Alison Vickerman

Alison runs the METAVarsity Campus in Plumstead as the Student/Facilitator Co-ordinator, while working a day job in the financial industry. She also currently facilitates the Introduction to Metaphysics, Applied Metaphysics and Metaphysical Practitioner courses in class-based, online and distance-learning formats.

Alison started her journey with METAVarsity in 2007, after meeting Karen Barensché, one of our founders. She had been through a tumultuous period that had left her feeling disempowered and spiritually unfulfilled, and she realised that she needed to take personal responsibility for her life. Karen recommended that she consider the Introduction to Metaphysics course available at METAVarsity, which Alison then completed in 2008. She has since also completed the Applied Metaphysics and Facilitators’ courses. “When the Student is ready, the Teacher will appear.”

Alison credits METAVarsity for helping her explore the knowledge and awareness she needed, as well as for providing a safe support structure that still helps her to feel empowered, inspired and motivated to continuously transform her life today, and to help others to do so too.

Alexandra Lawrence

Over the years, she has completed and then facilitated the Introduction to Metaphysics, Applied Metaphysics, Metaphysical Practitioner and Facilitators’ courses. She now mainly consults to METAVarsity, lending a hand with project management, course writing and editing, and teaching the occasional class, as well as acting as an Assessor for new Facilitators.

Having achieved the unusual combination of a Bachelor of Science degree and a Metaphysics qualification, she has worked across many different fields, including environmental research, corporate project management, retail customer service and personal development education, bringing a unique perspective to METAVarsity.

As a SAQA-accredited Facilitator and Assessor, her main focus now is on training much-needed soft skills such as communication, self awareness and emotional intelligence in business environments.

For more information about Alexandra and the work she does, see Linkedin

Debbie Caknis

Debbie was part of one of the early METAVarsity Introduction to Metaphysics courses in 2005, and has since completed the Applied Metaphysics, Metaphysical Practitioner and Facilitators’ Courses. She has taught the Introduction and Applied to Metaphysics course and currently facilitates our Reiki, Animal Communication and Crystal Healing short courses.

In her personal capacity, Debbie is an energy therapist who works with both humans and animals. She runs a business called Zero Point Healing, combining what she has learned over 2 decades of nursing and midwifery with over 20 years of experience in studying and working with metaphysics, yoga, energy healing and Shamanism.

She offers healing in many forms, namely Reiki, Quantum Healing, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Biochemical Medicine, Kinesiology, Crystal Healing, Shamanic practices, Hypnotherapy, Kundalini Yoga, Animal Communication, and Corporate and Spiritual Mentoring, as well as space clearing.

Debbie’s approach is to look not only at the physical symptoms of disease, but also at emotional and spiritual causes of illness, allowing humans and animals to return to holistic good health and well-being.

Debbie also facilitates animal communication and healing courses for both children and adults in her practice. She believes that informing children about energy healing and communicating with animals is a pivotal part of her responsibility to mankind. “Change happens with children and they will change adult reality” is a motto she lives by.

Her ability to communicate with animals has taken her animal healing therapy into places and spaces that no one could ever foresee. A highlight on Debbie’s work calendar is her Mozambique dolphin retreats, where those attending experience the effects of animal assist therapy, relaxing, healing and returning to a state of wholeness.

For more information about Debbie and the work she does, see her website 

Gillian Vosloo

Gillian completed the very first METAVarsity Introduction to Metaphysics Course in 2004, and has since completed the Applied Metaphysics, Metaphysical Practitioner and Facilitators’ courses. She currently facilitates the Introduction to Metaphysics course, and acts as a Moderator for our new Facilitators.

In her personal capacity, Gillian holds a Licentiate in Speech and Drama from the Trinity College of London and has worked extensively in the film and theatre industry.

She now works in the corporate world in the field of education, training and HR, and is an accredited Skills Development Facilitator, Assessor and Moderator. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in the fields of education and training, especially in developing qualifications, has led to her holding management positions in various companies and sitting as Vice Chairperson on the Services SETA Regional Board.

Gillian is passionate about her life and work, and while based in a corporate environment, she continues to work on self-development and spiritual progression.

Hlokomani Ndwandwe

Hlokomani is a skilled facilitator with 25 years experience in the corporate industry. She has obtained her B Com, Honours B Compt and a University Education Diploma.

She officially left the corporate industry in 1999, after the birth of her third child as she recognized through her development in Metaphysics that she wanted to provide for her family not only on a financial level but emotionally too.

She found herself working with different modalities, at tending workshops and reading various metaphysical books, however, she acknowledged that a more integrated approach would help her to understand those elusive questions “Who am I”, “What is my purpose” She was immediately attracted to MetaVarsity through an advert and as the saying goes “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”.

In 2011, Hlokomani enrolled with MetaVarsity, completed the ‘Introduction to Metaphysics’ via the Distance Learning platform and thereafter the “Facilitators Course”. She is currently enrolled in the second year, Applied Metaphysics.

Hlokomani observed that MetaVarsity offers comprehensive courses with practical tools and theory, starting with self-discovery, working through to Intuitive development, which all assist one to further their journey towards self-mastery in a safe and supported environment. She particularly enjoys the growth and development of self and consciousness even after the course has been completed.

In 2014, MetaVarsity, opened their JHB branch and Hlokomani facilitated the first group of Class Based students on “Introduction to Metaphysics”.
Hlokomani wanted to share and connect with others what she has learnt and experienced through her journey. She recognizes that every person on earth deserves to have this knowledge as she has been guided by those that found the LIGHT before her. As a wise man once said: “If you light your candle from my candle, it doesn’t diminish my candle, and with both candles lit, we have more LIGHT.”

Yolanda Moore

Yolanda is an Energy Worker and Facilitator who holds the franchise for running METAVarsity courses in Austria and other German-speaking areas – a first both for METAVarsity and for Austria. She was our first distance learner, completed the Introduction to Metaphysics and Facilitators’ courses in distance-learning format, and is currently busy with the Applied Metaphysics course.

Born in South Africa and now living in Austria, Yolanda has been extensively involved in Metaphysics and Spirituality for the past 30 years. She came into contact with MetaVarsity through Karen Barensché, her sister-in-law, and her aim is for MetaVarsity to become as well known in Austria as it is in South Africa.

Apart from facilitating our courses, she also runs a successful Holistic Centre in Austria, offering seminars, workshops and training, as well as personal counselling and therapeutic treatments. Her qualifications include alternative healing and energetic work: Radionics, Holistic Matrix, Aura Soma, Kahuna Healing and Angel Therapy/Readings, as part of her certification as an Energetic Worker.

Yolanda accompanies her students along the path of self-empowerment and personal development, encouraging them to take responsibility for their lives, something which is most important to her. She is grateful that she has had the opportunity to gather so much of the experience which life has to offer, giving her invaluable insight that she can use to help others.

For more about Yolanda and the work she does, see her website.

James Henderson

Jimmy has completed the Introduction to Metaphysics, Applied Metaphysics and Facilitators courses at METAVarsity, and currently facilitates the Introduction and Applied Metaphysics courses in distance-learning format.

He has been studying mind and spirit for over thirty years as a member of the Rosicrucian order, and he has an Honours degree in Philosophy (Metaphysics) and a Ph.D in Psychology from UNISA. He is also a Chartered Practitioner in learning and development and a SETA-accredited outcomes-based Facilitator and Assessor, and has lectured in Counselling Skills at Damelin Management School.

In his private capacity, he worked part-time as a trauma counsellor for a large corporate and has been a volunteer lifeline counsellor, trainer and group facilitator for over 30 years.

Jimmy is the published author of many articles, books and e-books on metaphysics, aspects of psychology and the development of mind and spirit. He is well-known in holistic circles in the Durban area and has spoken many times on the radio on his books and issues of counselling, emotional wellness, relationships and parenting skills.

He is now on early retirement and feels that his purpose at this time is to help persons who are sincere in their striving for self- and spiritual development to find their way along their own path.

For more about Jimmy and the work he does, see Discovering Yourself and Jimmy Henderson Articles

Loren Stevenson

Loren completed the Introduction to Metaphysics course in 2007, then several years later, the Applied Metaphysics and Facilitators’ courses, and she is busy now with the Numerology and Metaphysical Practitioner courses. She currently facilitates the Introduction to Metaphysics course in distant learning format.

Like many others, Loren discovered METAVarsity while going through a trying time in her life. During her journey into metaphysics, she found her purpose of helping others and to that end, also studied elsewhere, doing a Reiki Practitioners course with Soul Healing, and then a BSc Honours in Health, Community and Social Care with Psychology and an MSc in Psychology in the UK.

She has interned at an NGO, Think Twice and at Kenilworth Clinic, KAYA (adolescent ward) and volunteered at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group.

She is passionate about working with children and adolescents, and has recently taken up a position at the International School in Lilongwe, Malawi, as the Educational Support Teacher and Counsellor for the Secondary School.

She believes that metaphysics has changed her life in so many ways and continues to change it each day. Learning about and understanding her journey in this lifetime has been a great gift, and she is passionate about helping others to understand theirs in return.

Margarita Celeste

Margarita teaches her two great passions via the Tarot course at METAVarsity and the Astrology course at the School of Intuition and Healing.

She is a practicing Traditional Astrologer and Tarot Reader, who graduated from the School of Intuition and Healing for Tarot and from Rod Suskin’s School of Astrology. She then took her Arts worldwide on her travels, holding classes and workshops, consultations and talks in various conscious communities. After some time, felt called to bring the workshops and courses to Cape Town, to the flourishing spiritual community here.

She inherited her ability to work with Tarot from her father, who, after practicing for over thirty years, handed his well-worn cards over to her at age 26, advising her to practice from the heart, always for the good of others. She takes enormous pleasure in leading her students to a deeper knowing of themselves, seeing them empower themselves with these wonderful languages.
For more about Margarita and the work she does, see margaritaceleste.com and Facebook

Marinda Rencken

Marinda completed the Introduction to Metaphysics course in 2008 and then went on to do the Applied Metaphysics and Facilitators’ courses. She is now working on the Metaphysical Practitioners course, and currently facilitates the Introduction to Metaphysics course.

Her metaphysical journey started in 2007, sparked by her daughter, who was then 10 years old. She had been diagnosed with ADHD at age 7 and her behaviour was very oppositional and anti-social. During her Grade 3 year, she was told that her daughter was hallucinating and needed to see a psychiatrist.

Marinda found this very difficult to accept, and although she did take her to a psychiatrist, she also decided to seek alternative advice and made contact with Karen Barensché, one of our founders. Karen helped her to understand that her daughter is highly psychic, that her chakras were wide open and that she needed to learn to manage her energy centres.

They were referred to a practitioner who works with Indigo Children and during those sessions, Marinda realised that if she wanted to help her daughter, she would need to dive head first into the world of metaphysics herself, which she duly did.

Because of her interest in working with children, in 2010 Marinda was part of the development and facilitation of the MetaTeen Pilot Project, which is currently being revamped.