The Power of Intention

In the Healing House, we work with tools to assist in weaving calm and comfort to the soft animal of the body. Some of these tools are heated stones, sacred geometry, healing plant essences and therapeutic touch. A more subtle, but no less powerful tool we work with is intention. Intention is embodied in the Londolozi Medicine Wheel.

Brother and sister team, Bronwyn & Boyd Varty, fourth-generation custodians of Londolozi

At the inception of the Healing House, fourth-generation owners and siblings Boyd and Bronwyn Varty created a medicine wheel with the intention of facilitating and guiding deeper healing for guests visiting the space. We believe this intention has the power to assist transformation and awaken a collective consciousness for the good of all beings.

What is a Medicine Wheel?

Ancient indigenous tribes have used this ceremonial tool for healing and as a compass and a teaching tool to navigate through life. It symbolises the interconnectedness of all aspects of life. Typically represented in a circle divided into quadrants, each representing aspects such as:

• The four cardinal directions
• The four seasons
• The four stages of life
• The four elements
• The four aspects of the self (mental, emotional, spiritual and physical).

It is believed that the medicine wheel promotes healing and balance—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually—by connecting individuals with the natural rhythms and energies of the earth. It is a profound symbol that embodies ancient teachings, guiding individuals towards harmony and understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.

Here at Londolozi, we have added four animal energies to our own unique medicine wheel

The Bateleur, Otter, Elephant and Leopard

The Bateleur

The Bateleur is a symbol of balance, perspective and manifestation of ideas. A symbol of maintaining balance while navigating life’s trials, and all the different currents that batter us throughout life. Reminding us of our ability to soar above obstacles and the power of silence and perspective. A messenger from the ancestors.

The Otter

The otter is a symbol of friendship, peace and kindness. The otter is also social and mischievous and a symbol of happiness and never-ending curiosity. It is revered as a symbol of joy, playfulness, and adaptability and reminds us to find joy in life’s challenges and navigate through difficult situations with ease. The otter reminds us that playfulness and collaboration are essential to us being able to thrive.

The Elephant

The elephant is a symbol of wisdom, matriarchy and reverence. A gentle giant, the elephant reminds us to own our personal power and act wisely. To honour and protect our family. The elephant is a symbol of loyalty and majestic grace. The elephant remembers. She reminds us to remember our divinity.

The Leopard

The Leopard is a symbol of grace, individuality and adaptability. Leopards are secretive and encourage us to own our spots. To be exactly who we are. Leopard comes to help you take back your power. This is the time to look at the skills you have and appreciate them. Get rid of negative patterns and embrace fresh approaches on all levels of your being. Certain things are intrinsic to your spirit and imprinted on your soul (spots) such as past life lessons. Wear your spots with pride—there is no need to hide.

At the Londolozi Healing House, we honour these elements in the architecture of the building through sacred geometry and in the inclusion of trees that hold the Healing House suspended above the ancient waterway of the Sand River. We intentionally place these stones and symbols. We work with our own medicine wheel drawing on the ancient tradition and inspiration of the four elements; Fire, Earth, Air and Water.

The Medicine Wheel is rooted in four core statements held together in PRESENCE

The Medicine Wheel is rooted in Four Cardinal Directions and Life Phase

This wheel is a tool of intention, navigation and expression of the healing elements and their teachings found here on the land of Londolozi. It invites a meditation into harmony guiding us to a centred presence. Presence is a sense of inner spaciousness. When we are fully present we are whole. It is the greatest gift we can give each other.

Bronwyn and Boyd Varty created our medicine wheel with great love and respect. It holds as a bedrock of intention on how we work at the Londolozi Healing House. The siblings hold the belief that harmony is restored when something is uniquely itself and from this place, balance can be restored to our mind, heart, body, and spirit.

We are made of fire, earth, air, and water. Electrical impulses zap throughout our bodies to stimulate our muscle cells and fire our neurons. Our carbon-based bodies are built from the very same building blocks as stones and soil. We can only go three minutes without air, and our body weight is 60 percent water. It’s no exaggeration to say that we are the wisdom of the elements as we walk around. We are the wisdom of the elements thinking, feeling, loving, experiencing, learning, questioning, and exploring.

The Medicine Wheel teaches us that everything on Mother Earth is interconnected. It teaches us that our health is deeply connected to nature and other beings on Earth. We learn that health is about having balance in all 4 states of being.

In other words, our physical health, emotional health, mental health, and spiritual wellbeing are all interconnected. If we have an imbalance in one state of our being, it can cause an imbalance in all the other areas. For example, when we are not feeling well emotionally, it might lead to stress which might have an impact on our sleep. This can lead to negative physical health effects.

At Londolozi, our intention is to awaken your senses to the four elements in a way that is hard to describe and can only truly be understood when experienced.

As you sit beside a boma fire, and walk along paths lit by soft flaming lanterns.

As you feel the crisp, clean chill of the bushveld winter air on your face while on the back of an open Land Rover watching the fiery red rising and setting African sun.

As you feel your feet touch the restored earth, home to wild animals that have returned and thrived. 

As you sit beneath the leafy Ebony trees standing sentinel at the Healing House on the banks of the Sand River. 

We hope that as you experience our intention, you will feel your spirit soar, awakening to a perhaps lost, now re-found sense of wonder and a return to your truest and wildest self.