Past Life Regression Workshop

Question
I'm going to be doing a group Past Life Regression workshop this weekend. Do you have any suggestions that will help my group have the best experience possible?

Answer
I would imagine that some of these suggestions will be things you may already do, but here are the basics when I conduct something of this nature. A. PREPARATION FOR REGRESSION I believe that many people have a hard time experiencing a regression because the choices they are given are limited to "seeing" something. Not everyone learns or remembers this way. Also, the group needs time to warm up their memory brain. Therefore, I do a couple of exercises with them first: 1. Before any hypnosis, with eyes closed, bring up items to have them visualize, smell, feel, etc. Use as many senses as possible -- an apple, a lemon, a rose, a garbage dump, petting a baby animal, etc. I then have the group share which senses were strongest for them. Most will admit they can "see" the item, so it gives an opportunity for the guide to assure the group that, when it comes to remembering, they CAN visualize, or "see." Also, the guide can ask how clearly the person was able to see the item. This not only give more confidence that most people are able to visualize, but it also clarifies for the individual how he/she remembers best--so if they can't "see" the item, perhaps they can feel/sense it. 2. Have the group brainstorm all the ways we remember things, i.e. snapshots, attic or other storage items, family gatherings, school albums, photo albums, etc. 3. Have group share when, in their daily life, they had a certain memory suddenly come to them, and whether it was a vivid picture or a shadowy one. What provoked that memory? This prepares the group for "remembering." 4. Have each person think of a place that is special and in which they feel safe, and remind them that if they should become uncomfortable at any time, they are free to go back to that place for a moment before continuing with their journey. B. GOING TO THE PAST 1. It helps to begin the actual regression work with a childhood event in THIS existence. Again, this is warming up the memory cells. It is also providing the group with easy, and safe, memory experiences, which encourages other "remembering." After the induction, I ask the group to go to the earliest PLEASANT experience they can recall in their own childhood. I never tell the group to go to a particular age, or a particular occasion (like Christmas or birthday). You never know what kind of childhood experiences someone has had, and you want this first regression to be as pleasant and successful as possible. Afterwards, I have the group share any experiences they wish, and just HOW they "experienced" them. 2. When beginning the regression to a PAST life, it's important to assure the group's members that they can trust their own way of remembering. If they don't see something like a scene, then they can just sense it, or even imagine it. If they find they can't do any of that, it's okay. They should just allow themselves to go with whatever comes to them. It takes time to practice letting go, trusting in the thoughts that come to you, etc. The less they go in with particular expectations, the more likely something will happen, in terms of recalling another life. It's helpful to remind them that they should travel back in time as a historian or reporter viewing the person's life. 3. After the regression, I have the group do some sharing. Also, I ask how many DIDN'T go anywhere, and give assurance that practicing will make it easier and easier. This is not a time for "one-up-manship" in recalling a previous existance. For some people these things come more easily than others--and it's all okay! 4. We then go into another regression, in which I allow them to choose to go to a different lifetime, or go to the same one so they can pursue it further. C. AVOIDING/HANDLING POSSIBLE ABREACTIONS 1. First of all, I pefer a small group over a large one, in order to deal most affectively with any possible abreaction. However, you can still manage this in a big group of people. 2. I suggest people take the journey like a historian or reporter who will be observing what goes on, rather than being in the middle actually re-experiencing their past life; and I have them think of a "safe" place (see previous paragraphs). 3. If someone does have an abreaction, despite the precautions, I suggest to the rest of the group that they continue to relax and enjoy the state they are in. If they wish, they are free to observe what I am doing, but will not actually partcipate in it, as I work with the individual for a few moments. Then, I handle the individual by calming them, and give a choice of (a) returning to a safe place; (b) continuing on in the journey in time; or (c) coming back into present time, slowly, at my count of 5. I then continue the session with the rest of the group. It's very important, of course, that the guide "keep his/her cool" throughout, treating everything as naturally as possible. Finally, I'd just like to add that I use my own natural voice throughout. I'm casual, and even humorous at times, in my preparation talk and exercises. In other words, I don't put on a fake "spiritual" voice. I have experienced that too many times with therapist's tapes and workshops, in which the leader seems to feel they must use a different "voice." I find this annoying, distracting, and even misleading concerning the nature of what is being done in such a workshop. If past lives are part of our nature as human-beings, then going back to them should be treated as naturally as other human experiences.