings in Oxford

Four week course starting Tuesday 8th,15th, 22nd & 29th June, 7:30-9:30pm. Ubuntu is all about community. An individual can create rhythm but a group can create a 'symphony'!

The course will involve:

• Heart-beat Meditation

• Creating ancestral healing space

• Learning the trance rhythms & 'ingomas' (Xhosa Sangoma ancestral songs)

• Discussing dreams, and how to distinguish between a normal dream and a white/ancestral/ prophetic dream.

Each week will build on from the last. In order for participants to get the most from the course they should attend all 4 evenings.

Exchange: £50

Please contact Stuart by clicking below.

In Events

SA-FM - South African Radio

John was a guest on Karabo Kgoleng's afternoon show on SABC  SA-fm on the 10th May 2010.  John was invited to speak on 'Sangomas and the World Cup'. Karabo asked him what it was like to be a white sangoma in post-apartheid South Africa, and also the role of Sangomas in soccer. Listen to the show here:

In Press

BBC World Service - Outlook

John was a guest on Matthew Bannister's 'Outlook' show on the BBC World Service on the 13th May 2010. Matthew spoke to John about his recent blog 'Sangomas & the World Cup' and his role as a white healer in South Africa. Listen to the show here:

In Press

Sacred Songs & Dream Work, Kent

A Weekend of learning about  Sacred Xhosa Songs, 'Ingomas'  and Sangoma Dreaming. What is a truth dream or 'mhlope amapupa' - white dream. How can we learn to open up to the incredibly transformative power of dreams? During  this weekend we will learn some simple dream techniques and drum rhythms.

• Friday 30 th April 7:30 - 9:30pm - African Blessing Ceremony & Talk £20

• Sat 1st May - Workshop 10-5pm £75

• Sun 2nd May - Private Sangoma consultations £70

To book call Ann Pattihis on tel: 01580 753993, mob: 07810 043937, or use the Book Now button.

In Uncategorized

Newstalk - Irish Radio

John was a guest on Sean Moncrieff's afternoon show on Newstalk, a Dublin, Irish radio station on 17th May 2010. He was interviewed by Fionn Davenport, where he discussed what it means to be a Sangoma and their role in the South African World Cup. John spoke about traditional South African medicine, herbs and soccer.

In Press

Ubuntu Newsletter April 2010

In which John discusses his latest trip back to South Africa; Sangoma Divination Sessions; his upcoming workshops & events; weekly gatherings in Oxford; his music on MySpace and CD; and more.

• Ubuntu Newsletter April 2010

In Newsletters

World Cup Football meets Sangoma Medicine

Growing up during the 70s and 80s, in a South Africa torn apart by Apartheid, I’d often find myself barefoot, playing soccer with the local black farm kids.  A bunch of us, black and white, would kick a ball around in the dirt. In the game I was merely another participant - not white, not blonde, not English - just another soccer player. For those brief moments I felt a sense of camaraderie with my team mates and it gave me hope. Hope for an undivided country where the colour of one’s skin no longer matters.

Thirty years on, Apartheid has at last been consigned to the history books. Yes, South Africa still faces some tough challenges as a nation, but as hosts of the upcoming FIFA World Cup we have a unique opportunity to allow “the beautiful game” to bridge cultural and social divides. And as a soccer fan and a practicing Sangoma (I am a member of  ‘Uthando Bayaphantsi’ traditional healers Association) I can’t wait for kick off. The event will also provide the world with a unique window into traditional South African spirituality and, if people keep an open mind, it could promote positive awareness of our indigenous spiritual culture and heritage.

Sangomas, the traditional spiritual doctors of Southern Africa, will play a significant part in the World Cup. Most of the major soccer clubs in South Africa use Sangomas in much the same way that modern clubs overseas use sport psychologists.  Sangomas are psychologist, herbalist and priest rolled into one. They are trained and initiated in an intricate spiritual way much like Tibetan Buddhist Lamas and are seen as instruments or channels of ancestral healing. At a recent milestone conference in South Africa it was announced that African teams may consult with traditional healers and use traditional forms of treatment during the FIFA world cup finals.

This is an exciting time for us, and an opportunity for Sangomas to dispel any negative misconceptions about their work. Sangomas and traditional African healers have often been wrongly associated in the west with witchdoctors, muti killings and voodoo. Sangomas are professional priests and healers, but just as certain individuals in the Christian priesthood and western medicine may occasionally bring their professions into disrepute, so unfortunately do certain individuals in the Sangoma world. Traditionally Sangomas are healers and bonefide Sangomas would never perform negative acts, they work with honesty and integrity.

A Sangoma might bless a football team and the pitch in various ways according to their particular culture. An animal blood sacrifice is one way for us to perform blessings and ceremonies, as in our culture blood is seen as cleansing and purifying, but we are also able to use medicinal plants, prayers, song and dance for the same purpose. We pay respect to our forefathers and call upon our ancestors to support our endeavours, placing our fate in their hands, whether in life or on the soccer pitch. Not so long ago FIFA cracked down heavily on Sangomas performing their rites on the turf at the Somhlolo Stadium in Swaziland, after it was disclosed that a Sangoma from either Black Mambas or Mbabane Swallows had cut open a section of the expensive artificial pitch and buried a sacrificial chicken in the centre. Not an issue the English FA are ever likely to have to contend with!

I will be supporting  the South African Bafana Bafana during the tournament.  I would have  been behind the Republic of Ireland squad too as my mother’s Irish, from Dublin, but controversially they haven't made it to the finals.  I'll be in Ireland in May, so if the Irish team would like a blessing ceremony I would be up for it.  And don't worry, I'll leave my chickens and goats behind and focus purely on the use of medicinal plants.

In Blogging Tags John Lockley, Sangoma Medicine, World Cup Football

Introduction to Ubuntu

'Ubuntu' is central to Southern African spirituality. It means humanity, and is widely believed that we realise our humanity through the quality of our interaction with one another. 'Ubuntu Ubunzulu' means the depth of humanity, and these include the sacred Xhosa Sangoma teachings which I will be talking about over the weekend.

• Friday 25th -Talk & Blessing ceremony,7:30-9:30pm, £15

• Saturday 26th - One day Workshop,10-5pm,£75  Involving a traditional 'Kraal' ceremony.The Kraal is an ancient structure or 'doorway' used to connect more deeply with our ancestors. It is the only one of its kind outside South Africa.

• Sunday 27th - Private Divination Sessions. £70

To Book the Talk, One day workshop and/or private Divination session please call Richard Diss on 01525-862278 or email him at richarddiss1950@tiscali.co.uk.

In Events

Irish Ancestral Re-Connection Workshop

An 'Ubuntu' Weekend in beautiful East Clare, Ireland. Fri 21 May 8pm- Sun 23 1pm This weekend will focus on:

• Purification and Blessing ceremonies with medicinal plants

• Connecting with our Ancestors, cleansing Ancestral lines

• Dreamwork, listening to our souls

• Heartbeat Meditation, stillness

• Trance rhythms, song and dance

Cost 120 Euro

To book call Carole on 061-924268/924182 Or use the Book Now button.

In Events

Traditional Sangomas/ African Shamans vs more Contemporary Shamans

Sangoma Trainees in our school

In order for us as mankind to walk forwards with integrity we have to know where we come from. Traditional shamans are the keepers of the old knowledge. I have felt very priveliged and honoured to be trained in the Xhosa way, an ancient culture and language that still practices the ancient way. I beleive aspects of Xhosa Sangoma culture can be used to help people to remember the old ways of their ancestors; i.e. the way of dreaming, medicinal plants and trance music to commune with life. Why? Because we are all human with red blood, and we have countless ways of helping one another.

What are traditional Sangomas or Shamans for that matter?

This question came up recently with a friend of mine. I don't know too much about contemporary Shamanism. All I can do is talk about my experience & training as a traditional Xhosa Sangoma. I am a traditional Sangoma because I was trained by my Xhosa teacher, Mum Gwevu & her husband, Tata Sukwini, who is a traditional leader. Neither of them speak English, and they follow the ancient medicine ways of their forefathers. They adopted me as a Sukwini member of their clan, and in an official ceremony recently they acknowledged me as a 'Sukwini'.

It is important to note that people don't decide to become Sangomas they are chosen. They are chosen by their ancestors, and this comes through in dreams. In Southern Africa people can also be called through a difficult illness known as the 'twaza' ( a global shamanic illness). As someone apprentices the illness abates. A person in South Africa would normally go to a Sangoma for a divination. The sangoma would then validate their dream experiences and/or illness and confirm the need to apprentice.

Sangomas are loved by their communities because they live a life dedicated towards healing and service. They are the traditional Monks & Nuns of Southern Africa and can be likened to Tibetan Buddhist or in my experience Korean monks & nuns. I see Sangomas as 'African Dancing Monks & Nuns' because we use rhythm, dance and song to honour life.

As a traditional Xhosa Sangoma/ African Shaman, we listen to our dreams, white dreams, prophetic dreams. Dreams which come from our ancestors and tell us the future or what is happening with somebody i.e. their health or their destiny. We never claim to be Sangomas, that is something our elders bestow on us after witnessing our dreams and our gift.  We are seen as being trained by our ancestors. Sangoma teachers are seen to teach 20% of the medicine and the remaining 80% is seen to come from our ancestors.  The job of the Sangoma teacher is to help align/ connect the student with their ancestors. Once this happens the student dreams and is given the required information from the ancient ones.

When someone starts their Xhosa Sangoma apprenticeship they start to wear white beads and white clothes and they are called Sangoma, but it is recognised that they are a trainee and have many initiation stages to complete. They also wear white clay over their entire faces to indicate that they are in the luminal/spirit world and are being trained by their ancestors. The other name for Sangoma is 'abantu abamhlope' which means 'white people' because of their white attire and dedicated profession focused on healing, praying and honouring life. When a Sangoma (trainee or senior) walks down the road people call out 'camagu!' , a term of deep respect, which means 'we honour and praise you'. Why? Because it is well known in Africa that Sangomas/ African Shamans are the guardians of the old knowledge, the medicine keepers, and they also help to maintain the balance between nature, man and the ancestral world. It is also well known that the job is extremely difficult and dangerous. And when people are seen to have the calling there is always a mixture of happiness and sadness because it is widely understood that Sangomas suffer a great deal, especially knowadays where we are misunderstood and sometimes mistakenly labelled as practitioners of the dark arts.

A Sangoma apprenticeship revolves around three areas namely; divination, medicinal plants & Xentsa (trance dance which includes playing the drum and singing 'ingomas', the sacred Xhosa songs/chants).  Amongst Xhosa Sangomas it is well known that a traditional Sangoma apprenticeship can take many years to complete. The reason being is that we have many ancestors, blood related and also nature spirits that we need to align/connect with. I completed my training after 10 years, and I still have some Xhosa friends who started before me, and who are still in training today. Exactly when you finish is at the discretion of the ancestors, and it comes through with particular mystical/ ancestral dreams which are clear and cannot be confused with ordinary reality.

The other aspect to finishing sangoma training is also financial. We pay our teacher for each initiation. However as the work is so closely connected to the community, when a Sangoma initiation occurs the entire community is invited. As there needs to be sufficient food and drink for everyone, a traditional ceremony could run into thousands of rands. So an enormous amount of energy is used to plan, execute and carry out each initiation. We always say that the financial side to the initiation is just one of the tests the Ancestors set us. Interesting enough my teacher comes from a poor background and she was able to finish all her initiations. The financial strain teaches us to be resourceful. Also if people in the community, family and friends notice how ardent, committed and focused you are as a trainee they donate money to you. This is the tribal way. And this is how I managed to finish my training as well.

In my experience I have found that my Sangoma training was very similar to my time as a Zen student in South Korea. Korean zen monks  follow an ancient tradition. The similarity is found in many ways but particularly in the area of chanting. Zen monks chant sacred korean sutras to clear their minds and reach enlightenment. Sangomas sing/ chant 'Ingomas' (sacred Xhosa songs) to connect to their ancestors. Hence, Sangomas could be likened to African Dancing monks/ nuns with a strong focus on transcendence and interconnectedness with our Ancestors, Great Spirit & Nature.

The Sangoma trainee also does an 'energy exchange'  for their apprenticeship through serving their teacher. They collect and prepare medicinal plants to be used  for clients, they give divination under the supervision of their teacher, and they help out with 'umsebenzes' (traditional ceremonies to honour the Ancestors & Great Spirit).  The trainees form the backbone of the Sangoma culture because they sing the songs, play the drum and build the energy during all traditional ceremonies. The trainees sing and dance calling forth the ancient ones (Ancestors & Great Spirit), and then when the energy in the room is right the senior Sangomas walk in to go into trance and give 'indaba' spirit news to the community. Like their juniors they work as channels or messengers between this world and the next. They also work as empaths so they 'feel' the energy of the community and they speak about this. They also give messages from the other world and they pass this on to the community to lift their spirits. An important aspect of these ceremonies is 'hlonipa' which loosely translated into english means respect. But it is a lot more than that. It is a deep form of humility, and honouring of the Ancestors, Great Spirit and the medicine of life. You see this when the senior sangomas talk, the trainees kneel out of humility. When each of the trainees in turn pray & honour they do it on their knees and all their colleagues join them. The Sangoma culture rests on this ancient code.

Again the job of the Sangoma is to lift the spirit energy of the individual or community, we call this 'umoya phezulu'. We serve the community.

Amongst the Xhosa people  I am known as 'Ucingolwendaba', the messenger between cultures. I am also known as 'Ligquira Inkulu', which means Senior Sangoma because I have completed all the various initiation stages making me Sangoma. I am now given permission by my elders to train & initiate people in the 'Sangoma way'. Normally only someone who has completed all these stages can initiate someone else to become a Sangoma.

In Blogging