The word psychopomp is derived from the Greek meaning “guide of souls”. Sometimes the soul of a deceased animal or person becomes confused, disoriented, or stuck and cannot find its way to its tribe, to its people, to the other side. Sudden, traumatic death can cause this disorientation. The spirit stays with the body or within ordinary reality, without moving on. For example, animals killed suddenly by cars frequently are unaware they are no longer in their bodies. A person who has co-opted another’s spirit through abuse will not completely cross over until those soul pieces are released and returned to whom they belong. A shamanic practitioner can help to navigate these situations, escorting the soul to where it needs to be, returning balance to both the deceased individual and to any living person who may be involved.