Shamanic Healing Aftercare

Follow-up to a shamanic healing session is extremely important.  Below are the "aftercare" instructions from one of my teachers - she covers a lot of the bases - to give you an idea of the things that you can be expecting and on the lookout for after our session. 

It does occasionally happen that my spirit allies suggest work that spans more than one session - I ask the question, "what can we accomplish today that is safe and most beneficial for [you, my client]?"   Since shamanic work involves removing energies from your field that aren't yours and don't need to be there because they are detrimental (intrusion extraction, depossession of a suffering being), adding energies that are yours that are missing (power animal ally retrieval, soul retrieval), and changing your energy field to remove imprints on it that cause repeating behaviors (Illumination), the allies might show me that this work needs to be done in stages over multiple sessions.    I set my intention to only facilitate those changes which can be safely absorbed by my client at that time, in a single session. 

A concrete example is in depossession work:  when I took my Compassionate Depossession training in Wisconsin, I ended up releasing two beings who were attached to my energy field that had a better home elsewhere.  These sessions were on separate days, and the second one was a doozy!  Frequently the "weaker" of the beings leaves first, meaning that subsequent remaining beings can be a bit of a bigger experience.  Not necessarily so, but the possibility is there.  This was true for almost all of my 37 classmates.   Since the second being I was able to release brought up very very strong (though beautiful) emotion, had I had both of those experiences in a single day it would have been just too much all at once.  I will tell you everything I see, everything that the allies show me, and I always, always discuss the work and give you the option to continue or not; I don't force work on anyone :-)  I know that I have more work that can be done, and I am looking forward to more shamanic work - I just can't have it all done at once.



Suggestions to assist in integration after a healing session


  • Nurture yourself - Rest, drink lots of water, eat healthy food, and take a soothing Epsom salt or baking soda & sea salt bath.  I recommend 1 quart of Epsom Salt per bath, and to continue daily baths until you feel better - one bath might not be enough.  Feeling out of sorts or bad means that you need it!  The body and energy field will continue to detoxify, self care will assist with the process.

  • Nature - Get outside and let yourself feel and receive the Earth's blessings and messages.  The natural world has a high level of life force and vitality.  This can support and feed your energy body.

  • Timing - allow yourself 3 days to adjust and assimilate what you received in your healing session.  Different people integrate this work at different rates.  The luminous and physical bodies need time to adjust to the transition.  It can take up to 2 weeks for the new patterns to establish themselves.  New patterns can continue to subtly and gently unfold over several months.

  • Synchronicities - Expect Change!   I never know in what ways the healing work will present itself.  Pay attention to what begins to seem different in your life.  People may respond to you differently, or you will find yourself not reacting to situation int he ways you have in the past.  Unusual synchronicities, signs, omens, comments from a friend or stranger may present themselves.  Pay attention to life ... new things will happen!

  • Create a New Reality - make a conscious choice to respond to situations in a positive and life-affirming way ... this is a time to re-pattern out of old, unhealthy mind-sets and behaviors so the new way becomes permanent.   As you engage in different choices, the new aspects and essence of the soul creates a new reality.  There can be a chain reaction of healing realignment.  Your choices help reaffirm your wholeness.

  • Community - Find support, talk to trusted friends and loved ones, a counselor or group.  Share your healing story with those who are open and can honor your healing process.

  • Develop a Regular Spiritual Practice - learn to journey, practice meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, prayer, a walk in nature.  Create personal ceremonies.  Read books on spirituality.  Go on a spiritual journey, Vision Quest or pilgrimage.  Join a drumming circle, take a workshop that teaches spiritual healing or a spiritual path.  A spiritual practice (one that truly resonates to you) will support your healing and make you stronger than anything else. Find a way of connecting spiritually that feels comfortable and authentic to you.

  • Journal - Keep a record of your experience and change.  Confide in and honor yourself.  Sometimes the most powerful insights come from re-reading the old records of your experience.

  • Honor - If you receive special instructions (homework) from your session, follow these instructions to support the healing journey.

  • Follow-up Care - Give your healing process time to integrate.  I encourage feedback to hear how you are doing. Work with a practitioner when you feel ready to tackle new layers of your healing journey.  Pay attention to right timing, but don't endure unnecessary suffering before seeking help.

Aftercare suggestions courtesy of my teacher:  The Hollow Bone - Ana Larramendi
Instructions adapted by Ana Larramendi from Jaes Seis



Jeffrey Rich