Reincarnation: Science, Spirituality or a Little of Both?

Have you ever had an issue present itself that just won’t go away? Something that presses your buttons and causes a great deal of angst within your psyche? That’s what’s happened to me, not surprisingly, on the subject of reincarnation. I have been in this arena for over 35 years now. I have studied with renowned experts in the field. Those of you who know me, know that I definitely lean in the direction of the Edgar Cayce teachings. For me, Mr. Cayce was well ahead of his time. The more I study the Cayce readings, the more it speaks to me as a truth marker. I have never known Mr. Cayce to be wrong and so the teachings he brought forth on the topic of reincarnation have anchored my life and my practice in more ways than I care to admit. His is the spiritual path of understanding reincarnation and how it operates amid Universal Laws. He had no scientific proof of anything he shared. Most of it was faith-based, just as he was. I have found great comfort in that.

On the flip side, there are individuals who negate the work done by past-life regressionists who use hypnosis in their practice. They feel that is not a reliable measure of the validity of past lives. Instead, they rely on a more scientific pursuit of proof. Most of the time, our paths are divergent–one going in one direction, the other in the opposite direction. I have always liked to think I’m in the middle, offering a little of both. I’ve consistently based the material in my books on case studies. In this way, I have invited individuals who participate in those regression sessions to tell their own story rather than me pontificating on what side of the fence I prefer to sit on. In the eyes of folks who are more scientifically inclined, my research methods may not be on par with theirs because I employ the use of hypnosis, or more often, guided imagery in assisting individuals to revisit a prior lifetime. But that’s no reason to diminish its value.

I was talking to a friend about this and she said it was as if both sides were on a bridge. For those who are devoted to the spiritual side of this, and especially those like me who do employ some form of structured research, we are standing midway on the bridge. For the purely scientific researchers on the bridge, they are unable to move to the center. They can’t quite wrap their analytical minds around the value of the spiritual nature of this most sacred work.

For me, the true value of past-life work is measured in how folks have been helped along the way. I believe there is room for both the spiritual and scientific approach. I would never negate the value of what my scientifically-motivated colleagues do, just as I would hope they would offer me the same consideration. All I know is, I have had hundreds of clients over the years I’ve done this work, whose lives have been profoundly changed for the better. They have experienced a “ah ha” moment that has provided the answers they have been seeking and that knowledge has lifted a heavy burden from their lives.

Therein lies the true value of past-life regression work. It is faith-based, answering the “why” of life in a way that only a spiritually-based perspective can do. In keeping that in mind, I am forever inspired and empowered to continue my work and hope that someday, the two sides can, indeed, meet in the middle.