Emotional breakdown or breakthrough~ what do I really know??

I have three more nights, and two more days here, and I can not even begin to express how much I am looking forward to going home and being with my family, and taking a shower!Last Thursday, August 24, I had  an emotional and mental melt down that has lasted about five days, although the […]

Missing home and more bone stories

Today is Monday.  Well, I am still here in Africa, less than two weeks to go, and I must admit, that I am ready to go. I would really like a shower, and to be able to cook in a real kitchen! This weekend, there has been a gentleman visiting the homestead, by the name of Mamba. He […]

Building a fire

Hello from Africa,I thought you all might like to know what a typical day looks like, or did look like before the weather turned so cold. I get up at 5:00 am to go out and start a fire in the dark, over which I boil water that has herbs in it. In the beginning, I thought […]

Down to the bones-listen, listen, listen

Today is Monday, and I think it is the 15th. I have been learning to throw the bones, which are used as a divination tool for diagnosing. I have picked out my objects from various sacks and jars of bones and shells. I found out which of my ancestors are responsible for using the bones, and that […]

I sing and dance, and merge

Today is Friday.  I have been here for a week.  Dancing has been added to my daily routine.  I now dance in the afternoons.  I thought I was supposed to be learning traditional African dance, but it turns out what I am doing is letting the drums lift me out, and the ancestors in, basically […]

What a journey it is!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to log in and update what is going on.  For starters, on the morning of July 26th, the day I was supposed to leave, I received a phone call saying the airlines were on strike and my flight was cancelled.  I was not able to get a flight to […]

Shilo’s journey to Africa

Shilo has been called by the Ancestors. For the past two years she has been preparing to travel to Africa and study with PH, a traditional shaman called a sangoma. What does this mean? Gretchen, an American Sangoma shares: “A sangoma is an African traditional healer who merges with her ancestors for the purpose of […]

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