The International Association for Regression Research and Therapies, Inc.
Formerly: The Association for Past Life Research and Therapies, Inc.
PO Box 20l5l, Riverside,CA 92516 Telephone: 951-784-1570 Fax: 909-784-8440
E-mail: info@iarrt.org Web site: www.IARRT.org

September 2002

The President's Message - Who We Are

Throughout history, in every culture and religious system, there have been people in service as shamans, priests and priestesses, medicine men and medicine women, monks, nuns and other healing positions. They usually wore special clothing, headdresses, jewelry or insignia which set them apart. This was an indication that they belonged to a special sect of believers or people with abilities that had been tested and proven in some manner. These servants usually belonged to secret societies, with knowledge that was not available to the common man or women.

Every religion through history has had exoteric teachings, conducted openly for the common man/women, and esoteric, or hidden teachings for those who chose to devote their lives to learning the deeper meanings of their particular spiritual tradition. They were a part of the Mysteries, the secret teachings of the Kabbalists, Kahuna, Native American, the Temple priests and priestesses of Egyptian, Buddhist, Hindu, Druids, Gnostic, and Taoist traditions, to name a few. They studied symbols, paintings, songs, and stories from the spoken or written word from papyrus, tomb and temple walls, tablets, and eventually books. They learned the hidden meanings of their traditions that were not yet to be allowed to be taught to the masses. These mysteries usually involved increased psychic perceptions and healing rituals.

Humanity's struggle with greed and power made it evident that the common man was not capable of dealing with the increased psychic abilities that were taught in The Mysteries. Year after year, dynasty after dynasty, the secrets continued to be taught in occult (which means secret) societies of various religious traditions.

Healing took many forms, but the type of spiritual healing that took place when a person was released from the demons (traumas) that plagued him/her, or when the shaman or priest did a soul retrieval is, in many ways, similar to the work that is conducted by past-life therapists today.

Past-life therapy involves "opening the door" to memories that are deeply lodged in the soul. These memories may involve real or perceived injustice done by or to us in the past; they appear as "wounds on the heart" (samskaras). These wounds keep us from our own vitality and prevent us from loving self and others in the truest sense of our being.

For the first time in mankind's history, the individuals who practice this type of therapy are doing it openly in counseling and therapeutic practices, rather than in secret. These "healers" are similar to the shamans, priests, and priestesses of the past who are, in the present, helping people become whole.

Whether one views these memories as actual past lives or a tapping the collective unconscious is not important as far as its use as a valid therapeutic tool. Past-life therapy involves going into the memories of the past that are inhibiting the person today from being more successful, peaceful, and happy. It views the personality as one aspect of a greater spirit that includes memories of other incarnations. Those memories may involve talents, abilities, and loving relationships, and they may also involve wars, persecutions, and personal trauma.

What was done in the "darkness" of the past under the label "mysteries" is being openly done today labeled "therapy". Past-life therapy has been gaining momentum because the consciousness of mankind has been raised. We are beginning to understand the complexity of our subtle energy bodies: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual-that they are inter-related, and when one part of us is in pain, all parts are in pain. In that pain we seek, within, to be reunited. We want to experience life; we want, once again, to connect soul and spirit.

The Christian New Testament, as well as many religious and mystical texts, speak the same message: "knock and the door shall be opened". Past-life therapists assist in "opening the door," releasing pain of many lifetimes, one client at a time. Over the past 20 years, practitioners and therapists in the International Association of Regression Research and Therapies, Inc. (formerly Association of Past Life Research and Therapies, Inc.) have conducted an estimated two million five hundred thousand individual regressions.

In many ways, specialists in past-life regression therapy are similar to the shamans, priests and priestesses from the past. This is the first time in history that such healers are walking outside of the temple walls or outside of the hidden traditions to assist people to rejoin their personality with their eternal spirit. Be proud of who you are. Respect what you do. Share it with the World.

ARTICLES:

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO PROVING PAST-LIVES

The following two articles convey a scientific approach to proving past-lives. If this area of Regression/Past-life interests you or you have an on-going research project of interest we urge you to list with our research department.

In this newsletter we hope to list on-going and new research that IARRT now or will sponsor. Please contact our Research Chairperson, Dr. Sydney Heflin though the IARRT office or www.iarrt.org. We will be adding more research date to the web-site as it is presented and compiled.

DNA: Will it be the Scientific Proof of Past Lives?

The Major and Margaret

After a group past-life regression in April 1999, Margaret said to the class, "I was 99% sure I was Major John Pelham in a previous life, but now I'm 100% positive." What Margaret did next shocked both the class and me. She held up a photograph of Major Pelham beside her face. The Civil War Soldier and Margaret's features looked exactly alike from the neck up. The Major and Margaret have gray eyes, dark blonde hair and nearly identical faces. Margaret and John both have the same body type, tall and slim. Later in a private session Margaret told me she is a female in this life because American women are not required to fight in wars. Margaret reincarnated not to destroy lives through military battles, but to save them through medicine. In this life, her profession is a nurse.

Margaret is an example of how some of us follow both a conscious and unconscious path to discovering our past lives. Margaret was born in London, England. She immigrated to the United States in 1971 after meeting and marrying an American soldier who was stationed in Europe. Recently Margaret realized the significance of a modern American soldier bringing her to the United States to recall her past life as an American Civil War officer. Margaret never heard of the American Civil War until she came to the United States. She was baffled by her urge to read about our Civil War until she saw Major John Pelham's picture. When Margaret saw Pelham's photo, she said, "My blood ran absolutely cold. I could not tell you why."

Margaret's choice of the words, "My blood ran absolutely cold," are quite revealing. John Pelham died when a canon shell exploded near the back of his head. A quarter piece of shrapnel lodged in the base of John's skull. Margaret suffers from severe daily migraines. In Sept. 2000 Margaret underwent brain surgery to relieve her headaches. The operation was unsuccessful. John Pelham's fatal injury is almost exactly what Margaret is suffering from now and what her surgery was intended to correct. Margaret did not know why her blood ran cold when she first saw Pelham's photograph, but she does now. Soon after people die their blood naturally turns cold. When Margaret saw the Major's photo, she spontaneously relived his unfortunate and untimely death; hence, the reason why she felt her blood turn cold while initially viewing Pelham's picture.

John Pelham was born in Alabama on Sept. 7, 1838. He was very close with his five brothers and one sister. As a child, John loved to play practical jokes on his brothers, classmates and teachers. He also read the bible daily and respected his parents. John attended West Point Academy where he trained to become a military officer. When the threat of war escalated between the North and South, John left West Point shortly before he was to graduate. As a Confederate officer, Pelham turned raw recruits into first class artillery soldiers. Pelham's bravery, skill and calmness in the heat of battle lead to his flattering nickname: "Gallant Pelham." John was revered both by the men who served under him and by the officers above him. General Lee said if he had 100 men like Pelham the war would be soon be over. John's good looks and reputation made him very popular with the ladies, but he always remained a true Southern gentleman.

Therapeutic: Value of Past Lives

For those of us who practice past-life therapy, we know first-hand the value of it. We see our clients' aberrant behavior, pain and phobias diminish or disappear. We don't need scientific proof for us to believe past lives really happened; our intuition and personal experience is proof enough.

One 52 year-old male client had two abdominal surgeries and was facing the possibility of colostomy and having a bag attached to his body for the remainder of his life. Prior to his session, my patient had never heard of past-life regression. The client recalled a past life in which he suffered great abdominal pain before dying from food poisoning. He told his medical doctor about our session. The physician told our mutual client "That guy (namely, me) is a quack." Over the next three months the client recalled four past lives in which he was either shot or stabbed in the stomach. Without any changes in his medical treatment, the client's stomach problems nearly completely healed. He is no longer on the verge of a colostomy. After the physician examined our mutual client three months after the past-life therapy began the doctor said, "Well, maybe your hypnotist isn't so bad after all." The medical doctor did not believe in reincarnation and past-life therapy, but he was smart enough to realize how his patient benefited from it.

Another client drove from Milwaukee to Chicago for an appointment with me. He reported he had tried everything to recover his mental health. Since 1979 the 45 year-old client was receiving social security for mental health disability. According to the patient, past-life therapy was his last hope. During his regression, the client recalled his 18th century life in Italy. When he remembered the funeral of his daughter from his previous life, the patient began to cry. I asked the patient where he felt his pain. The client rubbed his hands in a circle around his eyes. As he was walking out the door, the patient asked, "Is this a good session?" I replied, "Yes." He asked, "How can you tell?" I said, "When you came to my office you had an unconscious tick. Every 30 to 40 seconds you contorted your face and squinted your eyes. Your tick and facial contortions stopped after you remembered your past life." Past-life therapy benefits don't come any faster or more obvious than this.

Three years later the patient scheduled a second appointment. Since his first session, the patient came into a small inheritance. He spent virtually all of his inheritance on his recovery. He was about out of money and wanted to spend the rest as wisely as he could. He said that I and past-life regression helped him the most. When the patient walked into my office, I first noted his facial contortions and tick had not come back. I can't prove the patient lived in 18th century Italy, but I can definitely say the patient benefited from what he recalled three years prior. The patient had an excellent second session; hopefully, he fulfilled his therapeutic goal to work again.

Past-life therapy is an art. Over time we become better past-life therapists as a result of learning through our clinical experiences, improved training and methods. Collectively the body of past-life knowledge is growing thanks to some brave, pioneering teachers and writers. The mainstream acceptance of past lives has led to more people experiencing past-life therapy and more past-life therapists than ever before. Past-life therapy is ready to try a bold, new step. Rather than just validating past-life regression through its therapeutic benefits, why not try to scientifically prove a past life through DNA testing?

Compare: John Pelham and Margaret's DNA

Margaret is an ideal first candidate for a DNA test to prove a past life. We know John Pelham is the first and last name of the person who Margaret says she was in a past life. She is an honest, believable, responsible and respected person. Her physical characteristics nearly match that of John's, except for gender, which is explained by the desire to avoid military service in this life. Many of Margaret's physical health problems, namely, headaches, spinal compression, hearing loss and insomnia, have been directly attributed to what had happened during John Pelham's life.

For the acceptance of the DNA test, I suggest keeping the test administrator in a scientific double blind of who and why the test is being performed. Getting Margaret's DNA sample is easy; she wholeheartedly supports this experiment. For John Pelham's DNA, either a sample of his remains or one of Pelham's heirs must be tested. The next step is to compare Margaret and John's DNA to find out if the two match.

A DNA test by itself is not enough proof. Margaret being a descendent of John Pelham is a remote possibility. To exclude any chance of Margaret being related to Pelham, an independent genealogist must produce a family tree of both Margaret and John's descendents. Again, for integrity of the experiment, I recommend the genealogist be unaware of the reason for researching the two family trees. The genealogist then compares the two family trees to see if Margaret and John are related.

The final step is to combine both the DNA test with the genealogical research. If Margaret and John's DNA test matches, we expect to find the two people related in one family tree. However, we will have proof of a past life if both the genealogical research shows Margaret is not a descendant of John, and John and Margaret's DNA tests match. The DNA match shows presumably an impossible connection between john and Margaret that the genealogical history cannot explain. The only logical explanation for no genealogical connection with a DNA match is Margaret was John Pelham in a previous life. John and Margaret's matching DNA will also be proof of how the spirit of one soul influenced the creation of a body.

Conclusion

The inability to help relieve some of Margaret's pain as so many past-life clients have done is my biggest disappointment. Her able team of medical doctors and I have been unable to free Margaret of her suffering. Powerful pain medications bring Margaret only temporary and limited pain relief while the drugs create a risk of addiction. I have never met a person like Margaret who suffers so much but complains so little. Margaret has told me several times she is very satisfied with what I have done for her, but I am definitely not. As her healer my first and foremost goal is to help Margaret feel physically better.

Margaret and I agree her current suffering and John's past life is for a good cause and purpose. Her mission is at least threefold: 1. To popularize John Pelham's short and extraordinary life. 2. To attract people to past-life therapy such as the main character in Brian Weiss's book Many lives, Many Masters 3. To use DNA testing to prove she was John Pelham in another life. Whenever she can attend my past-life regression classes, Margaret tells her incredible story. Past-life students repeatedly tell me how fond they are of Margaret and how amazing she is.

My rough estimate to perform the DNA test on Margaret and John Pelham's heir, and the genealogical research of the two families is $10,000 to $15,000. I have unsuccessfully tried to have TV shows underwrite the cost in return for the exclusive right to broadcast the results. If Shirley McLaine drew big ratings with her past lives, Margaret may draw bigger ratings because she can identify and possibly prove who she was in a past life.

I have told Margaret my biggest fear is that she will become famous and turn into a spectacle like the "Elephant Man." Margaret doesn't flinch; she is as courageous and intrepid in this life as John Pelham was in his previous life. If you know a documentary film producer, television show director, or philanthropist who may financially support the advancement of past therapy, a DNA test and genealogical research for Margaret, then please call or write.

About Jay Stone

Dr. Stone is the author of Sacred Cycles, an original and practical non-fiction book that explains how knowledge and learning are the products of cycles. Dr. Stone is also the host of Inner Quest, a Chicago-area cable TV show.

Dr. Stone has written articles for the American Board of Hypnotherapy Journal, American Board of Neurolinguistics Programming Journal, Conscious Choice Magazine and Macrobiotics Today.

Dr. Stone earned his doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy. Previously, he received a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Nevada.

If you wish to contact Dr. Stone regarding this article or his work you may do so through the IARRT office.

Will Reincarnation Be Proven by DNA Analysis?

By Walter Semkiw, MD, MPH

Since 1999, several independently researched reincarnation cases have emerged which demonstrate that facial features remain the same from lifetime to lifetime. The cases of published authors Robert Snow and William Barnes, both IARRT keynote speakers in the year 2000, demonstrate this phenomenon. IARRT members Jeffrey Keene and Dianne Seaman are also both aware of specific past lives in which facial architecture is consistent. Jeffrey Keene, in particular, looks almost identical to his past life persona, Confederate General John B. Gordon. Mr. Keene and Ms. Seaman have both written books regarding their past life stories, which will hopefully be published in the near future.

Ian Stevenson, MD, the Carlson Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, author of the classic Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation, has observed the same phenomenon. In a book about Dr. Stevenson and his work entitled, Old Souls, written by Tom Shroder, two of Stevenson's own cases showing consistent facial features are provided. Approximately twenty years ago, Dr. Stevenson interviewed Suzanne Ghanem and Daniel Jurdi as children, regarding memories of prior incarnations. In 1998, Dr. Stevenson revisited Ghanem and Jurdi in Lebanon, where photos taken in adulthood revealed that they have the same facial features as their past life personalities. These comparison photographs can be viewed in Old Souls.

In his book, Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect, Dr. Stevenson presents several other cases in which facial resemblance has been reported, though photographs from prior incarnations were not available for comparison. In this book, Dr. Stevenson expresses regret that he did not pay more attention to facial features in his earlier years of research and he recommends that future investigators "make a systematic study of facial resemblances between subjects and previous personalities."

Since 1996, I have been doing research on a past incarnation of my own. Through this work, I have compiled approximately one hundred cases in which facial features are demonstrated, through portraits and photographs, to remain the same from lifetime to lifetime. In certain cases, the shape of hands, gestures and postures are also noted be consistent. Dr. Stevenson has also reported these findings, regarding gestures and postures. In addition, I have found that writing style is consistent from one incarnation to another. In the case of Jeffrey Keene, an analysis performed by a linguistics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, supports that Mr. Keene's writing style is consistent with that of John B. Gordon. Mr. Keene, by the way, has also noted that he tends to assume postures typical of Gordon.

The cases described in this article will be featured in my book, Return of the Revolutionaries: The Case for Reincarnation and Soul Groups Reunited, which is scheduled for release in February 2003. In this book, it is also demonstrated that people reincarnate in karmic groups. Couples and families are shown to come back to earth life together. My book's title refers to a karmic or soul group that I belong to, a cohort from the era of the American Revolution, which is incarnate once again today.

Since facial appearance, postures and gestures, as well as personality traits and writing style, appear to remain the same, I hypothesized that it may be possible to prove reincarnation through biochemical analysis, such as DNA fingerprinting. DNA from prior incarnations may be obtained through bone samples. Theoretically, it is possible that there may exist unique DNA sequences that may serve as a "signature" for a soul from lifetime to lifetime. To learn more about DNA fingerprinting, I contacted several academic institutions, hoping to find a resource that could help me in investigating this hypothesis.

Through unexpected synchronistic events, I was placed in direct contact with Kary Mullis, Ph.D., who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1993 for inventing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a chemical reaction that has led to great advances in genetic research and it is one of the key reactions used to conduct DNA fingerprinting. Innocent convicts freed by DNA testing have Dr. Mullis to thank, in large part, for their freedom. PCR is also the scientific basis for the movie Jurassic Park, in which dinosaurs are created from fossilized DNA.

Immediately after being put in contact with Dr. Mullis, I had the intuition that he was part of the cohort reincarnated from the era of the American Revolution. Specifically, I had the intuition that Dr. Mullis is the reincarnation of Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most eminent physicians of the time. I later found that facial features, personality traits and the writing styles of Rush and Mullis are consistent. It was also discovered that Nancy Mullis, the wife of Dr. Mullis, has the same facial architecture as Benjamin Rush's wife, Julia. Kary and Nancy Mullis find the past life matches with Benjamin and Julia Rush to be plausible and both have agreed to be featured as reincarnation cases in my book.

Many other prominent, contemporary individuals have been identified as being part of this Revolutionary cohort. Others featured in my book, who have reviewed their own past life case material and who have agreed to be in Revolutionaries, include Shirley MacLaine, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, Uri Geller, Norm Shealy, MD, Carolyn Myss, John Hagelin, Jeffrey Mishlove and Wayne Dyer. Though the ability to prove reincarnation through biochemical assay may be years away, it is my hope that these high profile cases will generate greater public interest in reincarnation research. Future research will include scientific study of facial architecture, linguistic analysis of writing patterns, DNA fingerprinting and past life regression.

Sociologically, the most significant finding derived from reincarnation research is that people change religious, ethnic and racial affiliation from lifetime to lifetime. For example, in Revolutionaries, Marianne Williamson is identified as the reincarnation of Abigail Adams. Abigail was raised as a Christian, while Marianne Williamson is Jewish. If reincarnation can be proven through biochemical analysis and individuals are shown to change religious, ethnic and racial affiliation from lifetime to lifetime, a key to defusing violence based on these factors will have been found. When people in the Middle East realize that they can be Christian in one lifetime and Jewish, Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist in another, then the conflicts we witness today will be understood to be completely irrational.

I believe IARRT can play an important role in making positive changes in the world by promoting not only the therapeutic benefits of regression therapy, but also by publicizing the sociological implications of objective reincarnation research. Indeed, it appears to me that we are at the brink of a New Revolution, a spiritual one, and that IARRT is poised to play a significant role. In this spirit, I call on IARRT members to assist in this endeavor, to help disseminate the new objective evidence of reincarnation that is now emerging. Appropriate venues include the media, college audiences and medical institutions. As an example, the objective evidence of reincarnation that now exists can bring comfort to many in hospices. As such, I propose that IARRT create a program to reach out to those with terminal illnesses. For those interested in helping promote regression therapy and objective evidence of reincarnation, please contact me at (415) 642-5052 or walter@plutoproject.com.

About Dr. Walter Semkiw

Walter Semkiw, MD, MPH, is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine and is the Assistant Chief of Occupational Health, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco. Dr. Semkiw formerly served as Medical Director of Unocal 76, a Fortune 500 company whose slogan is "The Spirit of 1776." Dr. Semkiw serves on the Board of Directors of IARRT and he will be presenting his reincarnation research findings at the First World Congress of Regression Therapy, June 2003, in Amsterdam.

CHILDREN AND REGRESSION THERAPY

At a previous "Teaching" a student asked a question regarding regressing children to past-life memories.

Thank you for a wonderful question. I have taken the liberty of rephrasing it for the purpose of making it more general for our readers. Yes! Young people can be very open to past-life exploration. In most cases, informal procedures are used. In fact, a very formal approach can be counter-productive. Please allow me to share a true story from my own experience.

Jack Bird is my step-son, my wife's youngest son. He is intelligent, is on the honor roll at school, and excels in sports. I have been a past-life regressionist for over thirty years but I have not discussed my work with him because I fear that his biological father might think that I am trying to influence his thinking. On occasion, when he and his mother accompanied me on speaking tours and they would fly in and out the door on their way somewhere else, he had heard me speak briefly. From my perspective at the time, the eight-year-old boy did not know much about my work.

On February 12, 1995, Joannie (my wife) and Jack accompanied me on a trip to Florida to present a program. As we drove along, Jack asked me about past lives and what I did in the workshops. Since I was a little reluctant to discuss it with him (because of a possible reaction from his father), I tried to be polite in avoiding a direct response to his question. He asked a second time and, again, believing that it was the most tactful thing to do, I avoided answering his question. It was difficult to draw a fine line between avoiding his question and responding to his curiosity. Jack, a bright boy, was unsatisfied with my circuitous responses and asked a third time, making it abundantly clear that he, indeed, was ready for an honest, direct answer to his question. I had learned from experience that, when a person asks a third time, it is a good idea to start paying attention. Perhaps you are aware that, when children really want something, they will persist until they get it!

The car was quiet enough for us to have a normal conversation. I explained to Jack that I help people to recall memories from the distant past. "How?" Jack asked. In an attempt to placate him, I explained briefly what I do. I didn't have a desired outcome. I just decided to go through the procedure informally and, if he had only a minor response, I was prepared to say, "Well, that's about all there is to it," and let it go at that. I really didn't expect him to respond by going into deep memory.

In a normal tone of voice, I instructed him, "Tell me about something you remember that happened to you when you were fine." (Nowadays, I have deleted "Tell me" from my hypnosis and past-life regression vocabulary.) I knew that, because of his good memory, it would be an easy exercise for him. He described a very accurate experience. Next, I asked him to talk about a memory from the age of three or two years. Again, he remembered something and I allowed him to talk for awhile. "That's good," I encouraged him "now just go back beyond that time. Just imagine now that you're going through your birth." I was very matter-of-fact about it and open to anything that might happen. At first, he was very quiet and I couldn't look back into the back seat because I was driving. From the rear-view mirror, I saw that he was curled up and was crouched in fetal position. He certainly seemed to be getting into the experience. I waited. I have learned to wait for impressions to come when they are ready. Jack was quiet for less than a minute and then he started speaking. His voice was straightforward, just a normal conversation. We have one of those jot-a-pads on the dash, so I motioned to Joannie to start taking notes.

Jack said (basically in this order) that he felt that he went to war and came back alive, he had a job as a plumber, he retired and lived to be in his eighties, he had long, brown hair to his neck, he was six feet tall and had brown eyes, he lived somewhere in Europe, he lived in a log house in the woods - the house seemed small because the bed took up most of the room, he like to carve-especially birds (which is interesting to anyone who knows his current last name!) and he had dreams about them, he had models of ships in his room, he carved ships and made sails for them out of deer and rabbit skins, his mother died while he was away during the war, and that there was a waterfall near his home in the woods and he enjoyed going to that secluded spot to sit on the rocks to carve near the waterfall.

I asked Jack when, what year, he believed that the recalled life occurred. He said that it was the 1700s. We wondered about his being a plumber. I suppose it was possible; even the Romans had plumbing and plumbers did various things with pipes, drainage, etc. He related the information sincerely, without fanfare of self-judgment. It seemed honest and clear to us. Joannie and I feel that the memory is quite authentic. We often tell stories at night but, when he tells a story, it's something like a Ninja Turtle story-there's no doubt that it is a fantasy. This story was quite different. Jack doesn't lie-he has high standards.

The carvings seemed to have been a big part of the past life that Jack recalled. We asked him if he would like to carve now. He was excited about the idea and, that night, we started him with a knife and a bar of soap. He carved a couple of items and seemed to have the skill of most boys his age. He wanted to keep his carvings.

Curiously, in that regression, he described himself as being big-about six feet tall. He is a child but described himself as being an adult. He described how the bed took up much of his room. I have lived in Europe and I have seen those alcoves in which the bed takes up most of the room. It seemed to have been a genuine memory. The way he talked about his mother's death while he was away at war seemed to have been a very emotional experience.

About two weeks after his past-life memory experience, Jack told us that, in that life, he had made his own knife. He said that it was his favorite knife and the sharpest. When he squeezed it, the blade would come out. He demonstrated the motion to us. In this current life, he has never had such a knife. Jack likes knives and he is such a responsible boy that he has been allowed to have them. We found some nice knives at a flea market and he handles them quite responsibly.
When children relate such memories, I think that it is important to acknowledge them gracefully. It's important to let them go at their own pace. Wait for them. Sometimes, when I'm working with a client, I still want to jump in and say something or ask a question but I know that it is much better to wait. A comment or a question could interfere with the material which is being processed. So, I just count to ten and wait. I might have to count to ten again-if I observe from various cues that internal processing is taking place. I just wait for the natural flow of information. The processing of memory is like the opening of a flower-we can't rush it. I didn't ask Jack questions; I encouraged him by saying, "Talk more about it." There was no interrogation, no grilling, and no pushing to get him to talk.

I don't know why that particular memory came to Jack. Although we live in the country, there are no waterfalls, such as he described, here. Of all our children, Jack has the most love for the country home. He loves the land. He loves to visit his dad's Christmas tree farm. His love of the land was quite obvious in his regression session.

Two of the best books related to children's past lives are written by Carol Bowman, "Children's Past Lives - How Past-Life Memories Affect Your Child" Bantam, 1997
Carol Bowman, "Return from Heaven-Beloved Relatives Reincarnated Within Your Family" Harper Collins, 2001
Carol Bowman's website is: www.childpastlives.org

By Henry Leo Bolduc,
with generous help from Marjorie V. Reynolds.

METHODOLOGY - RESEARCH

Research is part of our name. Research is what we do. Quite a few of our members do research strictly which is to say that we research (subjective or objective) the authenticity of past-lives rather than the "methodology" of "getting there."

The rest of us who are in private "practice" are doing just that "practicing" our research in methodology. In the moment there is no one method or bridge to situate every client/patient into a past-life scene. "Tell me what's happening." The client doesn't respond. Finally a response comes, "nothing." From that moment forward we are doing research. It may be through the body. It may be through an issue. It may be through a thousand different windows, doors, levels, feelings, thoughts, etc. until the path is found. However it is done, it is done with and through the client. This is Re-Search. For we do it again, and again.

Most of us agree that we are "client-centered." The focus of our therapy is to find the cause. However, we also have come to the realization that the presenting problem is not the problem. Being "client centered" we want the client to discover the hidden problem / cause / solution. Yes, we determine the best "path" to use to "awaken" the client. How? It is through the methods that over the years each of us have re-searched through many eclectic paths that we have determined what works. Each of us intuitively chooses what will work in each client situation.

Now it has been brought to the attention of this Association that some are critical of some "methodologies" that are being tested. We don't feel this is fair. Criticism and judgments are what killed us in the dark ages. It was time of "un-learning." From that there was no redemption. In modern times, skeptically at first, past-lives were introduced into the therapeutic circle. In the world it is being recognized, and we its pioneers, are not suffering fire and brimstone.

Yet within, we cast shadows upon each other's methods. We are recreating "the darkness". For we are "quieting" discussions, we are quieting "method research." By criticism we are stopping the flow of information. The result of this can only be negation. Each of us must have a free voice to "openly" present the research that we have been testing and present that which we term as being successful without rancor. If upon reading, hearing, testing the presenting method it doesn't work for you then be it so. But possible one could take bits and pieces, adapt into a new method and create one that works.

G. Hegel (1770-1831), stated, "Anyone studying history in depth will observe that a thought is usually proposed on the basis of other previously proposed thoughts. But as soon as one thought is proposed it will be contradicted by another. A tension arises between these two ways of thinking. But that tension is resolved by the proposal of a third thought which accommodates the best of both points of view". This he termed a Dialectic process. He also called these three stages of knowledge - Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis.

As stated in the beginning of this article, there is no one methodology. We are all "researchers in methodology", and pioneering the use of them. Our clients choose each of us because they benefit from the methods that we choose to get them where they want to be. So until the dialectic process reaches a synthesis let us be tolerant of each other's methods and continue to be patient with each other's research. .

Jeffrey Ryan, MA, CRT
IARRT President

If You Could Time Travel,
Would You Want To Go Into The Future Or Back To The Past?

In a recent poll taken by America Online subscribers answered the question. "If you could time travel, would you want to go into the future or back to the past? Of the 21,412 respondents this author captured the following data: 66% (14,248) wanted to travel to the past, 33% (7,164) chose the future. One percent was unaccounted.

In the September 1997, issue of Cosmopolitan magazine (circulation 2.4 million) characterized going back to the past as a 'growing phenomenon.' In the March 1995 issue of New Woman magazine a survey of 6,000 readers revealed, 77% believed in Life after death, 69% believed in Heaven and 45% believed in Reincarnation.

The phenomenon of being able to 'time travel' became known primarily through the work of Edgar Cayce. Briefly, Edgar Cayce was born in 1877 and lived until 1945. For more than 40 years of his life he gave what is called a psychic "reading". Of the 14,000-recorded readings approximately two-thirds are physical readings, readings for people who had physical, health problems. They either came to Edgar Cayce or wrote to him, and received a reading, which diagnosed the origin of their physical problem and recommended a course of treatment. Many recorded readings were of spiritual and psychological advice, readings about prayer and meditation, and readings about pre-history. Also more than 1,000 dreams were brought to Edgar Cayce over a course of many years and interpreted by this source. Edgar Cayce was called the "sleeping prophet" and is the most documented 'time traveler' of our time. Spontaneous Past-life memories can come into the conscious mind through many guises: the déjà vu experience; recurrent dreams, either of a specific location, or of a frightening event, a crippling phobia or unexplained, groundless fear. (See "Across Time and Space" by Jenny Cockell.) People who fear water/swimming, public speaking, or heights (to name just a few common phobias) often uncover the memory of a death by drowning, hanging or burning at the stake before a crowd, or falling from a high place.

In 1980, the Association for Past-Life Research and Therapies (APRT), the first organization of its kind, was founded by Hazel Denning, Ph.D. along with Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D. and Ron Wong Jue, Ph.D. for the purpose of regression education, training and research. The organization was renamed The International Association for Regression Research and Therapies, Inc. IARRT in 2000 to more accurately reflect the scope of the organization's mission as an international, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the acceptance and use of professional and responsible regression therapy through education, training and research. Membership is represented in 28 countries and they will hold the first International Conference in Zeist, The Netherlands, June 19-22, 2003.

Many people reject the idea of looking into a past lifetime for problems as they claim to have enough troubles in the present life. This sounds reasonable; however, in clinical practice, we have discovered that present life conflicts and problems often stem from traumatic events in prior lifetimes. (See "A Tribe Returned" by Janet Cunningham, Ph.D. past IARRT President.)

"Whether one believes regression recall as an actual memory or a metaphor from the unconscious is less important than the positive effects that result from using regression therapy to reach the root cause of one's issues. Metaphors and images serve as catalysts for personal understanding and change. Age is no barrier. This process works with everyone - from children to the elderly," says, IARRT President, Jeffrey Ryan, MA, CRT, Ph.D. (cand.) a regression therapist in private practice in Morris Plains, NJ. (See "Children's Past Lives" by Carol Bowman.)

When one's body dies, the soul can carry away with it promises, beliefs, attitudes, physical symptoms, and/or attachments that are brought into this lifetime to be worked through. Through the emotional feelings and body sensations associated with an identified present life problem, the person is prompted to locate the source or cause of the problem. This leads to the discovery of a pain-filled memory in a past life. The person, in the personality of the past-life character, is guided through the traumatic episode in the lifetime, and finally through the death experience. The past-life character, as a spirit, moves away from the body and the death scene and fully into the Light. The narrative is similar to descriptions of the near death experience (NDE). See "Life After Life" by Raymond Moody. Many emotional problems and conflicts are quickly and effectively resolved through past-life regression, usually in far fewer sessions than with conventional therapy. The meaning of Past-Life Recall: There are at least four levels of meaning of the Past-Life Regression experience.

1. On the most superficial level it is fun and interesting to explore one's past, to see oneself as the various selves in earlier situations. It is simply an excursion through time.
2. The second level is the therapeutic experience. The most powerful use for Past-Life Regression therapy is treating physical ailments, which are considered to be psychosomatic. When the traumatic events are explored and cell memory of both physical and emotional pain has been released the condition diminishes or ceases altogether. Many emotional issues and conflicts are quickly and effectively resolved through past-life regression, usually in far fewer sessions than with conventional therapy.
3. The third level is an educational journey into the spiritual reality, the so-called "inner planes" of consciousness. The subject can experience the greater reality of spirit, past, present, and in some cases future. There is a deeper realization of purpose in life, or loves, a clearer sense of the meaning of relationships and the transpersonal aspects of existence.
4. The fourth level of the altered state regression experience is the ineffable feeling of Oneness, of being connected to all and everything in the Universe, being part of God, Goddess, All That Is, the Source.

Past-Life Regression is highly effective because it enables individuals to directly locate the original source of past trauma and resolve the core issues that inhibit current daily life functioning. "The transformational experience of Past-Life Regression helps individuals lead happier, healthier, more productive lives. It can affect every aspect of one's life in a direct and positive way. Twenty-plus years of clinical work and experiential research documents the validity of regression therapy as a therapeutic modality." Ryan stated..

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, MSW, CRT
www.gen-assist.com

Bastyr University Seattle Conference And Regression Training

The International Association of Regression Research and Therapies, Inc. held its annual conference at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA the first week in April 2002. The topic was Psychic Wounds, Physical Problems, Healing through the Soul Connection and Hypnotherapy.

As the Coordinator of this conference, it was a pleasure for me to work with so many professionals to make this a success. The atmosphere was one of professional networking, cooperation and friends coming together to learn.

We had the pleasure of listening to our two keynote speakers: Dr. Millman, a family physician, gave a great talk about communicating with MD's as hypnotherapists. Dolores Cannon a long time IARRT member and hypnotherapist, known for her information about Nostradamus, talked about case histories where physical healing occurred. Institutes presenters were Joseph Costa, Hans TenDam and Marion Boon. I thank them for providing excellent workshops and generosity of time and sharing of expertise.

We had inspiring workshops given by the Conference presenters. They give generously of their time and at this time are not compensated for their lectures. Elaine Childs-Gowell, Christine Bartlett, Dominique Glaub, Walter Semkiw, Adele Tartaglia, Linda Peterson, Donna Nowak, Robert Tarzan, and Kay Heatherly. To our regress Judith Landau and Mary Hamond-Newman were ill and unable to give their presentations. A thank you goes to some very special people who volunteered their time.

o Dr. Tish Morgan, Elaine Childs-Gowell, Jonni
O'Connor, Patricia Wheelwright, Michael Pollack and Ann Barham - making phone calls to advertise the conference
o Peg Davis - Design of the advertising flyer
o Christine Bartlett and Lenora Beale - raffle
o Jacqueline Conquest, Karen Waite and Natasha Conquest - helping with the wine and the flowers. It made the atmosphere so much more special
o Joelle McGonagle - helped at the registration and book table
o Moria Vecchio - conference opening song and conference closing with a scarf dance

We all worked together to serve this great organization in its work of bringing Past-Life Therapy to the World. I thank you, each IARRT member, for doing this wherever you live in your corner of the world.

Maggie van Staveren LCSW, CHT
Bastyr Conference Coordinator

IARRT Membership Report

Hello Members,
It is good to connect with you once again! At the Spring Conference we had our annual Membership Meeting to provide an opportunity to members to express their ideas and concerns, and provide feedback to the organization on membership services. During this meeting we took the opportunity to allow the members to experience what it is like to be on the Board of Directors. For 10 minutes, everyone broke into small groups and generated ideas on how IARRT can increase its membership.

Many ideas came out of the brainstorming session and all will be reported to the Board for consideration. There are several ideas in particular than can be implemented immediately by all of us to promote IARRT and support our work. We are more powerful collectively than as individuals.

1. "Pitch IARRT wherever you are!"
When you do seminars, have clients, or go to conferences be sure to remember to talk about IARRT. Call the Riverside office and ask for copies of IARRT brochures, newsletters and flyers for our events. It only takes a moment to slip some into your materials packet, post some at your office or hand to someone interested in PLT. If you have training programs, encourage your students to become members of IARRT, our professional association.
2. "Place IARRT on your business cards, websites and materials."

Is IARRT easily identifiable to people who meet you or see your products? Have a brief note on your website with a link to IARRT's website. Mention IARRT in your newspaper articles, brochure, radio shows and books. Many, many thanks goes to Carol Bowman. I have met numerous people found IARRT and become members through the mention of the organization in her book "Children's Past Lives."

We all promote ourselves and our work at the time, that is how we get business. It is important to remember to speak for IARRT as well, so we can continue to receive referrals, professional Journal articles, skilled training and education and spread enlightenment to the world about the powers and validity of Regression Therapy..

Christine Bartlett, PT, CHT
IARRT Membership Chairperson

Greetings From Research

Thank you to all of the people who connected with me at Bastyr University to discuss research and offer to help in various ways. I appreciate all of your wonderful energy and ideas, and will be in touch with you personally one of these days. It was delightful for me to hear about all of your research and explorations. I recently read two new books on reincarnation and karma, and am delighted to share the titles with you. The first is "Living With Invisible People: A Karmic Autobiography" by Jostein Saether. (First published in English by Clairview Books in 2001, go to www.clairviewbooks.com.) Saether was born in Norway and presently lives in Germany. The book is a fascinating look at this personal experiences and memories.

The second title is "The Other Adonis" and is a novel of reincarnation by Frank Deford. (Sourcebooks, Inc., 2001 go to www.sourcebooks.com.) This novel is a delightful read. I found myself not wanting it to end…. "If true love can travel across time, can true evil be far behind?" Deford has won both an Emmy and Peabody Award for various works. This is his seventh novel..

Sydney Heflin, Ed.D.
IARRT Research Chair
As always, please feel free to contact me at:
mailto:research@iarrt.org