Soul Restore: Questions about Shamanic Healing

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to:

What is shamanic healing?
What is soul retrieval?
What is extraction?
What kinds of results do people get from shamanic healing?
How would I know I need shamanic healing?
How many shamanic healing sessions would I need to achieve results?
Why does shamanic healing work in cases where psychotherapy doesn't?
Can you do soul retrieval healing for yourself?
Is distance healing as effective as healing in person?
Can you do shamanic healing for animals or children?
Can I ask you to do a shamanic healing for someone else?

If you have a question not answered in the Soul Restore website, please submit it to info@soulrestore.com. If suitable, we'll post the answer to the site.

Questions about Shamanic Healing

Q. What is shamanic healing?

A. Shamanic healing is healing at the spiritual level. Essentially it is spiritual reconstruction -- bringing back lost parts of our soul and removing spiritual blocks or baggage from our bodies or energy fields. It leaves us lighter and brings us to our full selves--who we were meant to be. And although shamanic healing works with our soul, it generally heals our emotions, our psyches, and our bodies too, because everything is interconnected.

Shamanic healing works quickly and powerfully and usually is best performed by a trained and experienced shamanic healer on behalf of the client. The two main techniques in shamanic healing are soul retrieval and extraction.

For more information, see shamanic healing.

to top

Q. What is soul retrieval?

A. Soul retrieval is bringing back parts of our soul, or our essential self, that may have left our body, usually as a natural coping response to trauma (e.g., car accident, abusive situation, a job or family in which we cannot be our full selves). When we are traumatized, it is too painful and overwhelming for us to be fully present and aware, so a part of our soul leaves to wait in non-ordinary reality. This state of soul loss is often referred to medically as shock, or psychologically as dissociation.

Sometimes we experience soul loss because we have given a quality of our essence to someone else, or allowed them to take it. We often give away a quality of our essence (e.g., patience, assertiveness, zest for life) to someone else because we want to help them, or they may want this quality of ours for themselves.

For more information, see shamanic healing--soul retrieval.

to top

Q. What is extraction?

A. Extraction removes "spiritual baggage" that does not belong to us, or blockages we have created in our spiritual energy by not addressing intense emotions. These are called spiritual intrusions. If these blocks are not released, they may grow, and over time will affect our physical health.

For more information see shamanic healing -- extraction.

to top

Q. What kinds of results do people get from shamanic healing?

A. Here are some results experienced by my shamanic healing clients:

A successful career woman and Mom becomes able to express her vulnerability. Her relationship with her separated husband improves and her friendships deepen and become closer.
A separated Dad gets his playfulness back and his kids can't get enough time with him--he's fun to be with!
A depressed, apathetic client regains her zest for life and her energy. She gets a new apartment and changes careers.
A woman with asthma and allergies has her symptoms decline dramatically and has much more energy and enthusiasm.
A tough, successful counselling director heals from childhood abuse and loses her crustiness. She becomes gentler, laughs more, and says she rarely feels angry. Her employees comment that she's an even better boss!
A woman regains her assertiveness and her marriage moves to a higher level of cooperation and closeness.
A man wants to let go of a past relationship and feel whole when not in relationship. He feels a hole in his heart. He regains his confidence to love and trust and within a month is happily involved in a new relationship!
A woman in her 60's has arthritis in her hips which affects her ability to walk and sit comfortably. After healing, she can sit cross-legged, walk and move freely, and is able to once more enjoy riding her horse!
A woman with ovarian cancer heals the issues she feels caused the cancer and feels cured as well.

For more information, see healing clients' quotes and letters and stories of healing journeys.

to top

Q. How would I know I need shamanic healing?

A. Usually after learning a bit about shamanic healing, you have an intuitive sense that this is what you have been looking for, this is what you need. It just feels right.

Generally, you will have a sense that some inner resource or spark is missing. And/or you may feel a heaviness in your body in a specific place that affects you (e.g., you find it hard to breathe deeply, like there's a weight on your chest; your legs feel sluggish and heavy; your heart aches and feels heavy).

Here are some of the ways past clients have described their need for healing:

"I feel like an observer, watching my life, but not really participating in it"
"My brother died when I was 17 and I haven't felt the same since"
"I feel empty inside"
"I know I look competent on the outside, but inside I feel like a scared little boy"
"Life isn't fun anymore, there's no joy in it"
"I don't seem to feel anything very deeply--it's like I'm living on the surface of life"
"I feel like some things are so hard for me that seem easy for other people"
"I think too much about what others think of me and what I'm doing; I can't seem to relax and be myself"
"I find it hard to say no to people, even when I know I should"
"I don't trust other people"
"I know my relationship is solid, but I'm always afraid she's going to leave me. It doesn't make sense."
"I've been divorced for 10 years, but I just can't seem to move on with my life"
"I know I should let my child live his own life, but I can't seem to let him be"
"I'm always anxious"
"I feel like other people know how to live, but I don't"
"I find myself constantly thinking about that incident and going over it in my mind. I'd like to move on."

For more information, see healing clients' quotes and letters.

to top

Q. How many shamanic healing sessions would I need to achieve results?

A. Many people find one session enough. I suggest one healing session with a follow-up session within a month. In the follow-up session, you would learn to do shamanic journeys and could use this on your own to receive guidance on how best to integrate the healing. You can use this skill lifelong for guidance and healing. I also do more healing, if necessary, for you in the follow-up session.

At any time beyond three months after the healing, you may feel that it is time to do more healing. Usually this would be about different life issues than the first healing. You likely would not need follow-up for this subsequent session. For most people, three healing processes (healing plus follow-up) are all they need in a lifetime to achieve wholeness. Often, once you have begun a process of shamanic healing, other lost parts of your soul may come back to you on their own.

For more details, see the healing process - what to expect.

to top

Q. Why does shamanic healing work in cases where psychotherapy doesn't?

A. Because they work at different levels. If the root cause of a challenge is spiritual, shamanic healing will be effective. If the root cause is psychological, psychotherapy will be effective.

I have often seen the best results for people, in terms of lasting change in their lives, through a combination of shamanic healing and psychotherapy. Many clients come to me after having done a lot of psychotherapy. They understand their behaviour and thought patterns and are clear on what needs to be changed, even though they may not have been able to do it. They are able to receive the shamanic healing and do the personal work needed to integrate and change their lives.

If someone has little experience with examining their own thoughts and behaviours, I often suggest they go to a psychotherapist after shamanic healing to do any work necessary to integrate their personal shifts.

With shamanic healing it is generally not necessary to relive, or even know, the trauma of the past to heal it. You look forward and receive the essential qualities that will allow you to live the life you want. And you release energy that has been blocking you from doing so. It can thus be quicker and less painful than psychotherapy.

For more information, see shamanic healing.

to top

Q. Can you do soul retrieval healing for yourself?

A. Yes, but it's not recommended that you seek to do this. When you do healing for yourself, you will likely relive traumatic incidents from your past and/or face people who have a part of your soul. It is difficult to stay focused in these cases and it can be emotionally wrenching and traumatic in itself. Shamanic healing was traditionally done in community with friends and family supporting the healing by a shaman. This showed the person how loved and valued they were and welcomed that lost part of them home. Some say that when a shaman performs healing for you, the spirits are more supportive in aid of the effort of the shaman.

If soul retrieval happens spontaneously though, while you are shamanic journeying, or otherwise, this is a blessing! If your spirit helpers suggest you go find a part of yourself, you're probably ready for the healing and for whatever you may go through in performing it for yourself.

For more information, see shamanic healing.

to top

Q. Is distance healing as effective as healing in person?

A. It depends. As shamanic healers work in the realm where time and space have no boundaries, the healing work the shaman does will be just as effective whether she is with you or not. The main factor in whether or not healing is effective is your readiness and willingness to receive healing. If you find it easier to accept healing when you see the shaman do something in front of you, it may be more effective for you in person. Otherwise it makes no difference. I do healings in person and by distance.

Sometimes distance healing is more effective, if the ritual of shamanic healing would make you uncomfortable. This has been the case with at least one client of mine.

To book a healing by distance or in person or for more information see the healing process--what to expect.

to top

Q. Can you do shamanic healing for animals or children?

A. Yes. Often with animals it is easier to do the healing by distance as they don't keep still during a healing.

to top

Q. Can I ask you to do a shamanic healing for someone else?

A. I won't do shamanic healing for anyone unless they have asked me directly. I think it is wrong to do healing for anyone without their permission. It is a violation of their free will and their boundaries. This is the kind of behaviour that wounds souls in the first place, creating a need for healing. If someone is in a coma or unconscious, I will journey to their spirit to ask permission to perform a healing.

If you think there is someone in your life who really needs to change or be fixed, you may want to consider booking a healing for yourself. This will make it easier for you to accept or address their behaviour. And you may be able to release any unhealthy spiritual connections you may have with that person.

For more information, see shamanic healing.