Soul Retrieval

[a_shikhs]

I have been studying and reading a bit about shamanism and soul retrieval. Some time ago, I tried this process on myself as I knew a part of me was missing after a long and an emotional breakup a few years ago. I did end up retrieving my lost piece and in fact found another piece that belonged to the other person (which I did send back to him with the help of my guides). And I did feel nice and happy and somehow lighter, as if a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders.

A month after recovering this lost piece, I started to feel weird, as in I kept thinking about the person emotionally and just didn't know how to let go of these feelings. It's strange but this emotional feeling was not totally mine. I had moved on completely but still it felt that I had to explain a certain part of me to let go, as I as a whole had moved on comfortably. This might not make real sense but does this sort of thing happen after a soul retrieval? I mean getting those feelings back for a while and starting all over again? Just curious.

ANother question: How do you know you need to perform a soul retrieval on a person? What would be the factors determining to go through a soul retrieval?

 

[Saker]

Personally I think it's unethical to attempt a "soul retrieval" for another person unless they have asked you to do it. Why would you think you have a right to solve what you perceive to be a problem for another person by "soul retrieval?" To me that's interfering with someone's will. If an individual wants your help, then fine. Or doing it for yourself. Just my opinion.

 

[Milfoil]

This is the major reason why I personally feel there are difficulties doing remote work and things like soul retrieval without mentoring and guidance.

Lots of people can read a book or do a weekend workshop then go off and practice soul retrieval, some may even be good at it but what happens if it works? What are the effects, what happens and how do you support the person going through this? This is what is missing from the books and workshops - the longterm care. Shamanic work is not about what you can do but about the healing of others and that is the trying, testing, long, hard, difficult road back to recovery, often full of emotions, tears even pain and requiring a supporting, loving and above all experienced, grounded and knowledgeable practitioner who the client can rely upon. This is impossible when the work is done at a distance or by someone with inadequate training.

Personally I think it's unethical to attempt a "soul retrieval" for another person unless they have asked you to do it. Why would you think you have a right to solve what you perceive to be a problem for another person by "soul retrieval?" To me that's interfering with someone's will. If an individual wants your help, then fine. Or doing it for yourself. Just my opinion.

While I would agree that generally, doing a remote soul retrieval for someone you don't really know, have permission from or have any connection with would be ethically unsound, in situations like this, where there is an intimate connection between parties, it is a generally accepted part of personal healing work that we go to look for these problems in our own lives and seek healing for them either by others or attempting the work ourselves. It is common, when the soul retrieval involved a relationship with another person or entity (business, place etc) that there will be parts of them missing too so to send them back is considered acceptable. If the person is not ready or open to receiving them yet, then nothing will happen so no harm done but to leave the soul part there without attempting this could be considered cruel.

A month after recovering this lost piece, I started to feel weird, as in I kept thinking about the person emotionally and just didn't know how to let go of these feelings. It's strange but this emotional feeling was not totally mine. I had moved on completely but still it felt that I had to explain a certain part of me to let go, as I as a whole had moved on comfortably. This might not make real sense but does this sort of thing happen after a soul retrieval? I mean getting those feelings back for a while and starting all over again? Just curious.

Yes, this is the reason for long years of training, mentoring from a really good, experienced and honest practitioner (not just another person who has done a few workshops and written a book) because effectively you are performing open heart surgery on someone's soul!

ANother question: How do you know you need to perform a soul retrieval on a person? What would be the factors determining to go through a soul retrieval?

Please forgive me if this sounds harsh but I am very concerned. If you are asking this question then you don't have the knowledge or training to be attempting this kind of work on others. What you do for yourself is your responsibility but PLEASE don't play with this (and put others at risk). If you are serious, then find a good teacher who will take you on as a long-term student. If you are called by the Spirits to do this work, then ask them to bring you to the right teacher.

 

[a_shikhs]

Personally I think it's unethical to attempt a "soul retrieval" for another person unless they have asked you to do it. Why would you think you have a right to solve what you perceive to be a problem for another person by "soul retrieval?" To me that's interfering with someone's will. If an individual wants your help, then fine. Or doing it for yourself. Just my opinion.

Hi Saker,
I wasn't attempting a soul retrieval on the other person, but on myself. I journeyed with the intention of retrieving my lost piece. While journeying, I happened to come across the other person's lost piece too which was kept with my lost piece. I asked my guide to return it to the person whenever the time was right for them to accept it back into their life. I did not do anything unethical here.

 

[a_shikhs]

Hi Millie

Thank you for such a wonderful reply. Your reply does make a lot of things clear for me. So it is normal to feel emotional and vulnerable after receiving your soul part back. This had me really worried, but now it makes perfect sense.

Please forgive me if this sounds harsh but I am very concerned. If you are asking this question then you don't have the knowledge or training to be attempting this kind of work on others. What you do for yourself is your responsibility but PLEASE don't play with this (and put others at risk). If you are serious, then find a good teacher who will take you on as a long-term student. If you are called by the Spirits to do this work, then ask them to bring you to the right teacher.

The reason I asked this question was- A few days ago I was telling my friend about this experience and she too, after having gone through a difficult break-up asked me to perform a soul retrieval on her. Of course, I don't have enough experience in this field at the moment and would NEVER perform a soul retrieval on her, no matter how much she pleads. I just asked the question out of curiosity and nothing more.

 

[Milfoil]

That sounds really sensible, it could be something that you work through with your friend whilst under the guidance of an experienced teacher.

Often these parts will come back of their own accord if we just do some basic healing work ourselves, sending some kindness back, admitting mistakes, relaxing and allowing a good, honest look at what happened - that kind of thing.

The feeling upset, weepy, emotional, turned upside down or inside out, not feeling grounded, all these sorts of things are quite normal so perhaps you are experiencing these so as to know what it is like for others? What you can do to help and support someone else will depend on them, the circumstances of the healing, events in their life, how they deal with things and essentially, what the Spirits direct.

 

[a_shikhs]

That sounds really sensible, it could be something that you work through with your friend whilst under the guidance of an experienced teacher.

Often these parts will come back of their own accord if we just do some basic healing work ourselves, sending some kindness back, admitting mistakes, relaxing and allowing a good, honest look at what happened - that kind of thing.

The feeling upset, weepy, emotional, turned upside down or inside out, not feeling grounded, all these sorts of things are quite normal so perhaps you are experiencing these so as to know what it is like for others? What you can do to help and support someone else will depend on them, the circumstances of the healing, events in their life, how they deal with things and essentially, what the Spirits direct.

That's exactly what I told my friend. She just needs to be more open and accepting and healing will take place for her when the time is right.

Would you recommend any other book on soul retrieval besides the ones by Sandra Ingerman and Alberto Villoldo?

 

[Milfoil]

I'm afraid I don't know of any specific books. Sorry.