Soul Retrieval Integration Suggestions

This information is from my book: Unity Begins Within.

Shamanic soul retrieval is an ancient, multi-cultural ceremony where, through a process unique to the shaman’s environment, traditions, helping spirits, personal experiences, and ingenuity, lost parts are found, offered healing, and returned. As you might imagine, soul retrieval can enhance traditional therapy and even save lives. Here are a few suggestions that will heighten your integration on all levels—physical, emotional, mental, and energetic.

Ground.

Place both hands on your heart/soul space. Breathe. Use your imagination and call, one at a time, to each restored soul-part and lovingly welcome them home.

Notice their behavior. Is there anything she/he/they want to share? Listen to what they say, even if you think you’re making it up. Choose to trust your experience.

And then ask the part, “What would you like for dinner?”

Most people are surprised when I suggest this and surprised again at the response they receive after asking the question. We all had favorite foods when we were young. If your part says, “chocolate cake,” buy or bake one. You, the adult, can decide if it will be your dinner or dessert. The main thing is to connect with your part while eating it. (Little Annie, a restored soul-part from a healing many years ago wanted mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I ate an entire pint in her honor.)

A client had been craving a McDonald’s burger all week and couldn’t understand why—until she had an “aha” moment. When she was nine years old, those burgers were her favorite food. Her reunited little girl wanted comfort food, and so, in an act of pure self-love, the forty-two-year-old vegetarian took her nine-year-old self to McDonald’s.

Create an altar.

Include your intention and if possible, pictures of yourself at whatever age(s) your restored soul-part(s) might be. If you received a power animal, find a picture, statue, or even a stuffed animal and place it there also. You might even decide to sleep with it.

Claim your intention.

A student said, “The intention becomes an anchor for the conscious embodiment of the healing.” Your entire post-healing experience unfolds in relation to this, and if you stay awake, and live “as if,” your unification process might accelerate.

Check-in with your soul-parts daily. What do they want? Need? Can you accommodate them?

Try this: Sit someplace where you won’t be disturbed. Bring a pencil and paper. Ask one part at a time if there’s anything it wants to say. Pick up your pencil with your non-dominant hand and begin writing. I learned this exercise in my early thirties while attending an inner child workshop. It was the first time I became viscerally aware of little Annie and discovered how scared and unhappy she was. (When a friend did this, her part responded by writing right to left, so when the process was complete, she had to hold it up to the mirror to read it!)

Don’t forget about your power animal. What medicine does it offer? You can research this, but try asking directly. Here’s a heart-warming power animal story.

A client was in temple when the Rabbi suddenly began weeping in the middle of giving a talk. Once he somewhat composed himself, he explained to the congregation that his mother had recently died. My client became creative in a way that never occurred to me—she asked her lioness power animal to comfort the Rabbi. Within minutes, she said, he expressed that he suddenly felt a newfound calmness. She smiled.

Integration is a conscious, creative, self-loving exploration. Communicating with your retrieved soul-parts might make you feel a little crazy at first, but there will come a time when you’ll notice you haven’t checked in for a while.

Do it.

Is everyone happy? If so, perhaps integration is complete.