Reincarnation has been a subject that has fascinated the human race for almost as long as there has BEEN a human race! There have been references to reincarnation in the writings of most civilizations throughout the ages. Eastern religions accept reincarnation more readily than western. I won't get into it here, as it is not the intention or scope of this lecture to get into religions, and religious beliefs. However, there are people who believe and claim to have evidence that the Bible had many references to reincarnation, before it was "rewritten".

Reincarnation is a highly debated topic and brings out strong opinions, especially in the scientific community.

Some believe this fascination is only because of our fear of death - our fear of ceasing to exist. Death has such finality. If we believe we live only one life, it would mean we are quite insignificant in the universal scope of things. For some, that mortality is easier to cope with in the knowledge that we will be again.

Others find it a very logical explanation for such phenomena as deja vu, child prodigies, or that feeling of already knowing someone we've met for the first time.

Many of us have probably experienced going to a place for the first time, and instinctively known our way around or have that uncanny sense that we've been at that place before. With people, again, often we'll meet someone for the first time, and have a sense of familiarity with the person. It can even go so far as to having an immediate like or dislike of that person.

Yet others feel it is merely a byproduct of an overactive imagination, perhaps fueled by television, movies, books, or stories we heard when children.

Professionals who use "past life regressions" in therapy have differing opinions. Some believe that there past lifetimes do exist. Others are not convinced but are open-minded about the possibility.

Yet others do not believe the concept at all, and consider past life regression work to totally be metaphorical. They believe the client "makes up" the previous lifetime. They consider that it is merely a fantasy -- a "story" that the subconscious mind of their client has made up to deal with problems in this lifetime.

No matter which side of the "coin" you stand on, each side has what it feels as incontrovertible evidence for it's belief or non-belief in reincarnation. The focus of this lecture is neither to prove, nor disprove reincarnation. My purpose is to give "food for thought"

My personal belief is that it is highly probable. Being a Capricorn, I tend to like to have things "proved" to me without any shadow of a doubt, so it would be difficult to say I totally accept it at face value. As a regressionist, I have done literally thousands of past life regressions.

It is not my intention (or my job) to sit there and judge my clients as to whether or not their regression is "real". Yes, I have had clients where I've instinctively known that they are producing material from a very vivid imagination. Yet...I've had many clients where - again - I instinctively have known - that it is NOT their imagination.

When I "do" a past life regression on someone, I like to ferret out as many facts as possible, such as names, dates, and places. This gives the chance of finding out if the person actually lived. This, of course, is difficult with lifetimes in the mid-ages. Opponents will argue that even if someone DOES come up with factual names, dates and places, that the person merely had foreknowledge of the existence of that data, even if only subconsciously.

One regression I did was on a young man who I had worked with before. He was an exceptional client to work with as he was able to give names, dates, and places quite easily. On one session, he described the lifetime of a young woman in a small town in the mid-west. The lifetime was within the last 100 years, so he was able to find records of this woman's existence. My client had never been outside of New England, and all of his relatives were from Europe, as he was a first generation American.

Can I prove that my client had no subconscious foreknowledge of this woman? No, I can't. Perhaps some friend, or acquaintance had told him about THEIR relative? Perhaps he just does not remember consciously that conversation? Perhaps he just overheard it and gave it no real conscious thought? Still, I find it fascinating!

One area in which I find reincarnational theory to be fascinating is with relationships. As I said earlier, I am sure most of us have had the experience of meeting someone new - yet having that feeling that you know this person.

This experience can be from both vantage points - the feeling that you feel wonderfully connected to this person - or the feeling of intense dislike, distrust or unease.

In my own experience, I recall being at a dance with some friends. Being a "people watcher" I always like to look at the people around me. Well, standing over on the other side of the room there was a man who had his back turned to me. As my gaze rested on him, he suddenly turned around - and I have to tell you, I felt like the proverbial ton of bricks hit me!

Now, this wasn't the "across a crowded room" type of romantic attraction. I felt this overpowering feeling that I couldn't quite define. When he looked at me, for the first few fleeting seconds, he glared at me with such an intense look of hatred, it unnerved me.

I dismissed it however, for within seconds the look changed to one of "checking me out". He came over within a few moments and asked me to dance. I found myself wondering why I accepted. Everyone seems to have a "type" they are attracted to - and this person was the opposite for me. Yet, I could not turn him down.

I won't go into a long story, but we had a short "dating" relationship. I could never bring myself to have a romantic relationship with him. To tell you the truth, we both did not like each other. In the few times we did see each other, the man did not treat me well at all. Not that he was abusive - but rather like he thought of me as somehow beneath his contempt.

I could not understand my reaction to this man, never mind why I even allowed myself to go out with him. I knew that it had to be more than a "on the surface" reaction.

I decided to do a regression on myself. The lifetime I came up with was in Western Europe, in the late 1500's. In this lifetime I was a fairly well-to-do merchant. I travelled quite a bit. As this lifetime unfolded to me, I just saw myself going from place to place. I tried to pay particular attention to people I had dealings with, but none seemed to have any feeling attached to my relationships with them.

As I went on, however, I finally noticed that I travelled with a slave. I was very well dressed - well fed and so on. My slave was poorly dressed and very gaunt. As the regression continued, I noticed that if I happened to think about feeding the slave, I'd throw a few scraps at it. If it needed clothes, well, not my problem. It was just not an important part of what was going on around me, and the things I was doing.

All of a sudden, the realization hit me. I thought of the slave is "it"! I then paid attention to the person who was the slave - and of course I'm sure you've guessed it - I knew at that point that he was the fellow I was now dating!

Actually, the whole thing was very upsetting to me. I consider myself a reasonably caring person! And here I was in a lifetime where...well...I just never even considered the fact that my slave was a human being! Needless to say, I ended the relationship as it was serving no purpose. And this brings me to...karma.

Karma, in my opinion is one of the most over-rated, misunderstood and ill-used concepts in metaphysics! How many times have you heard people say, "well, it's my karma?"

That type of statement often indicates that the person feels they have no control over things - it just "is". They may feel that they are being "punished" for actions or characteristics in a previous life.

Or they use it as a very convenient way to explain bad behavior! Well, in a past life, I "fill in the blank", so that's why I act this way. It's just my karma!"

My belief is that "karma" is related more to the "lessons and challenges" that we face in this lifetime. I believe we choose those lessons in advance. I feel this is done on a "soul" level - rather than in the "ego" type of state we are presently in. The "soul" level is objective, and does not have "personal feelings", "ego", or "human ambition", and so forth figuring into the equation.

This lifetime's lesson could be to learn how to deal with poverty. Or cruelty, sickness, mental retardation, or even war. On the other hand, it could be to experience happiness, love, security or peace.

It has even occurred to me, that someone's lesson could be in actuality for OTHER people. Perhaps the "purpose" of a young child who dies after a few hours or days, is to be part of the parents' "life lesson"? I don't have the answer here...it is just a thought.

I don't believe it's "individual" events that karma is about; rather I believe it's the overall "lesson" or challenge. And to my way of thinking, the purpose of a "lesson" or challenge is not to get STUCK in it! So to say, "it's my karma" and not working with it, in my opinion, is a waste of this lifetime!

Regression work, whether you believe in the actuality of past lifetimes, or whether you prefer to think of it metaphorically, is fascinating. As a certified hypnotherapist, of course I feel that the best method is to have a regression done. However, you CAN do regression work on yourself!

Two self-regression methods are "regression" tapes, and dreamwork. There are many tapes on the market that will do "guided imagery" regressions. I will soon have a tape available in my catalogue for Past Life Regression.

My favorite self-regression technique is via dreamwork.

It's easy, inexpensive (well, actually - free!) Since you are going to usually sleep every night any way, a very "handy" technique!