My life is its own definition.
So is yours.
Let us leave the priests
to their hells and heavens,
and confine
the scientists
to their dying universe
and accidentally created stars.
Let us each dare
to open our dream’s door,
and explore
the unofficial thresholds,
where we begin.

Let us refuse to be defined
as sinful selves
or creatures of a blighted species,
and instead
dare to recognize
within our dreaming hides
the grace of mental animals,
in which soul and flesh
are intermixed
with a natural alchemy;
so that awake, we dream,
and dreaming, wake,
straddling
life and death alike,
with an inner knowledge
that confounds
the dreary ministers
and scientists.

The flesh needs no absolution.
Its cells are innocent
as gods,
whose hidden
divine multiplications
compute our smallest acts.

How many eons did it take
for our cells to learn
arithmetic,
since they are microscopic structures,
minus brains,
and science would say,
lacking wit
or consciousness?

How did they learn
to construct
images of bone and blood,
choosing just the proper
combinations
that add up
to you and me?

I’ve yet to decipher
a fraction
of my body’s knowledge,
though its molecular
mathematics
allows me to write
this line.
These thoughts journey
through my brain
by ancient pathways
that I cannot claim,
as if my body’s memories
predate its own time,
rising from miniature civilizations,
whose coded arts
set my life in motion
and are expressed
through who I am.

The facts of life
are the heart’s events,
that persist
beyond measurements.
The heart deals
with dream equations that would dazzle a computer;
for the dreamer’s
laboratory has no walls,
and his experiments
combine time and space
with a spontaneous knack
that defies
all formulas.

If hearts had to hold back
their beating,
until science proved
that life had meaning,
then we’d have
no life at all.
But the heart beats
predictably,
giving its own evidence
of a life experiment
no technology
can duplicate;
and each beat comes
like the first-
singular, mysterious,
from sources
outside the grasp
of objective
processes.

Each birth is unofficial,
maverick,
rising alike
from strands of love
to ancient vanished relatives,
and tied to a future, unknown self
who beckons
the dream-eyed fetus on
into life’s bright scheme,
bravely daring unknown passageways
that lead
to life’s threshold,
carrying
conscious cargo
from one universe to another.
You made that journey.
So did I.

All that we are was once
wrapped in a tissue
parchment,
and coiled like onion skin,
imprinted
with life’s hieroglyphics.
Fingers and toes were
smaller
than decimals, yet alive.
And brains-to-be,
measuring less
than an inch,
each contained
all the ingredients we’d need,
to think these thoughts.
What perfect transistors,
growing their own
future parts!
How were they wired
when, as science says,
we’re only a combination
of dumb elements,
come alive in a universe
formed by chance?

Some chance, that my hands
didn’t keep growing more and more
fingers, but stopped at ten,
learning to count
before I did;
and that my neck knew
where my head should be
before my eyes
could even read
a book of
anatomy.

So let us dismiss
all modern or ancient myths
that tell us that our genes
are flawed by primal lust,
or worse,
cursed by a revengeful god;
so that the flesh is filled
with sin’s contents,
overflowing with iniquity;
or that we are natural killers-
animals run amok,
caught between
our own jealous genes
and the uncaring stars,
a schizophrenic species,
whose most magnificent acts
are stamped with the mark of Cain

Let us look instead
to our direct experience,
and listen to the messages
that arise
in unofficial ways,
bypassing dictums
and theologies.
Let us begin
by trusting once again
the personal contact of self
with self,
and self with world.
Let us observe
the facts of heart
and mind alike,
and refuse to accept
any theories that deny
our own experience.

My life is its own definition.
So is yours.
Our consciousness is
self-evident.
Are dreams not facts,
when each and every nighttime skull
is filled to its
nocturnal brim
with a commotion of images
to be found there,
and nowhere else
isolated from the world
like a master experiment?

But no one watches
or makes notes.
Then let us collect
our own dream species,
wander among vast
unexplored dream elements,
and discover for ourselves
those inner worlds
where mind and will are born
and merge,
and descend from dreams’
wild hilltops.

I have opened tme’s window
not just once,
but often,
catching just a glance
of tomorrow’s evidence
before it was due;
and so have many others,
surprising some hour
before its time.
And just one such clue
is enough
to shatter all philosophies
that say we’re stuck
like flies
in a jar of time.

So let us forsake
our ancient documents
and communes.
Leave the statues of the gods
to their plaster-of-paris parks,
and let the scientists
count invisible particles,
hypnotizing
themselves away.
Let us run
from doom’s prophets,
whatever names they bear,
and let them sputter
of catastrophes alone-
waiting the world’s end
(huddled, the survivors-to-be wait in the worried air).

But hold the world
to your mind’s ear,
and hear
the victorious roar
of life’s waves
splashing against the shores
of mind and sense;
bursting tumultuously
from sources
echoed in our dreams,
as the images
of our desires
leap
into the swell
of space and time.

jane roberts

Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Aunty Pua is regarded as a loea (expert) of Hawaiian cultural practices and a living national treasure. A scholar, educator, and practitioner of Hawaiian culture she is an accomplished writer; a music, stage, and film producer; a dedicated community leader; and a renowned kumu hula. Born and raised in Keaukaha on the Big Island, she has been highly influential in the resurgence of Hawaiian practices and interest in all things Hawaiian. She is one of two daughters of Edith Kanakaʻole.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event.

Wash over your whole body. Feel the rainbow vibrations of awareness enlighten your deepest being. See yourself in the highest vision of your own doing. And hear yourself speaking only of this new reality you’re manifesting.

I organise tours to India and I am currently promoting a Buddhist Pilgrimage – to be in the most important place for Buddhists, Bodh Gaya, on the Buddha’s Birthday, Day of Enlightenment and Day of Attaining Nirvana – which ALL happen to be on the same day (the April/May full moon according to the Lunar calendar).

1 day WORKSHOP 9.30am – 3.30pm
Lunch break – 12.30-1.30pm.
Connecting Body Consciousness to the Changing Earth Consciousness
(Changes in Frequency and Resonance)

The important date of 2012, foretold most famously by the Mayan
culture, but also reiterated by Egyptian pyramids and other ancient
cultures around the world, is upon us, and now is the time for all of
us to learn the techniques of adjusting our body’s internal rhythms
with the grand cycles about to shift.

* How Shamanism and Ancestral consciousness affects relationship to
earth awareness and body awareness. Talk through the heart.
* An Introduction to Huna philosophy, and how the massage of loving
touch (lomi-lomi) was used to enhance body awareness.
* How the body is affected by the Earth changes we’re currently experiencing.
* Energetic dynamics and relationship to Earth Energy dymanics
* Major physical points in body structure which are affected
* Demonstrate Kahuna Massage techniques to develop deeper awareness
kinesthaetic sensations
* Kunga – African gifting exchange process
* Ceremonial shamanic closing

Cost: R350 per person
Venue: The Dove House, Karkloof
Min 6 people.
To book please contact; makhosi@africashamanexperience.com

Facilitators; Haroun Kola (Hawaiian Kahuna Body worker), Makhosi
Ngcobo (sangoma), Makhosi Sarah Wager (sangoma).

Africa Shaman Experience

http://www.africashamanexperience.com

https://www.facebook.com/africashamanexperience

http://harounkola.com/about

MEDICINAL – MUTHI CLEANSING RITUAL – ‘UMCIMBI WOKU QHUMA UGEZE’

Medicine and ritual is an important part of the Zulu Shamanic tradition and the sangoma tradition. Specific rituals are done with specific intentions and medicines or muthi.

One such ritual is – UMCIMBI WOKU QHUMA UGEZE – which involves traditionally clearing the physical body and energetic field around your body so that you can maintain a clear and focused space for your ancestral guides to interact with you and promote a deeper dream state when you sleep in which to interact with the ancestors.

This will then aid and clear your way forward for clearer manifestation of positive action in your life.

sangoma’s know that there are certain plants, methods and specific times in which the muthi or medicines are most appropriately ritually used for this purpose.

Note; there is no use of any hallucinogenic plants in the medicines used for this ritual.

In this 1 and a half day workshop;
Day 1
Learn about the basic methods, principles, and beliefs behind traditional sangoma medicine or muthi’s.
Learn how the medicines or muthis are prepared for the steaming ritual.
Meditation time with your ancestors to prepare for ritual, identifying the issues which are going to be cleansed;- and the blocks to the ancestral guides which need to be removed.
Washing and ritual in steaming

Note; you will be required to fast (water only) from 1pm onwards in preparation for the steaming ritual later in the day. You will not be permitted to eat food until the following day.

Day 2 – half a day.
Morning medicine/muthi washing or cleansing
Breaking the fast, offerings and gratitude to the amadlozi/ancestors – time to share dreams, feelings, and messages connected to the ancestors and the steaming ritual.

A basic ability of visualization is required for this workshop.

Date 10th-11th March 2012
Location The Jazz Farm
Price of Workshop: R1000 per person – 1 & half day

Please book your place on the workshop by contacting;
makhosi@africashamanexperience.com 0725286563
annah.tranquillita@gmail.com 0825478107

The Saronde Centre

Presents

African Musical Mandalas

Through making music together in groups we allow our energy to work with the mandala of wholeness or unity represented by the combined musical efforts of a group. The sounds, rhythms and movements coordinate our energies with ourselves and each other.

This interactive workshop is on African musical forms, techniques, philosophies and instruments.

We will focus on:

1. the composition of a simple rhythm and arranging it for a rhythm ensemble, and

2. The Ugandan Amadinda – Royal Court music from Uganda, a pentatonic multiple player xylophone played with drums, percussion, singers and dancers.

If there is time and interest we can unpack the Mbira dza vadzimu and Kalimba music from Zimbabwe. Sometimes called ‘thumb pianos’, they play mostly triple time music weaving beautiful cyclical musical mandalas with drums, shakers, singing and dancing.

The method of transcribing rhythm with pulse notation will be explained and used in the workshop. Please bring a lined notebook and pen.

This workshop is designed to be informative, interactive, accessible and fun. It will however only dip into the large amount of information available. Classes can be arranged through the year for those who would like to go further.

Participants are welcome to walk on the property’s beautiful nature reserve, go to the waterfall, have a picnic lunch and take their time after the workshop.

CD’s available from the ILAM collection.

The presenter, Geoffrey Tracey, son of Andrew and grandson of Hugh, is the third generation of his family whose work is with African Music and Culture. He has been around music all his life and is an accomplished multi instrumentalist. He has a Bmus from UKZN and has taught African music ensembles and voice production at UKZN and Rhodes for 15 years. He has also taught internationally in the UK, USA and Australia. He is trained and works as a sangoma and manages the Saronde Centre development.

Space is limited, so booking is essential.

When: Sat 18^th January, 10.30am – 1pm.

Where: Saronde, near Krugersdorp.

Cost: R100pp

Contact: Geoffrey Tracey, 082 565 9697, 011 665 4350,gogohugh@gmail.com