APPLIED SHAMANISM

Shamanism is an ancient cross-cultural healing art which facilitates a return to wholeness for the individual and community at a deep and powerful level. The word shaman means "one who sees in the dark" which is what allows the practitioner to travel on the client's behalf into non-ordinary reality to effect a healing.

The client's commitment to their own healing journey is vital to the work. It is also preferable that the client learn to work with and apply the unifying principles inherant in the tradition. Whatever a person's walk of life, shamanism can be applied to any aspect of existence for reconnection and inner clarity.

SOUL RETRIEVAL The Recovery of the Essential Self

During a soul retrieval ceremony the shamanic pratitioner journeys, with compassion, on the client's behalf into the spiritual realm, in order to retrieve and return the lost soul parts. It is important to know that what is being returned is the vital essence of the self, not the truamatic event. The role of the client at this time is simply to remain open to receiving the vital energy of the essential self. The soul parts always return a gift to us that we need for moving forward and creating a full life.

THE NATURE OF SOUL LOSS

Our authentic self is naturally full of joy, energy and light--a container of vital life force connected to source. Life is the invitation to create from this infinitely abundant source. In the shamanic worldview the soul is made up of various unique aspects, all vital to our harmony and wellbeing. Soul loss is a spirtual illness causing emotional and physical disease. It is a result of a natural response for one or more soul parts to leave the body to survive the shock of traumatic events such as accidents, surgery, illness, abuse, divorce, or death of a loved one. Vital aspects of one's essential self become lost in the non-ordinary realm, and consequently one experiences a loss of energy and power, with a decreased ability to function in daily life.

SYMPTOMS OF SOUL LOSS

~ Feeling that a part of oneself is missing ~ Difficulty being present in the body ~ Feeling dispirited and disconnected ~ Chronic depression, fatigue and illness ~ Memory gaps of traumatic events ~ Difficulty moving forward after a loss ~ Unresolved anger and grief ~ Loss of vitality and initiative

Further shamanic healing includes power animal retrieval, extraction healing (removal of unwanted influences), and learning the art of shamanic journeying for self-healing and empowerment. Personal access to the spiritual realm is vital to supporting the integration process after a soul retrieval.