Life between lives regression

Life between lives regression (LBL regression) is an extension of more traditional past life regression that uses deeper levels of hypnosis to take a person into what appear to be soul memories "between" lives. It’s alternatively been referred to as “interlife” or “spiritual regression”. [ Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2007, Glossary, p170/171] Many of the pioneering professionals involved have found it helps a client to understand their spiritual purpose for this life. Sceptics suggest it’s the product of a person’s imagination, while its supporters claim that LBL regression provides the most accurate picture yet obtained of what happens after death.

The pioneering researchers

LBL regression has been progressively developed since the late 1960s by a number of professional psychologists and psychiatrists. The key researchers and their published findings are Helen Wambach’s "Life Before Life" (1979), Edith Fiore’s "You Have Been Here Before" (1978), Peter Ramster’s "The Truth about Reincarnation" (1980) and "The Search for Lives Past" (1990), Joel Whitton’s "Life Between Life" (1986), Dolores Cannon’s "Between Death and Life" (1993) and Shakuntala Modi’s "Remarkable Healings" (1997). However "the" undoubted pioneer is Michael Newton, who reported on his three decades of research in "Journey of Souls" (1994) and "Destiny of Souls" (2000). All of these pioneers are from the US except for Ramster, who is Australian.

More recent follow-up work in the UK has been published by Ian Lawton in "The Book of the Soul" (2004) and "The Wisdom of the Soul" (2007), and by Andy Tomlinson in "Healing the Eternal Soul" (2006) and "Exploring the Eternal Soul" (2007).

The elements of the LBL experience

The techniques for LBL regression have been widely published. [ Newton, "Life Between Lives; Hypnotherapy for Spiritual Regression", Llewellyn, 2004. ] The pioneers and therapists trained by them have had consistent reports from what amount to thousands of clients, [ Tomlinson, "Healing the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2006, p9 ] and based on this the LBL regression can be categorize into five elements: [ Lawton, "The Wisdom of the Soul", Rational Spirituality Press, 2007, Introduction, pp. 6-10 and Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2007, chapters 1-4, 6 and 8. ]
*Transition and healing LBL subjects talk about leaving the past life body and like near death experiences [ Cannon, "Between Death and Life", Gateway, 1993, ch1, p12-13] being met by deceased friends or family, or other spirits of light who aid the transition into the “spirit world”. [ Newton, "Journey of Souls", Llewellyn, 2004, ch 3 ] Some level of energy healing takes place [ Rampster, "The Truth About Reincarnation", Rigby, 1980, ch6, and Modi, "Memories of God and Creation", Hampton Roads, 2000, ch 3. ] that invigorate and lighten them, and wash away many of the stresses and strains of the physical world. It seems that denser emotions and energies associated with the physical world have to be shed to allow them to re-enter the higher frequency vibrations of the spirit world.
*Past life review The idea of reviewing a life is common to not only LBL regression but also near death experiences [ Moody, "Life After Life, Bantam, 1976) ] . In a LBL regression the past life review can be assisted by “spirit guides” [ Newton, "Journey of Souls", Llewellyn, 2004, ch 8 ] , or various “elders” [ Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2007, ch 3. ] that are evolved souls who help plot a path through successions of lives. Apparently the only judgment in this review process comes from the subjects themselves, because all their actions and intentions are laid bare. [ Whitton, "Life Between Life", Warner Books, 1988, ch4. ]
*Soul group interaction Subjects report that they have “soul groups” [ Newton, "Destiny of Souls", Llewellyn, 2000, ch 5 ] with whom they work closely over many lives, although the relationships vary from lovers to family members to friends. Reuniting with them is always described as a profoundly moving experience in which the subject finally feels that they are “coming home”. [ Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2007, ch 4, p78 ]
*Next-life planning At some point subjects report that before their return to the next life at the very least they tend to have an awareness of who their parents will be, and of where they live and what their circumstances are. [ Newton, "Journey of Souls", Llewellyn, 2004, chapter 13 ] Some are even given a preview of several different lives, and are asked to choose the one that will provide the best environment for growth. [ Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2007, ch 6 ] Apparently these glimpses of the future merely represent the most probable outcome if they stick to their life plan, because they still have complete free will to stray from this once in the physical world.
*Returning Subjects report that when they reincarnate they leave some soul energy behind in the spirit world to carry on with various other activities, but they also take with them specific emotions they want to carry on working with, and even past-life strengths that they may need to help them. [ Tomlinson, "Healing the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2006, ch7, p121-125 ] Subjects add that their soul energy can begin to merge with the unborn child in the womb at any time from conception to birth, and that this is a gradual and sometimes difficult process. [ Newton, "Journey of Souls", Llewellyn, 2004, ch 15 ]

The reliability of LBL regressions

The pioneer’s report of thousands of subjects show a remarkably consistency of experiencing the main elements of an LBL regression. [ Lawton, "The Book of the Soul", Rational Spirituality Press, 2004, ch 4, 5, 6 ] Many clients had no prior knowledge of what to expect and had previous beliefs that ranged from atheism through all the world’s major religions. [ Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2007, Introduction, p6 ]

However, sceptics such as Paul Edwards argue that such experiences are just as fanciful as those that emerge from past life regression, and that they are equally the product of vivid imaginations. [Edwards, "Reincarnation" Prometheus Books, (2002), chapter 15, p. 249]

The therapeutic value of LBL regressions

LBL regressions have a profound effect on a person’s conscious mind because it enables then to have a deep insight into their soul’s current life purpose. [ Tomlinson, "Exploring the Eternal Soul", O Books, 2006, ch9, p154-157.] This helps them create a more positive way of thinking in their relationship to others, making life choices and in coping with the pressures of modern life. [ "European Journal of Clinical Hypnosis - Journal of the British Association of Medical Hypnosis", vol 7, issue 2, p 18 to 25, article "Beyond Past Lives" by Andy Tomlinson ]

References

ee also

* Reincarnation
* Reincarnation research
* Spirituality

External links

* [http://www.newtoninstitute.org/ The Michael Newton Institute]
* [http://www.regressionacademy.com/ The Past Life Regression Academy]
* [http://www.ianlawton.com/ The Ian Lawton Website]
* [http://www.ravenheartcenter.com/ The Ravenheart Centre]