The first meeting with the shaman — a fifty-something native with a bake-you-some-cookies-while-wax-philosophical-juxtaposition kind of vibe something like the Oracle in The Matrix — went curiously, in that she cut her toenails and looked aloof, not making eye contact.
Hi Ben, Thank you for writing these great stories .
I just wanted to mention that I have experienced several different shamanistic cultures from around the world . I always appreciate the toned down medicine people . I lived for 4 years in Gabon, equatorial Africa . I lived with an Nganga (shaman) for 2.5 years. He taught me everything he could . I became a practitioner of a religion called Bwiti. The belief system is centered around the use of a plant called Iboga and the harp . The belief system goes back to ancient Egypt and the harp is carved into the pyramid walls . The music of the harp is used to convey people into the next dimension . The ceremony is a way for humans to connect to the life force that created us . It’s a very wonderful and important part of life that our western civilization does not know about anymore.
My teacher said , “you can be a lawyer, doctor or go to any university in the world , but if you do not know who you are or where you came from , you could waste your entire life “. So the initiation ceremony is designed to help people wake up into to this lifetime .
The plant creates ‘near death experience ‘ , the same effect that people experience when to get close to death. The Iboga plant has been synthesized into
Ibogaine , a substance used for treating opioid addiction . It has a 75% success rate and is illegal for use in the US. It would upset the addiction industry if it was legalized for use . I could write for hours about shamanism , I just wanted to back up your story , you are right on . Please keep up the good work !
Africa is a very large and complex continent . Its main resource is its people / culture , a truly nice place to be. However , it’s best if you have a reason / work / project to be there , because you can integrate into the community, etc . I was working for US Peace Corps , so it opened many doors . I was building schools , gardens and water systems . I would live in a village for about 1 year , teach masonry skills, build an elementary school with the people of the community , then move to the next community . Its was super fantastic experience .
I still do the same work to this day . This is my 50th year as a mason / musician / artist . I still play the harp .
Hi Ben, Thank you for writing these great stories .
I just wanted to mention that I have experienced several different shamanistic cultures from around the world . I always appreciate the toned down medicine people . I lived for 4 years in Gabon, equatorial Africa . I lived with an Nganga (shaman) for 2.5 years. He taught me everything he could . I became a practitioner of a religion called Bwiti. The belief system is centered around the use of a plant called Iboga and the harp . The belief system goes back to ancient Egypt and the harp is carved into the pyramid walls . The music of the harp is used to convey people into the next dimension . The ceremony is a way for humans to connect to the life force that created us . It’s a very wonderful and important part of life that our western civilization does not know about anymore.
My teacher said , “you can be a lawyer, doctor or go to any university in the world , but if you do not know who you are or where you came from , you could waste your entire life “. So the initiation ceremony is designed to help people wake up into to this lifetime .
The plant creates ‘near death experience ‘ , the same effect that people experience when to get close to death. The Iboga plant has been synthesized into
Ibogaine , a substance used for treating opioid addiction . It has a 75% success rate and is illegal for use in the US. It would upset the addiction industry if it was legalized for use . I could write for hours about shamanism , I just wanted to back up your story , you are right on . Please keep up the good work !
fascinating. ive yet to make it to africa... but someday, maybe
OMG! That was quite funny.
Africa is a very large and complex continent . Its main resource is its people / culture , a truly nice place to be. However , it’s best if you have a reason / work / project to be there , because you can integrate into the community, etc . I was working for US Peace Corps , so it opened many doors . I was building schools , gardens and water systems . I would live in a village for about 1 year , teach masonry skills, build an elementary school with the people of the community , then move to the next community . Its was super fantastic experience .
I still do the same work to this day . This is my 50th year as a mason / musician / artist . I still play the harp .