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INDIGENOUS WISDOM FOR DYNAMIC CHANGE

John Lockley is a fully initiated sangoma (healer and shaman) in the Xhosa lineage of South Africa, having spent 10 years in apprenticeship with the tribe that gave us Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. His remarkable journey through the constraints of Apartheid is a testament to the human spirit, and to the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Book a Session With John
Featured
Ancestral Healing Ceremony in Ireland
Dec 6
Ancestral Healing Ceremony in Ireland

John will be leading a special in person ceremony in Dublin, Ireland on Sat 6th Dec from 10am-5pm Irish time.

6 Week Course: The Call of the Wild: Ancestors, Dreams & Animal Medicine
Jan 7
6 Week Course: The Call of the Wild: Ancestors, Dreams & Animal Medicine

John will lead a 6 week course on Ancestors, Dreams & Animal Medicine, hosted by the College of Psychic Studies.

Dreams & Tracking Retreat in the Kalahari Desert 2026
Feb 15
Dreams & Tracking Retreat in the Kalahari Desert 2026

Track animals on foot and learn how to connect with your Visions & Dreams in one of the wildest places left on earth. Take part in this bucket list retreat, Dreams & Tracking in the Kalahari Desert 2026 with John Lockley & Alwyn Myburgh.

Books & Teachings

Book cover titled "Leopard Warrior" by John Lockley, featuring a leopard walking on a log in a savanna landscape with a partly cloudy sky.

Leopard Warrior

In traditional African healing circles, the leopard represents intuition, instinct, and harmony with nature and the spirit world. As John Lockley writes, “A leopard warrior is a spiritual soldier who mirrors the natural world and directs their gaze inward to answer the call of their spirit.” With Leopard Warrior, he brings us an inspiring call to action—showing how we can bridge the barriers that divide us, embrace the gifts of our ancestors, and reclaim our rightful place as compassionate caretakers of our world.

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The Way of the Leopard

The Way of the Leopard is an audio collection of John’s core spiritual teachings, created to help you awaken to your own Ubuntu, or shared humanity. You’ll learn to activate the untapped power of your physical senses and intuition; discover how to honor your ancestors and draw upon their guidance; engage with your dreams as a spiritual practice; connect to nature through animal and plant medicine; and dance and shake your way to greater vitality, health, and aliveness.

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Book cover titled 'The Way of the Leopard' featuring a close-up of a leopard's face, with a blue and green background.

  • I highly recommend his work to any organization who wishes to host a truly authentic elder from South Africa. In there times when many people are calling themselves shamans, we do a lot of searching for the authentic medicine people of the world, John offers the truly authentic wisdom we seek.

    -Patricia, Sacred Earth Foundation

  • John Lockley, a traditionally trained Sangoma, brings the rhythms of African shamanism to life. With song, dance and drumming he creates a spirit-filled atmosphere in which to honour our ancestors and exchanges blessings between the worlds. If you get a chance to participate with him in his joyous celebrations, don't miss it. I've attended two of John's ceremonies and left each time feeling elated and hopeful that shamanic work can bring healing to the world.

    -Tom Cowan, Author & Board of Directors fot the Society of Shamanic Practice

  • The healing of the West may be the job of the very cultures it looks down upon. Can Africa's material poverty meet Western spiritual bareness to bring balance in the world? We must dream the impossible, seek the beauty of sharing wisdom through the cracks of our longing, and usher into reality the possibility of the world village glued together by a concert of wisdom. John is an artisan of this and more. His work deserves respect and reverence.

    -Malidoma Some, Burkina Faso Medicine Elder & Of Water and the Spirit author

More Testimonials

WAYS TO WORK TO WITH JOHN

Latest MEDIA

Podcasts:

Leopard Warrior with John Lockley | EP60 @wetheaether

Mindrolling – Raghu Markus – Ep. 304 – ReWilding with John Lockley

Articles:

Featured
The Essence of Ubuntu
The Essence of Ubuntu

John has just published his latest article in Odyssey Magazine in South Africa (July 2019 edition). He writes about the ‘Essence of Ubuntu’, stories and transmissions from his time training with his Xhosa Sangoma elders in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Ubuntu means humanity. In the Xhosa language they say ‘sivasa isandla’, one hand washes the other. At the end of the article there is a special give away/ competition for readers to receive a signed copy of his book ‘Leopard Warrior’.

‘Way of the Leopard’ article in Sacred Hoop Magazine Issue 104 July 2019
‘Way of the Leopard’ article in Sacred Hoop Magazine Issue 104 July 2019

John just published a featured article in the latest edition of the Sacred Hoop magazine. In it he speaks about his journey in becoming a sangoma after the civil war in the early 1990’s where South Africa was a militarised country to it’s emancipation, which enabled him to find his teacher . He describes his ‘Way of the Leopard’ teachings as a way to connect to our essential humanity

Interview with Jose Stevens
Interview with Jose Stevens

John was recently interviewed by Jose Stevens as part of a monthly audio series for The Society for Shamanic Practice.

Watkins Mind Body Spirit Feature
Watkins Mind Body Spirit Feature

John and his book Leopard Warrior are featured in this summer's edition of Watkins Mind Body Spirit!

Meet The South African Medicine Man With Irish Roots
Meet The South African Medicine Man With Irish Roots

John Lockley inherited his gift from his Irish mother - now he has made it his life's mission to spread the word about sangoma spirituality.

The Making of a Sangoma
The Making of a Sangoma

John was recently featured in South Africa's Odyssey magazine. 

Leopard Warrior
Leopard Warrior

Sangomas
Sangomas

Cover Story in the Cape Chameleon in print and online, featuring John. June 26th, 2015. See the article at Cape Chameleon here.

A Call to Become a Sangoma
A Call to Become a Sangoma

Published in Grocott's, March 20, 2007. Feature in South Africa's Oldest Independent Newspaper.

Together We are Strong
Together We are Strong

Traditional Sangoma article. Published by Sacred Hoop magazine, UK.

The Sangoma's Apprentice
The Sangoma's Apprentice

Published by Spirit & Destiny magazine UK, June 2010.

The Lone Leopard
The Lone Leopard

Published by Sacred Fire Magazine, USA. Issue 11; 2010. An Interview with John Lockley, Xhosa Sangoma. Years of dreams and unexplained illness lead a white South African to his calling as a traditional healer. By Jeff Baker

After the Calling Dream
After the Calling Dream

Published by The South African, UK magazine. 14th July 2009 edition.

Bridge of Reconciliation
Bridge of Reconciliation

Published in Sacred Hoop magazine, issue 56, 2007.

From a childhood in Apartheid South Africa to a calling as a healer between peoples JOHN LOCKLEY white sangoma, believes we must each find our connection with the spirit world.

White Sangoma Dreams his Destiny
White Sangoma Dreams his Destiny

Published online IOL. 28 April 2007. Shortened version of "You cannot choose to be a sangoma" by Jonathan Ancer published in The Star on 23 March 2007 (Currently unavailable.)