What you need to know
about shamanic healing and soul retrieval
Alida Birch,
Introductory & Advanced Trainings in Shamanism
Paula
Denham,
The Six Month Self Healing Circle: Working Shamanically with Chronic
Illness in our Modern Society
February 2007
E-mail: AlidaBirch@yahoo.com
One of the most common healing practices the spirits direct me to use
is the power animal retrieval. Quite simply, this means the retrieval
of power for one who has lost it.
My first step is to ask my own power animal what is to be done for this
client who has asked my help. If he directs me to retrieve a power animal
for the person, I then go looking for an animal in non-ordinary reality
who is willing to form a special healing relationship with my client and
bring their power to assist them.
Power animals remind me of the Judeo-Christian concept of the guardian
angel. Power animals protect the client from harm and illness, guide us
on our path, and, if we learn how to journey, they are available for counsel
and healing.
The actual form the power animal chooses to take is often dependent on
the needs of the client. If they are open and have good feelings for a
wolf, it may be that the spirit decides to take the form of the wolf.
Sometimes, if the client needs lessons in a certain area but they are
resisting, a spirit will come back in the form of an animal that is repugnant
to the client.
Clients frequently ask me if totem animals are the same as power animals.
They are not. A totem animal is representative of specific lessons and
characteristics. A power animal is a spirit in the form of an animal;
it is not limited by its form and is capable of working on many different
issues.
