Alternative content

 PAST LIFE REGRESSION

What is it?
DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION OF PAST LIFE REGRESSION

Past Life Regression, also called past-life therapy or past-life regression therapy helps to uncover past life origins of present life issues.  Past Life Regression (PLR) accepts the theory of reincarnation, and that some client's issues have roots in past lives.  The simple process of recall of past life events may greatly speed emotional healing for the client.

PLR generally uses a light state of hypnosis done under the guidance of a practitioner trained in helping the client to achieve full relaxation and tap into these past energies. There are also ways to teach one to participate in self-directed regression. Clients who experience seemingly irrational fears or chronic difficulties with dysfunctional patterns may find recollection of past lives particularly helpful and illuminating.  Through this awareness they may gain insight that enables them to handle their current life more constructively.

What is it used for?
CONDITIONS PAST LIFE REGRESSION MAY HELP

The decision to uncover and examine past life experiences may be undertaken for a variety of reasons, but most often results from a desire for self-awareness and understanding.

Regression can assist an individual with discovering:

- The life purpose and plan of the current life
- Prior connections to relatives, spouses, and other important people
- The origins of fears and other negative emotions
- Prior life experiences that are manifesting in one’s current health
- Prior life skills, knowledge, and vocation
- Prior life traumatic and death experiences
- Events occurring between lives
- Spiritual guides and connections with deceased loved ones
- The reason for particular attractions to certain people, physical areas, and activities
- Blockages or roadblocks of success in this lifetime

Where did it come from?
HISTORY OF PAST LIFE REGRESSION
First developed in the 1950s, past life regression was the work of psychiatrists and psychologists in the United States, Europe, and Australia. 
An abridged list of seminal works in this area includes:
1950 Alexander Cannon, "The Power Within"
1967 Denys Kelsey, "Many Lifetimes"
1978 Edith Fiore, "You Have Been Here Before"
1978 Helen Wambach, "Reliving Past Lives"
1983 Hans Ten Dam, "Exploring Reincarnation"
1988 Brian Weiss, "Many Lives, Many Masters"
2006 Andy Tomlinson, "Healing the Eternal Soul"
2006 Hans Ten Dam, "Deep Healing" 

What is it based on?
THEORY OF PAST LIFE REGRESSION
PLR begins with the metaphysical doctrine of reincarnation, literally "to be made flesh again." This ancient belief is that an essential part of a living being (the spirit, soul, or "divine spark") goes on after death to be reborn in a new body. Each new life in the physical world is associated with a new personality, but some elements of the essential self remains throughout lives.
Information from past lives may come to people through dreams, spontaneous flashbacks, or psychic readings.  The person generally has to experience the memory personally to get resolution.

It is not likely that PLR will bring back the memory of every death the soul has experienced, but people may re-experience one that is very important to challenges they are having in present life.  A tenet of psychology that human beings tend to repeat what has not been processed. A regression therapist endeavors to help their clients recall the significant situations of the memories and then examine and explore them. PLR therapists assist their clients in remaining calm and continuing the process to reach resolution.

How is it done?
WHAT IS A SESSION LIKE
PLR practitioners have individualized approaches to the session. However, certain principles and practices are generally common to all regressions.

Most sessions will begin with a discussion of what the client hopes to get out of the session. The therapist will make sure the client is at ease, relaxed and sitting comfortably.  When ready, the client will close their eyes and the PLR practitioner may begin with guided imagery to help facilitate a deep alpha or delta brain wave state. This initial phase is achieved by the practititoner gently guiding the client using a quiet, calm, evenly-modulated voice.  This allows the client to be more receptive to images from the subconscious mind, where past life memories are stored.

The PLR practitioner will then begin to lead the client into past life exploration. This process allows the client to begin to remember their experiences from an alternate time and place. They will be led through various key incidents of that lifetime, focusing on unresolved emotions, problems and conflicts.

During this process the individual may feel as if he is experiencing the life again.  They may feel like they are the person they were in a past life during the session, having that body again or with the people they knew in that lifetime.  They may also see mental images like a movie of their past life. Some people receive sensory sensations such as familiar odors, sounds, tastes or environmental sensations such as textures, weather, and social situations. The intensity of the sensations ranges from subtle to vivid.

Since the lives that surface tend to be pertinent to the challenges, talents, situations, and companions that the client has in present life, they are encouraged to pay attention to all the details of their experience.  Once the client has a past life memory, the remainder of the session is devoted to healing the effects of the negative thought-patterns, emotions and physical traumas that may have arisen during that life.  Sessions may last from thirty minutes to two hours.

Who does it?
PAST LIFE REGRESSION PRACTITIONERS
There is no specific regulation or certification required to practice PLR.  Practitioners from many different healing modalities may learn how to do PLR, including hypnosis practitioners, counselors, therapists, psychologists, physicians, clergy, medical or mental-health practitioners, alternative healers, massage therapists, educators and others. Over the last several decades, many training programs have evolved, as well as organizations offering certification to both individuals and educational program.