Power Animal Retrieval
Power animals are guardian spirits, similar to the concept of guardian angels. We all have them, whether or not we are consciously aware of them. Children are more aware than adults are, and we see this reflected in their strong and loving attachment to toy animals and pets. Many indigenous people believe that childhood cannot be survived without the guardianship of these spirit allies. They protect us, keep us full of power, health and enthusiasm and prevent negative energies and illnesses from entering our energy field. Sometimes a power animal leaves suddenly for unknown reasons. When this happens, the person becomes disempowered and the result is misfortune and/or illness. The services of a shamanic practitioner can retrieve the power animal for the client in "non-ordinary" reality (assisted by the shaman’s power animal!) and return it to the client in this reality. Specific symptoms which indicate the need for a power animal retrieval include repeated misfortune/accidents, chronic and debilitating illness, depression and, in extreme cases, a lack of will to live.
Most people have at least one spirit helper in animal form. It is possible to have more. As a rule, these helpers are present whether we are consciously aware of them or not. They provide protection, assistance, wisdom, direction and companionship. In a shamanic worldview, the individual’s personal power and physical vitality is a gift from these helpers, hence the term "power animals". These spirits generally take the form of undomesticated animals and like their physical counterparts, they are wont to come and go as they please. When one — for whatever reason — leaves the company of a person, another power animal usually appears to take its place. However, if that does not happen, the person may experience a loss of personal power which might manifest as serious illness, emotional malaise, extraordinary bad luck, personal crisis or some other noticeable way.
A shaman addresses this loss of power by journeying into the spirit world to discover an animal spirit that had previously been their client’s companion. Prevailing upon the animal’s compassion, the shaman beseeches it to return to its human friend. If the animal agrees, the shaman escorts it back to the client. After such a retrieval the client may experience a resurgence of power, health or effectiveness. Retrieving power animal is a fundamental way to retrieve a person's innate, instinctual energies, of re-spiriting a person, re-integrating their core energies and bringing them a true ally for healing, for life-guiding and for relationship.
Most people have at least one spirit helper in animal form. It is possible to have more. As a rule, these helpers are present whether we are consciously aware of them or not. They provide protection, assistance, wisdom, direction and companionship. In a shamanic worldview, the individual’s personal power and physical vitality is a gift from these helpers, hence the term "power animals". These spirits generally take the form of undomesticated animals and like their physical counterparts, they are wont to come and go as they please. When one — for whatever reason — leaves the company of a person, another power animal usually appears to take its place. However, if that does not happen, the person may experience a loss of personal power which might manifest as serious illness, emotional malaise, extraordinary bad luck, personal crisis or some other noticeable way.
A shaman addresses this loss of power by journeying into the spirit world to discover an animal spirit that had previously been their client’s companion. Prevailing upon the animal’s compassion, the shaman beseeches it to return to its human friend. If the animal agrees, the shaman escorts it back to the client. After such a retrieval the client may experience a resurgence of power, health or effectiveness. Retrieving power animal is a fundamental way to retrieve a person's innate, instinctual energies, of re-spiriting a person, re-integrating their core energies and bringing them a true ally for healing, for life-guiding and for relationship.