On my business cards, I list all the services I provide--intuitive counseling/readings, Reiki classes and treatments, stress management training, etc.--and the entry that invariably raises the most eyebrows is "past life regression." While the notion that we have past lives is widely accepted in the East, here in the West, we have a hard time swallowing it. Our American culture, in particular, is so focused on "making it big" in this lifetime that we have little patience with the "esoteric" idea of past lives.

Hence it doesn't surprise me that quite a few of my clients come to me intrigued by the idea of past lives but not quite sure whether or not they believe in them. One question frequently asked is, "What if I don't believe in past lives? What will happen?" Fortunately, the past life regression can be of benefit to you whether or not you actually believe in prior lifetimes.

Essentially, the past life regression provides you with an extended metaphor or set of symbols critical to what is happening in your present lifetime. In Jungian terms, the regression presents personal and collective archetypes that can help you decipher and understand your fears, your patterns (both negative and positive), and your potentialities.

Since the regression puts you into a very relaxed state in which the subconscious mind is operative, you are able to bypass the conscious mind to a deeper place in which your soul's highest wisdom comes forth. Whether or not you believe your soul has lived before, you will be able to access this deep place through your session. In short, the regression puts you in touch with the information that best informs what you are experiencing now in your work, your relationships, your health, and so on. It is a tool to put you in touch with your current challenges and how to overcome them!

Barnsley Brown, M.Sc., Ph.D., and Reiki Master can be reached at Spirited Solutions™, 919-967-1164 or spiritedsolutions@yahoo.com. She offers past life regressions, wellness consulting, creative writing workshops, and Reiki classes and individual sessions.