Soul Retrieval

[FaeRain]

Greetings All~*~
I had an appt. with a friend of mine who is a psychic channeler today, and she was told by her "guys" that due to things that have happened to me in my past that part of my soul has left and/or has fragmented...that I need to do a soul retrieval. Now, she is completely above board, and didn't even imply that she shoudl be the one to do it, rather that I should ask my guides and Goddess to help me retrieve the missing part myself.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN????

Sorry for shouting, but I'm a little freaked out. Have any of you undergone this before?

FaeRain

[LilydePlume]

Shamanism and Soul Retrieval

by Paula Rosenfeld



If you haven't been sure what's meant by "soul retrieval," this article
presents a definition as well as a perspective on shamanic work in this
area.



If you have ever endured one of those sleepless "dark nights of the soul" and
survived, you may well recall a feeling of elation when the sun came up and you
knew you would be okay. In fact, having deeply faced your blackest despair,
you were mysteriously left feeling more a part of the world, more whole, and
more filled with the power that comes from knowing who you truly are.

This sort of soulful transformation can sometimes come to us spontaneously,
and it can also be the gift of receiving shamanic healing. It is a gift of the spirits
that transcends the experience of ordinary reality. Often, we cannot overcome
the limitations of our scars or our denial mechanisms by ourselves. We may
need the help of a shamanic practitioner to venture to non-ordinary reality to
retrieve parts of our self that "left" so that we could survive on earth, the
so-called "planet of pain."

For 40,000 years, shamanic healers all over the world -- from Siberia to Africa
to Europe to South America to the Native Americans -- have had one foot in
ordinary reality and one in nonordinary reality, bridging the gap between
humans and spiritual helpers. Whether the need was for physical, emotional,
mental or spiritual healing, the shaman "journeyed" to helping guides for healing
for their clients. Techniques of journeying differ among native people, but most
cultures have used the sound of percussive instruments like drums and rattles to
enter into the altered state through which spirit contact is available.

From the shamanic perspective, all life is imbued with spirit. Plants, rocks,
animals, stars and the earth are filled with power. Modern civilization has
become deadened to this awareness. Today, many people are totally cut off
from nature's healing embrace, feeling disenfranchised from their environment,
fragmented and disempowered. The shamanic seer has a vision of wholeness
that has become lost to most of us. We long for this wholeness, we long to
thrive, but often cannot manifest what we deeply know is our birthright.

In shamanism, according to Sandra Ingerman, author of Soul Retrieval,
Mending the Fragmented Self, there are three major causes of illness: loss of
soul, loss of power, and what is commonly called "intrusions." When people
suffer trauma, she writes, the shamanic perspective maintains that part of the
soul splinters off, causing soul loss, power loss and disease. Psychologists call
this phenomenon "disassociation." In the shamanic framework, disassociated
parts of ourselves can be located in other realities. The shamanic healer
"journeys" to nonordinary reality to retrieve lost or stolen soul parts, obtain
power animals and guidance for the client, and extract any intrusions (misplaced
energy) present in the person's body or aura.

The first question one might have is "What is the soul?" This question has been
much debated, of course, and some people have specific religious beliefs about
the issue. Webster's New Dictionary first defines soul as "that which thinks,
feels, desires, etc.," but I find this much too mechanistic and limiting. I believe
there is a crucial transcendent quality to soul touched on by combining
Webster's second and third definitions: "a spirit embodied or disembodied;
innermost being or nature." This seems to capture most closely what, in my
opinion, may always remain part of the great mystery of existence.

The shamanic practitioner pursuing soul parts becomes a disembodied traveler,
seeking to retrieve actual, multi-dimensional parts of a person's soul which exist
outside of our normal concept of time and pace. These parts may have
splintered off for many reasons.

Soul loss often results from childhood abuse -- sexual, physical or emotional.
This is tragically prevalent in children of alcoholic parents. Soul loss also
frequently occurs when a spouse, parent, sibling or friend dies. It can occur in
codependent relationships or divorces. It can occur at the time of an operation,
car accident or other physical trauma.

Truly, there are many reasons why a soul would find it too painful to be fully
present to a situation. The parts either leave on their own, taking refuge in
nonordinary reality, or are stolen by others. If stolen, the shaman must "steal"
them back -- a process that requires negotiation, trickery or actually doing a
healing on the soul of the thief. This comes up often in cases of intergenerational
abuse. For instance, the father of a client who was physically abused may be
holding onto the client's soul part. Not only will the client get healing, but the
father who was abused by the grandfather may also receive healing. Healing
may go back several generations in one soul retrieval session, and personality
changes in the perpetrator are often reported by the client in follow-up sessions.

Traumatic situations can also cause power loss as a result of separation from
the original power animal that is said to accompany us from birth. The shaman
will reunite the animal and human, so that we can embody the power, guidance
and gifts our power animals bring into our lives. Often, the shaman will obtain
additional power animals for the client. These animals are offering assistance to
the person, helping them move into a new phase of healing and growth.

There are many, many different power animals, each bringing its own unique
"medicine." Some people consider Bear to be the ultimate animal healer. Bear
seems especially helpful in healing those deep childhood wounds that so many
of us have incurred. Notice how frequently children are attracted to teddy bears
and other stuffed animals. Many clients, when reunited with their original power
animal will state such things as, "Well, that's amazing that I got a rabbit -- I used
to sleep with a big, white bunny rabbit when I was little. I wonder what
happened to it!"

Synchronicities between journeys and ordinary reality are everyday occurrences
in shamanic work. One client for whom Squirrel was retrieved later
remembered that she had experienced a profound epiphany after an unusual
encounter with a squirrel on her back porch the week before. Another person
had a swallow retrieved for her and mentioned that she'd had many flying
dreams throughout her life.

Soul retrieval sessions can seem miraculous very often. The visions seen by a
shaman are sometimes psychically literal, as if the shaman were viewing a
photograph from the client's scrapbook. Sometimes the vision is metaphorical
and would be interpreted in the manner of a dream. Another type of vision that
regularly occurs is the retrieval of a soul part from a past life. That soul part may
have become "stuck" in nonordinary reality, unable to evolve and become
integrated into the client's current incarnation.

In one case, a person came to the shamanic practitioner seeking relief from a
chronic backache. The backache was shamanically "seen" to be related to a
past life in which the client was shot in the back and killed. The healing enabled
the client to experience long-lasting relief from a back problem unsolved by
several years of chiropractic efforts.

Not all physical problems are solved that instantly or easily. Shamans stress that
the roots of a physical problem may be healed spiritually during a soul
retrieval. The physical body is thought to be the outermost manifestation of
spirit, and a problem that began spiritually will sooner or later materialize
physically. Since shamanism is spiritual healing, a shaman may remove the
"cause" of a problem, but the symptoms of the problem may need to be
addressed medically.

Shamans, however, may also remove "intrusions" in the hope of improving the
client's health. These misplaced energies lodge in a person's body, often existing
as a result of someone else's intense emotions internalized by the client. Or, the
intrusion can be created by the client's own repressed feelings. Intrusions are
thought to cause chronic physical problems, and are often present in cases of
sinus trouble, stomach and intestinal ailments, reproductive organ problems, and
much more.

Where does the shaman go to perform these mysterious activities? The
landscape of nonordinary reality is said to be divided into three distinct
"worlds," which are the Upper World, the Lower World and the Middle
World. These worlds can be accessed with very specific journeying techniques
and healing methods practiced for thousands of years.

Shamanic healing should never be practiced without proper training. Michael
Harner, the well-known anthropologist and author of The Way of the Shaman
(a classic reference source on shamanism), has founded the Foundation for
Shamanic Studies, which trains shamanic practitioners and supports shamanism
internationally.

Soul retrieval is a powerful method for the recovery of spiritual wholeness.
Despite trauma and despair, many people have been able to face and transcend
their pain. With renewed wholeness comes empowerment, joy, insight, and the
ability to truly show up for our lives!
Paula Rosenfeld has trained in methods of shamanic healing and soul
retrieval with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. She is also a
nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork. Paula practices
in the Chicago area
BB
LP

[Xander67]

Thanks Paula :D

Fae, one question? did you pay this lady? mabey you need a second opinion from another chanell.


that is a pretty strong diagnosis there,
Not trying to say your friend is whacked or anything

I just dont want to see you get scammed
there are alot of con artist out there who will
play on fear...and if they see you are buying thier snake oil,
then they will break out the magic vitamis and the whole
wagon!




I had someone tell me my soul was missing!

I replied ":eek: OMG I hope it comes back before my body finds out or they will be putting me in a box!"

[FaeRain]

Thanks Lily...that article was insightful. It all makes sense, I've always thought I was just a numb person, or unemotional...but how am I supposed to feel deeply if I'm missing part of myself?

Xander...this is the third time in 2 years that something along these lines has been mentioned to me by an advisor, for lack of a better word. And my friend from today is a highly thought of channeler, and a wiccan priestess, order of Brighid also. So, she has my trust.

Has anyone here undergone this process?

Fae

[Xander67]

It was just my opinion

I dont buy into that stuff
I do agree we do exist here and in another realm (higher self)
but I think the place to look is deep inside of you...
perhaps there are parts of you just waiting to be discovered....

sure lots of us feel like there is something "Missing"
but I dont believe it is possible for any part of a soul to be gone...
for one...or for anyone to steal it from you.

I do believe and acknowledge that sometimes life can be hard and the soul may back away (as in deeper inside of you)

If you believe that a part of you is missing?...where is it then?...
where do you look?......

there is only one place to start...and that is deep in your dreams, your childhood memories, and deep inside who you are....
I do hope you find what it is you seek

Im sure your friend has a valid point..but I still suggest you get a second opinion, from another channeler

Talk to the Peer Councilors too...
Bright Blessings

[FaeRain]

I'm pretty new here...who/where are peer counselors?

[Xander67]

Its one of the threads in this forum, it says Inroducing Mystic Wicks peer counsilors...

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8381

but keeep checking here though, there will be alot more ppl on later on and mabey someone can give better advice or has gone through the same thing

Good luck

[LilydePlume]

to suggest a message board "counslelor" but I think it also wise to remember that these are not professionals in any sense of the word , and that soul retrieval , while you may not buy into it Xander, has been a vital part of shamanic work for thousands upon thousands of years.
My shaman healer certainly took no money , and he just was able to reach inside me and heal in ways that
have nothing to do with "counseling".
Someone told me to explore this several times before I had it done as well, and what I found is that if you open yourself to the possiblity of having the healing done , the healer will appear , and that healer will be for you and you alone . It is a very intense focus , but you will heal .
BB
LP

[Xander67]

First of all Lily
I did not suggest the MW Peer Councilors as a solution to her dilema...

second.
I was not discrediting shaminism
I was just trying to see she wasnt getting mixed up in a sham job.

third.
I thought it would be nice for her to get real advice from real ppl, instead of a thesis on the subject from......:) me shut up now before I say something me not supposed to :D

[Myst]

For those of us who can't come into contact with Shamans, there is an entire chapter on soul retrieval (VII) and how you can do it yourself in the Witch's Magical Handbook by the Frosts. Maybe you can see if it's at the library, if a friend has it, or if you can save to buy it?

PM me if you want more info :)

[Epona44]

This is an intensely personal experience and not one to be undertaken lightly nor without expert guidance.

LilydePlume has given some good advice.

[Xander67]

I agree, I never said her advice was bad,

I was just looking out for Fae, From experiences I had thats all...

[Siren]

I didn't need someone to tell me taht i lost a piece of my soul...i felt it go....

it has almost completely returned...or maybe renewed is a better word....

i suggest you to do some reading on the subject, and to try meditation, this may help you find what you are looking for....

[mato]

I have done a few soul retrievals in my time (a cat once, and for some family members and myself), it is dangerous if your peice has gone deep into the underworld, or even to the god of the dead (as it might think that that is were it belongs or it might be seeking protection with your 'animal guide') and should never be undertaken by some one who has never been through a journey or without the protection of an 'animal guide'. I would suggest that you try calling it back (or singing, I suggested that to a petient who needed to do get it herself but she had had no experience and she recovered it without having to go into the underworld, rather sing into the woods (within a circle) and wait for it to come to her. A ritual would also work, or maybe if you play an instrunment or do something that you havent done sense the soul splintered...) if you dont have experiance or dont know of your 'animal guide'. If it doesnt return (assuming that the problem that made it splinter has been delt with) then see someone about it (get a second opinion), have them go get it and heal you/it. It is really common to have a soul splinter.

Mind yourself on the journey as the spirits will torment your soul (and your soul shard) if you dont know what you are doing. Your peice may force you to overcome your fear and the reason it left before being convinced to return. It should not be forced as it will only run again and make you sick, but rather convinced to come home. Mind you you dont bring anything else home with you!

[Sequoia]

FaeRaine - While I think parts of our souls can be disconnected, I don't think they're truely lost.

I know a goodly deal of me is not connected, not whole, at the moment. Getting there! :) Many, many, many lives ago, several of my friends pleged to stay together to fuful a promise, and I (as in my soul) am streached out, binding each one of us together. :ahhhh: it's quite a stretch! glad I'm flexible! ;)

But to many, it might seem as if I don't have the whole of my soul. Before you go getting terrified, ask yourself: do I feel alright this way? Might there be a purpose for me to be seperated? Might someone be reading me incorectly, even several someones? Might I be special in some way that looks wrong to others?

Remember- if your soul were TRUELY gone, you'd be dead. Your body would be about the level of a soulless vegitable, and you'd not exist. More often than not, there's a reason something seems up. Try meditating on it. Dream about it. Talk with it. do some soul searching (forgive the pun), perhaps even quite literally. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Best of luck, my friend!

~Puma Hime

[FaeRain]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I truly love this place...(thanks the Goddess for the internet).

Now after reading your replies I have a plan...I'm going to the library and getting the book Myst recommended and other viewpoints...start meditating and drinking this herbal tea made from healing herbies..and ask for a healer to appear. I don't think my friend who did the reading does soul retrievals, but in the local wiccan newspaper I found one. I'd rather someone be sent though...rather than finding someone in the phone book.

Apparently I fragmented in childhood, so remembering the events that led to it is near impossible. I only have short-term memory!

I'll keep you guys posted to what's going on...

Happy Monday to all!
FaeRain