Shamanic Medicine

Soul Retrieval

Soul loss is damage to a person's vital essence, and often is in response to trauma. In many cultures, soul retrieval was seen as a necessary healing and was performed within three days of trauma or a major life event, such as childbirth, the death of a loved one, an accident or a violent encounter.

Today we patch up the body, steel the jaw and press forward in survival mode, business as usual, and are confused months later as to why we feel vacant or depressed. From a shamanic perspective, one of the major causes of illness and depression is soul loss. In Western medicine, soul loss may be likened to disassociation. Soul loss or dissociation may occur when there is a traumatic event, (death of a loved one, physical or sexual abuse, surgery, illness, addictions, war, etc.) or a threat to one's psyche (humiliation, extreme stress or fear)

Some signs of soul loss may include:

• A feeling that something is missing
• Gaps in memory
• Depression
• Chronic illness
• Sense of being lost, emptiness
• A sense that "I haven't been the same since..."
• Difficulty staying present in the body
• Emotional dependency
• Addiction
• A feeling of observing life rather than participating in it.

In a soul retrieval ceremony the missing essence of the soul is searched for and called back home. A shamanic journey is made to recover the essences and often a story (either literal or mythical) as to why and when a soul part left is available. The essence is gathered and returned to the client.

Where did my soul GO?

The soul wants to preserve itself, like any living essence. In an attempt to prevent total loss, a part of the soul may choose to "jump ship" and return to the land of the souls. The land of the soul is a very specific dimension - one from whence it came and to where it returns. This dimension is accessible to a shaman and her allies. Sometimes a soul part is either lost or stolen and being held by someone as part of their essence.

Sometimes we give away an aspect of our essence (patience, assertiveness, joyfulness) to someone else because we want to help them, or they may want this quality of ours for themselves. Our essence cannot be utilized by the person who is holding it. We may feel unnaturally bonded to them, be unable to get them off our mind or develop a false need to have this person in our lives (often the need is unhealthy and questioned... "why am I STILL hanging around this person", "why can't I move forward?")

The absence felt on a soul level is a set up for attracting energy of any kind, in an attempt to "fill the well". Because the soul is not discriminating, it looks for energy to fill it back up. Often the energy wanting a place to rest is negative (or in other words, energy that needs to be transformed). Kind of like if you lost your backpack, and you are needing one, the one you likely find on the side of the road is empty and/or in need of repair. Because we are incredibly resilient creatures, we can exist and work with what we are given, though navigating through life with soul loss and intrusions can be likened to carrying boulders uphill, and maybe with a shoe untied.

What can I expect after a Soul Retrieval?

Regaining your essence creates and requires change. Medicine in the form of essence, regained power and healing is brought back from the dimension of the spirit to the physical dimension, in other words, more energy is now available.

Often soul parts return with gifts that have been forgotten. Discovering and embodying these gifts become part of the integration process. A soul part that returns might have an understanding the client needs such as how to trust, love, play music, write poetry, or be creative and/or confident. The returned soul parts may require subtle or extreme changes in the client's current lifestyle.

Soul retrieval is not to be taken lightly, and can be likened to bringing a new baby home requiring commitment, preparation, and care, as well as attention to the environment to which you return. Once the ceremony is complete, support for the returned soul parts begins and together we create a plan for continued integration.

"After my husband's death I was barely here. I walked around in a state of semi-consciousness and physical exhaustion. I had cared for him for months before his passing. Your presence and skill with my process was astounding. And, probably one of the most unusual happenings since the soul retrieval, I had my eyes examined and my eyesight has improved! I am forever grateful that through your work I finally feel rid of the pain I took on during that time." Melissa, 2004.