A lot of people ask me if I can help them remember past lives using hypnosis. The short answer is…yes!
Exploring past life memories while in hypnosis, also known as “past life regression”, can be a fascinating and enjoyable experience. With the help of a skilled hypnotist, it can also bring about profound emotional healing as well as transformative change.
Hypnosis and Past Life Regression
Belief in reincarnation of the soul, spirit, or individual consciousness can be found in almost all of the world’s cultures and religions. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Theosophy, Gnosticism, and the ancient Greek orphic mystery schools all take for granted some kind of transmigrating soul.
Using hypnosis to deliberately recall past life memories however, is a fairly recent phenomena. One of the earliest reports of past life regression comes from 1923, when Edgar Cayce spoke of past lives and reincarnation while in the trance state.
The specific use of hypnosis for past life regressions is said to have been developed by A. R. Martin, who published Researches in Reincarnation and Beyond in1942. However, widespread practice didn’t occur until the New Age movement of the late seventies and early 1980’s.
What can I expect in a past life regression session?
Accessing past life memories while in trance is actually quite easy. In fact, there are many times when memories will surface spontaneously without any prompting from the hypnotist.
Once a person is guided into a hypnotic state, the hypnotist will offer suggestions and instructions to the subconscious mind to find the past life memory that will be of the most help and benefit to whatever issue is being addressed.
A good hypnotist will then ask non-leading questions such as “Where are you?”, “Are you alone?”, “What are you wearing?” or simply, “What are you experiencing now?”. Asking these kinds of open-ended questions reduces the possibility of the hypnotist influencing (intentionally or unintentionally) the details of the experience.
Usually at this point, the details begin to flow naturally and it becomes the hypnotist’s job to simply hold the space and keep the session moving forward. In the case of traumatic or difficult memories, the hypnotist will help the person navigate through these safely. This can be as simple as gently reminding the person that, no matter what they experienced in the past, they have survived and are now safe and secure in a new life and body.
In some sessions there may be multiple memories from the same past life, or even multiple lives. Whatever the case, the session will eventually draw to a conclusion. This usually happens quite naturally as the subconscious mind knows which lessons and learnings are most essential for healing, growth, and resolution.
At this point, the hypnotist might suggest that the person allows their subconscious mind to now move forward in time to the end of the past life, through the intermediary state and, finally, rebirth in the current lifetime. This makes it easier to come back to normal waking consciousness in the present and for the learnings of the session to be fully integrated into the subconscious.
Are past life memories real?
A lot of people ask me if their experiences in hypnosis are truly memories from a past life.
The answer is…maybe.
Because it’s difficult-if not impossible-to verify the veracity of past life memories, and because of the limitations of modern scientific methods, most mainstream mental health and medical professionals refute the validity of past life regression altogether.
That being said, each individual has to judge for themselves as to whether or not a given memory is authentic. My experience has been that genuine past life memories “feel” more true than a story fabricated by the subconscious mind. Authentic past life memories are accompanied by full engagement with one or more of the five senses. There may be smells, sensations, sounds, and vivid visual recollections that lend to the verisimilitude of the experience.
I’m of the mindset that it really doesn’t matter if what we experience is a bonafide past life memory or not. The point is whether or not it has a therapeutic and healing value that offers the person new information or perspective that helps with their personal and spiritual evolution.
What are the benefits of past life regression?
I have witnessed people experience significant behavioral changes and emotional healing after their past life regression experience. It’s very common to witness people process and release past life traumas that free them from self-limiting and harmful patterns and beliefs. This can be quite transformative as the emotional wounds have sometimes been carried in the mindstream from lifetime to lifetime.
One of the most powerful learnings we can receive from a past life regression experience is the profound understanding that, even though we have lived many lives (some traditions say countless lives), here we are. Our consciousness, the essence of our being, is eternal. No matter what we’ve been through, we have survived it all and will continue to progress along our arc of spiritual evolution. This perspective alone can free us from unnecessary limitations and fears, opening us up to a new experience of who we truly are.
Are there any dangers to past life regression?
There are people who believe that past life regression, and hypnosis in general are somehow dangerous. My response is that all healing modalities are only as beneficial as the skill and intention of the practitioner. There are thousands of cases each year of medical and mental health malpractice, yet these professions are never labeled as “dangerous” in and of themselves.
That being said, a few guidelines can be helpful in ensuring that a past life regression experience is enjoyable and healing.
- Research your hypnotist before agreeing to work with them. Check out their online material, publications, and reviews. In Washington state, hypnotherapists are required to register with the Department of Health. It’s possible to look into whether or not they’ve received any professional complaints.
- Manage your expectations about past life regression. Memory in this lifetime is not always 100% reliable. Carefully reflect on and review your experience. Remember, the main thing is not so much about the memory being “real”, as is the learning that is gained from the experience.
If you would like to learn more about hypnosis for past life regression, please reach out to set up your free 45 minute consultation. During that time you can share your goals and what you hope to get out of the experience. I will then explain how hypnosis works and exactly what I do. We can then decide together how to move forward on this exciting journey of self-discovery.
