________________
100
FIVE GREAT HEALERS SPEAK HERE
In Mama Mona's home district, she has often been surrounded with a visible portion of fog that descends on her alone. People with whom she walks after dusk have experienced this and understood the cause, knowing Mama Mona's family background. We have heard footsteps in the fog, walking beside her, footsteps of guides who sing and talk to her.
We have been accused by our African ancestors as being a generation that is fast deteriorating morally because we have gone away from our gods who once spoke to us. The gods have now renounced any contact with the modern generation because of our cynicism. Listen to this one. “If you have powers granted by the gods and consider yourself a son of God, let's see you turn these stones into food.” The older tribal Africans, however, are still deeply imbued with the religion and ways of their ancestors, and this mystical current flows through the subconscious minds of all Africans, young and old.
Another line in the introduction of this book is “Mental Universe.” Yes, most Africans would endorse this definition. Actually the African has never really believed that he lives one active life only. He always says, “After each step, I have visited with the gods and with so and so," naming people in the spirit world or far away. By “after each step” he means after each sojourn here on earth. He might then relate a conversation with spirits in which a suggestion was given to help someone, perhaps a barren woman who desires children. The spirits may order a beast to be slaughtered in order that a symbolic ceremony be performed. This barren woman would always bear a child, a baby from the spirit world.
There are many ways of modern healing, such as mentioned in the preface written by the compilers-hypnotic treatment, contact healing with the magnetic touch, and so on. All these methods may or may not bring instantaneous healing.
The modern Africans are just beginning to emerge
