Shamanic Healing and Soul Retrieval: What it is, reclaiming lost parts of ourselves.

What does Shamanic Healing Mean?

Shamanic healing is a term we use to describe using ancient healing ways learned through training and apprenticeships with either indigenous teachers or those who have studied with indigenous teachers. As a Shamanic Healer, I am am well-trained and greatly experienced in this holistic approach.

However, rather than using the term shaman or Shamanism, we may use the term medicine woman (or man). This helps to define our roles as healers in the modern world while honoring those who taught us. 

What is Shamanic Healing?

Shamanic healings are ancient ways of healing that honor the wholeness of the soul. In shamanic cultures, illnesses were seen as disruptions in the soul. Soul illnesses in the body could represent imbalances in the community or in the natural environment. Through shamanic perception, humans are not separated from the natural world, everything is stunningly interconnected and interdependent.

The web of life connects all beings. This philosophy is alive in many cultures on our small planet. In the west, we have, through colonization and the destruction of indigenous cultures and natural habitats, forgotten this undeniable and important understanding. 

Shamanic Healing is a Journey

Shamanic healings may include journeying to different realms, dream work, energy work, using allies like animals or minerals, elemental work, ancestor work, and use of cleansing plants like white sage (salvia apiana) or rosemary. In some forms of shamanic work, the shaman journeys for the patient, in other forms a mutual journey is done. In all healings, the shaman is working as a guide or intermediary for the patient. This is a very cursory description of a profound way of healing.

What is a Soul Retrieval?

If you have an illness of any sort, a shamanic view could conclude that you may have lost a piece of your soul. You are likely suffering in some way, whether it is emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual suffering. 

If you think of your personality as having many parts, it is akin to that. Consider this analogy, if you are greatly introverted and you attend a party, a part of yourself will likely take a back seat as you try to use your extraverted parts for the evening! You will consciously try to be more engaged in conversations and events at the party. You will likely not suffer much, and when you leave the party environment you will be able to reclaim your introverted part. A good book and a cup of tea are very healing! 

How a Soul Becomes Fragmented

If you encounter trauma in your life, like childhood developmental trauma, is it likely that a part of yourself had to leave that environment and hide away. You might be a lovely and highly sensitive introvert who was raised in a wonderful family of extroverts who misdiagnosed you as sad or depressed. For years, you may keep striving to be less sensitive and more like the other family members. However, you did not know you hid that sensitive piece. Developmental trauma causes fragmentation.

Trauma at any age, through an accident or natural disaster can cause fragmentation.

Soul Fragments Can Remain Hidden for Decades

Sometimes these fragments of self or soul can hide for decades, and we suffer without them. Additionally, we may not be able to figure out why we feel sad, less energetic, or alive. Sadly, we may not understand why we have mental symptoms. We do not consciously lose fragments of ourselves or our souls. Rather, the fragments are hidden in an unconscious process that is meant to be helpful. The delicate fragment of self is hidden for protection.

In shamanic philosophy, soul fragments are hidden in a different realm. The shamanic healer journeys to that realm to retrieve the lost fragment. This is specialized work that is profoundly healing.

The Process of Soul Retrieval

First, the patient or client is made comfortable, usually sitting or reclining with soft blankets. Then, sometimes a client will fall into a light trance-like state and have journey experiences. There is great empowerment in the patient taking part in the healing. However, I also work with those who do not wish journey themselves. The shamanic healer can journey for you.

There are other soul issues that may cause disruptions in lives. These can be addressed with shamanic retrievals or other ways of bringing balance back.

I will not fully detail the work of a soul fragment retrieval with respect to the traditions which I learned. Instead I am sharing what is appropriate to share in an online venue. It is sacred work. 

After soul fragment retrievals clients have shared:

• Feeling lighter. 
• Spacious.
• Less dissociated.
• Memories of a certain time of life return to consciousness.
• Creativity returns.
• Joy or contentment arises.
• Fear or worry dissipates.
• Old patterns of thought or belief are reconciled. 
• Grief is relieved.
• Anger relieved.
• A deeper understanding of the Self is achieved.
• A feeling that is difficult to describe, but the world feels and looks different in a very good way.
• Feeling prepared to move into deeper integration of trauma or other woundedness.
• A deeper understanding of the emotional self, and mental self
• Discovery of the origin of limiting beliefs. 
• Feeling connection and connective.

Shamanic retrieval work is about your soul. It is about your wholeness and your connection to every living thing.