Exercises for Journeying to the Lower World in Shamanic Practice

In shamanic traditions, the Lower World is often viewed as a realm of deep healing, personal transformation, and connection to primal energy. It is typically associated with the unconscious mind, ancestral wisdom, and the retrieval of lost soul parts. Unlike the Upper World, which is seen as a realm of higher spiritual insight and divine guidance, the Lower World is where shamans journey to work with the more hidden aspects of the self, including trauma, emotional blockages, and spiritual disconnection.

While the Lower World can be a place of shadows, it also holds immense potential for personal healing, empowerment, and growth. Many important tasks, such as soul retrieval, healing ancestral wounds, and finding lost parts of the self, are carried out in this realm. The following exercises are designed to help guide you during your journey into the Lower World, enabling you to access its wisdom, uncover hidden truths, and facilitate deep healing.  

1. Entering Through the Cave or Underground Tunnel

In many shamanic traditions, the Lower World is accessed through an opening in the earth, such as a cave, underground tunnel, or hole in the ground. This symbolizes going deep into the unconscious, confronting the shadow, and seeking healing at the root of an issue.

Exercise:

The purpose of this exercise is to enter the depths of the unconscious and confront inner shadows. Trust the process and allow any messages or emotions that arise to guide you toward healing.

 This exercise is powerful when used to recover vital aspects of yourself that have been suppressed or lost due to past traumas. The goal is to heal, reintegrate, and restore inner harmony. 

• Preparation: Find a quiet space where you will not be disturbed. Sit or lie down comfortably and take deep breaths to relax.
• Visualization: In your mind’s eye, picture a cave or underground tunnel that serves as a portal to the Lower World. The entrance may appear as a crack in the earth, a large hole, or even a spiral staircase leading downward. The cave may be dark or illuminated with an otherworldly glow.
• Entering the Lower World: As you approach the entrance, set the intention to journey to the Lower World for the purpose of healing, transformation, or retrieving lost soul parts. Step into the cave or tunnel and begin to descend. Trust that the deeper you go, the more you will connect with the hidden aspects of your psyche.
• Exploring the Lower World: Once you arrive in the Lower World, take time to explore. The landscape might be unfamiliar, but trust that everything you encounter holds meaning. You may encounter guides, power animals, or even symbolic representations of personal challenges that need healing.

2. Shamanic Soul Retrieval

Soul retrieval is a core practice in shamanic work. The practitioner journeys into the Lower World to reclaim fragmented or lost parts of their soul, or another's. 

Exercise:

The purpose of this exercise is to mend the soul damage of  trauma, emotional pain, or significant life events. The journey is designed to reclaim and heal soul pieces to restore wholeness and vitality.

• Preparation: Sit in a quiet space and focus on grounding your energy. Take deep breaths, allowing yourself to center and relax.
• Setting the Intention: Close your eyes and set the intention to retrieve a lost soul part. You may not consciously know where or when the soul part was lost, but trust that the journey will lead you to the right part of your being that needs healing.
• Journeying to the Lower World: Visualize yourself entering the Lower World through an opening, such as a cave, tree root, or deep well. As you descend, ask for guidance in finding the lost soul part you need to retrieve. You may encounter guardians, power animals, or other entities who will help guide you to the soul part.
• Finding the Soul Part: Once you have entered the Lower World, look for the soul part. It may appear in the form of an image, symbol, or sensation. If the part is trapped or wounded, work with the guardians or spirits to help heal and retrieve it.
• Reintegration: Once you have recovered the soul part, bring it back with you. Imagine the soul part returning to your body, filling the void, and restoring your energetic balance. You may also want to perform a ritual of self-care and gratitude to honor the reintegration of your soul part.

3. Meeting Your Power Animal

In the Lower World, practitioners often meet or reconnect with their power animals. These animals serve as guides, protectors, and sources of wisdom. Power animals embody qualities and strengths that are essential for the practitioner's spiritual growth. Journeying to the Lower World to meet or reconnect with your power animal can offer profound guidance and healing.

Exercise:

This exercise helps you tap into the primal energies and strengths that your power animal represents. It encourages you to integrate these qualities into your life for healing and personal empowerment.

1. Preparation: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and take deep, grounding breaths. Set the intention to meet or reconnect with your power animal in the Lower World.
2. Visualizing the Entrance: Imagine a portal in the earth (such as a cave, tunnel, or tree), leading you into the Lower World. Step through this portal with the intention of finding your power animal.
3. Finding Your Power Animal: As you journey deeper into the Lower World, ask to meet your power animal. Pay attention to the first animal that appears to you, whether it’s large or small, gentle or fierce. The animal will present itself in a form that represents the qualities you need at that moment.
4. Receiving Wisdom: Once you meet your power animal, engage with it. Ask it for guidance, healing, or insight into any challenges you are facing. Notice how the animal communicates with you—through words, images, feelings, or energy.
5. Thanking Your Power Animal: When the interaction is complete, thank your power animal for its wisdom and guidance. You may choose to ask the animal for continued support in your waking life.

4. Healing Ancestral Wounds

The Lower World is often seen as a realm where ancestral wisdom and healing can be accessed. Many people carry ancestral trauma or unresolved emotional patterns that affect their lives. A shamanic journey into the Lower World can facilitate healing by allowing the practitioner to work with ancestral spirits to resolve these issues.

Exercise:

This exercise is about healing emotional or spiritual blocks that are rooted in your ancestry. By working with the spirits of your ancestors, you can release generational trauma and move toward greater emotional freedom and clarity.

1. Preparation: Begin by grounding yourself. Take deep breaths and focus on connecting with the earth.
2. Setting the Intention: Set the intention to heal ancestral wounds. Ask for guidance from your ancestors or spirit guides in addressing the root of these issues, whether they are emotional, physical, or spiritual.
3. Journeying to the Lower World: Visualize yourself descending into the Lower World through a portal, such as a cave or tunnel. As you journey, ask for an ancestral guide or spirit to meet you. This spirit may appear as an elder, a wise ancestor, or a symbolic figure that represents your lineage.
4. Healing the Ancestral Wound: Once you meet the ancestral spirit, ask about the specific wound that needs healing. The spirit may provide guidance, ritual, or tools to help you heal the wound. This could involve a symbolic act, such as burning old energy, offering forgiveness, or completing an unresolved ritual from the past.
5. Honoring the Ancestors: After the healing process is complete, thank the ancestral spirit for its help and guidance. You may want to offer a symbol of respect or perform a small ritual to honor your ancestors.

5. Exploring the Shadow Self

The Lower World is also a place where shamans confront their shadow self—the hidden, repressed, or denied aspects of the personality. This journey involves confronting parts of yourself that you may have avoided or suppressed. By engaging with the shadow, you can integrate these aspects into your conscious self, leading to personal growth and healing.

Exercise:

The purpose of this exercise is to face the parts of yourself that are hidden or suppressed. By accepting and integrating these aspects, you can achieve a deeper sense of balance and personal power.

1. Preparation: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and take several deep breaths to relax. Set the intention to explore your shadow self and face any aspects of yourself that need healing.
2. Entering the Lower World: Visualize a dark cave, tunnel, or underground realm. As you enter, know that you are entering a space where repressed emotions and hidden aspects of your psyche may arise.
3. Facing Your Shadow: As you move through the Lower World, allow any shadow aspects of yourself to emerge. These might appear as dark figures, symbolic representations, or emotional states. Engage with these aspects without judgment, asking them what they need or why they have been hidden.
4. Integrating the Shadow: Once you have confronted your shadow, ask what it needs to heal or be integrated. You may receive guidance on how to accept, release, or transform this aspect of yourself. Embrace the shadow as part of your wholeness.

The Lower World is a realm of deep healing, transformation, and exploration. Whether you're engaging in soul retrieval, working with power animals, healing ancestral wounds, or confronting the shadow self, the Lower World offers profound opportunities for personal growth and spiritual insight. These exercises are designed to help you connect with the primal energies of the Lower World and facilitate your healing journey. Remember to approach each journey with respect, trust, and openness, knowing that the Lower World holds both the wisdom and the tools necessary for your spiritual evolution.