Guest Profile

John Lockley

John Lockley is a fully initiated and ordained Sangoma (African Shaman) in two lineages from South Africa, the Xhosa and Swazi nations.  His Xhosa apprenticeship took 10 years and he was foreseen in a dream by his teacher, MaMngwevu, a senior Xhosa sangoma from the same tribe as Nelson Mandela, who inivted him to be her apprentice. He was one of the first modern white men in recent times after Apartheid to be awarded the title of 'Ligqira Linkulu' by his Xhosa elders, meaning senior sangoma. His Xhosa name given by his teacher is 'Ucingolweendaba', meaning 'the messenger or bridge between cultures'. He has pioneered the bridge between modern western Psychology and traditional South African healing. For the last 13 years he has been facilitating 'Ubuntu' (Humanity) and Way of the Leopard retreats worldwide, teaching people how they can reconnect to their Ancestors, Spirit and the Earth. A passion of John's is teaching people indigenous African medicine to help them reconnect to the earth. He facilitates this through his 'Dreams & Tracking' retreats in the Kalahari Desert every year, and 'Leopard Warrior trails' in south Africa. John holds an honours degree in Clinical Psychology.  He is also a Zen meditation practitioner with over 30 years of experience. He took Buddhist precepts with Zen Master Su Bong from South Korea in 1992. John offers private divination and healing sessions online. He is the author of the book 'Leopard Warrior', and audio teachings 'The Way of the Leopard& #39;, both published by Sounds True. He now splits his time between South Africa, Botswana (Kalahari Desert) and Canada.