A London-based institution dedicated to healing and traditional wisdom in a more-than-human world.
19/08/2024
Coming up this Thursday:
The System of the Sages: History and Historiography in Tibetan Medicine
"In this class, we will explore the historical development of the Four Ta**ras (rGyud bZhi), the foundational corpus of Traditional Tibetan Medicine composed by Yuthok Yönten Gönpo in the 12th century. Steeped in healing wisdom, ancient history, myth, and controversy, these seminal texts have been a hot topic of conversation for many centuries on the Tibetan plateau.
The Four Ta**ras have been described as a sūtra, ta**ra, commentarial śāstra, revealed treasure, and scientific masterpiece, making it one of the most enigmatic texts in the Tibetan corpus.
Drawing upon contemporary textual and historical analysis, we will explore both the charter myth of the Four Ta**ras as well as the leading alternate theories for this literature’s development, exploring some of the ways that cross-cultural medical knowledge helped to form Tibetan Medicine as we know it today.
We will investigate Tibet’s historical position not as a secluded and isolated sanctuary of secret materials, but as a cosmopolitan crossroads for the great scientific developments of the ancient world.
This presentation is perfect for Sowa Rigpa students and practitioners, but also for historians, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine enthusiasts, Tibetan Buddhist practitioners, and anybody who is interested in learning more about the development of traditional medicine across the ancient world."
You can sign up now using the link below:
In this Shrīmālā Masterclass, we will explore the history and development of the Four Ta**ras, a seminal collection of Tibetan medical literature with a history that is every bit as fascinating as its contents.
This includes a few recent workshops/classes, as well as new enrolment options for our existing courses. More material coming soon!
Self-Paced Online Courses Taught by Erik Jampa Online Courses Current Offerings Into the Perilous Realm: Faërie and Fantasy on the Path to Recovery £139.00 One time £70.00 For 2 months An in-depth exploration of Tolkien's seminal essay 'On Fairy-stories', investigating the nature, origins, and pr...
A two-hour workshop exploring the role of religious deconstruction on the Buddhist path, and the construction of a no-nonsense approach to spirituality.
16/04/2024
For those that may be interested -
Exploring history, ecology, spirituality, stories, and what it means to be human in a more-than-human world, from the author of 'Unseen Beings.'. Click to read The Spirited and Storied Earth, by Erik Jampa Andersson, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ago.
15/11/2022
Yuthok Nyingthig Chöd: Online Course
Registration is now open for our brand new online course on the Yuthok Nyingthig Chöd (Lujin) practice!
This self-paced course includes over 10 hours of exclusive content, including a thorough explanation of the practice, instrument tutorials, historical context, video and audio downloads, study support, and regular webcast sessions, this is a wonderful opportunity to dive into this profound and pithy practice from the comfort of your own home.
While many Chöd teachings tend to focus on the 'psychological approach,' this course is quite unique in many ways. In it, we will explore the distinctly animistic context of the Chöd practice, and the many ways that Machig Labdrön, Yuthok Yönten Gönpo, and other Tibetan masters combined Buddhist wisdom with indigenous knowledge to foster more compassionate and dynamic engagement with the more-than-human world.
In commemoration of Lhabab Düchen, we're happy to offer a special discount for those who register before Saturday, November 19th. Just use the discount code MAYADEVI to receive £50 off the registration fee.
For more information and registration, please visit
Instructions on the Yuthok Nyingthig Lujin (Chöd) practice with Erik Jampa Andersson, with an overview of the history, philosophy, and ritual praxis of the Chöd tradition - over 10 hours of exclusive content!
07/11/2022
Registration is open for my next online retreat, Nurturing the Unseen: Buddhism and the More-than-Human World, hosted by Tara Mandala. This is my first *real* course to deal with the topics of my upcoming book, 'Unseen Beings,' which comes out in May.
In this class, we'll talk about non-human beings both within and outside of Buddhism, including spirit paradigms and approaches to animal/vegetal/microbial sentience. We'll also take a deep dive into the so-called Anthropocene, the 'Epoch of Humans,' and explore what Buddhist teachings might offer us in our dire planetary circumstances.
Click below for more details, and to register:
Explore the world of ‘unseen beings’ and cultivate a deeper awareness and appreciation for the many forms of life with whom we share our world.
26/04/2022
It's been awhile since I've posted on here (which is quite unlikely to change any time soon), but I wanted to share this post about an upcoming course I'll be teaching online with Tara Mandala Retreat Center from May 12th-16th.
The Four Ta**ras (rGyud bZhi) of Tibetan Medicine have been the core of my studies and practice over the past 10 years, including both my classical Sowa Rigpa education and my more recent pivot into the History of Medicine. There are so many fascinating dimensions to this magnum opus of Tibetan Medicine - not only is it a brilliant example of the medical sophistication of premodern Tibet, but also a testament to the profound value of cross-cultural exchange in the evolution of science and medicine.
This relatively short course will introduce a great many of the core principles and theories of Tibetan Medicine, including elemental and humoural theory, basic physiology, pathology, diagnostics, and traditional therapeutics, creating a solid foundation for further engagements with this incredible system. But we will also explore the historical and cultural context of Tibetan Medicine, investigating the many ways that Indian Buddhist philosophy, indigenous knowledge, and a powerful position along the ancient Silk Roads created a most fertile ground for advanced interdisciplinary research into the nature of health and disease in the Tibetan world.
Naturally, given the topics of my upcoming book, we will spend a bit of time discussing traditional perceptions of 'provocation' disorders and illnesses conditioned by external 'unseen beings.' This field of study has become unjustly stigmatised in the modern era, including in systems like Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, but this Tibetan approach offers some truly poignant and timely advice regarding the links between environmental desecration, human health, and pandemic infections. By breaking free from our limiting and anthropocentric view of 'nature,' we can better understand the ways that our individual health is inextricably interdependent with the welfare of our living environment.
Perhaps most importantly, we'll also look at some of the ways that Tibetan Medicine has responded to dynamics of modernisation and globalisation over recent centuries, and see why the future of this ancient tradition remains every bit as bright and revolutionary as its past. While many folks tend to contort 'traditional medicine' into some kind of perennial antiquarian adversary to modernity and progress, this is in fact a deep misunderstanding of the nature of such traditions. Sowa Rigpa reminds us that progress IS in fact entirely 'traditional,' and that we can simultaneously ground ourselves in a holistic approach to health and disease while celebrating and supporting the crucial advancements of modern science.
As usual, this post is waaaay too long for a short social media plug, but 🤷♂️. Basically, if you want to have your mind blown for a few days, check out this retreat. I guarantee that it will be a unique and enriching experience, regardless of your background or interests. Whether you're a medical practitioner, a student, a meditator, or simply a bit of a science and history buff, this course will be unlike anything you've experienced before. It may even change your entire view of health, disease, nature, and the evolution of medical science.
Hope to see you there!
05/04/2022
There's a few hours left to register for this evening's workshop on Zodiacal Aphesis (Zodiacal 'Releasing'), a time-lord technique from the Hellenistic astrological tradition, recorded by Vettius Valens in the 2nd century CE. This technique is considered by many to be the 'crowning jewel' of Hellenistic Astrology, though it largely fell out of practice for 1,500 years.
As a natural skeptic, I was never terribly interested in 'western' astrology. I wasn't even that interested in Tibetan Astrology, but as it was a required supplementary course in my Tibetan Medicine school I didn't have much of a choice. I certainly never would have thought that I'd end up practicing astrology professionally.
Things began to change during astrology intensive at my Tibetan Medicine school in Massachusetts, when a classmate decided to book me an appointment with his Hellenistic Astrologer, Chris Brennan. I very reluctantly agreed, and sent him my birth data expecting a predictably generic reading. But my two-hour phone consultation with Chris was positively earth-shattering. The specificity and precision of his interpretations were shocking enough that I decided to put aside my reservations and study a bit of the Hellenistic tradition.
Over the past 8 years, I have done well over a hundred astrological consultations for clients, and the results continue to be shocking. Zodiacal Aphesis, in particular, is always the method that derives the most gasps and existential revelations. It is best described as a detailed personal study in causality, taking the dynamics of our natal chart and breaking them down into a chronological narrative journey. It is similar, in some ways, to the dasha system of Indian Astrology, and it's likely that both emerged from a common theoretical basis - though the Indian system was the only one to retain it over the centuries.
While I feel I am reaching the end of my astrological career, I have no choice but to respect the evident efficacy of Hellenistic methods like Zodiacal Aphesis. I think it's important that these methods are remembered and retained in the western tradition. I feel this is particularly important in the study of history, especially the history of science. For too many years, scholars have avoided learning 'too much' about astrology out of fear that they might be 'tainted with the pseudoscientific lunacy' of the system itself. But this is quite unhelpful if we want to better understand the evolution of science as a whole, in which astrology has long played a central role.
If you have any interest in astrology, I highly recommend joining this workshop. It is certainly not a beginner's class, but it's accessible enough to provide a glimpse of the depth of the Hellenistic system, and to learn some methods to better understand the trajectory of your own life. It will be recorded for later viewing for those who cannot attend in person.
- An overview of the Hellenistic Lots (the original "Arabic Parts").
- Calculation and interpretation of the Lots of Fortune and Spirit.
- The relationship between the lots and karmic causes/conditions.
- The history of Zodiacal Aphesis in the western tradition.
- The principal factors for interpretation in Zodiacal Aphesis.
- The identification of 'peak periods' of karmic fruition.
- Analysis of benefic and malefic influences on a native's experience.
- Loosing of the Bond as a plot-twist.
- Guided examples of the process and resources to cast your own Zodiacal Releasing chart.
A rare opportunity to learn Zodiacal Aphesis, a 2nd century time-lord recorded by Vettius Valens.
05/02/2022
Join Erik Jampa and others this afternoon for this fascinating panel discussion on "Buddhism and Q***rness through the Ages," exploring the interconnections between Q***r identity, Buddhism, and environmental justice - as well as the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people within traditional Tibetan communities.
This is a free online event hosted by Jamyang Buddhist Centre in honour of LGBT History Month here in the UK - register now at
Join us online to explore the intersections of Buddhist and LGBTQ+ identities. This dialogue will navigate topics as diverse as gender and sexuality in Tibetan medicine, the links between Q***r…
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Shrīmālā Healing Arts, a subsidiary of Shrīmālā Ltd, was founded in 2017 by Erik Jampa Andersson as a holistic health resource for those seeking traditional Tibetan medical support and education. Based in London, UK (with a satellite clinic in Los Angeles, USA), we offer Tibetan Medicine consultations, wellness coaching, meditation training, classical astrology services, and public workshops. But our mission is nothing short of global revolution.
The Tibetan Science of Healing (Sowa Rigpa) is unique for many reasons. Despite what many may think upon initially hearing the term, Sowa Rigpa isn’t a magical system centered around singing bowls and energetic “cleansing.” It’s a bonafide internal medical system based on a sophisticated understanding of the human body and mind, drawing upon millennia of indigenous dietary, behavioral, herbal, and manual therapeutic knowledge. But unlike many common healing modalities found today, it is not founded on materialism and reductive approaches to health.
Wellness requires more than physiological balance, and indeed more than psychological balance. The societal, ecological, and energetic components of health all need to be taken into account when addressing individual wellness, founded upon a deep understanding of our basic interdependence. Without these components, no healing system deserves the monicker of “holistic” wellness. Tibetan Medicine, however, addresses all of the above.
Humans are facing a moment of reckoning. We are only one step past the threshold of a dawning Technological Revolution, which threatens to upend our entire conception of what it means to be human. The existential angst that many people feel today is a major factor in our global dis-ease, and requires its own antidote if we are to truly achieve a state of balance. Tibetan Medicine relies on the philosophy of its sister-science, the Science of Inner Meaning (Nang-dön Rigpa), in order to provide context and dimension to its study of psycho-physiological health. This is also known as Buddhadharma. While healing and other outer sciences provide amazing techniques for working with our material experience, Inner Science provides the elusive “why” to our quest for health and wellness, providing humans with a foundational raison d’etre and motivation for making the most of our human life. Without this understanding, healing becomes no more than a trade or vocational activity, and the moral imperative of helping others easily gets lost in the mire of capitalistic consumption.
If the concept of “wellness” leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, you’re not alone. The global “wellness industry” had a total estimated value of $4.3 trillion in 2018, according to The Global Wellness Institute. Yet it doesn’t seem that humans as a whole are that much better off for it. Of the top ten causes of death globally, most are strongly linked to unhealthy diet, lifestyle, and environmental pollution, with additional causes (i.e. su***de) linked to a profound lack of social and psychological “wellness.” Fad diets, experimental therapies, and promised “miracle cures” leave countless individuals sick, broke, and disillusioned, because most of these arise from a push for easy fixes in a broken system based on greed.
At Shrīmālā, we have a different approach. We focus on three major modalities for supporting health: Sowa Rigpa for attaining optimum physiological health, Tsi Rigpa (Elemental Calculations/Astrology) for uprooting engrained psychological patterns, and Nang-dön Rigpa for uncovering and harmonizing with the essential meaning of life. With this profound combination of interdisciplinary studies, we are able to effectively address the fundamental challenges to human well-being. We enable our clients to not only better manage and ameliorate common health issues, but indeed to see the world through new eyes, revitalizing their sense of purpose and responsibility in an ever-changing world.
Our most essential goal is to make healing services altogether unnecessary, by providing individuals with the education and guidance to activate their own innate healing wisdom. A consultation with Shrīmālā is not just a treatment - it is a learning opportunity and activation of a primordial human birthright. Sowa Rigpa is a way of life, and a profound entryway into a deeper and more meaningful experience of existence. As our traditions continue to evolve into the 21st century, it seems clear that the Tibetan sciences are uniquely capable of effectively integrating cutting-edge scientific discoveries with a holistic approach to interdependent embodiment.
Our offerings include the following:
Tibetan Medical Consultations - Appointments are available for individualized analysis and guidance relating to personal health. Clients receive dietary, behavioral, and herbal guidance for managing their healing process, as well as effective manual therapies for a wide range of conditions.
Astrological Services - Based on the Tibetan Elemental Sciences and Classical Hellenistic Astrology, our “Astrological” services go far beyond horoscopes and star signs. Astrology is a profound system of investigating outer conditions to ascertain information about the inner state of an individual. It can be used in conjunction with traditional medicine to uncover energetic or karmic roots of disease, or as a psychological investigation into the archetypal patterns that carry us through our lives.
Meditation Training - More than 2,500 years ago, the historical Buddha taught that the fundamental ailment of all sentient life is the experience of suffering (dukkha). Acting as a spiritual physician for all beings, he carefully taught the etiology of this existential illness, as well as a prognosis and complete treatment method for resolving our fundamental disease. This is the path to Enlightenment. Liberation from suffering is accomplished through depth understanding and integration with our true nature, made possible through the careful training of our mind through investigation and meditation. We teach a wide range of meditation and yoga techniques for a wide range of temperaments and dispositions. Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or convinced that you “simply can’t meditate,” Shrīmālā can help.
Wellness Coaching - For those who seek quick results or ongoing guidance, our Wellness Coaching services are perfectly designed to carry the client through their health & wellness journey, addressing the multivalent causes and conditions for dis-ease while providing an essential education in self-care. Wellness Coaching draws upon all three sciences of Medicine, Astrology, and Inner Knowledge to provide a truly complete wellness system.
Education - Our most important activity is undoubtedly education. For both patients and healers, education is a vital component for ensuring our individual and societal health. Whether through practical workshops teaching vital wellness principals to patients, or through training courses for aspiring and practicing healers, we seek to ultimately eradicate the need for “wellness coaches” altogether. The knowledge of healing used to be passed down from generation to generation as a birthright - we seek to re-create and revolutionize that tradition for a new generation in a new world.
Please visit www.shrimala.com for more information and to get involved with our health revolution.
