Shamanic shadow work is a term used to describe the process of facing and integrating the lower vibration characteristics and personality traits that our ego has suppressed deep within us. When shadow emerges, we’re referring to those aspects of ourselves that we’ve refused to acknowledge and thus hidden in darkness. This process of suppression took place over the course of our lives, over the course of our family lineage (generational) and also as the result of traumas held onto from past lives. The shadow aspects that we ignore have been the subconscious motivators of the majority of our thoughts, feelings, reactions, and actions over the course of our lives. This means that they are directly responsible for who and where we are right now. Furthermore, these shadow aspects have played a major role in diminishing our power and opening us up to manipulation and tyranny. Shadow work is a deeply personal journey that requires us to face our fears, traumas, and suppressed emotions. It involves acknowledging and integrating the shadow aspects of our humanity as they come up in our life experiences.
What are Domestications and Attachments and how do they effect my decisions in life?
Domestications and attachments are two concepts that can have a profound impact on our lives. Domestication refers to the process of conditioning that we undergo as we grow up. This conditioning is often unconscious and can lead us to adopt beliefs, behaviors, and patterns of thinking that are not in alignment with our true selves. Attachments, on the other hand, refer to the emotional bonds that we form with people, places, and things. These attachments can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the nature of the bond.
When we are domesticated or attached in an unhealthy way, it can lead us to make decisions that are not in our best interest. These decisions are often driven by fear, guilt, or shame and can keep us stuck in patterns of behavior that do not serve us.
Shamanic shadow work is a powerful tool for overcoming these domestications and attachments. By facing our shadows and integrating the lower vibration aspects of our personality, we can begin to break free from the conditioning that has held us back. Shadow work involves identifying, acknowledging, exploring, and integrating our shadows .
How do I actually 'do the work'?
The following are some steps that can be taken to begin your journey into shamanic shadow work:
Identify your shadows: The first step is to identify your shadows. This can be done by paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, reactions, and actions. Notice when you feel triggered or when you experience intense emotions such as anger, fear, frustration or sadness. These are often signs that your shadow is at play.
Acknowledge your shadows: Once you have identified your shadows, it’s important to acknowledge them. This means accepting that these aspects exist within you and that they are a part of who you are.
Explore your shadows: The next step is to explore your shadows. This involves delving deeper into the emotions, beliefs, and experiences that have contributed to their formation. Journaling, meditation, and therapy can be helpful tools for exploring your shadows.
Integrate your shadows: The final step is to integrate your shadows. This means accepting these aspects of yourself and working towards transmuting them into beneficial energies that serve your highest good and the greatest good of all.
Shadow work can be a challenging process but it’s also incredibly rewarding. By facing our shadows, we can reclaim our power and live more authentic lives.
How does the shaman help the client with shadow work?
Shamanic journeying is a powerful tool that shamans use to access the spirit world and connect with their spirit guides. The journey to the lower world is one of the three worlds that shamans travel to, the other two being the middle world and the upper world.
The following are some steps that a shaman might take when performing a journey to the lower world to do shadow work with a client:
Setting an intention: The shaman will begin by setting an intention for the journey. This involves clarifying the purpose of the journey and what they hope to achieve 2.
Creating sacred space: The shaman will create a sacred space for the journey. This involves setting up an altar, lighting candles, burning incense, and playing music or using other tools to create a meditative atmosphere.
Entering a state of trance: The shaman will enter a state of trance by using drumming, rattling, or other techniques. This allows them to shift their consciousness and enter into the spirit world.
Finding the entrance to the lower world: Once in the spirit world, the shaman will look for an entrance to the lower world. This could be a cave, a hole in the ground, or some other portal.
Meeting their lower world and spirit guide: The shaman will then meet their lower world guide who will help them navigate through the lower world. The spirit guide could be an animal, a plant, or some other entity and will help guide the shaman through the healing process.
Exploring the realm: The shaman will explore the realm of the lower world and look for any shadow aspects that need to be addressed. This could involve encountering past traumas, suppressed emotions, or other aspects of the client’s shadow self.
Returning to ordinary reality: Once the work is complete, the shaman will return to ordinary reality by retracing their steps back through the portal and returning to their physical body.
Shamanic journeying is a powerful tool for healing and transformation that produces rapid positive transformation within the client. By accessing the spirit world and working with their spirit guides, shamans create a safe and protected space to help clients overcome their shadows and live more authentic lives.
Shamanic Soul Retrieval
Shamanic soul retrieval is an advanced healing technique that is used to restore balance, harmony, and personal power to an individual. According to shamanic teachings, as we progress through transitions, traumas, or significant life events, a piece of our soul essence (also known as a soul part) may leave the physical body and return to the spirit world. This can result in feelings of disconnection, depression, anxiety, and other emotional and physical symptoms.
The shaman performs soul retrievals to gather the soul’s “parts” and usher them home. This process involves entering into an altered state of consciousness and connecting with helping spirits to locate the lost soul part. Once found, the lost soul part is returned to the body.
Soul retrieval has been practiced by indigenous cultures around the world for thousands of years. It is based on the belief that all experiences affect our soul and that all healing comes through the soul. In shamanic cultures, the care of the soul is extremely important.
Soul retrieval can be a powerful tool for healing trauma. Trauma can leave imprints in our energy body that influence our current life. These imprints cause us to attract people and experiences that recreate and repeat the traumatic stories. Shamanism is uniquely suited to heal these imprints because of the shaman’s direct access to nonordinary reality and to the energy body where these imprints are held.
Through the techniques of shamanic healing, we can clear negative imprints from the Luminous Energy Field, retrieve energy in a soul retrieval and return it to the client’s self-system, extract intrusive energy that doesn’t belong to the client and heal and release soul parts from previous lifetimes. By engaging in shamanic soul retrieval, we can begin to heal from past traumas and live more authentic lives.
If any of this resonates with you and you would like to talk more about how as a shamanic practitioner I can help you uncover and work through what is holding you back from healing old and new wounds, attachments and domestications then you are invited to contact me and I will be happy to assist you where possible or otherwise refer you to the solution I feel is best for you.
Comments