As mentioned in the section on Soul Retrieval, in cases of prolonged soul loss a void is left within a person's energy field. As nature abhors a void, it is only a matter of time until that hole is filled by an external energy that is not in harmony with that person's essence. When this occurs, it places a strain on the person's entire system, potentially resulting in illness or disruption on multiple levels. Some examples of this include depression, anxiety, dementia, chronic physical pain and even more life threatening conditions such as cancer. Because of this, prior to a soul retrieval ritual, a practitioner will thoroughly extract any and all misplaced energies, disposing of them in an appropriate manner, in order to clear space for newly returned soul pieces. Another vital function of the extraction process is the removal of negative belief systems, karma and thought forms that can inhibit one from moving forward and creating the life that one truly desires.