We gathered once again for a weekend of celebrations, healing revelations.
I would like to thank all who participated and made it a function to remember.
This is a gathering done by traditional healers whenever there is an initiation, graduation of healers or just to celebrate their spirituality.
I had never attended this type of gathering before until I became a healer myself.
It is very important for me to fully understand something before I can take part in it. With umgidi, I also wanted to find out the reasons why it is done so that I can relate and then take part. Ever since I started becoming a healer, I have learnt a lot about the ancestors, how they communicate and what is it they actually want from us. Umgidi is one of the things that makes them happy on their journey.
Umgidi is celebrated by sangomas but this doesn’t mean that normal people cannot participate and get the healing form this event. Which is why we have created a place where people, gifted or not can come and experience healing through spiritual upliftment and prayer.
We have also registered an Ngo which will work hand in hand with over-blog.com in educating and empowering people about spirituality, ancestors and rituals. It has come to my attention that people have little knowledge about ancestors and yet they act like they know so much. People have a tendency to act like they know so much when in actual fact they are so off the mark, it is not even funny. The first mistake people make about ancestors is to mix them with muti usage. It is going to take a very long time for people to understand that ancestors are now working closely to the Lord and they have nothing to do with the physical aspect of our lives. They now want that which is pure and uncorrupted. Ancestors are in a state of transformation hence we catch them at their state of death. During death, a lot things are revealed to us, things that makes us change from being physical beings to spiritual ones. This is the reason why people change when they are in their death beds, Those that held grudges usually change and want forgiveness from those they wronged. This happens as a result of the spiritual light that touches and remind them that what we hold dear on earth has little or no bearing at all, in heaven.
During this stage a person is touched by the power of God and it gives them assurance that the way ahead is full of harmony and joy. So during a reading we get in contact with guides during this time of spiritual revelations and they tell us things that held them back. They ask us to do what is right in order to set them free thus sorting our problems in our lives. It is sad though that so many people will always ask for amuti to do this and that, when in actual fact they should be praying for their guides to be accepted in the kingdom of God.
What happens during Umgidi
Readings
The day starts in the morning with readings that are followed by cleansing of the participants. Readings reveal guides in your life and what they need for you to do in order to set them free. It gives one an understand of why things happen the way they do in ones’ life. It also gives you an idea of why you act or react to situations the way you do in your life. This is just an outline of your character and the kind of people and/or problems you attract into your life.
Cleansing
Cleansing follows after a reading in order to cleanse and accept those guides that came through with messages. This is done so that we cleanse ourselves of all the burdens and anger that was expressed by your guides during a reading. When cleansing people we use natural soils, which were given to us by our ancestors. These soils are a source of all powers, as we know that everything comes from the soil and we go back to dust and ashes after death. The soil is the greatest source of spiritual energy as opposed to muti, which grows in that soil. It is best to take the source of energy than to use the product of that source. Some of the soils we use have a bearing to the initiation and training of sangomas during the thwasa process. It helps those people who have powers to accept the calling and set their ancestors free.
We also use the incense during this cleansing process, depending on the specific needs of ones’ ancestors.
Offerings
Offering are done after the cleansing. This is when we give our guides the power they need to help us with the problems in our lives. Offerings give them strength to rise up and be active in our daily lives. We offer them braai meat and a white cloth, which helps them to gain the power and to enter our lives gracefully. Ancestors always come to our lives and say they are hungry, tired or feeling cold. During this process we give them the meat( as we eat it ourselves) in order to give them strength, through the smell and cover them with a white cloth to accept and comfort them. This physical aspect of healing helps them to transform from the physical state to a spiritual form. It is like a key that gives them the “last meal” so that they can accept death gracefully. Remember that our main aim is to set them free so that they can move away from the physical aspect of life, which does not apply to them anymore.
Once they accept death gracefully, they live in harmony and become good guides in our lives, so they guide and protect us all the way.
What we do during these functions is to educate people about the powers within each and everyone of us. How one can use these powers in a positive way to sort out problems in their lives. We are encouraging people to go back to God and understand that these powers are made possible by him and if one goes and mixes these powers with muti it messes up everything that which is holy.
Attire
During the offerings stage we also give our ancestors some clothes that they demand. These may be sangoma clothing that they used while they were still practising themselves. These are given as a sign of accepting the calling and the powers. All this is done to satisfy them so that they can move forward on their journey with no burdens at all. These clothes can be used by one until such time that the ancestors tell you to stop. This is when they have managed to move forward and live happily in their newly found state of life. While one uses these clothing it becomes a very difficult time because the guides are also working on the other side. A lot of things are revealed along the way, which help both the living and the death on their journey. Apart form the ancestors problems, these clothes also attract a lot of negativity from people here on earth. They draw attention towards a person wearing them thus making things even harder for them. Some thwasa prefer to use these clothes only when they are at home while others are forced to wear them where ever they go. The meaning behind usage of these clothes is something that needs to be re visited, studied and analysed by sangomas in detail. There are pros and cons but we do not encourage our people to use these clothes in public because they are used during a sacred time of healing. I believe that when one takes medication for a headache, one doesn’t go around and show people what he is taking or what type of pills one is using. So why now when sorting out your ancestors must you go around advertising it to the world. The worst part is that this behaviour tends to attract even more negative energy towards you including stray angry ancestors.
Umgidi
During umgidi, we pray, sing and dance in celebration to our ancestors and guides. This is another way of accepting the powers and helping them to move forward in their journey. Umgidi is relevant to everyone whether you have a gift or not. It sets your spirit free and gives you a chance to unwind and recharge your powers. It also releases a lot of stress that we accumulate on a daily basis. During this time, we sing and remember our ancestors. We also pray and ask God to accept them in his kingdom. For those who went to church while they were still alive, we do their prayers as they come forward and ask for them. We also participate in dancing and chanting as most of them preferred these things. During this time everyone is free to remember their guides and celebrate in which ever way they prefer. Those who are gifted also do readings on the spot in the case where ancestors come forward with messages.
During this ceremony, we do not use any muti to bring the ancestors forth. We only burn incense and start to pray. Even during the readings and offerings, there is no muti that is used to make the ancestors talk. All this is just proof that these powers are here amongst us and there is no use to enhance them with muti which in turn pushes our ancestors away from us. People can wear what ever type of clothing they want to wear during umgidi. Anything that feels comfortable to you is acceptable.
What we do during this time is a milestone in the healing process of our ancestors.
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