Sangoma healing with kindness: Get guidance in new year

A sangoma is not a witch doctor. A sangoma is a healer. And just like every faith or belief system, it has a dark and light side.

There are many similarities between the beliefs of various religions, New Age or esoteric philosophical conviction and that of a sangoma. All it takes is to listen, to hear and not to get stuck in preconceived notions.

Mmathabo Seaba has been a practicing sangoma for well over a decade and her journey came as a calling, not a choice.

Her ancestors agitated for her to follow a path of healing and after a series of challenges in her life, she finally accepted her role.

ALSO READ: Sangomas: ‘Stop judging us’

Late last year The Citizen published her predictions for South Africa this year.

Seaba’s sangoma or Dlozi name became Mkhulu Dabula Mazwe ntsizawa ka Langa.

It was the name of her grandfather, the ancestor who lives inside her, guides her and who she channels during client consultations.

It is not dissimilar to the Christian concept of angels which walk beside you or the esoteric view that spirit guides hold your hand through life’s journey.

Seaba said: “I believe in God, and it states in the Bible that we have all received various talents, abilities. My journey is a gift from God, to help others.”

She easily reconciles her practice with the Word of God and starts every consult with a reading from the Great Book and prayer. Over weekends she is also a pastor at her church.

She said: “I am a healer. When a person comes, walks into my house, walks into my working space, this person may want to have a child or is looking for a job or needs better luck in life. All these factors are happening in their lives. It’s my job to heal them.”

When she consults with someone, she said one of the most important steps is to help them reconnect with their ancestors.

She said: “You may have been ignoring them and ancestors want attention. Because they want your attention, they will start pulling out other things that complicate your life which will make you figure out what is happening with your life.”

Thus, a warm relationship with your ancestors is important. It’s an indispensable aspect of being a sangoma.

Seaba said: “The relationship with my ancestors is very important because it guides me. When I must do something, they will tell me either do it or not. When something is about to happen in my life, they will tell me.

READ MORE: Some sangomas linked to muti murders to get body parts

“They will give me a heads-up about how something is going to happen. Sometimes they will say it in a very weird way, but then I will have to figure it out.

“I need to keep that relationship with my ancestors positive so that they can keep on protecting me, speaking to me and guiding me, because I need that from them all the time.”

Tradition warns against sangomas bewitching people, sometimes on behalf of others. Seaba is not that kind of sangoma and repeats that she is there to heal.

She said: “There is a particular kind of sangoma who are doing that, that bewitches others. It’s a different ballgame when you are there to bewitch.”

She suggested that darker-motived sangomas likely carry karma from a previous life, a soul-time that saw them also get up to no good prior.

Seaba noted: “I think it’s wrong to do that to others. We shouldn’t be doing that (bewitching) to others. But it happens. People are doing it anyway.”

Even Seaba had a misguided impression of what a sangoma was before she started her journey.

Now she heals with kindness, help from her ancestors and traditional herbal remedies. Sangomas collect a lot of these from the veld themselves.

Other times, complex rituals must be performed in specific spots, even demarcated areas in mountainous regions.

NOW READ: Meet Dr Sangoma – Medical doctor by day, sangoma by night