Detailed List of Retreats

Medicinal plants have been used in African Sangoma culture for hundreds of years - to cleanse and help people to connect to their true nature. This is reflected in conscious dreaming and in a more aware wakeful state. The Sangoma healing culture is one of the most ancient and misunderstood healing systems in the world. Yet up until the 1980’s, more than 80% of South Africans consulted traditional healers and Sangomas. Participants in this retreat will learn about medicinal plants and their uses and the role of ancestors and dreams.  Sangomas are spiritual doctors. They work with plants in a different way to herbalists. A Sangoma connects to the spirit of a plant and calls this spirit forth to help heal people. Often these are plants which the sangoma has dreams about. John will work with 3 plants that he has dreams  about, and discuss this ancient culture with participants and demonstrate how they can develop an intimate relationship with the plant world.  He will also discuss how plants are harvested, prepared and sold in South Africa today, forming an intricate triangle of relationships from the rural areas to urban towns and cities. The story of plants is the story of traditional South African culture. He will demonstrate the Sangoma version of meditative absorption through drumming, chanting and dancing. Every morning there will be a “dream circle” in which dreams will be interpreted.  Please bring a plastic basin which will be used  for  medicinal foot healing, and a dream journal, pen and paper to take notes.