8. There is a time of “no shadow” at certain latitudes and certain times of the day. This phenomena is experienced twice a year when the sun is absolutely, directly and truly on top of your head for those living between the latitudes 23.5 deg. south (tropic of Capricorn) and 23.5 degree north (tropic of Cancer). Our guide knew exactly when this phenomenon would be occurring as we traveled into Zimbabwe. We stopped along the road and set a water bottle on the pavement and there was no shadow! Standing vertically in the sun during these days at certain given times will make your shadow vanish completely. It’s called the ‘Zero Shadow Day’.
9. It is likely that Lions will become extinct in our life time. There are only 22,000 lions left in the wild, down from 200,000 a century ago. Also, 50 years ago there were only 4 canned camps in South Africa, today there are 10,000 with over 16 million animals that are raised for trophy hunting. The canned camp industry is where animals are raised in cages, in-bred and drugged to making killing them easier for the trophy hunters who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to shoot an animal at close range. On March 15, 2014, in over 60 cities around the world, people protested this horrendous industry during the Global March against Canned Camps. At the same time, Archbishop Desmond Tutu led a prayer for humans to reconcile with the natural world, and singled out the White Lions because of their spiritual and ecological significance.
10. In an African village I visited, the Chief showed us the Sacred Tree of the village. He said the village was in relationship with this tree, it was the center of all that happened in the village, it is where people gathered for healing, power, wisdom and security. Sacred Tree roots are anchored deep into Mother Earth and branches reach up to Father Sky. It is said that the Tree of Life is our divine parent/s who give us the teachings of love, respect, courage and compassion. All things having to do with being in “right relationship” with the natural world. When we stray away from the sacred tree, when we leave its shadow it is said that we become sick at heart, we lose our power and our ability to connect and we begin to quarrel. In Africa it was prophesied when the White Lion returned we would awaken and remember who we are as we come back into relationship with the natural world, with the Tree of Life.
Carley Mattimore, is co-founder of the Aahara Spiritual Community of Venus Rising, a Shamanic Breathwork Facilitator, Energy worker, psychotherapist and passionate advocate of the White Lions of Timbavati, South Africa doing workshops and presentations around the country.