Regression – have we been here before? What’s your opinion?
Many people experience a curious moment in life that leaves them quietly wondering—why does that place seem so familiar when I’ve never been there? Why does that particular place or person, stir something deep and unexplainable within me? Why does a certain historical period feel like home? These questions have led many to the mysterious doorway of past life regression—a practice that suggests that the soul may carry echoes of earlier lifetimes, and that those echoes can be gently uncovered through the use of hypnosis.
Past life regression, as practised by hypnotherapists across the world, invites a person into a deeply relaxed state where the conscious mind loosens its grip. In this calm, receptive condition, images, feelings, and even whole narratives can begin to emerge. A woman may find herself weeping as she speaks of a child she once had—centuries ago, in another land. A man may describe being a soldier in a war whose battles he later discovers are historically accurate, though he’s never studied them. Are these simply products of a vivid imagination, or are they fragments of something much older? Or perhaps the ability to tap the Akashic records.
There are many ways to explain what happens during past life regression. Some believe that these experiences are purely symbolic—that the mind constructs powerful stories to express psychological truths or to bring unresolved feelings to light. Others are convinced that these are actual memories of previous incarnations, part of a soul’s ongoing journey through time and space. There is even the theory of genetic memory—that somehow, we carry ancestral echoes, stories stored in the very cells of our body, which can be unlocked under the right conditions. None of these explanations can be entirely proven or disproven—and perhaps that’s part of the mystery. What do you think?
Over the years, there have been many accounts that claim to offer proof of past lives. Children, particularly, have been known to speak in detail about families, places, and events that they could not possibly have known. The work of researchers like Dr Ian Stevenson, who documented thousands of such cases, offers compelling reading. Also, the experience that I have had in the past working with Joe Keeton, who wrote the fascinating account of regressions in his book “Encounters with the past”. Yet, mainstream science remains cautious, reminding us that memory can be highly suggestible and that hypnosis itself does not guarantee truth in the factual sense. Even so, for those who have experienced a regression, the emotional reality can be profound—often more convincing than any external validation.
Hypnosis plays a central role in enabling this experience. It allows the busy, critical mind to quieten, creating space for impressions to rise from within. What emerges is not always visual. Some feel sensations, others hear voices or music, while some simply know what is happening as if remembering a long-forgotten dream. The therapist’s role is not to direct or interpret, but to support the journey—allowing the client to explore safely, without judgement or fear. Never to implant suggestions.
Even for those who do not believe in literal reincarnation, regression can be healing. A woman who has always feared water may ‘remember’ drowning in another life, and after the session, the fear lifts. A man who’s struggled with relationships may uncover a narrative where he lost someone he loved in another time, and with that understanding, feels a new sense of peace. Whether these are metaphors created by the mind or windows into something real, they seem to carry truth in their effect. And perhaps that is the real test.
Across religious traditions, beliefs vary. In Hinduism and Buddhism, reincarnation is a foundational concept. The soul returns, life after life, learning, growing, repaying karmic debts. In contrast, most branches of Christianity have moved away from the idea—though there are whispers from the early Church, particularly among Gnostic groups, that reincarnation was once part of the theology. Islam, likewise, generally rejects the idea, although some mystics speak of the soul’s return in metaphorical terms. Interestingly, within Judaism, particularly in Kabbalistic teachings, the idea of gilgul—the transmigration of souls—is an accepted belief. And so, while doctrine may differ, the human yearning to understand where we come from—and where we may return—remains consistent. The very basis of many religions.
In the end, whether past life regression reveals actual memories or meaningful metaphors, it offers a unique way to explore the self. For some, it’s a doorway to healing. For others, a way to deepen spiritual understanding. And for many, it is simply a profound experience that leaves them changed—calmer, clearer, and more open to life. As a hypnotherapist, I find that the question is rarely whether what someone saw was real—but rather, what it brought to them in the here and now. Because after all, this life is the one we are living. And if a glimpse into another time brings greater peace or insight into this one, then perhaps that is reason enough to explore it. I will continue to investigate its veracity and wonder whether I will know the truth before the final day I quit this amazing life, for better or for worse!