released and is often given a ritual or some other action to perform. This releases these parts back to their rightful owner.
3. The final stage is for the shaman to guide the client in journeying to the soul parts returned to her during the first meeting. She can ask questions of the soul parts, see any recurring patterns in her life where she is liable to give away her power (in relationships, for example) and help the soul parts themselves to reintegrate.
It is usual to leave a gap of at least 2 weeks between each of these stages, although most clients feel a beneficial effect very quickly. Many comment that they feel energy returning to them even as it is blown back into their bodies and 99% of people feel better within 2-3 weeks of a soul retrieval.
A TYPICAL SESSION
A typical soul retrieval session is as follows:
1. The shaman will purify and cleanse the room where the soul retrieval is to take place. This is done using smudge, a mixture of sacred herbs with cleansing properties. He will also smudge himself and the client.
2. The client and shaman discuss the problem and any symptoms.
3. The shaman decides whether he or the client should take this journey. If the latter, the client lies on the floor in a precise trance position and is given detailed instructions for the journey. The shaman maintains a steady beat throughout on a special medicine drum and will give the client other instructions as necessary.
4. When the client brings the soul part back, the shaman takes it and blows it into the Energy Body of the client, then uses a rattle to seal the soul part in by rattling around the client’s body four times.