Back in 1981, I conducted my first Past Life Regression. My 14 year old brother was with me for the day and I thought it might be fun. After counting him down to a calm relaxed place I gave him the instruction that he was to go back to an earlier time in a different life. On his own he regressed back to when he was about 8 years old. Very quietly he explained that he was at a circus. As he continued to reveal what was going on I was very surprised. He said his shoes were muddy, his clothes were dirty and smelly. He mentioned he was carrying a metal pail in his hand which was full and heavy. He then told me that he and his family lived with the circus and his job was to clean up after the elephants and camels.

As he described the scene to me I knew that this wasn’t something that he would make up for fun. He was the kind of kid who would choose to be the Ringmaster or a Trapeze Acrobat. He was a typical 14 year old boy who would never choose to clean up after the animals any more than he would choose to become a scullery maid.

After that experience I was hooked. I continued to do Past Life Regressions for anyone who would sit still. During one of my early regressions I asked my client to describe her shoes. She said nothing. I asked again. She remained silent. The silence continued until I realized that she was unable to describe something that didn’t exist for her. I then asked her to describe what she was wearing, beginning with her feet. At that point she shared that her feet were bare and dirty. She wasn’t wearing shoes at all. Over time I learned new techniques to help me to get more information from each session.

Below are five important elements that I’ve learned over the years. Read them. Learn them. Keep them in your mind. Forgetting one of these can easily sabotage your session.

1. YOU FORGET TO EXPLAIN THAT SHE MAY EXPERIENCE CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS

One common question I heard from my clients during my first few years was “The thought came into my mind that I felt as if I was making the whole thing up.”

When your client is deep in hypnosis it’s important for her to avoid hearing her conscious mind interrupt with questions. Any internal questions she is aware of will serve to bring her up from her trance. Your goal as the hypnotist is to keep your client in her trance so she can get the full experience of her Past Life Regression.

To avoid your client coming out of trance, it’s important to clearly explain what she may be experiencing.

During my pre-talk I say: “Most of the time it will be easy for you to visualize and imagine what is going on. Some clients notice that in the beginning they might feel as if they are making things up. This is totally normal and perfectly OK. At some point, usually very quickly you’ll simply allow the scene to unfold on its own. It may even feel as if you are watching a movie and you are the one who is starting the projector.”

2. YOUR CLIENT IS NOT IN SOMNAMBULISM

If your client is not in somnambulism then she is not deep enough to get the most out of her Past Life Regression.

Clients not in somnambulism will respond with sentences which begin “I remember…..” Remembering begins in the conscious mind. When you hear the word “remember” it is a clue that you’ll need to deepen her trance.

When your client is deeply in somnambulism she can easily imagine the scene “as if” she is there. This is called “revivication”. This is exactly where you want her to be.

In somnambulism she will respond with phrases like “I see…..” “Over there is a…” “I am…”

In her imagination it feels AS IF SHE IS THERE.

3. YOU ASK LEADING QUESTIONS

Both forensic hypnotists and Past Life Regression Hypnotists must be sure to NEVER ASK LEADING QUESTIONS. Leading questions are phrased in such a way as to suggest an answer. Leading questions can frequently direct your client’s imagination to create scenes and situations that are not accurate. They can move her in directions unrelated to her memory or imagination.

EXAMPLE: You have completed your induction and have guided your client back to an earlier place time. You haven’t asked her any questions yet. At this stage you don’t know where she is. She might not know either. If your first question is: “Notice what kind of cars you see,” you would be suggesting that she go to a place where cars are located. This question would immediately move your client away from where she is and to a location where she can see cars.

Past Life Regression experiences can be anywhere and anytime. If she’s headed towards Egypt in the sixteenth century your question about cars will move her quickly towards a time when cars exist. Since automobiles have only been around since the beginning of the twentieth century your question will serve to limit her experience to a shorter time frame.

4. YOU NEGLECT TO PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR YOUR CLIENT

When your client is in hypnosis you want to make sure she is safe and comfortable at all times. During your Pre-talk she will have learned that she is in total control and can open her eyes at any time. Reminding her in again that she is in total control can alleviate most fears about regressing to the past.

I’ve noticed that frequently one lingering fear remains. Many clients tend to worry about what will happen if the scene gets frightening. Will they be reliving it and feeling pain? Will they be stuck remembering horrible events? Being proactive and addressing these unasked questions will help your client feel more comfortable.

During the Pre-talk I mention that if she feels uncomfortable in any way that she can easily distance herself from the scene. She can easily observe calmly, without taking on any emotions by doing one of the following:

1. Place a large sheet of Plexiglas between herself and the scene or

2. Allow her body to rise above the scene and view it from above so you can observe without experiencing any negative emotions

5. YOU BRING YOUR CLIENT OUT OF HYPNOSIS WITHOUT CLOSURE

Many clients have come to me who have seen other hypnotists for Past Life Regression Hypnosis. A few have mentioned to me that they felt as if there was no closure to their session. It’s very easy for a novice hypnotist to forget this part of a Past Life Regression because it’s not a typical session for a habit or behavioral change.

Prior to counting and bringing my client up from hypnosis I like to provide closure for the session by quoting Henry Leo Bolduc who has written the following in The Journey Within:

“You may bring back with you anything that is helpful and beneficial: a gem of wisdom to guide you as you continue with life’s journey. If you choose, you may release some feelings, memories, and impressions and retain in your conscious mind only that which is positive and helpful. The choice is yours.”

Taking your time to plan your Pre-talk and to include these important aspects will assure your client will enjoy an interesting and valuable experience. Past Life Regressions are fun to do and it’s important to take them as seriously as other sessions.

Wendy Merron is a Past Life Regressionist at The Center of Success in Wayne, PA. She created Past Life Parties and is the first Certified NGH Hypnotist to offer the experience of Past Life Regressions in this interactive format. In addition to doing hundreds of regressions, she has experienced regressions with Brian Weiss, MD, Carol Bowman, and Henry Leo Bolduc.