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Soul Retrieval
Soul Retrieval is a specific form of shamanic healing that involves a practitioner journeying in spirit world to retrieve pieces of the client's energy body or "soul" that have been abandoned or separated-from during a tramatic life event. It is yet another way to describe a process that is impossible for the human mind to fully understand. And yet, for many, the symbolism of a "lost piece of me" returning feels very true, and has good effects in terms of relating to a healing experience.

According to this analogy, it is natural for pieces of a person’s spirit or soul to break off during traumatic events throughout a lifetime. The piece breaks off in order to take some of the trauma away, to aid in assimilating and moving forward through any pain or readjustment from the trauma. 
Soul piece loss is a functional part of life. If soul pieces didn’t break off, people could feel overwhelmed and not be able to move through traumatic situations. A trauma may be any event - from the ending of a relationship - to the death of a loved one - to changing jobs. Whether an event is considered “traumatic” or not is an individual distinction. For example, to a four-year old, getting lost in the mall may be traumatic. But to a 16 year-old, not having a date to the prom may be traumatic. 

When the soul piece is returned, the positive energy that was lost in the trauma is returned. For example, with Soul Retrieval, the lost 4-year-old piece would bring back a renewed feeling of security and freedom of movement to the client. Soul Retrievall does NOT mean the client must re-live the trauma of being lost as a 4-year-old. Shamanism does not engage in the Western moral view that one must “suffer” to heal. Shamanism embraces our oneness with Spirit and the ultimate joy in healing and oneness that Spirit offers. 

The lack of needed soul pieces shows up in a number of ways. These include: 

	Obesity
	Addictions of any kind (to love, drugs, alcohol, adrenaline, etc.)
	Depression
	Unhealthy self-esteem or feeling unworthy
	Aimlessness and confusion about who you are or what you are supposed to be doing with your life
	The feeling that you know there is something more out there for you but you can’t put a finger on what it is or move forward towards it
	Inability to let go of things and move on (from a relationship, the death of a loved one, a career, etc.)

	Co-dependant relationships
	The death of a loved one
	Betrayal of any kind
	Moving from your home or to a strange place
	Abandonment
	Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional)
	Physical trauma (car accidents, etc.)
	Challenges with coming of age or rites of passage

This information was written by Mellissa Seaman, who utilizes Soul Retrieval, and Soul Essence Retrieval (which is the return of a whole group of related soul pieces at once) in her long-distance shamanic healing sessions via email. Visit her at www.heartwisdom.net.