SRE (or soul recovery and extraction) is a form of shamanic healing. Its aim is to achieve healing and wholeness within the person. Most people have some soul loss – that is, they have, usually through some trauma (in this or a past life), lost part of their spirit. This is a loss of the energy that makes up a person and the pieces that are lost may be held by other people, living or deceased. Soul loss may be felt as a sense of being not quite complete, or of having lost a piece of oneself, or it may be accompanied by symptoms that are emotional or physical.

Shamanism is as old as human kind itself – it is an ancient form of healing and predates modern medicine by millennia. It is known in almost every native culture. Traditionally the shaman was the healer in the village. They shared the daily life and normal problems, trials and joys that all others experienced, but they also were trained to help their own people spiritually and would journey to the spirit world to find help and healing for their fellow

humans. The body, mind, spirit connection is honoured in shamanism – it is holistic in approach and practice.

The shamanic journey

To recover soul pieces, the shaman enters into an altered state with the aid of drumming (no drugs are used) and journeys to retrieve the pieces from those who hold them. The pieces are then returned to the client. In all of this work the shaman works with her guides, non-physical beings who help with and advise her during the journey. The pieces returned are symbolic and usually take time to integrate.

The integration process is the client’s responsibility; it is the job they have to attend to once the shaman has acted as a catalyst for the return of the pieces. The client may experience emotional effects after the journeys – this is part of the release of blocks and the integration of pieces that may have been missing for a long time.

The extraction part of the journey may have two forms, which may be used as well as or separately from the soul recovery. The “external extraction” is work done on the person’s aura and involves removing blocks or disturbances and bringing healing. The “internal extraction” is a way of doing much the same sort of thing within the body.

The effects of a journey

We do not give any guarantee regarding the effects of the journey, as the client must be willing and able to integrate the work done and support the changes that may occur after the journey. The integration of the pieces does take time. Most clients integrate them in about 90 days, but some will take longer – up to a year.  The length of time it takes to fully integrate pieces does not imply anything about the efficacy of the journey or the shaman, nor does it necessarily imply anything negative about the client. Everyone grows and

changes at their own rate. It is my experience that most clients notice an improvement within the 90-day period. Many say that they feel more themselves, or stronger and more in control of their lives after having had a SRE done for them. The aim of this work is to return the client’s power to them.

Who can have a journey done for them?

SRE can be performed, not only for adults, but also for children and infants, for animals and the deceased, for buildings and land.

Religion and shamanism

Shamanism is an ancient form of healing and predates many formal religions. It is not to be confused with black witchcraft or devil worship. Some shamans do not practice a formal religion, but others do. In our work we honour the Highest Reality, whatever name it goes by – God or the Great Spirit or some other – and our highest intention is to come in harmony with the Will of The Great Spirit in our work. The religious beliefs of our clients are respected and there is no expectation on a client to accept any formal religion nor to change any that they believe in.

Further information can be found at ‘The Medicine Garden’ website.

Raewyn Freedman

Shamanic facilitator