Soul Retrieval

What it's like to get a soul retrieval, both during and after.

After the Spirits determine a soul retrieval is right for you at this stage, what is it like?  While everyone's experience is unique, and no two soul retrievals are exactly the same, there is a general format that a shamanic practitioner follows.  I would have loved to have an article like this to put my mind at ease prior to my first appointment with a practitioner for a soul retrieval back in 2017.

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I always like to begin with an in-depth consultation to get an idea of my client's history, current symptoms and concerns for themselves and their life, and wishes for the future.  This talk can take anywhere from 30-60mins, and can be as open as you feel comfortable sharing.  I will say that the clients who are as open as possible see the deepest and most meaningful healings sooner.  It's not that the Spirits need to know what happened, but by talking about it, you are opening the door to receive healing.  Everything is strictly confidential and any/all records strictly protected.

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Once we have finished the consultation, I will consult with my Spirits to determine the best healing ceremony.  If a soul retrieval is indicated, this is how that would look, generally speaking:

• First, the shamanic practitioner will do some preparation work, both for you, the client, and themselves.  The client needs to be cleared so they can receive the lost soul part back.  This can involve smudging with smoke, rattle, spray, or song.  The practitioner needs to be cleared and powerfully connected to their helping Spirit to do the work.  This may look like rattling, drumming, singing, and/or dancing -- each practitioner's relationship to their helping spirits looks different.

• Second, the practitioner will ask you to lie down and get relaxed in their healing space to be physically ready to receive the healing.  They may offer to cover you with a blanket, give you something to hold onto, or offer to give you an eye covering so there are no light disturbances to distract you.  These are all optional and voluntary, for your comfort.  For soul retrievals, power animal retrievals, and extractions, it is usually necessary to return power by blowing that power into the client's body.  I typically do this by making a tunnel with my hands, and placing my hands on the client's forehead and over their heart area.  If this makes a client uncomfortable, I am absolutely willing to relocate or not touch at all.

• Third, the practitioner will confirm you feel safe and ready to begin.  I find this is like the key that opens the door to healing.  If there is anything that makes you feel unsure, it is absolutely okay to say so and have that addressed before the work begins.  Proceeding with any hesitation goes against everything I believe in as far as ethics, permission, and doing good work.

• Fourth, with the client's consent, the work will begin.  This may include rattling, drumming, singing, and moving around the client's body.  When the work is finished, and this can take between 5-20 minutes to complete, the practitioner will blow the soul part back into the client's body.  Some practitioners work with multiple soul parts in one soul retrieval, but I am generally one-part-at-a-time in my Spirits' healing work.

• Fifth and finally, there is time for settling in and re-integrating.  The practitioner may rattle, drum, and/or sing for several minutes until the client seems to have begun that internal process without any Spirit support needed.  That process lasts two weeks or more, sometimes as long as a year, and a follow-up session is scheduled around then.  I am always available for any questions in-between, as big changes may arise in the client's lives after this work.

• It is not recommended to repeat a soul retrieval ceremony until after the current one has fully integrated.