In the process of going through life, a person may lose some of his or her personal spiritual power. This will cause symptoms like chronic fatigue, a run of bad luck, chronic illness. The shaman will attempt to restore the client's power, usually by reconnecting the client to a former source of power, often in the form of a power animal or totem.

Shamans believe that upon birth, every human soul receives helping compassionate spirit allies that guide, protect and empower us as we grow.  Many indigenous cultures view these helping spirits as Power Animals or Animal Totems. Through the socialization and conditioning processes of growing up in our western culture, often these power animals can be lost or forgotten.

The retrieval of a power animal is often a very exciting and spiritually awakening event for people and is recommended for people with symptoms such as low self-esteem, fear, loss of vitality and vigor, loss of or inactive imagination, and lack of creativity and enthusiasm.