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SOUL RETRIEVAL Soul retrieval describes the rejoining of a part of the soul to the greater soul. Most shamans believe soul retrieval is needed when a soul undergoes an event so traumatic that it breaks away and hides. Shamans peer through the veil of time to search for the concealed soul. Most likely, this idea of psychological fragmentation is already familiar to you. For the past few decades, many therapists have employed principles from a form of psychotherapy called "family systems therapy" to explain the damage of neglect or abuse. Basically, when we undergo trauma, that injured part of us splinters off. When the conflicts occur in childhood, the resulting sub-aspects are usually called "inner children" or "wounded children." The disassociated self becomes stuck, but the rest of the self continues to progress. It's not your job to play psychotherapist, unless you are one. But you might recognize the signs of a fragmented client. Most typically, the "disconnected self" locks into some part of the body, where it can cause numbness, pain, or stiffness. While a mental health professional would assist a client with replaying the event that caused this detachment, a bodyworker can simply use their tools of the trade, such as encouraging a client to sense whatever feelings or memories are locked into the affected body area. The client doesn't even need to talk, merely feel. SOUL EXORCISM What is a soul exorcism? The term exorcism recognizes that a soul can be occupied or imprisoned by a negative force or entity. The age-old idea of "spirit possession" fits into nearly every spirituality and religion across time, most of which recognize the presence of beings like angels and spiritual guides, but also demons and harmful types of interference. The Catholic Church still performs exorcisms, but what other contemporary modalities suggest such an activity? From a therapeutic perspective, a negative entity or force is comparable to a destructive belief system, which can overtake a subject's thoughts and trap them in dysfunction. For instance, a father's cruel voice can continue to influence his daughter long after she's left home. Other parallel examples include feeling overbonded to an abuser or afflicted by a detestable job. SOUL RESTORATION Distinguish Between Conditions From the shamanic viewpoint, and within the realm of your energetic practice, first get a sense of which of the three conditions might be affecting your client. Signs include the following: • Need for a soul repair—The client might express the sense of a deep injury (or block) and be unable to figure out the cause. They might also be afflicted by a self-perpetuated negative behavior, such as participation in an abusive situation or an addiction. • Indications for a soul retrieval— The client might present as spacey, powerless, and unable to make logical connections, especially in relation to their challenges. You might sense that they are partially unavailable or "missing in action." The client might Ta k e 5 a n d t r y A B M P F i v e - M i n u t e M u s c l e s a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / f i v e - m i n u t e - m u s c l e s . 103 even say that they don't always remember all of their actions or that they often feel disassociated or "elsewhere." • Could benefit from a soul exorcism— The client might report that a negative energy (that isn't their own) is affecting them, keeping them from healing or remembering the cause of their problem. They could report the presence of a spirit, ghost, or voice that makes nasty comments. More "normally," they could complain of being constantly afflicted by negative thoughts, mental chatter, an illness that won't leave, a repetitive feeling, a pattern that won't clear, or some other indication of a cyclical problem they can't break. Cyndi Dale is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and intuitive consultant. Her popular books include The Subtle Body Coloring Book: Learn Energetic Anatomy (Sounds True, 2017), Subtle Energy Techniques (Llewellyn Publications, 2017), Llewellyn's Complete Book of Chakras (Llewellyn Publications, 2016), The Intuition Guidebook: How To Safely and Wisely Use Your Sixth Sense (Deeper Well Publishing, 2011), Energetic Boundaries: How to Stay Protected and Connected in Work, Love, and Life (Sounds True, 2011), The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy (Sounds True, 2009), and The Complete Book of Chakra Healing (Llewellyn Publications, 2009), as well as nearly 20 additional books. To learn more about Dale and her products, services, and classes, please visit www.cyndidale.com.