Shamanic Healing
Shamanism is probably the most time honoured system of healing on earth, it has been practised for over 40,000 years. It’s use is global, every indigenous people on every continent has a history of Shamanic practice. Shamanism continues to be used today by the indigenous peoples of all continents and has experienced a resurgence in practice in the west over the last few decades.
Shamanic practices like many natural healing practices were often taught through word or mouth and so there are very few written records of the practice. Shamanic and other natural healing practitioners were also hunted down and exterminated in the west during the rise of Christianity and the subsequent ‘Witch Trials’ but the traditions remained albeit often practiced in secret and the wisdom driven ‘underground’. As stated, we have seen a resurgence in Shamanic Healing in recent years which seems to relate to the growing awareness both individually and collectively of our need for responsibility, a rise consciousness and a need and desire to heal ourselves.
Although some practices may differ across the world with regards Shamanic Practices there are some fundamental elements that remain the same. Shamanic Practitioners experience the world as two kinds of reality:
The ‘Ordinary Reality’ of our daily lives in the physical world we live and
The ‘Non-Ordinary Reality’ of the energetic or spirit worlds which are frequently seen as being ‘behind the veil of illusion’. It is within ‘Non-Ordinary Reality where the all knowing, compassionate, loving and endlessly wise spirits that we call our guides or spirit helpers, live. These all knowing, loving and compassionate beings are there for us all the time, to teach us and heal us if and when we are ready and willing to connect with them.
Who/ What is a Shamanic Healer and How Does Shamanic Healing Work?
A Shamanic Healer is someone who can change their state of consciousness by using the beat of the drum, rattle or their heartbeat and the heart-filled intention to connect with the world of the spirit.
They come to know the spirit world of ‘Non-Ordinary Reality’ and ‘journey’ there on behalf of the client in order to retrieve information or perform healing for the benefit of the client. The Shamanic Healer works with their spirit guides within the spirit world to effect change and healing in the physical world ‘Ordinary Reality’.
How does Shamanic Healing work?
When I travel on behalf of my clients to ‘Non-Ordinary Reality’ I meet with my specific spirit guides to receive guidance on what is required for them at this time. I then connect more deeply with my spirit guides to complete the work based on the guidance received. This work can be done in person or remotely. All that is asked is that the client is relaxed and open to receive the healing.
With Individuals there are four main areas of work within Shamanic Healing:
- Soul Retrieval
- Removal of Blockages
- Ancestral Healing
- Power Animal Retrieval
In a healing session any or all of these powerful and effective methods may be used, depending on what is necessary, as directed by the spirit guides.
Soul Retrieval
What is soul-loss?
Whenever we experience a shock or trauma some of our ‘soul’ or ‘essence/energy’ can leave our body depriving us of our full power. It doesn’t matter whether the trauma is deemed ‘big’ or ‘small’, soul-loss can occur. It, like many other things can be seen as part of our survival mechanism; when our ‘Ego’ perceives itself to be in danger, part of our essence will leave the body in order to go somewhere ‘safe’. The ‘Ego’ knows that the body will survive without this part and sometimes, if we are lucky the part will return and we will be returned to wholeness.
If the trauma is too big, or we don’t know how to ‘call’ the ‘lost’ fragment back then we are left open to dis-ease and dis-harmony which can eventually become physical illness. The first signs are often felt as loss of connection to our surroundings, we can feel a bit ‘spaced out’, or ‘not fully there’. Soon it becomes a feeling of loss of connection with our ‘self’, the inability to function as we once did. It then progresses to physical/ emotional or mental symptoms; feeling empty, feeling numb, lack of motivation, memory loss, anxiety, depression, addictive behaviour; all these and more are signs that we are not at full power.
Soul Retrieval is a deep and life enhancing experience where the healer ‘calls’ the ‘lost fragments’ back to the client, bringing them back to full power. The shamanic healer retrieves the missing soul or ‘divine essence’ and brings it back to the body. Its important to add, this retrieval does NOT return any of the original trauma but instead brings wholeness, re-empowerment and relief.
