I am currently working on my chapter about Extraction.  This is a shamanic technique used to remove unwanted energies.  These are caused by imbalances in our energy field that go on for too long and can be disruptive to our health and well being.  Other energies that need to be extracted are spiritual intrusions which can be caused by any number of things from festering imbalances, negative emotions from others, karmic imprints passed down from parents or grandparents or random entities that lodge in our field because we are too open.

In shamanism, no energy is bad, but certainly displaced energy can cause negative imbalances and disharmony in our bodies and energy field.  Our culture does not necessarily accept the influx of energy that moves through our day to day reality and too often we take on stuff unknowingly because we are not full of enough power to deflect unneeded energy.  Receiving an extraction from a trained shamanic practitioner can be useful to clear unwanted energies and can even have miraculous results in healing disease.

Usually the shamanic practitioner will merge with his or her spirit helper.  When the practitioner merges, s/he is filled with power that enables him or her to pull out the unwanted energies.  Traditionally, shamans ‘suck out’ the illness and physically spit out small objects.  I have often been guided by my spirit helpers to also suck out the illness but it can be dangerous, as the shaman could take on the illness this way.  A safer and often just as effective way to remove the intrusion is to use hands and salt water for cleansing.  Often I am guided to give the client a small ceremony to dispose of what has been removed, which helps the person connect mentally with the extracted energies.

There is more information with a fascinating video of Tibetans sucking out illness here from Shaman’s Well.