Guest writer for Wake Up World
In an age of DIY, information overload, and a growing consciousness around our understanding of self as a multi-dimensional being, it’s easy to believe that you can figure damn near everything out yourself. And since we have been deceived in great unjust ways I completely understand a need from many to rely on self and to reject leaders or organized and institutionalized structures.
When it comes to spirituality I now see that some have come to the conclusion that there is no true need for the concept of gurus or that the journey within is greater when done yourself. I agree that a large and potent part of our Earth journey is one that only we, as an individual can take; that discovering your god-given power and connection is a blessing only you can truly uncover. Though I believe that the ‘guru’ is within, in a sense, I also deeply believe that the guru is everywhere, that teachers and guides are a beautiful part of our journey but most importantly we are one and we need one another.
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But since I feel that a major underlying message that is being sent out in spiritual circles is that everything is within and you need nothing else, I’d like to remind you why the world needs healers and spiritual guides, and why coming together has always been much more powerful than standing alone.
Because The Guru is Everywhere
Spirit is limitless and manifests in infinite ways. Not only has God gifted us with our own ability to know the truth from within but that truth and wisdom is reflected back to us all the time everywhere that we go through people, places, books, tv shows, nature, and all things. Sometimes I receive profound messages within my own dreams and meditations and others in hearing the words of my elders or peers and even in the lyrics of a sweet song.
Because spirit can take any shape or form to reach and teach us it is so important to remain open to wisdom in all the ways it greets us in life. I especially say this to those who have been hurt by leaders, teachers, and churches or spiritual communities. Anything and everything can be a vessel. Not all use their vessel for good but we all have the potential to deliver divine information to one another. Be mindful but remain open to the truth because it is all around you even in those that have come to teach us what not to do and who not to be.
Because there are comforts we’d rather not sacrifice.
As I mentioned we are all vessels and carry gifts and much potential. We are all seers and healers of some sort or art form, yet we do not all want to fast at the level as some prophets do or leave the city to relearn how to be in tune with nature in the mountains like monks. We do not all want to do what it takes to fully come into our abilities as psychics or shamans. I love being a shamanic healer and would never go back to my life before this but I would not wish some of the trials I have transformed through on others. It is not easy. Ego deaths are not pretty nor fun. I’ve given up long periods of time away from friends and family, sex, and many other life pleasures.
I believe this is true of all people in every domain. I wasn’t willing to go to university longer than the average 4 years to be a doctor. There are many paths I do not choose because there are sacrifices I’d rather not make and that is perfectly beautiful because we all have paths that we are meant to take and we all will have to make some sacrifice. Spiritual Healing work is deep and at times risky and requires going into the darkness to retrieve souls and soul medicine. There are intense places and dimensions that a healer must go spiritually and physically in order to heal themselves and others. The healers that have taken honorable paths have given up things you can not even imagine to do what they do and be who they are in order to offer us divine wisdom and access to immense support on our healing journeys.
Because you can’t do it alone, nor see everything.
Not even healers do all of their work alone. If you look at most indigenous ceremonies and gatherings there are many healers that come together and many more helpers and members to orchestrate these powerful ceremonies. Churches have many pastors and a whole hierarchy of leadership to support the community. I even tend to want to be this superwoman figure. I desire to learn all topics and be a master of many things but it’s overwhelming and I’ve come to live this life and do much more than just study. No one does anything alone. Work is hired out, our friends help us move into our apartments, our counselors guide us to apply for school or fix our relationships, and writers get their works edited and proofread.
All of my teachers have elders that they turn to and seek spiritual advice from. In the african traditions there are always those above us that we gain insight from and who offer a checks and balances of power and ethics. All the healers and psychics I know have their own healer and psychic. We all need help, we all have blind spots, and can’t see everything. Only the creator has that ability. Oh how I wish I could see it all. Most of my prophetic dreams and messages come through me about other people. I once asked my teacher why can’t I see more into my own life. I need my help! She explained that it was because as a healer I am here to serve. There are times when we are to be of service and times to receive. You are not on your own island and you have called certain people or experiences into your life to help in your evolution. We seem to fall into this idea that we are separate not only from God but from others. Allow yourself to ask and receive what it is that you need.
Because we need spirit and a higher sense of self.
When you go to do with a healer, shaman, or spiritual medium of some sort you are not just working or receiving from this “person”. You are also connecting with the spiritual guides and higher powers that work through them. In my spiritual tradition of the Sangomas of South Africa, the healers are guided and led by ancient ancestral healing spirits. When you make your payments in exchange for your service you are honoring and acknowledging a group of spirits that are blessing you through this work and offering you wisdom and healing. It is because of spirit that healers are able to do what they do and it is because of spirit that we seek healers. We need and crave to connect with a higher power and our higher selves. Our well being and our success is related to how connected we are to our soul, our true self, our free loving creative whole selves. We live in times where our connection is constantly threatened and weakened so making that reconnection and union to the body-mind-spirit is vital.
I know that people look at healers sometimes and think that they can do the same. I have even at times looked at others and thought there must be a way to figure out what they do but this is naive and dangerous. A healer can appear to be doing simple everyday things but invoking energies that bring in power to what they do. Everything isn’t always as it seems.
I came across a beautiful piece of digital art (left) by a local artist that I feel depicts the most important part of this whole discussion about why we need healers; this image by Baba Underdog shows an aspect of what we don’t see. A man pouring water over these young girls but tuning into a power beyond this realm. These powers activate the medicine in the work that healers do. You can’t copy that, you can’t do that yourself, and it can be dangerous to just take something you see and replicate it when you don’t understand the power, the history, nor have the level of protection needed that a trained healer has taken the time to gain. Of course you can connect with your spiritual guides but you can’t connect with theirs and each guide or deity has their specialities and different forms of “medicine” that we can all benefit from. It is a blessing to be around and gain from other healers and power houses. We all have something unique to offer.
I often hear of people having extremely difficult spiritual experiences and awakenings made worse because they didn’t have the guidance or training to handle the trials, growing pains, and spiritual warfare that comes with this work. This work is sacred. This work is deeply freeing and though there is so much you can learn and do alone, there is just as much to receive and gain in working with a guide who loves you and wants you to evolve and find home within your own spirit. My teacher always says, “I’m not here to train mini me’s. I want you to surpass the work that I’ve done.” She supports me in discovering my truth for myself.
Honestly, the world needs healers for the same reason that the world needs you. Because we are all individual answers and blessings to the world’s problems and positive evolution. I imagine a time when we are all fully awake to our gifts whatever they may be and honor with gratitude all our guides, teachers, messengers, and helpers along the healing journey.
Namaste.
About the author:
Gogo Thule Ngane is a Sangoma Traditional Healer, Priestess, and Medicine Woman. She is guided by the Amadlozi, Elevated Ancestors of her lineage. Her work includes divination, traditional healing, and leads workshops, ceremonies, and retreats on ancient African healing and spirituality. She is devoted to awakening ancestral wisdom on the earth.
Journey with her at:
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