| <b>Soul Retrieval - Shamanism and | | | | observing life as an outsider, rather than |
| Healing.</b> | | | | engaging and being fully involved. Other |
| | | | common symptoms are when people feel that |
| The recapitulation of life force is the body | | | | they are being 'spaced' out a lot of the |
| of work, which restores or recapitulates lost | | | | time, not really here. Other symptoms that |
| life force. Soul Retrieval is one of the most | | | | indicate possible soul loss are life-themes |
| well-known and effective practices to this | | | | such as a pervasive fear, inability to trust |
| end. | | | | people. I have also found that a severe |
| | | | depression can also be a symptom of soul |
| To understand how recapitulation practices | | | | loss. Chronic illness may also be a symptom |
| work, we need to look at the multidimensional | | | | of soul loss. This directly relates to Power. |
| nature of reality and move away from a linear | | | | In the shamanic worldview, power and |
| sequential perspective. From this expanded | | | | maintaining health go hand in hand, if the |
| perspective, 'anything which has ever | | | | body is power-full, there is no room for |
| happened to anybody, anywhere; it is still | | | | illness or disease, which are often regarded |
| happening somewhere'. If a traumatic event | | | | as an invasive force. |
| occurred for a person ten, twenty and so on | | | | |
| years ago, for that person it is still | | | | In my practice I have worked with many people |
| happening, and I would venture to state that | | | | who had done considerable work on the |
| it is also in some way still influencing the | | | | original trauma, but still were stuck in |
| person's life. | | | | this. One of the differences between Soul |
| | | | Retrieval and some modern Western |
| Shamanism does not dwell on past events; | | | | psychological systems is that Soul Retrieval |
| there is only this vast awesome ever-moving | | | | focuses on the return and integration of the |
| great moment of now where there is no | | | | lost life-force, rather than focus on the |
| separate past, present, or future. It is | | | | original trauma itself. In my view Soul |
| possible for a practitioner to journey and | | | | Retrieval and therapy work very well |
| move outside of linear time to go to the | | | | together, the best combination being first |
| place where that energetic event is still | | | | the recapitulation of the lost life-force, |
| occurring for that individual, find and bring | | | | followed by a therapeutic approach to support |
| back that person's life force which is held | | | | the person through the process of working |
| in that energetic event, and when this has | | | | with released feelings and emotional energy |
| been carried out, then the therapeutic | | | | which can be uncomfortable and even raw for |
| healing of the event and it's consequences | | | | the individual. This release and subsequent |
| can truly begin. | | | | experiencing of the emotions is a fundamental |
| | | | part of the whole healing process, and I |
| The loss of life-force is known as soul-loss, | | | | cannot stress this enough. |
| and this can take place when we suffer a | | | | |
| trauma, have an accident, experience strong | | | | This healing process leads to what I call the |
| emotional exchanges with a loved one, | | | | union of the life force, when the person can |
| separation from a partner, death of a loved | | | | then move forward in their life without being |
| one, go through a pervasive period of | | | | anchored to the past, and live a life of |
| difficult circumstances. When we undergo a | | | | creativity and productivity. |
| severe trauma typically a part of our vital | | | | |
| nature goes away, so that we can survive what | | | | <b>Life After Soul Retrieval</b> |
| ever is happening to us. It is a way for the | | | | |
| body and consciousness to survive severe | | | | When the soul-fragments are returned, the |
| trauma. Problems develop when the soul part | | | | memories and emotions associated with the |
| or fragment does not return. It may not want | | | | departure of the soul fragment may also |
| to come back, or may not be able to return | | | | return. Although this may not always be a |
| due to the nature of the trauma | | | | comfortable experience, it is a sign that |
| | | | healing is taking place. The experiencing of |
| Joseph Campbell writes in his classic work | | | | the emotions and feelings although they may |
| The Masks of God '...sickness according to | | | | have not been felt prior to the Soul |
| shamanic theory, can be caused either by the | | | | Retrieval , the effects are still working, |
| entrance of an alien element into the body, | | | | but at a deeply unconscious level i.e. a |
| or by the departure of the soul from the body | | | | place of the not known. The person may have |
| and its imprisonment in one of the spirit | | | | been experiencing a chronic and pervasive |
| regions: above, below, or beyond the rim of | | | | depression, yet not able to come to grips |
| the world. The Shaman's clairvoyant vision | | | | with this. Soul Retrieval works very well |
| must discover its lurking place. Then riding | | | | with other therapies. A therapist can only |
| "on the sound of his drum", he must sail away | | | | work with the parts of the person which are |
| on the wings of trance to whatever spiritual | | | | there, it is an encouraging development that |
| realm may harbour the soul in question, and | | | | people are now coming to Soul Retrieval |
| work swiftly his deed of rescue.' | | | | sessions accompanied by their therapist. |
| | | | |
| The concept of Soul-loss , and the ceremonial | | | | The most common immediate response after a |
| retrieval of souls is found in many cultures. | | | | Soul Retrieval , is that the recipient feels |
| For example in the Tibetan Bon Shamanistic | | | | that they are more 'full', that there is more |
| tradition, One of the most important | | | | of them. They may even experience the density |
| practices performed by Tibetan shamans of the | | | | of the body to have changed. |
| Sichen path is Soul Retrieval - Lalu | | | | |
| (literally redeeming, or buying back the | | | | It is important to recognise, that each |
| soul), and chilu, (redeeming the | | | | person is different and everybody will react |
| life-energy). These practices are widespread | | | | differently after a Soul Retrieval. Some may |
| in the Bon tradition and also in all Tibetan | | | | feel heavier, bigger, happier, angry, sad, |
| Buddhist schools. | | | | laughing, or perhaps nothing for a few weeks. |
| | | | My observation is that most people will |
| Although the terminology is different, the | | | | experience a change within a two week period, |
| concept of soul-loss is a phenomenon well | | | | two weeks seems to be the magic number when |
| known to psychology. Jung recounts in his | | | | the person really feels the effect. It is |
| memoirs a fantasy in which his soul flew away | | | | important to trust the persons psyche |
| from him, that is, the libido withdrew into | | | | completely. |
| the unconscious and was carrying on a secret | | | | |
| life there. The libido representing the | | | | The only role that the recipient has is to |
| life-force, and the unconscious typically | | | | receive the healing. It is important that |
| representing 'the land of the dead' . | | | | they keep open, and concentrate on staying |
| | | | open to receive this energy - that is their |
| There are a number of symptoms of soul-loss, | | | | only task. |
| for example, when people feel that they are | | | | |