Global Medicine Review

Dr. Kokayi interviews Alwyn Thomas on the topic of Divination, specifically the Divination system coming out of the Dagara culture of West Africa. Thomas has been intrigued by the principles of divination since the age of 14, and through the events of his life journey was compelled to become a diviner. It was through one of Malidoma Patrice Some’s courses in New York, that Thomas was able to begin to take up his calling. Divination is a ritual process by which the diviner taps into a universal consciousness that leaves its imprint on the arrangement of the divining items. The diviner performs this reading in a ritualistic fashion which involves the diviner intuiting and tapping into a different aspect of Consciousness which brings the stories represented in the divining kit to life. Thomas explains the role of diviner as one of submission, and through that submission it is possible to tap into unlimited consciousness. Your intuitive processes are in control and you must move with the spirit in order to make this work. He relays accounts in which he was able to perceive parts of peoples’ life stories as well as foresee solutions to their life problems. Thomas also discusses the components of a divination kit and the process of creating it.

Divination Dagara Style with Alwyn Thomas [ 1:00:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This interview explores the work of Dr Jonathan Ellerby. For twenty years he has looked at spiritual traditions from more than forty different cultures around the world.. His book Return to the Sacred.categorizes the spiritual terrain and looks at the different spiritual paths that are available for people to take. The categorization of these paths helps us to get an idea of our own spiritual personality and which path would be most suited for an individual. His book explores the twelve master paths. Just like people prefer different kinds of music and clothes there are certain spiritual practices that are more suited for us because of our aptitudes. Within these twelve paths there are four categories that revolve around the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical dynamics. Some of us are mental and want to study written works while some of us need a more of an emotional connection. There are those of us who need movement and can’t wait to
get up and dance and move. And there are the soul type who crave a direct experience of the divine and tend to be more extreme in their practices with fasting and pilgrimages.

Exploring Your Spiritual Personality [ 1:00:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dr Kokayi has the opportunity to speak with two practitioners of the Yoruba tradition, one a holistic health practitioner, Darmone Holland, and the other an Assistant Principal of a NYC school. Both are involved with Ijo Orisa Yoruba Church, a Yoruba organization offering services and counseling to the community at large.   Discussion revolves around cultural technologies designed to assist people with mental health issues and other everyday problems. The difference between Western medical approaches to mental health and African cultural approaches is highlighted. Mental health for African Americans is also explored in the context of Western mainstream society.

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Dr Kokayi is once again joined by Dr Malidoma Some as part of the fundraising activity of WBAI. Dr Some once more, in his authentic voice, describes the indigenous world view as it relates to a different perspective on health care and healing. Dr Some’s description of African cosmology reveals how people were taken care of in the context of a set of beliefs and practices that both sustained them and their environment. The premium offered is Dr Some’s The Healing Wisdom of Africa. The indigenous perspective is so important at present as Americans as a whole begin to grapple with the reality of how our lifestyle is impacting on the environment and the inevitable changes that are taking place. As we prepare to adapt and adjust to a “new” earth we must consider the wisdom of those that have come before us.

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Dr Kokayi is once again joined by Dr Malidoma Some as part of the fundraising activity of WBAI. Dr Some once more, in his authentic voice, describes the indigenous world view as it relates to a different perspective on health care and healing. Dr Some’s description of African cosmology reveals how people were taken care of in the context of a set of beliefs and practices that both sustained them and their environment. The premium offered is Dr Some’s The Healing Wisdom of Africa. The indigenous perspective is so important at present as Americans as a whole begin to grapple with the reality of how our lifestyle is impacting on the environment and the inevitable changes that are taking place. As we prepare to adapt and adjust to a “new” earth we must consider the wisdom of those that have come before us.

Standard Podcast [ 1:01:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dr Kokayi is once again joined by Dr Malidoma Some as part of the fundraising activity of WBAI. Dr Some once more, in his authentic voice, describes the indigenous world view as it relates to a different perspective on health care and healing. Dr Some’s description of African cosmology reveals how people were taken care of in the context of a set of beliefs and practices that both sustained them and their environment. The premium offered is Dr Some’s The Healing Wisdom of Africa. The indigenous perspective is so important at present as Americans as a whole begin to grapple with the reality of how our lifestyle is impacting on the environment and the inevitable changes that are taking place. As we prepare to adapt and adjust to a “new” earth we must consider the wisdom of those that have come before us.

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Dr Kokayi interviews Alex Stark, a Yale trained architect and Peruvian shaman. Alex Stark shares with the listening audience the major themes of Andean cosmology. Cross cultural correspondences are made with other indigenous systems and Mr. Stark shares some of the applications of this Andean world view.

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Dr. Kokayi takes advantage of the first day of summer solstice to focus on the power of meditation and how we can use this special time to sow the seeds for what we would like to manifest over the next six months. He explores our ability to create something that carries our essence. Also shared through an audio tape Dr. Kokayi shares how affirmations and its languaging are key ingredients to our success in using these spiritual technologies.    Listener calls.

Faybiene Miranda’s Poem of the Week Title: Amnest

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GMR guest Dr. Henry Frank talk about how voudon has served the African people and how it’s been maligned in recent years. Dr. Frank describes voudon’s genesis in Haiti with focus on the Hatian revolution.

They go on to discuss the spread of voudon throughout the world, and how it has been misinterpreted as a form of sorcery or witchcraft. Dr. Frank stresses that voudon is a religion and the object of voudon is benevolence.

Faybiene Miranda’s Poem of the Week Title: I spread my mat, I sit in comtemplation

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Dr. Kokayi and his guests discuss an upcoming conference on Indigenous African Spiritual Traditions. Dr. Nelson talks of the foundation principles that she’s incorporated in her own life and work in relation to all of the study that she’s done – including Kah Ab Bah which is the idea to achieve harmony in the physical, emotional and mental body. Dr. Foster discusses her inspiration and her hopes for the conference which includes allowing people to learn about a number of African spiritual heritages.

Faybiene Miranda’s Poem of the Week Title: Who are you, who am I?

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