Do you feel "all here" - or that you live
as fully as you could? If not: consider the
possibility of essence loss - loss of crucial of ourselves that provide us
with life and vitality. It is a common cause of illness and depression and
of unsatisfactory relationships. Most of my clients already feel that a
piece of them is missing. They are relieved to discover that what they
have been feeling most of their lives actually has a name.
The basic premise is that whenever we experience trauma a part of our
vital essence separates from us in order to survive the experience by
escaping the full impact of the pain. What constitutes trauma varies from
one person to another. For children especially, there can be moments of
trauma that would hardly be considered even to be "difficulties" by
adults.
Sometimes it returns soon afterwards, sometimes not. If it does not, it
can become split-off and lost in 'non-ordinary' reality. If a part of our
essential life-energy has fled, how can we bring it back? Psychotherapy
can only work on the parts of ourselves that are 'home', for example. So
we all spend a tremendous amount of psychic energy looking for lost parts
of ourselves. We do this unconsciously and in many different ways -
generating dreams and daydreams and creating relationships that mirror
back to us our missing parts.
Fragmentation can not only cause depression but can dilute our commitment
to being here. The universe may reflect that back by not always presenting
us with life-giving situations. We may be out of our bodies a lot of the
time, not listening fully, and missing signals that could have helped us
to avoid making some uncomfortable decisions.
Essence retrieval is a powerful technique which can enable us to recover
the intensity of life and the intimacy that we once enjoyed or of which we
hold an image. You will be accessing a space deep inside you, your inner
knowing. Essence retrieval is an ancient technique that can help bring the
lost parts of ourselves 'home' via a gentle and safe inner journey to
enable you to move forward in your life.
Most of us have more than one part missing. We have experienced a series
of traumas at different periods in our lives, causing many pieces of our
essence to leave. How many parts can we lose? That really depends on the
individual and their history.
EXAMPLES
In some way most of
us experience some degree of essence loss. A beloved spouse, child or
friend dies and the survivor also 'deadens' for a while. We feel as if the
light as gone from our existence, as if we are sleepwalking. Or we return
from major surgery and do not feel as if we have come fully out of the
anesthesia. Or we are locked into destructive relationships but feel too
weak and powerless to move away. Or in leaving a relationship we might
feel as if something was left behind with the partner.
Essential life energy may leave a child who does not feel loved. One child
lost essence as a result of the physical pain of falling off a bicycle.
Many of us have had the experience of receiving some jolt, whereby a part
of us seemed to space out for a while. Shock is the word usually used to
describe this condition. The reaction is normal and in itself no cause for
alarm. But sometimes, for reasons we don't fully understand, the part of
the self that left fails to return.
What are the results? "I'm not all here" people sometimes say, because
they feel that an essential part of themselves is missing.
Multiple soul loss might follow a theme. One client's losses occurred at
ages 3, 16 and 28, all at times when she felt her freedom and independence
being threatened. Another's threads of essence scattered in non-ordinary
reality was caused by feelings of abandonment.
EFFECTS
There is such a wide range of experiences that each individual's
response varies widely. We are each unique and have our own way and time
for dealing with issues that come up. The effects of essence retrieval are
extremely varied, both short- and long-term.
Soon afterwards people may report that they feel "more present" or
"bigger" or "fuller" or "lighter". Many discover that their senses are
awakened and colours are more vivid. They hear better, their sense of
smell is sharper - they are more "in their bodies". These changes can
cause some disorientation for a few days, which is actually a positive
reaction.
Sometimes a person may become tearful for a while, as the memories
returning with the lost part flood back in. Often there is joy. The
effects can be surprizing as the client re-experiences the event both from
an adult perspective and a child's point of view. Frequently the incident
does not seem as traumatic to the adult client, although the lost child
part may have experienced it as shattering.
Integration of the returned life force takes some time. I ask my clients
to wait a few weeks before deciding whether they want another journey. The
period of integration varies considerably but in most the effects are
delayed about two weeks. Feelings of happiness, sadness or anger seem to
intensify over time. People can become temporarily depressed a few weeks
afterwards, yet when clients have been chronically depressed the return of
the essence seems to spark the light of life they were looking for. Most
people do, with time, feel the power, strength and sensation of being
present in their bodies.
Occasionally a client will report feeling raw, feeling too much energy in
their body. This is common; for years, out of fear, we contract and cannot
let energy pass through our bodies. To protect ourselves, we block our
feelings, which cut us off from any life force. When we open and the life
force pulsates through us, it can feel raw.
This is a good sign. It can
help to say the words "I ask to get in touch with my higher/deeper
consciousness and ask that it let in only as much energy as my body can
handle at the present time". This can work in minutes. We can then allow
the feelings of being alive to pulsate through our bodies a little more
each week, so we are not overwhelmed by the feelings but learn how to
moderate them.
It is amazing how these effects of essence retrieval change people's
lives, usually in minor but significant ways. Keep in mind that although
essence retrievals can correct what is out of harmony, this sometimes
needs to be complemented by other forms of therapy such as counselling,
bodywork or health treatments.
LIMITATIONS
Not everyone
experiences a dramatic effect - or even any effect at all. There are a
variety of reasons. Some are that the essence loss may not have been
significant enough to produce seen or felt effects; the effect might be
too subtle for the person to recognize although consultation with friends
or family may reveal a surprise.
Some people may think they want an essence retrieval but on an unconscious
level may not be ready to receive back a missing part. Maybe they are not
ready to handle consciously the return of memories. This need to wait must
be respected. We are all so unique: our right timing for healing, change
and re-experiencing life traumas must be respected.
HOW MANY ESSENCE RETRIEVALS DO WE NEED?
I don't think people
need a lot of retrievals. Once you have enough significant parts of
yourself, I believe that the rest can follow. After one or two, most
people have back what they need to experience wholeness in their lives.
Not everyone needs essence retrievals anyway. Ask yourself first, do I
feel there is a significant problem with how my life is functioning? Am I
ready to be whole? Am I ready for a change in attitude? Am I ready to let
go of my pain? If not, that's all right. Don't push yourself.
Instead of resisting the "I'm not ready" response, try experiencing the
fears, the beliefs, the whole range of feelings that are emerging for you.
Go inside and ask yourself what is one tiny step that I can take tomorrow
to help myself become ready. Please remember that taking small steps to
climb mountains will get you there just as surely as taking giant leaps.
