What is Sangoma self-initiation with Gogo Ayanda Mkhize

What is self-initiation?

Self initiation ethongweni is defined as a process of being trained to become a healer by one’s own guides.

How does one know that they should undergo self-initiation and not under the supervision of a gobela?

I will speak for myself. I did not know I was going to be self initiated by my guides until I found myself in the process of being trained by them. Not once did I see myself ngigida or shown a Gobela but I was forever being trained in dream time. Where I was in class, being taught things, writing exams and graduating. I’d wake up and I instinctively knew how to dothings. I was consistently exposed to situations that reiterated what I was taught in my dreams. As time went on, I became more and more aware of what was happening to me. My guides were self training me. Sending me to places to gain experience and knowledge, exposing me to situations so that I could practice what they were teaching me in the dreams. They even taught me to decipher dreams, which I practiced on close friends and family, until my Ancestors advised me to start charging for interpretation.

I’ve never been in an instance where my ancestors speak directly through me outside of dream time. However I have seen it happen to someone before I took up my calling. Fortunately there was someone who was able to assist. I learnt through that experience how to handle a patient ovukelwa idlozi. What is the dietary recommendation?

Each person’s guides recommend to them what it is that they can or cannot consume. Remember one man’s meat is another’s poison. It is always best to eat as healthily as possible and drink plenty of water to keep optimum health and hydration.

Where does the self-initiation process take place?

The self initiation process takes place anywhere and everywhere. Because your guides never leave you they use every moment of your waking life to impart knowledge and instill wisdom in you. I’ll use an example to best explain what I have just said. My guides are using this very interview to instill new knowledge to me. Gogo, I have to point out, that you are interviewing my guides through me. They are just using me as a mouthpiece so you can get your answers. They taught me something in question 3 but said I should not answer you then and now I see why. They wanted to use that teaching to answer you here. The reason as to why ones ancestors would speak directly through them whilst in public is because the ancestors are sort of ‘embarrassing’ them for not doing what they have been sent to do. And that is to heal, so they heal themselves and are able to heal others. Remember when uJona in the Bible was sent to Tashish to help save them instead he took a boat going the opposite direction, God brought a storm over them andit’s only after he confessed that the reason why they were sinking was because of him not doing what he was tasked to do, only when they threw him overboard did the storm die down. So it’s the same concept here too, only once umtwana weThongo does what they have been tasked to do, the correct way does ithongo not embarrass them anymore. So we can say, they make sure to take over their bodies while in public to show them that they are not in charge but it is ithongo who leads always. They think they are in control but they are actually not. Camagu.

How do you know as a self-initiate what ‘impande’ to take or who’s ‘impande’ are you training under?

Impande is used to determine under which “college” you graduated and who was responsible for supervising your training. But self initiates are homeschooled you see, so therefore based on my hypothesis, I can say I initiated under the Mkhize impande, which is my home. Each self initiate is trained by their own guides impande.

When Ithwasana begins their initiation, there is usually a ceremony that takes place. Is it the same for the self-initiate?

I was not required to perform a ritual in the physical sense, however I was still required to undergo

the process or event ‘ukuvuma ukufa’. A process of total surrender to my destiny. I understand that healing is not found outside of me but I have to heal me to heal myself. So therefore I had to be my own sacrifice, ngivume ukubaisihlabelo so that my training could officially take off. I have never looked back.

In terms of ‘ukuphothula’, how does this process take place for someone who did not train under a Gobela?

We will have to define what is ukuphothula first so that myanswer makes sense to you. Ukuphothula defined by the traditional society, is a ceremony that takes place when it is time for ithwasa to go home. It signals the end of training at the Gobela’s house (ephehlweni). Initiates who are not trained at the Gobela’s house do not need this ceremony. We are already home. Also Gogo I must point out, there is a ceremony that does take place after one merges fully with their guides. That is a ceremony that announces officially to the physical world and spiritual world that yes, you have done the merging ceremony and all protocols have been followed when it comes to your training and acknowledgement of your initiation.

Who trains the initiate?

One’s own guides trains them. In an event that a self-initiate is unable to decipher the messages from spirit. Spirit will send you to people or facilitate your path to come across people; I will classify them as “mentors” for lack of a better word so that they can interpret messages for you. These “mentors” are sent to activate your ability for you, because you already possess the ability but it’s just that you needed a manual on how to use it. This is were mentors come in, we can therefore say they are technically “how to’s” for lack ofa better word. Once the foundation has been set your guides then grow and hone your skill adapting it to how you process information and how they work.

How do you know how to read people using bones?

I just know, remember Gogo during an interaction with a patient your vibrations are already high. So we can say that the owners of the gift are the ones who know what to use, where, when and how. With me my guides use all methods of divination.. With me I can hlahluba using astrology, candles (prooffor my unbelieving patients), chakras, crystals & crystal ball, dreams, fire, isithunywa, numerology, prayer, the Bible (inkato), tarot cards and bones (made up of sea shells only because angiliphuzanga angaliphalazanga) I therefore do not have animal bones. I can also read a person using their love language. My empathic ability allows me to read a patient using their ailments which they project onto me.

In Terms of making ‘umuthi’ who trains the self-initiate?

Instructions on how to treat a patient and what to prescribe for them, all comes from idlozi.

When you self-initiate, do you initiate to become a Sangoma or is it to become another type of healer?

When you self initiate, one is being trained to become a healer, without a prefix attached because that I find limits spirit to the definition of whatever prefix one uses. Spirit is spirit, we can never box it in or seek to label it, as it is limitless and unending in its nature. I do not dare define what I am nor do I dare box myself into a certain category. My spiritual name that I was given two months into me accepting my calling is uGogo Makhambi’Onke. I do not attach a meaning to it myself. I let the energy of the name speak for itself. I let the level of consciousness a person has, process it according to their awareness. I remember I asked my guides why this name and not a water based mermaid name. My guides have been showing me since the day I asked them why specifically this name, every single day they remind me why, every single moment they show me why. It is really self explanatory and describe the characteristics of my abilities.It’s been a very long, painful and stressful journey, a lot of sleepless nights; however, I could never trade it in for any other experience. It’s been nothing short of amazing, I am in awe and humbled at the same time. They found me worthy of their gift. A truly humbling experience I tell you. I am forever grateful to each and everyone who has been part of my journey of ascension Thank you to everyone who follows my blog, inside the mind of a beautiful mess: the emancipation of Yandí.

Initiates under a Gobelahave a strict attire. What does a self-initiate wear?

I was not under a Gobela so there is no school uniform or dictatorship. I use my discretion, my guides are happy with how I present myself because they haven’t said anything with regards to how I dress. Ngingumtwana wethongo. I conduct and present myself as any disciplined individual would.I have ancestral clothes that I use when I work on my patients that I was instructed to get by my guides. Otherwise I am clean, presentable, Camagu.

FYI: for those wondering what I meant when I said ‘ngiyisihlabelo’. In short I understand that healing is not found outside of myself, therefore no other animal would have to die in order for me to heal. I had to die in my old ways. I had to die in my 3D (ego) ways so that I could ascend into 5D (awareness consciousness). Because the goal is to ascend and I can proudly say…. We (my guides and I) are ascending…

Love and light*