Curanderismo Soul Retrieval: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom to Restore the Sacred Energy of the Soul - Erika Buenaflor M.A. J.D. 2019

The Underworld
Locating Lost Soul Pieces: Navigating the Upperworld, Middleworld, and Underworld

Soul pieces that are lost because of sexual traumas, physical abuse, psychological abuse, attempted suicide, or soul theft can often be found in the dark crevices or voids of the Underworld. It is typical to enter the Underworld through a pool of water, or through some opening, such as a cave, tree trunk, or tunnel. The landscape of the Underworld can resemble earthlike terrains, including oceans, seas, mountains, forests, bridges, jungles, and caves. It is typically volatile and can melt away into something else at the blink of an eye, especially as we go into deeper self-awareness and pass our trials and tribulations.

The inhabitants of the Underworld are typically described as the spirits of plants, animals, elementals, and beings known as Earthkeepers. Earthkeepers know the vast multidimensional and intradimensional nature of Earth and can grant access to any earthly plane, reality, or time. They can help us to traverse more than one reality at one time, which is particularly helpful when there are soul fragments in many spaces. Often when past life traumas are being addressed, it is customary to go into the Underworld first and work with the Earthkeepers to determine in which realm the missing soul piece is residing, and to be granted safe passing.

Navigating into the Underworld with Breathwork

It is not necessary to engage in breathwork to navigate into the Underworld. You can use any of the methods I suggested in the previous chapter. But these breathwork exercises are additional tools for inducing a trance state in order to navigate into the Underworld. The body and its subtle body energy systems are a reflection of the cosmos, including the nonordinary realms. The two energy centers that are associated with the Underworld are the root and sacral chakras.

Cobra Pranayama

Start with Cobra Pranayama to charge the body with life-force energy, as all trance-journeying requires energy.

Position your hands according to the cobra acupressure points: Cup your hands over your face. Place the index fingers on the temples and place pressure there. The index, middle, and ring fingers should be slightly above the eyebrows. Place the pinky fingers at the bridge of the nose, and place pressure there. These acupressure points also relieve most kinds of headaches and help us to become more focused, centered, and grounded.

Keep your hands in the cobra position, and take quick breaths in from the abdomen, while pushing in or contracting the abdomen. Bring the breath to your chest. Count to 11, 22, or 33 while doing the Cobra Pranayama breathing. After you count to 11, 22, or 33, exhale out the mouth. (Refrain from exhaling while engaging in the quick inhales.) Repeat this breathing exercise 3 times with the same set of counting to 11, 22, or 33.

Centering Breath

Cupping the hands over the face, take a big inhale, hold the breath, and release the breath while moving the hands down in prayer position toward the center of the chest, the heart chakra. When moving the hands to the chest, set the intention of balancing your energy and aligning it at and within the heart chakra.

Stimulating the Root Chakra with the Maya Arrival Mudra

1. Curl in the middle, ring, and pinky fingers to the palm, and leave the index finger and thumb straight.

2. Press the index finger between the upper lip and nose; this acupressure point stimulates the root chakra.

3. Inhale, and exhale with a guttural “UH.” Repeat 3 times.

Fig. 3.1. Maya Arrival Mudra.

Illustration by Carolina Gutierrez.

Stimulating the Sacral Chakra with the Maya Take Mudra

1. Keep pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers straight, and use them to place pressure with two fingers below the belly button; this acupressure point stimulates the sacral chakra.

2. Inhale, and exhale with an “OO.”

3. Repeat 3 times.

Fig. 3.2. Maya Take Mudra.

Illustration by Carolina Gutierrez.

Journey into the Underworld, and be ready to ask the questions corresponding to the cardinal space you are working with.