Ancestors worship is a common denominator in many religions. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe fervently belief in their ancestors. In many African traditional belief systems, the ancestors (Amadlozi in isiZulu) are considered to be spiritual guides and the protectors of the living. They are revered and respected as elders who have walked the same path as their living descendents.
The Role Of The Ancestors
The ancestors offer advice and guidance to the living. They bestow good fortune and honor on their living descendents and protect from misfortune. They act as moral regulators, sometimes punishing those who commit immoral acts. The ancestors play a vital role in healing and maintaining a proper spiritual balance.
Most ancestral spirits are good and kind. They have a vested interest in your health and happiness since, as one of their living descendents, you are the final repository of all their hopes, dreams and aspirations.
The spiritual powers of the ancestors derive from the Supreme Being. They are also the custodians of lives. Sangomas believe that when someone dies, they have been called to be with the ancestors.
Sangomas And The Ancestors
Sangomas perform a holistic and symbolic form of healing based on a belief in ancestral spirits. They are a key, often the only, link between the spiritual world and most people. Sangomas are called to heal illness, social problems and spiritual difficulties. They communicate with the ancestors in various ways. Many enter a trance state to channel the ancestors or interpret dreams. While others act as a medium between the ancestors and their descendents through the use of divination bones or water. Gary specializes in reading the bones.
The spirits can be the personal ancestors of the Sangoma, those of the patient or both. Thus the Sangoma will invoke his or her lineages as well as those of the patient at the beginning of the consultation. Many people also have spirit guides. Individuals who played an important role in their lives and have passed. Although not related by blood, these spirits often respond to the invocation in order to offer advice and guidance. Gary frequently senses the presence of two very special spirit guides. Horatio Zungu, his first Gobela (teacher), and Nelson Mandela who wisely launched him on the journey to become a Sangoma.
The Ancestors And You
The truth is that we all have ancestors. Many North Americans originate from countries and cultures that have a profound connection to the ancestral world. Honoring your ancestors is rarely a conflict with your religious faith. You can be a devote Christian or Jew and still pray to your ancestors.
As a Sangoma, Gary believes that the ancestors play a vital role in your mental and physical well-being. The key is to foster good relations with the spirit world in order to avoid illnesses or difficult life situations that are often indicative of problems with the ancestors. A consultation with Gary is usually the first step toward restoring the appropriate balance.
After Gary determines the root cause of any disturbance in your spiritual health, he'll prescribe rituals and/or herbal remedies to correct any imbalance. If they are applied with diligence and good intentions, these remedies are often enough to produce the desired results. Patients rarely need more than one follow-up appointment.
Earth, Fire, Water and Air
In many Aboriginal cultures around the world, the earth, water, air and fire are sacred. It is the same for the Nguni people of Southern Africa, which includes the amaZulu. These spirits can be both benevolent and malevolent. They are invoked by Sangomas who have the necessary training. Gary has learned Ndau, the ancient skills and language required to call upon the water ancestors.
While all the spirits are powerful, the water spirits are even more so as all life emanates from water. These spirits represent fertility and power. Many African traditional medicine treatments involve cleansings, steamings or offerings to the water spirits at waterfalls, rivers and seas. All in the hope of earning the favor of the water spirits. Water is also an effective medium to communicate with the ancestors.
The other three spirits should never be ignored. Fire is prevalent in all the major religions in the world. The use of candles and burning incense are also important in African traditional medicine. Earth is used when we bury herbs to protect a home or to ward off evil. The wind is invoked to avoid crop damage or to carry prayers to the Supreme Being. The Zulu people will often climb mountains so that their prayers travel further.
