Curanderismo Soul Retrieval: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom to Restore the Sacred Energy of the Soul - Erika Buenaflor M.A. J.D. 2019
Concentration of Soul Essence Energy
The Soul: Concentrations of Sacred Essence Energy within the Body
Like the ancient Mesoamericans, this practice teaches that the soul is concentrated in certain parts of the body. These are the seven principal energy centers, located above the crown of the head, at the forehead, at the throat, at the center of the chest, at the abdomen, below the navel, and at the tailbone. These centers are associated with the health and sanctity of particular organs and parts of the body.
Many contemporary Mesoamerican curanderx, including a couple of my principal mentors, were readily familiar with these seven principal energy centers or incorporated some variance of them. Again, curanderismo is an eclectic and dynamic practice, and we curanderx often engage in diverse complex processes of negotiation and appropriation of other practices into curanderismo. While our roots are in ancient Mesoamerican traditions, we appropriate other practices and make them our own. In this book, I appropriate the modern understandings of these seven principal energy centers and use the popular well-known Sanskrit word to identify these energy centers, chakras.
Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel,” “circle,” or “revolving disk.” Chakras are usually envisioned as spinning wheels of light at the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, as well as at the already identified energy centers. They animate and regulate the health and wellbeing of the physical body.
Chakras are composed of the energies inside and outside the body, including cosmic and Earth-based energies, and can temper and transmute these energies. Each chakra is typically associated with a gland or glands, a harmonic tone, an energetic frequency, and a color. Chakras tie together different parts of the body and connect the body to the cosmos. They temper physical and subtle energies and can transmute one type of energy into the other and back again; they can also increase the frequency of the subtle energetic bodies.80 While Eastern religions have different names, attributes, and classifications for the chakras, I will base my discussion on their use in popular terminology.
The seven chakras carry records of our memories—good or bad—life patterns, traumas, and belief systems. They can readily be stimulated with sound, acupressure, intention, and breathwork. It is the energetic signatures and the information recorded in the chakras that we will use to engage in soul retrieval and journey into the three nonordinary realms. Like the ancient Mexica, I was taught that the seven energy centers were all associated with particular nonordinary realms. We can take the information stored within these energy centers to stimulate the chakras, resolve issues related to the soul retrieval process, and retrieve more of our soul pieces.
Following is a description of the chakras and the typical emotions and memories that are recorded in them.
1. Root chakra. The root chakra is located at the base of the spine, inside the vagina in women and above the testicles in men. It is the chakra of basic survival, instinctual drive, primal sex drive, and bodily life energy and is the physical regulator for the endocrine system. Wounding recorded in this area often leads to mistrust of others and ourselves, defensiveness, aggression, unhealthy sexual relations and patterns, and/or looking for security in material things. When we heal soul loss in this center, we resolve feelings of scarcity and lack, release our reliance on material things, and feel more secure in trusting ourselves and others. We are also more likely to enjoy healthy sexual relationships.81 The root chakra is associated with the Underworld.
2. Sacral chakra. The sacral chakra is found just below the navel in the center of the body. It is the center of emotions and empathy, gendered identity, and sexuality beyond primal needs. It activates the adrenal glands. Trauma recorded in this area often leads one to be in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode, with high levels of paranoia, an inability to manage emotions, and/or constant involvements in codependent relationships. When we heal soul loss in this center, feelings of fear and attracting fearful circumstances are resolved, and we have an increased potential for higher emotional intelligence.82 The sacral chakra is also associated with the Underworld.
3. Solar-plexus chakra. The solar plexus is between the navel and sternum. It is the center of personal will, thought, self-control, and the psychic immune system. It influences how we express ourselves in the world and is associated with the adrenals and pancreas. Injury recorded in this area often leads to a poor sense of self, feelings of disempowerment, narcissism, imbalanced energy levels, taking on other people’s energies, and/or an inability to filter out intuitive information. When we heal soul loss in this center, we can establish more meaningful relationships, obtain a greater sense of self and self-confidence, and ensure healthy self-respecting boundaries.83 The solar-plexus chakra is associated with both the Middleworld and Underworld.
4. Heart chakra. The heart chakra is located behind the sternum. It is the center of unconditional love, forgiveness, and compassion. It is associated with the thymus gland and is the bridge or translator between the “lower” and “higher” chakras. Wounding recorded in this area often results in an inability to discern different degrees of love, receive love, or love selflessly, as well as self-loathing and self-criticism. When we heal soul loss in this center, there is a stronger sense of compassion and a higher ability to love selflessly, forgive, and be compassionate. We can develop an ongoing practice of self-love.84 The heart chakra is associated with the Middleworld.
5. Throat chakra. The throat chakra sits right above the hollow base of the neck. It is the center of communication, creativity, clairaudience, change, and commitment and is associated with the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Injury recorded in this area often results in an inability to express oneself or commit to change, or to hear whether someone is being sincere. It also typically results in weight-related disorders. When we heal soul loss in this center, we improve communication skills, can speak with authenticity, are highly creative, and become more patient and receptive to people.85 The throat charka is associated with the Middleworld and Upperworld.
6. Third eye chakra. The third eye chakra is at the center of the forehead. It is the center of imagination, insight, discernment, and intuition and is associated with the pineal and pituitary glands. Trauma recorded in this area often results in being spiritually disconnected and undependable and having poor discernment skills. When we heal soul loss in this center, we are able to experience spiritual truths, feel a strong connection with the divine, and experience higher levels of intuitive intelligence.86 The third eye is associated with the Upperworld.
7. Crown chakra. The crown chakra is located above the very top of the head. It is the center of inspiration, unity, idealism, and divine wisdom and is associated with the pineal gland. Wounding recorded in this area often results in episodes of deep depression, constant states of confusion, or feelings of isolation. When we heal soul loss in this center, we have a stronger awareness of our infinite nature and an ability to create our world as we choose.87 The crown chakra is associated with the Upperworld.
Many assert there are more energy centers outside the physical body, often identified as the “spiritual chakras.” But their numbers and associations vary. Typically they are associated with spiritual growth; rescripting negative patterns (whether they are or are not in the current lifetime); karmic records; and a remembrance of our infinite nature. They are sometimes symbolized as a sun above the head. Although this book will primarily focus on the first seven chakras, we will be working on the issues associated with the spiritual chakras as well.
We will be using the seven principal chakras as a map for navigating and journeying into the nonordinary realms (which will be discussed in the third chapter); to heal and restore our soul pieces by working with the issues that may come up and with their relevant energy centers; to release nonserving patterns as stuck energies; and to recalibrate and reconsecrate our returning soul pieces. We will also be relying on the most accessible and effective ancient Mesoamerican methods to facilitate soul retrieval: shamanic breathwork, intention, the spoken word, and diagnosing the area of the body where the energy has been depleted.