By Virginia Jackson


The use of hypnosis and suggestions to recover memories from the past is referred to as past life regression. However, the process is viewed as simple delusions or confabulation by critics. Although other reasons exist, two main ones have been cited as the cause for most people to engage in the activity. The first reason is for spiritual pursuit and the other one is for psychotherapeutic reasons. When one needs professionally done past life regression Bellingham WA offers the best place to go.

The techniques employed in past life regression (PLR) involves suggestions and answering of hypnotic questions. The answers the individuals give are used in identifying previous events one took part in. The application of hypnosis in this process makes the responses and information gathered to be considered to be false memories or highly distorted. Critics dispute any claims of accuracy in the information gathered through hypnosis.

Memories originate from confabulations and cryptomnesia which combine knowledge, experience, imagination, suggestion and guidance from the hypnotist. Thus, the memories are less likely to originate from a recall of events the individual engaged in. When the memories recovered from this exercise were investigated, it became clear that they hold historical inaccuracies. There is a simple explanation for the historical inaccuracies through a fundamental understanding of events in media, history and elements of popular culture.

The history of PLR is very long. It is believed to have originated in Asian countries, especially India where it was exercised for religious reasons. Some of the first texts about it are as old as the second century BC. In those texts PLR was described as the soul being overburdened with an accumulation of impressions. The impressions are part of karma from former lives one has lived.

Ancient Indians saw PLR as a way through which memories of previous lives are addressed. Even today, there are some versions of yoga that still incorporate PLR in their practice. In religious mythology of the Chinese, souls were prevented by the deity Meng Po from remembering past lives. The deity gives souls the bittersweet drink to prevent them from having memories of past lives before they reincarnate.

The West was introduced to the idea of PLR by someone called Madame Blavatsky. Since then, several texts have been written about the process. Since its introduction in the West, several mediums, psychiatrists, and psychologists have been involved with researching it since the 1950s. The credibility in the field was increased by some advocates possess legitimate credentials. However, those credentials have been found not to be related with psychotherapy, religion or anything related with PLR.

A lot of research is still underway in this field. So far, no concrete scientific evidence exists in support of the ideas and claims put forwards by various practitioners. Despite lack of scientific evidence, the number of Americans seeking these services from practitioners is very high.

A lot of false practitioners have been attracted into the field due to lack of standards. As such, caution must be exercised when consulting with a practitioner. One should rely on referrals from friends and other parties to find the best practitioner.




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