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Greetings from South African traditional health practitioners to all IAAP officials, colleagues, and respected ancestors around the world, gathered here. Traditional health practitioners are intrigued by the opportunity to be part of this academic dialogue. Indeed, we have to critically review the encounters ‘within us; between us and “us and others in the new world”’ as we traverse the delayed professional journey towards a common ground amongst psychotherapists. For the sake of our clients, we have to forge collective healing modalities for integrative health interventions. The reflections from our group participants at our workshop in Monkey Valley, in South Africa reflect the impact already made by these dialogues. Some of us already call it, ‘a huge thing! Amazing encounter!’ (Nompumelelo Kubeka, Vella Maseko and Buntu George). I call it a ‘pardoned history’ as traditional health practitioners begin to forget marginalization and the derogative names thrown at them by Western-trained professionals. Thank you to Jungians for the invitation, sponsorship and warm welcome to allow our engagement in such dialogues. In South Africa this engagement is called a baby - ‘rainbow therapy’. Like any baby we are sceptical about challenges in the milestones of ‘her’ growth and are ready for any challenges as we are nurturing her. Our ultimate goal is to have a collective, healthy, professional engagement with all psychotherapists, irrespective of their school of thought, and with Jungians and traditional health practitioners being the key role-models in integrative therapeutic interventions.
The connection is a delayed process, as Torrey (1972) long ago made the demand for the integration of traditional healing and psychiatry. The World Health Organisation (1978-1995) stressed the importance of the recognition of traditional medicine and the inclusion of traditional health practitioners in the primary healthcare system. Without hesitation I thank our ancestor, Carl