Past life regression (PLR) and past life therapy (PLT) are methods that use hypnosis to help people recall what practitioners believe are memories of past lives or past existences. Many medical experts and scientists do not trust these methods and often say that memories of past lives are likely made-up stories or false ideas. People may choose to try PLR for spiritual reasons or as part of therapy. Most supporters of PLR believe in the idea of reincarnation, or the belief that people are born again after death.

During PLR, a person is hypnotized and asked questions to uncover details about supposed past lives. This method is similar to other techniques used in recovered memory therapy. However, these methods often treat made-up or constructed memories as if they are real events from the past. Hypnosis and leading questions can make it hard for people to tell the difference between real memories and those that are imagined or influenced by others. These memories are more likely created by mixing real experiences with ideas, stories, or suggestions from the hypnotist, rather than being true memories of past lives.

Studies of memories from PLR show that they often include mistakes about history, which come from common beliefs, modern stories, or books about the past. Experiments with people undergoing PLR suggest that two main factors influence the content of their reported memories: believing in reincarnation and the suggestions given by the hypnotist.

History

In the 2nd century BC, the Hindu scholar Patañjali wrote about the idea in his Yoga Sutras. He described how the soul could become weighed down by a collection of impressions from past lives, which are part of karma. Patañjali called this process of recalling past lives "prati-prasava," which means "reverse birthing." He believed this practice helped people understand and solve current problems by remembering their past lives. Some types of yoga still use prati-prasava today.

In Chinese religious stories, the deity Meng Po, also called the "Lady of Forgetfulness," prevents souls from remembering their past lives. She gives souls a soup called "Mi Hun Tang," which erases their memories before they are reborn.

In Jainism, past life regression is also practiced. The seven truths of Jainism explain the soul and its connection to karma. The fourth truth, Bandha, states that karma can attach itself to the soul. The seventh truth, Moksha, explains that to escape the cycle of rebirth, the soul must separate from karma. To learn what karma is attached to the soul, practitioners use a practice called "Jati-Smaran," which involves remembering past lives.

In the 19th century, a spiritual movement called Spiritualism grew. People used séances and other methods to communicate with spirits. Allan Kardec, a French writer, created five books called the Spiritist Codification between 1857 and 1868. These books describe how spirits evolve through many lives.

Madame Blavatsky, a co-founder of the Theosophical Society, introduced the term "Akasha" in her book Isis Unveiled (1877). She described Akasha as a mysterious life force that was redefined in later writings. She also mentioned "indestructible tablets of the astral light" that record past and future human thoughts and actions.

These ideas were later combined into the concept of "Akashic records," introduced by Alfred Percy Sinnett in his book Esoteric Buddhism (1883). The idea that Akashic records hold past life information helped Western paranormal researchers avoid the traditional belief that people forget their past lives.

In 1923, Edgar Cayce, a man who gave answers in a trance, described past lives of a man named Arthur Lammers. Later, in 1942, A. R. Martin wrote a book called Researches in Reincarnation and Beyond, which discussed using hypnosis for past life regression.

In 1952, a woman named Virginia Tighe, under hypnosis, claimed to remember the life of an Irish woman named Bridey Murphy. This case became famous.

Most mental health professionals do not accept past life regression as a valid treatment. A 2006 study found that most mental health experts considered "Past Lives" therapy as proven to be ineffective for treating mental or behavioral issues.

Psychologist Robert Baker noted that believing in reincarnation is the main reason someone might claim to remember a past life during therapy. One well-known case involved a woman who claimed to remember being Bridey Murphy and sang Irish songs. However, investigations showed she was actually recalling her own childhood memories, not a past life. This story is detailed in the book The Search for Bridey Murphy.

Technique

In the West, some experts use hypnosis and suggestions to help people remember details about a past life. They ask questions to get information about the person's history and identity in that life. Some experts also use methods that connect a person's current-life challenges to stories from a past life, helping them become aware of these memories. These experts believe that problems from a past life, if real, might explain some of the person's current difficulties.

One method for recalling past-life memories is described in a study by Nicholas P. Spanos from Carleton University in Ontario, Canada. In the study, participants were first told they would experience hypnosis. Later, they were instructed: “You are now living in a different life that you experienced before in another time. You are reliving that life.” The person conducting the session then asked: “What name should I use for you? Look down and describe everything you are wearing. Where are you?”

Afterward, participants were asked to write down everything they remembered about their past life after the regression. A past-life regression session can take as little as 15 minutes. However, recalling events that happened before death, such as "soul memories," may require more than 45 minutes of deep trance. Some psychotherapists use past-life ideas as a tool for their clients, even if the existence of past lives is uncertain.

Sources of memories

Memories recovered through methods like past-life regression may be the result of cryptomnesia, which occurs when the subconscious mind combines imagination, forgotten information, and suggestions from a therapist to create stories that seem real. Memories formed during hypnosis are hard to tell apart from real memories and may feel more vivid than actual memories. The strongest factor linked to people reporting past-life memories is their beliefs—those who believe in reincarnation are more likely to report such memories, while those who do not believe are less likely to do so.

Studies of three cases involving past-life regression (Bridey Murphy, Jane Evans, and an unnamed English woman) showed memories that seemed convincing at first. However, experts who studied the languages and historical details in these cases found errors. For example, speech patterns used were similar to those in movies or books about 16th-century English, not actual language from that time. One case included a date that was incorrect but matched a known mistake in old printed materials.

Another person described events from the Roman era that matched details from a 1947 novel set in the same time period, including the same name mentioned by the person during regression. Other details mentioned were common knowledge, not proof of real memories. When asked for specific historical information to verify their claims, subjects often gave unclear answers or could not provide details that should have been widely known. For instance, one person described a Japanese fighter pilot during World War II but could not name Hirohito, who was the Emperor of Japan during the 1940s.

Studies

Studies show that memories of past lives are often not real but are created through hypnosis. A 1976 study found that 40% of people who could be hypnotized described new identities and used different names when asked to imagine life before birth. In the 1990s, researcher Nicholas Spanos studied how people describe past lives. These descriptions were often detailed and vivid, but this does not prove the memories are true. People who claimed to remember past lives were more likely to be highly hypnotizable, and their memories were strongly influenced by the expectations of the person conducting the experiment.

The credibility of these memories was most closely linked to the subjects’ beliefs in reincarnation and their expectation to recall a past life, rather than how easily they could be hypnotized. Spanos concluded that past-life memories are not real memories but are instead made up based on what people expect or believe. These memories often come from outside influences, such as stories from books, movies, personal experiences, or desires. In conclusion, research suggests that memories of past lives are likely false, created through the effects of hypnosis.

Ethical questions

Past life regression has been criticized for being unethical because there is no scientific proof to support its claims. It may also make people more likely to believe in false memories. Luis Cordón explains that this can be harmful because these memories feel real, just like memories from actual events in a person's life. This makes it hard to tell true memories from false ones, and any harm caused may be difficult to fix.

Since past life regression is based on the idea of reincarnation, many organizations that are approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) have stopped supporting it as a therapy method. They say it is unethical. The use of hypnosis in this practice can put people in a weak position, making them more likely to believe in memories that are not true. Gabriel Andrade notes that this violates the principle of "first, do no harm," which is a key rule in helping people.

Works

• Children's Past Lives by Carol Bowman
• Reliving Past Lives by Helen Wambach
• Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton
• Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka, an Indian television series