#yoga medicine sangoma healing meditation mantra shamanism health capetown southafrica medicineman kundaliniyoga spirituality

[root-doctor-ryan-blog]

A Shamanic “Curing”* Using Kundalini Mantra

So this blog will need to go back in time, and it will.  Over the next few days I will be taking you back to how it all began - this journey of mine into African shamanism. 

But, before I do, I need to share an experience I had just recently with a client.  It is with his permission that I feel ethically permitted to share with you what I am about to... my first experience with using Kundalini Yoga mantras, in conjunction with the little knowledge I have gained so far in traditional healing - and the astounding results it had.

I have been seeing my client (let’s call him “Martin”) for several weeks now.  My weekly appointments with him are in capacity as a meditation teacher, hypnotherapist and life coach.  Up until now I have been prescribing multi-layered approaches, and working alongside my client’s doctors.  They take care of his physical health, and I look after his mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. 

My prescriptions range from the simple “Granny-would-have-known-this” remedies, to more complex meditative approaches.  Thus far Martin has been including the following regimen into his daily lifestyle as best he can (in conjunction with medical & nutritional advice from registered professionals):

walking barefoot outside on the earth

sunbathing in direct morning & evening light

blessing his water & food before drinking it - asking that they go into his body, and help strengthen and heal his cells

ensuring his room is cleaned daily by the house-keeper, windows open, and light enters in.  No healing can occur in a ‘sick room’ - the room must feel like a healing temple

visualizing himself doing regular Sun Salutations (his body isn’t strong enough yet for physical yoga practice)

daily gratitude, positive visualization, meditation, breathing exercises, and several other therapeutic aids.  

Today I did a gentle meditation with my client, which turned into a simple ceremony. 

1. Firstly, I lit a white candle (for Great Spirit/God/Divine) and asked Martin to pray from his heart. He is a deeply spiritual man, so he seemed to enjoy this (this is integrative healing - and the spirit is often ignored).  I also lit a yellow candle to honour the ancestors, guides, and angels. 

2.  As Martin was chanting the WAHEGURU mantra (relaxing on his bed), I was moved to rub my hands vigorously and then massage his feet, angles, and knees to stimulate blood flow.  

3.  The mantra that came out of my mouth was the PAVAN PAVAN mantra - which is used to stimulate the flow of prana/life force energy.  None of this was  planned.  Very intuitive.

4. When I got to his knees, my client shot up, his entire upper body lifted from the bed, eyes open and out of his mouth came a primal scream!  I initially thought I had perhaps hurt him due to his sensitive nervous system.  His face turned black (!!) and looked like a gaunt and deathly thin.  It looked as if he was expelling something from deep within (I couldn’t help but think of all the exorcism movies I had watched growing up).  Then, his body dropped back on the bed, and I placed my hands on his shoulders and just kept saying “It’s gone. It’s over. The worst is done. All is well now. You are healed” - these simple affirmative statements were all my mouth could say, and as he sobbed with relief, I knew the words would sink into the subconscious as hypnotic suggestions. 

5. I lit imphepho (what we in South Africa use similar to the Native American usage of sage) to clear the room, opened the windows wide, and moved the candles to the windows.  My client asked me to offer a blessing, which I did, and asked the angels to cleanse the space, and protect it (and him), going forward. I use the AD GURAY NAMEH / MANGALA CHARAN mantra when I do protective songs around a home or room. 

I am an academic. I have several qualifications in cognitive psychology, neuro-behavioural studies, and other fields of mental health.  I am also a yogi and a shaman.  For me, it does not matter if something is seen as “real” or “placebo” - it it works, it works.  Ancient Mystics were the doctors of the soul.  As a yogi, I understand how movement, breath, and sound stimulate physiological responses.  I also know how important belief is in the healing process. 

What happened with my client was not my intended session - but my practice must be Spirit-led in order for Divine Intelligence to flow through me into my patient.  Although I am comfortable in such a process, I had never personally experienced something as intense as that primal scream and release of whatever-it-was-that-had-to-go!  

When I left, I played RAKHE RAKHAN HAR all the way down the mountain.  This is our yogic protection and “cutting away the negativity” mantra, and it like a fierce body guard.  I felt urged to go and swim in the sea, to wash off any residue from the session.  I called a few colleagues in fields of medicine, yoga, and of course my sangoma teacher, and enjoyed their varied insights. 

This seems to be the beginning of a beautiful integration of the tools I carry in my tool kit.  I don’t want to live segmented - yoga here, traditional healing there, hypnosis here, life coaching there. It must be integrated. This is a part of my path.  

Thokoza. Sat Nam.

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*DISCLAIMER: This blog provides general information and dis­cus­sion about traditional medicine, health, healing, faith healing, folk remedies and related subjects.  The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked mate­ri­als, are not intended (and should not be construed) as med­ical advice. If the reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with an appropriately-licensed physi­cian or other health care worker.  Never disre­gard pro­fes­sional med­ical advice or delay in seek­ing it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a med­ical emer­gency, call your doc­tor or local hospital immediately.The views expressed on this blog and web­site have no rela­tion to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other insti­tu­tion with which the authors may be affiliated.  The author of this blog is NOT a licensed medical professional, and he takes no responsibility for any reader who chooses to act contrary to the legitimate medical advice given by a licenses professional.