John Lockley is a South African Shaman or Sangoma. He is also the author of the book: Leopard Warrior. We start our conversation by talking about how the principles of shamanism are the same all over the world, even in cultures that haven't had any contact for millennia.
connecting to life-force, and how we are related to this life-force: through the breath, the bones and the blood.
The aim of shamanism is to give our ego away in ceremony, to the life-force that created us - and by these practices we become lighter, and we are blessed by grace.
Many of these practices are also inspiring humility, for us to let go of our ego. So in the Sangoma practices are very close to the ground.
We beseech the ancient ones and the nature spirits through gratitude and through humbling ourselves to the earth mother.
enlightenment in shamanism is not a stage you attain, it is rather a continuous giving yourself away through prayer, gratitude and ceremony.
the true centre of the human being is actually the foot. and the foot connects you to the hara. John Lockley talks about how the base of the feet in ceremonial trance dancing, gives you that deep connection to the earth, actually feeling the earth.
Animals are the true gurus of the world, because they live so close to nature.
We speak about how trance-dancing connects us to the mystery, with the elemental forces of nature, at through that connection we can receive the wisdom downloads from the great mystery.
John tells us how being in nature is part of his spiritual practice. Listening to the land, the wind, and his to his own body, the rhythm, heartbeat and breathing. And how the walking can even bring him into trance.
We need to feel our body touching the earth, and that can be such a joyful and intimate experience.
The only real answer to the environmental challenges, is through the deep listening to the earth itself.
We speak about what the soul is. To John, it is the immortal part of us, and through the shamanistic practices, including our dreams, we can connect to the soul.
We talk about how the people of the past who lived with that connection to the dreams and the life-force, telling them how to live and which plants to use for healing, didn't get ill, they only knew life and death, not illness. And that came down to their deep humility and listening to the earth.
The most important question is: what is sacred to you, and if nothing is sacred, then that is where your work lies
The purpose of life, is to find your purpose
The reason for someones struggles with soullesness, is due to a lack of magic in their life. A lack of wonder...
One of the questions to ask to enter into that kind of wonder, is to start with the question: "what brings you joy?"
Each person needs to find out what brings them in touch with the magic of life - find what is sacred for them.
We speak about feelings of aloneness and loneliness, and how becoming a shaman is a calling, it is not something you choose. And we speak about the western worlds glamourising of shamanism. Whereas it is actually pretty hard being a shaman, as they are so sensitive and feel everything.
A shaman is not part of the crowd, because if you are part of the crowd, you can't listen to the spirits.
We speak about all the gifts of learning and speaking another language. How you have to learn to really listen, become humble and childlike again.
John's website: www.johnlockley.com
Link to my course, Rewilding the Soul - Restoring Lifeforce & connecting to aliveness through nature & mindfulness: https://durita75.mastermind.com/masterminds/29462
My website :www.duritaholm.com
