Is there a future in exploring the past?

The history of each soul--the cumulative total of lives spanning many centuries--is recorded in the person's subconscious mind. Many of us have no conscious memories of such past events; yet, the associated emotions, talents, and behaviors have a direct and profound effect on our lives. Gaining access to those records can be the adventure of a lifetime! We talk about the mysteries of the mind but only a few people get involved with the investigation.

Some people are skeptical of the concept of past lives and of the influence that past events have in the current life of the individual. They seek empirical evidence. Trying to prove through the senses or by logic the authenticity of past lives is like trying to prove the existence of love. Most people will agree that love exists; yet , they cannot explain the feeling of love for another person--they cannot identify which of the five senses can be used as evidence. Although you might not be able to prove the existence of love, you still continue to experience it. Perhaps it is not necessary to prove love in order to share its benefits. It is the experience, not the proof, which is important. Generally, when someone asks you to prove your love, you tend to think in terms of physical acts you could perform for that person. Those two notions are unrelated. You can do something good for a person without having much genuine love. Past-life memory, like love, is an experience to be enjoyed and to be embraced for growth and spiritual development.

Critics question whether the retrieving of past life memories is authentic. The names, places, and dates could have been recalled from existing records, which had been heard or read and then forgotten by the conscious mind in the current life. They also add that so-called memories come from imagination or fantasy. In some instances, that opinion might be accurate; however, the reports of so many people who believe that their recollections must have come from past lives have led therapists and researchers to accept the idea that we have had many lifetimes on earth. Events can be authentic without being recalled at will. One reason for the belief in the theory of past lives is the need to learn the multiple lessons on the journey toward wholeness.

Some traditional therapists find the idea of past-life regression to be too implausible or radical to warrant attention. Others hold the position that people have only one chance to succeed but, nonetheless, accept their clients' beliefs in the continuity of life. Another group acknowledges the concept that we live multiple lives and that earth serves as a school with progressive experiences and credits. Members of this latter group who practice past-life therapy are called Regressionists or Regression Therapists. Among the three groups of therapists there is a difference in focus regarding the embracing of new ideas about the way we perceive existence and the complexity of mind.

One interesting criticism regarding the acceptance of past lives: too many people assert that they have had previous existences as famous people. In our many combined years of active regression and past life exploration, we have not had a client report being a person who was famous. Regression therapy generally reveals people doing everyday activities, living lives which are normal for the times, and reporting or re-living emotional experiences related to the development of their personal and spiritual lives.

Perhaps we have met such celebrated personalities unknowingly. For us, when a client is guided on a journey into the unconscious mind, the purpose--and the client's purpose--goes far beyond the curiosity of who, where, and when. We, and other regressionists, tend to focus on what the individual accomplished at the soul level--whether there was spiritual gain or loss in a particular lifetime. In Past-Life Regression, the therapist usually asks a nonleading question and allows the client to respond from the unconscious mind. Often, the name, date, and place are not requested and not volunteered. Since the information the client shares usually is tied to strong emotions, it is not wise to break the continuity of images and impressions to obtain other personal data.

Some examples of spiritually focused questions are:

• How did you gain and grow in that life? How did you lose or what could have done better? 
• What caused the most sadness and hurt? 
• What brought you the greatest happiness and fulfillment? 
• What did you learn or experience in that life that you could bring back with you to help you in your current life?

The true value of knowledge of past lives is in the lessons you have learned. Your soul's memory is your true wisdom. How well did you serve humanity? How close did you come to fulfilling the purpose for which you came to earth? Did you work to bring yourself and others closer to God? The above questions, significant in understanding how you learned and what you learned, seem to be more important than the data of who, where, and when. The progress of the soul toward attunement with God is the measuring rod by which we view a lifetime.

Bringing your personal record to conscious awareness adds a significant chapter in the history of humanity. Each life contains sections of splendor and tales of travail. There are pages of wonder and growth and there are episodes of loss. Such experiences are natural components of the cosmic drama called life. Regression exercises are gifts to refresh your memory. They are like pieces of a complex puzzle that you fit together, carefully and patiently, to view a full panorama of your soul. Regression work is a process rather than a product.

In past-life regression, we explore the mysteries of the inner self, the subconscious mind, where the soul's history is recorded. Most people are apprehensive about embarking on this journey without a guide, a regressionist, who understands the science of exploring and who has studied the mysteries of the human mind. The client is an investigator who makes use of the skills of a guide. As an analogy, a rockhound who is going to do significant collecting of some minerals would hire a guide who has a map and who knows the territory. Without a guide, an inexperienced person could spend many hours, days, or weeks without much success. Eventually, of course, it becomes easier to recognize the indicators for locating the minerals you are seeking. Similarly, the art/science of exploring soul memories is assisted by the services of a guide until the seeker learns the ways of recognizing which path is best for spiritual growth.

To use another analogy, the work of a regressionist is like that of an archaeologist who studies the sites and artifacts of prehistoric people. Regressionists are archaeologists who dig through the strata and substrata of memory. They help the client to sift through the emotional, mental, and spiritual potsherds, to identify them, and to assemble them into a mosaic. The client is able to recognize a similar pattern in the current life and can begin to understand why life is the way it is. Understanding the past builds wisdom, wisdom builds trust, and trust conquers fear. The recalling and processing of such events, along with insights from the current perspective, can have a profound impact on the desire to improve life.

Past-life therapy is a rapidly-evolving and dynamic field. It embraces many disciplines, both traditional and innovative. Many hypnotists, psychologists, counselors, and holistic healers have added past-life therapy to their practices.

In the western world, the subconscious mind has been a seldom-explored area for centuries. Although, in recent years, much has been accomplished, it is not a final frontier. It is, however, a vast, new world, an explorium! Mind, the pathway through time, is vast and contains episodes where we failed to make adequate progress. It also contains our triumphs. By embracing the past through remembrance, we acknowledge our mistakes, learn to cultivate forgiveness, and proceed on the path to spiritual betterment and enlightenment.

This article may be reprinted freely.

(Henry Leo Bolduc's Website address is: www.starbuck.net/henryboldLIC/
Marjorie Reynolds' e-mail address is: reynolds72@juno.com)