Global Healing Techniques: Let’s Talk About Sawubona Healing Circles
By Christina Donato, Program Assistant of the Healing Racial Trauma Initiative (HRTI)
When you think of healing, what do you define it as? What is the first method that comes to mind in terms of healing? Is it one-on-one with your therapist? Or can it look like something else?
Well lets explore Sawubona Healing Circles - a need created by the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi).
“Psychological conceptions of healing involve reordering an individual’s sense of position in the universe and define healing as ‘a process in the service of the evolution of the whole personality towards ever greater and more complex wholeness.’ These definitions of healing focus on issues of social organization, roles, meaning, and personal growth”
(Egnew, 2005)
Sawubona Healing Circles
The Sawubona Healing Circles (SHC) originated from the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi), heavily influenced and shaped through African-centered practices intended to address racial trauma and allow for healing within the Black community. The concept of these healing circles made its appearance during COVID-19, when the calling and need for this was urgent and the incline of racial inequities was at an all time high. In turn, the ABPsi went to the drawing board to answer the call and find a solution.
In South Africa a commonly spoken language, Zulu, is where Sawubona originates from. Sawubona means “we see you”, to allow for the recognition and welcoming of a person into a space. And in response one can say Sikhona meaning "I am here to be seen" or Yebo Sawubona meaning "we see you too”.
This is very essential because it is known that:
“Until you see me, I do not exist. It is as if, when you see me, you bring me into existence”
(Auguste et al., 2024)
The Western frameworks were not fully grasping the needs of black individuals, so the ABPsi decided to find culturally-grounding healing responses that were unique and delicately crafted to fit the diverse race-based trauma endured during COVID. That's when the pilot SHC initiative was launched. Initially it was for Black first responders using African-centered healing methods and later expanded to addressing the emotional and psychological responses to anti-black violence.
Major Goals of the SHC Initiative
Reduce social isolation
Promote culture, resistance, and alignment with African-centered principles
Stories sharing
Provide a shared and sacred space for navigating challenges faced
Strengthen community self care and activate empowerment
While finding means of healing, think about ways that communal spaces, dialogue, and activities can contribute to healing racial trauma within yourself and those around you. Engaging in non-Westernized and communal healing techniques may be something to further research as a means of reaching specific healing goals for yourself this year.
Learn more about Sawubona Healing Circles (SHC) here
