the_animist | Soul Extraction - An Introduction (Reply)

Soul extraction is the act of withdrawing any harmful or negative or unpleasant entities or energies from the body. Often this process is followed with a healing, or placing a lost soul fragment back into the body. Soul extraction can in some religions and practices be seen as a kind of ‘exorcism’ or a healing of a ‘possession’, but in our modern day practice it might also be an exorcism of an addiction or dis-ease, or something else that may be caused by an energy which can be removed during a shamanic healing.

Most neo-shamans tend to talk of soul retrieval, but not many include soul extraction in their practice, I feel this is something of an oversight. If the soul has the ability to split off and leave the body, then theoretically it is just as easy for other entities and energies to find their home in the voids left behind in a person’s spirit.

We tend to think of very dramatic scenes when we think of possession. The disturbing images from The Exorcist for example, or the stories of kitsune possession from Japan where people start behaving like foxes, or acting in a negative manner. In many cases, possession is nothing like this.

For example, a person may have been in an abusive relationship with their partner. Part of their spirit may have left during this time, so they could still live, and so that their spirit could ‘survive’ untouched and unharmed during the process. But at the same time, that partner’s hatred and disgust may also go into the person’s spirit, and stay there. Over time, the person may turn this hatred and disgust against themselves without even realising that it doesn’t belong to them. They accept this energy, even as it causes mental and physical dis-ease. During a shamanic healing, a soul extraction is needed to remove this energy, or to begin a process of removal, and a soul retrieval is also needed, to find the spirit that left and encourage it to come back to the body with words of love and trust. People who have this sort of energy inside them may feel they can never truly let go of the person who hurt them, or may always feel over-shadowed by this person. You may find yourself pre-occupied with this person, unable to stop thinking about them.

In another example, a spiritual person may journey off into the otherworlds. When they do this, they might encounter a nightmarish figure, or something unpleasant. If they are unable to protect themselves, or if they do not have a close relationship with their guides, this unpleasant figure may come back with them and ‘shadow’ them. This person may start to feel ill or weak, or tired and sick. In many cases this ‘entity’ may leave on its own, especially if the person looks after themselves and their spirit. But in some cases the entity stays, and requires those experienced in cleansing the spirit in order to fix the situation. I believe that shamanic healers are the best-equipped to deal with these situations, but you might also consider priests or Wiccans, and those of other spiritual persuasions which include cleansing and purifying of the spirit.

It is important to know and remember that soul extraction can be dangerous, and it should never be done ‘lightly’ or without experience, it puts both the healer and the person who needs healing in danger. Not knowing how to remove negative energy safely, or not knowing how to place a fragile spirit fragment back into the body, can result in further harm and ill-health – exactly what you’re trying to avoid.

If you experience any doubt, or worry about the ability of your spirit-helpers to support you, then there is no point attempting a soul-extraction, to do so is irresponsible and disrespectful.

Learn to recognise when to refer those who come to you onto stronger healers, and always remember that healing is an ongoing process, and one ‘extraction’ may not be enough. If you cannot provide aftercare, or cannot find someone who can, then performing a soul-extraction is probably not the right course.