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Soul retrieval is a powerful healing for those
needing a quantum leap along their life’s path; it is a healing
that requires genuine commitment, and should not be undertaken lightly.
Soul loss can happen at any time, when traumatic life events occur,
for example at birth, emotional or physical abuse, bullying, accident,
bereavement, surgery, extreme stress, or relationship difficulties,
and can stem from past life traumas too. A part of the soul’s
essence splits off and goes away to preserve itself – in the
meantime, the full life force is not present or able to function,
causing symptoms and problems. In psychology this is known as dissociation,
and people live with the effects for years without really understanding
what has happened, or that anything can be done. In shamanic cultures,
looking after each individual is understood to be vital to maintaining
the balance of the community, and the problem is addressed more
quickly. Symptoms of soul loss include, among others:
• A feeling of not being ‘all there’
• Depression
• Physical or mental illness
• Disempowerment and struggle, being out of touch with creativity
• Relationship difficulties
• Lack of confidence – general, or in some particular
area
• Fears and phobias
• Inability to focus
• Addiction
Soul retrieval typically takes two healing sessions. In the first,
the shaman journeys to bring back the missing soul part(s), to be
returned. Sometimes the client may be guided to journey for themselves,
but this depends on the circumstances – some come for shamanic
healing after quite obviously working towards it, making changes
in their lives and dealing with issues, so that the soul retrieval
is a completion of their process – it’s as if the soul
part is very near, waiting to come back in. Others can be too fearful,
emotional, stressed, desperate, or resistant to manage their own
journey, so the healer will journey for them.
A healing begins with a smudging ceremony, using burning sage to
cleanse and create sacred space, and the shamanic healer connects
with their spirit allies through prayer or meditation. The healer
then uses a drum beat for the ten or fifteen minute journeying process,
during which the client simply relaxes, and is receptive to whatever
may happen. The healer returns with the soul part, and blows it
into the client’s energy system, usually through the heart
and the crown chakras, before telling the client the story of the
journey, and any guidance received. Memories, emotions and dreams
often arise as part of the healing and clearing process, as the
newly returned soul part integrates, and it is important to remember
that the original trauma which caused the soul part to leave is
not being returned. The shamanic healer may support the client through
this time with extra sessions, or simply being available for reassurance.
The second session, around a week later, aids this integration
by helping the client find ways to welcome the soul part, find its
active role, and to bring it fully into life once more. For example,
if the soul part returned was a little child who had left because
of the fear and low self esteem caused by bullying, then the client
might imagine themselves as a kind protective adult, asking the
little child how it needs to be looked after, and what it would
like to do. Sometimes the answers to these questions are great fun!
After integrating, this soul part could be expected to bring qualities
back to the person, such as courage and self esteem, and the ability
to play and create. The effects of soul retrieval can cause rapid
and profound shifts, often more apparent when looked at in hindsight,
over the following weeks or months.
Power retrieval, or restoring part of the client’s
personal power in the form of their power animal, which they have
lost their connection to, is similar. Shamanic cultures say that
we are born with a power animal, whether we are aware of it or not,
and this connection is very important to our wellbeing. Symptoms
of power loss can include a series of unfortunate events, minor
accidents and illnesses, or just being unable to ‘get it together’,
so this healing can result in significant improvements in a person’s
confidence and abilities, and connects them with a guide whom they
can consult whenever necessary.
Extraction healing involves the healer journeying
to remove and transmute what is really just energy caught in the
wrong place. When we are not truly full of our own power, blockages
and intrusions occur in our energy system, caused by our own beliefs
and attitudes (imagine a ‘bee in your bonnet’, a ‘chip
on your shoulder’, a ‘rod for your own back’),
the thoughts and actions of others (‘stabbed in the back’),
or picked up accidentally as we walk through life’s sea of
constantly moving energy (‘caught in the cross-fire’).
Symptoms of these intrusions are very often physically painful.
An experienced shamanic healer checks which aspects of a client’s
spiritual health need attention for each healing - very often more
than one type of shamanic healing is needed, in combination with
work on the energy bodies and chakras. Every healing is completely
unique.
Shamanism is practical, and adapts to the changing needs of society.
The methods can also be applied to animals, places, and the spirits
of the land. People finding that they are surrounded by urbanisation
and technology (which, incidentally, also have spirits!) are adopting
shamanic practices into their lives, as they seek to connect with
nature, and their own souls. The old ways embodied in modern core
shamanism are easily learned, and infinitely usable in any situation.
We owe it to ourselves to become free from the effects of old, abusive
relationships, guilt, and stuck situations, and because journeying
is a process of direct revelation, it is possible to seek shamanic
help for absolutely any issue. Shamanism can go directly to the
roots of a problem and is always uniquely tailored to the needs
of the individual. Whether you need one or two sessions, or an ongoing,
supportive process, this can be guided by your own feelings and
intuition.
Sarah Howcroft-Lane
Sarah is a trained and very experienced Shamanic Practitioner based
near Brecon. In addition to her healing practice she runs introductory
and advanced workshops in Shamanism and Journeying, and makes beautiful
deerskin drums, rattles and beadwork. She spends time every year
on training, personal growth and healing, and last year trained
as a Trance Dance facilitator in Hawaii. Sarah can be contacted
on 01874 665740 or via her web site www.shamanism-wales.co.uk.
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