What is shamanic healing?

Shamanic healing techniques are 30,000 to 40,000 years old and are still practiced world wide by both indigenous peoples and others who are called to this work. Sometimes known as spirit doctors or medicine men, shamans view illness as disharmony in a person's life on the spiritual level. This disharmony can lead to mental, emotional, and/or physical illness if left unresolved.

A shaman addresses the spiritual aspect of illness by making journeys outside of time and space into what is called “non-ordinary reality” or a universe parallel to our own. There the shaman meets spirit helpers in the form of animals or human teachers. It is actually these compassionate spirits who perform the healing work with the shaman only acting as a conduit or “hollow bone’.

What is soul loss?

Soul loss is a survival mechanism that takes place during painful or traumatic events. Parts of our essence or soul may leave during trauma in order to help our psyche survive the experience. These parts are lost in non-ordinary reality (also referred to as the spirit world) and need to be brought back to the person so they may feel whole again. The universe does not like voids, therefore soul loss can be an invitation for pain, illness, and/or spiritual intrusions to enter and fill that space.

Symptoms of soul loss:
not feeling ‘yourself’ or ‘all here’
gaps in memory (can be years)
physical illness or surgery
inability to move on after divorce or the death of a loved one
chronic depression
apathy
addictions
suicidal tendencies
multiple personality syndrome
incest
abuse
rape
miscarriage
abortion
wartime stress
experiencing a disaster

Important note:
Soul loss can be triggered by something that may be considered mild compared to this list. Children have a different perception of trauma so some events might seem quite minor in an adult's mind (i.e. falling off a bicycle) but to a child they are major.

What is soul retrieval?

During soul retrieval the shaman journeys on behalf of the client to find lost soul parts and bring them ‘home’ again. The retelling of the journey is tape recorded for the client to keep as a permanent record of the healing session. The resulting ‘wholeness of soul’ can have many beneficial effects at the spiritual mental, emotional, and physical levels. This process usually takes from two to three hours.

What is soul remembering?

This process involves helping a person remember the true essence and original life purpose they were born with; their beauty, strengths, talents, and gifts. For many people this true essence has been covered up and forgotten due to pressures from family, peers, teachers, and authority figures. The shaman journeys to find a symbol for this forgotten essence and brings it back for the client to be continually reminded. of this beautiful original purpose.

What are power animals?

Each of us has one or more power animals who have helped us survive the hazards of youth into adulthood. These animals are in the spirit world and represent the gifts and powers of the entire species. For this reason they are referred to as Crow or Bear and not any particular animal. In exchange for being able to live on the earth plane again through us they offer these gifts and powers to help and protect us in our daily lives.

What is power animal retrieval?

Our power animals may choose to leave us and this results in a loss of power for the person affected. Symptoms of power animal loss are chronic misfortune, depression, apathy, addictions, suicidal tendencies, and illness. A power animal retrieval restores a power animal to the client which then brings its gifts and strengths that will be of particular assistance to the client in her/his life. Forming a deep relationship with personal power animals can have a profound affect on day to day living.

Spiritual intrusions:

Misplaced spirits may enter a person who has suffered soul loss or the loss of a power animal. These spirits are not evil but are simply in the wrong place. Usually manifested in the form of a localized pain or illness, the shaman removes the intrusion and puts it back into nature where it is neutralized.

Divination

Divination refers to the process of foretelling the future or getting information about the unknown through shamanic journeying. I journey on behalf of clients to gain information and insight about issues or situations affecting their lives. This type of guidance can be very helpful in decision making and setting goals and direction in life.

Can this type of healing be done with animals?

Shamanic healing is very effective with animals. Animals’ souls can suffer from the same type of disharmony as humans do. In addition they often carry the double burden of mirroring their people's dysfunction back to them as part of their purpose in our lives. As a professional animal communicator I have talked with many animals who say they cannot get well until their people move onto an appropriate healing path because of the strong commitment our animals have to us. Shamanic healing frequently has the ripple effect of helping harmonize whole households of four legged and two legged creatures!

This seems right for me. What is my next step?

After a short phone consultation I will ask that you read Soul Retrieval by Sandra Ingerman in preparation for our work together. (It can be found in some libraries.) I will do what is called a diagnostic journey to ask my teachers and power animals what type of shamanic healing method is needed at this time. We then set up an appointment for you to come to my healing space, the Spirit Garage. You may choose to come alone or to bring other people who will support you in this process. The night before we work together you will ask for a dream to help you in opening up to receive the healing.

What results can I expect?

Results of shamanic healing vary depending upon the individual situation and a person's commitment to their own healing process, their belief system, and karmic destiny. There may be immediate relief of symptoms or a more subtle unfolding of health and harmony. The beauty of shamanic healing is that it can be used in conjunction with all other healing techniques including psychological, physical, and energy modalities.

Suggested reading:

The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner
Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self , Welcome Home: Life After Healing, and Medicine for the Earth, all by Sandra Ingerman

Presentations and Workshops

In addition to shamanic healing sessions Lena is available to teach an introduction to shamanism and shamanic journeying techniques to both individuals and groups.

Medicine for the Earth

Lena co-teaches Medicine for the Earth gatherings which are based on the body of work by Sandra Ingerman, a gifted shamanic healer and visionary, and author of Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self. In this weekend course we teach participants how to transform personal and environmental pollution by learning how to change negative beliefs and attitudes.

Spirit Garage Gatherings

The Spirit Garage is Lena Swanson’s healing and teaching space built on a beautiful bluff in St. Paul. It’s creation was guided by shamanic journeys which revealed that the bluff had been the site of vision quests by the ancestors who had lived there. As a part of the healing of the soul loss to this land the Spirit Garage was constructed with the intention of being a space for healing and transformation. Spirit Garage gatherings mark special events in the natural world and bring people from all walks of life together to build community and create a common bond.

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