Have you ever felt, after some painful experience in your life, that you “never recovered,” you weren’t your “old self,” or that a part of you “died”? These feelings may indicate what shamans call “soul loss”: a part of your vital energy (soul) left you during a traumatic event, such as an accident, illness, loss of a loved one, or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. In the soul retrieval session, the shamanic practitioner (Joan) enters into a shamanic journey meditation in which she finds and returns lost soul parts and removes energy blockages by using energy work. Soul Retrieval sessions are 60 minutes for $80. What happens in a soul retrieval session? I explain what we are going to do in the session, and we talk about any questions you might have. This is also a time to share any insights that you gained from the preparation you have done prior to the session (see information on “how to prepare for soul retrieval”). For example, some people like to explain how and when they feel they lost soul parts. It’s completely your choice to share or not, either way is fine with me: I do not need to know where you lost soul parts before I retrieve the soul parts, but sometimes clients like to share this as part of their healing process. In the tradition of soul retrieval that I follow, the practitioner does all the work during the actual session itself. (In the days and weeks following the session, your task will be to continue to integrate your soul parts through meditating, journaling, etc. I explain the integration process during the session.) You will be lying down on a massage table, and it actually helps me if the client does not try to meditate or does not fall asleep but is simply the anchor in the present. You are welcome to watch me if you want. To do a healing, I enter a meditation called a shamanic journey by listening to a recording of a repetitive drumbeat. The journey takes about 20 minutes. During the journey, I might be sitting, standing, dancing, singing, lying on the ground, or doing energy work in the space above your body. The process does not involve touching the physical body of the client. The journey unfolds like a waking dream in which four types of healing may occur:
1. Soul Retrieval – lost parts of your vital energy (soul) return
2. Power Animal Retrieval – the return of part of your vital essence that resembles an animal (a kind of “totem animal”) often associated with physical health
3. Extraction – removing negative energy
4. Messages from Guides – information from your inner guiding spirits about how to resolve a problem in your life. For example, “Tell her to take the job offer.” However, this is not an intuitive “reading” where you ask questions and the practitioner answers them. Rather, this is an actual energy work session. I ask my spirit guides to lead me to whatever healing needs to happen. Almost always there is soul retrieval, power animal retrieval and extraction; sometimes there are messages from guides. At the end of the journey, if there are soul parts or power animals to return, I return them by blowing into your chakras (energy center) at your heart and crown (top of head). I rattle around you to seal up the soul parts and I do the thanking the spirits song. Then you can sit up and I explain what I experienced on the journey, and what soul parts returned. If you have a recording device, such as on your cell phone, I highly recommend recording the explanation. This is the best option, since I usually will have a lot of information, and it is easy to forget what I said if you are trying to recall it later. If you don't have a recording device, you may want to take notes on paper, but it can be hard to write as fast as I'm talking :-). In the days and weeks following the session, your task will be to continue to integrate your soul parts through meditating, journaling, etc. How to do this is explained in this email. HOW TO PREPARE FOR SOUL RETRIEVAL
Use meditating, journaling, etc. Recall where and under what circumstances you may have lost soul parts
2. Consider what your life may be like after the soul parts return. Get ready, be open, for your life to change and for you to be different. In what ways would you like to see your life improve?
3. If possible, tell the people in your life that you may be making changes.
4. For more information on the theory and process of soul retrieval, you may want to read the book Soul Retrieval by Sandra Ingerman.
5. It is preferable to schedule your soul retrieval so that you will have quiet time afterward to process the session and begin soul part integration. Arrange to have the session for a day and time when you can go home afterwards, rather than to work, social engagements. etc. HOW TO INTEGRATE SOUL PARTS AFTER SOUL RETRIEVAL
(Please note that this is a suggested plan. Each person's soul part integration process is unique.) In the first 24 hours after soul retrieval:
1. Welcome each part home
2. Give thanks in your own way for this healing.
3. Take a ceremonial bath. This grounds the energy that has returned to you, and is a rebirth experience for the newly rejoined soul parts. You might want to use aromatherapy oils, nice candles and especially bath salts, which help ground the energy.
4. Sing and dance your power animal (very important!) Use spontaneous movement and vocalizing to create a simple song and dance to call up the power of this spirit guide. This song and dance will develop into a repeatable form: it will be the same each time you do it. To do this: go into a room by yourself and say, "Power animal, sing and dance through me." You will find yourself doing some type of body movement, sounds and words that will express the energy of the power animal. To have a connection with a power animal like this is a wonderful gift! The power animal brings energy that you need in your life. Once you have a power animal song & dance, please continue doing it every day for the 28 time period after your soul retrieval, and after that continue doing it on a regular basis your whole life, to call forth the power of your animal guide. The Three Questions to ask your Soul Parts
Each day for the next 28 days after soul retrieval, please ask each soul part these questions, using meditating, stream of consciousness writing, stream of consciousness drawing, or other forms of inner reflection:
1. Why did you leave?
2. What do you know? (This might be memories or skills.) What gift or knowledge do you bring me?
3. What do you need to be happy? (Please give serious consideration to acting on suggestions or requests from the soul parts.) Tell each part that you love them, that you're glad they're back, and that you want them to stay. FOLLOWUP PHONE CALL OR EMAIL
Please call or email me two days after the soul retrieval so we can discuss how you're feeling, any reactions, questions, etc. you might have. Thank you, it's an honor and a privilege to do this work for you. Joan Forest Mage
773-327-7224
joan@lifeforcearts.org
