Inspired by my journey in January 2010 to Zimbabwe to work with Mandaza Kandemwa and Michael Ortiz Hill, Water Spirit Initiation. This drawing depicts Mambokadzi, the Queen of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. She is also Queen of the Earth and nature. I think of Her as the Creator of the Tree of Life.**


About Village of the Water Spirits: The Dreams of African-Americans:  "Several years ago my study of dreams brought me to write about the situation of racism in America. I was compelled by the idea that African-American dreams could be most deeply understood from the wisdom tradition at the source, and so I began exploring the African origins of black American culture. Eventually I went to Africa and met the Bantu healer Mandaza Kandemwa in Zimbabwe.

To our surprise, as Mandaza initiated me into the medicine tradition of his people, a mystery began to open up between us. I call this mystery 'gathering in the names' to offer a twist of sweet plurality to Christ’s insight: wherever two or more are gathered in the name of the sacred, spirit descends, awakens."

— Michael Ortiz Hill



"MICHAEL ORTIZ HILL is a registered nurse, a Buddhist practitioner, and an initiated medicine man with tribal people of Zimbabwe. The core of his spiritual practice has been the refinement and activity of compassion. He is the author of Dreaming the End of the World: Apocalypse as a Rite of Passage; Twin from Another Tribe: The Story of Two Shamanic Healers in Africa and North America; and The Village of the Water Spirits: The Dreams of African-Americans (both books with Mandaza Kandemwa). He is also the author of Conspiracies of Kindness: The Craft of Compassion at the Bedside of the Ill and does workshops and lectures on The Craft of Compassion. He lives in Topanga, California with his wife Deena Metzger."  http://www.michaelortizhill.com/



"MANDAZA AUGUSTINE KANDEMWA was born a Svikiro (in Shona, his native tongue)-a carrier of many earth and water spirits, and a Mhondoro-one who is in constant prayer on behalf of others. As a vessel of the Spirits, Mandaza receives visions and dreams, makes offerings, performs healing rituals, and serves as messenger for the Ancient Ones. Mandaza teaches us to become “living prayers”-to be in service of the One Spirit that exists in all things. He lives in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and travels internationally as a Peacemaker." http://www.mandaza.org/home.html



For the book The Village of the Water Spirits, go to Michael's website: http://www.michaelortizhill.com/
and look at the lower left hand corner for the FREE download. There is also an essay written by Michael in PDF format: "Why I am making this book freely available."

Michael also has his first book available for free on his website, Dreaming the End of the World: Apocalypse as a Rite of Passage. Look for this book in the lower left hand corner of the webpage http://www.michaelortizhill.com/  just above the link for The Village of the Water Spirits.

Blessings!
mayah


**Michael Ortiz Hill describes Mambokadzi: (pronounced mom-bow-cod'-zee)  "...Mambokadzi, the queen. She is the full moon (the stars are her children), the female elephant (Mandlovu – the spirit of kinship) and, in the syncretic poetry of African people,(the) Zulu clan sings to her as Maria, the Mother of God. She is also the mother of the water spirits, the spirits of healing and peacemaking." excerpt from Da Mojo: A Users Guide http://www.michaelortizhill.com/Da_Mojo.pdf

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