Regression

[Unregistered]

Hi everyone. I was wondering about past life regression. We know memories are stored in the brain, okay, because if you damage it you can't remember things so between lives when you're just an egg, where are they stored so you can remember them in the next life?

ps: please don't argue about it. I just want to know the answer.

[HypnoLurker]

Hi everyone. I was wondering about past life regression. We know memories are stored in the brain, okay, because if you damage it you can't remember things so between lives when you're just an egg, where are they stored so you can remember them in the next life?

ps: please don't argue about it. I just want to know the answer.
Asking for there to be no arguments about this one is a bit optimistic, given that there is no proven answer to your questions. I think we need separate the two things here - (1) how are memories stored?, and (2) are past life recollections real?

(1) How are memories stored?

Current studies in neuroscience strongly support the notion that a memory is a set of encoded neural connections. Encoding can take place in several parts of the brain. Thus, neural connections are likely to go across various parts of the brain. The stronger the connections, the stronger the memory. Recollection of an event can occur by a stimulus to any of the parts of the brain where a neural connection for the memory occurs. If part of the brain is damaged, access to any neural data that was there is lost. On the other hand, if the brain is healthy and a person is fully conscious when experiencing some trauma, the likelihood that they will forget the event is nearly zero, unless either they are very young or they experience a brain injury.

(2) Are past life recollections real?

There are opposing factions here, ranging from total believers to total skeptics. I will only give my personal opinion, others here may have different views.

I have never seen convincing evidence that PLR's are actual past lives, and the majority of experiences that have been investigated suggest a psychological process known as "cryptomnesia", which means knowledge that has been acquired in the past (current lifetime) but subsequently consiously forgotten. Using hypnosis helped that person to recall those forgotten memories and this may then be combined with other memories (or maybe unwitting suggestions) in a process called "confabulation".

I believe that many times what is recalled is a symbolic or metaphorical "story" that in some way relates to that person's current sense of being. In this way, even though the recalled memory might not be of an actual past life it can still be a therapeutic experience, if handled by a qualified practitioner.

[Don]

Just because memories seemed to be stored as "a set of encoded neural connections" doesn't mean that's the only place they're stored. On my computer, I can store things on a hard drive, on a CD, on a tape drive, and a jump drive, on a zip drive, etc. Several of these can be disconnected from the computer and attached later, restoring the "memories" of the computer. Is the same not possible with the human mind?

However, I would take a slightly different view from Hypnolurker concerning the objective "reality" of PLRs--although there is no debate here--specifically, it doesn't matter if they are "real" or not. I agree with HL's description about their value and purpose. As I put it, PLRs are a message that the unconscious believes the conscious is ready to receive.

In other words, the "reality" of a PLR isn't important. Rather, what you do with the experience is what's important.

[Neurotic1]

Well this is a fascinating topic isn't it. I tend to partially consider that some regressive experiences are a 'remembering' of previously encountered information and others are pure products of the vast imagination of the subconscious trying to produce meaning from a mix of the internal reality. I also do believe in past lives and therefore find it quite difficult to sift the wheat from the chaff as it were.

As regards the question 'where/how is the information stored between lives?' I have my own model for this.

I believe that the brain is, amongst other things, a tool via which information is communicated to and from the mind/spirit/soul, to and from the outside material world we live in. This requires me to accept that the mind is a metaphysical type thing that is not held 'within' the brain but merely uses the brain as an intermediary.
Different parts of the brain have different functions, some concerned with maintenance of physical body processes, others concerned with higher functions such as 'thought'/'consciousness' or whatever labels you wish to use for these otherwise physically intangible entities. If the brain is damaged / upset somehow, it would follow that communication and processing of thought/intent between the mind/spirit/whatever and the 'outside' world would be distorted because the brain is used in the interpretation and expression of both in the transmitted and received sensory material.

I am sure that others have their own opinion and I am equally sure that my opinion in some ways lacks the finesse I would wish it to have in its expression. I know there are those who would discuss that thought it a physical thing, perhaps using chemical reactions, electrical discharge or even mass to justify such theories. I guess what I am really trying to say is that I believe that the place information/experience from past lives is structured energy stored is in the afterlife/spirit world/Heaven or whatever label the 'place' is given. I do not believe that this place is a physical manifestation as we know it or can yet measure it (not that it cannot be) and I do not believe I will come to understand it sufficiently in this lifetime although I should hope to understand it a little more. When searching for the location/entity which contains the mind, it helps me to consider that one cannot weigh a set of scales with itself although there are plenty who would try.

[Terry (existing)]

[QUOTE=

ps: please don't argue about it. I just want to know the answer.[/QUOTE]
A most interesting Postscript! Does that mean, don't tell me anything that interfers with my present thinking? Or does it mean, I hate disagreeable discussions so I don't want to start one? :(

[Unregistered]

Hello it's me the original poster. No, I just want to know how it works. I mean, how can you know something prom a past life when you startd as a single egg? I thoght you people should know becasue you do past lives regression don't you? Sorry, I don't know if there's some double meaning in that but it's not my intention.

[Unregistered]

Just because memories seemed to be stored as "a set of encoded neural connections" doesn't mean that's the only place they're stored. On my computer, I can store things on a hard drive, on a CD, on a tape drive, and a jump drive, on a zip drive, etc. Several of these can be disconnected from the computer and attached later, restoring the "memories" of the computer. Is the same not possible with the human mind?
Well, I guess anything is possible, Don. I chose to limit my answer to what is reasonably *known* about the nature of memory rather than indulge in speculation and guesswork.

[HypnoLurker]

Hello it's me the original poster. No, I just want to know how it works. I mean, how can you know something prom a past life when you startd as a single egg? I thoght you people should know becasue you do past lives regression don't you? Sorry, I don't know if there's some double meaning in that but it's not my intention.

Sorry my answer wasn't clear enough, I'll try to clarify my own opinion on the matter.

First of all, remember that not all hypnotists believe that past life experiences are "real" (some do, some don't), and not all hypnotists do PLRs (some do, some don't).

In my opinion, when somebody recalles a "past life" they are actually either remembering fragments of long forgotten memories of *this* lifetime, such as books or movies, or are constructing a fantasy story which may or may not be based on memories. So to answer your question, there is no memory of past lives encoded in the eggs. However, there is a possibility of what is termed "genetic memory", whereby experiences could be genetically transmitted to future generations, however, as yet there is no conclusive evidence of such. It does seen feasible though, given that our natural instincts are genetically transmitted, but whether that actually happens with events or can explain PLRs is very speculative with our current knowledge of science.

Other opinions may vary!

P.S. to Don. Sorry, message before this was mine, I forgot to set the name.

[Merlin]

>ps: please don't argue about it. I just want to know the answer.

Unregistered Guest,
There simply is no answer yet. I could give you several theories, but there are no answers yet.
*Most* of the time the memory seems somehow fabricated, yet there has been the rare time that the memories have been confirmed.
I personally do not believe in Past lives but I cannot reject all the memories.

[Terry (existing)]

OK, you choose to ask a question that only God can answer, and there is a likelyhood that you don't even believe in God.Many on this board don't that's sure. The mind in my understanding is something separate from the brain in that the brain is a physical entity, while the mind is spiritual. The difference for your understanding, is that a physical entity has mass, shape weight etc, while that which is spiritual has non of these. That being so, it might be possible for the mind to leave the body on death, and travel to another entity, and take up residence in an egg. Hence the belief in many lives.....On the other hand, a woman is born with a certain number of eggs as I understand it, and these begin to leave the body at regular intervals during the lifes cycle from puberty until menapause. Given this fact, how do you suppose that your mind might enter into another's body, pick the right egg, ie one that is fertilised out of all the others that are rejected, and become once again a human entity? Now of course it COULD happen, so if you choose to believe that do so. Most of us reject that idea as being too far out for reasonable consideration, so we use PLR, but do not accept it as anything other than another method of therapy......However you did ask, so god has answered and you are truly blest (EG)

[Don]

It used to be thought that consciousness was in the heart. Now we think it is in the mind. What is reasonably known often limits us rather than frees us. If you know you'll never get an A in a class, I can guarantee that no matter how hard you study, you'll never get an A in that class.

[Don]

No prob. I agree with you. In fact, the "genetic memory" does answer the "why does everyone think they were someone famous?" question.

Of course, when you do PLR with people, you rapidly discover that it is very rare to find someone who was famous in a past life.

Personally, I agree with one author who wrote: A famous past life doesn't add glamor to this one so much as make one wonder what happened during the interceding lives to bring you down to the current level.

[Cassandra 8]

No prob. I agree with you. In fact, the "genetic memory" does answer the "why does everyone think they were someone famous?" question.

Of course, when you do PLR with people, you rapidly discover that it is very rare to find someone who was famous in a past life.

Personally, I agree with one author who wrote: A famous past life doesn't add glamor to this one so much as make one wonder what happened during the interceding lives to bring you down to the current level.So, memories recovered during past life regression are as relevant to a past life as anything could be?

[Don]

I'm sorry, Cassandra. I'm not sure what you mean. Could I trouble you to reword this in a different way? I've got a head cold and not everything's working right--as if it ever did! :)

[Jack]

Discussion about PLR is academic. There is no proof either way, and most opinion is, as it has to be, anecdotal. And ultimately it doesn't matter whether perceived past lives are the result of cell memory, the intervention of a deity or one's diet of TV and film for the past ten years.

The only thing that matters is whether is is useful in a therapeutic sense, and it is.

The only other thing that matters is that England may have lost the Test Match in South Africa. But there is no real proof either way.

Jack

[Cassandra 8]

Discussion about PLR is academic. There is no proof either way, and most opinion is, as it has to be, anecdotal. And ultimately it doesn't matter whether perceived past lives are the result of cell memory, the intervention of a deity or one's diet of TV and film for the past ten years.

The only thing that matters is whether is is useful in a therapeutic sense, and it is.

The only other thing that matters is that England may have lost the Test Match in South Africa. But there is no real proof either way.

JackOh yes, and whether Spurs were denied a clear goal last night against Man Utd. How can an assistant referee NOT be looking at where the ball's going?

[Merlin]

>We know memories are stored in the brain,

You *Know*
*We* do not *Know*
Many may think this, but we really do not know.

[skip]

Cassandra,

"Oh yes, and whether Spurs were denied a clear goal last night against Man Utd. How can an assistant referee NOT be looking at where the ball's going?"

Perhaps because he/she has other duties?

An assistant referee is responsible for offside, for determining if the ball has passed completely across the end line or touch line, who touched the ball last, to award throw ins, corner kicks, goal kicks, and in addition when they have time to watch play off the ball for foul play behind the referees back.

Now all this is done generally while running and not being able to look where you are stepping, so hopefully the fellow hadnt stumbled, and was regaining his balance.

I didnt see the game so I dont know the situation, and the assistant is responsible for determining if the ball passed completely over the end line to score. So presumably they should have had their eye on the ball.

But as a referee with over 15 years of experience, I can assure you there are times when you simply arent looking in the 'right place' for any number of reasons.

A better question might be how did two or perhaps three pairs of eyes miss what you with your fighter pilot vision did see, or perhaps you were aided by instant replay, huh?

cheers,

skip

[Cassandra 8]

Cassandra,

"Oh yes, and whether Spurs were denied a clear goal last night against Man Utd. How can an assistant referee NOT be looking at where the ball's going?"

Perhaps because he/she has other duties?

An assistant referee is responsible for offside, for determining if the ball has passed completely across the end line or touch line, who touched the ball last, to award throw ins, corner kicks, goal kicks, and in addition when they have time to watch play off the ball for foul play behind the referees back.

Now all this is done generally while running and not being able to look where you are stepping, so hopefully the fellow hadnt stumbled, and was regaining his balance.

I didnt see the game so I dont know the situation, and the assistant is responsible for determining if the ball passed completely over the end line to score. So presumably they should have had their eye on the ball.

But as a referee with over 15 years of experience, I can assure you there are times when you simply arent looking in the 'right place' for any number of reasons.

A better question might be how did two or perhaps three pairs of eyes miss what you with your fighter pilot vision did see, or perhaps you were aided by instant replay, huh?

cheers,

skipPoint taken, but here's the scenario. The ball was crossed in from behind the halfway line. The linesman, seeing the offside trap (a girlie understanding the offside rules! Never!) had been beaten then ran towards the Man Utd goal with his head down! He wasn't looking towards the goal. How he got out of the ground alive after the game is beyond me. I've been in Manchester when 50,000 unhappy fans are trying to find a drink or a fight... It's a bad mob situation.

The footage is utterly damning. The ball sailed onto the left shoulder of the goalie, who fumbled and dropped the ball. The ball rolled about two feet over the goal line. The goalie then hitthe deck trying to reach it and eventually batted it out with his palm! The rest of the field and the supporters saw it. Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted it was a goal and some bookies have paid out too. I personally think the Premiership should be talking to the linesman about standards.

Mind you, I gave up watching soccer many years ago and bought a season ticket to my local non-league side instead. Now it's not the losing I can't stand, it's the hope... :)

[skip]

Well there are reasons and there are excuses, and while there may have been a reason, there seems to be no excuse.

The 'problem' is that if ( and I didnt see the game) the linesman is at the half and the ball is played thru, he must then try and reestablish his position which is NOW in line with the ball. And that could be 30-40-50 or so meters forward. Most linesmen and referees cannot instantly teleport to the new 'proper' position, in fact most arent able to keep up with the forwards on a break away. So his view of the goal, at best, would have been at a poor angle (not an excuse, but a reason). His view might have even been blocked by the keepers body, so he was unable to determine it was a goal.

The referee, probably was further behind the play, especially since it was a thru ball, and his angle would have been even worse. He would have to have been relying on depth perception alone to determine if the ball was over the end line, and in all likelyhood was also blocked by the forward who was playing the ball, and the fullbacks who after having been beaten were also trying to catch up to the play.

Theoretically a goal is the linesmans call, and the rules state that if he is in doubt, it isnt a goal, unless the referee is absolutely sure the linesman is in error, and overrules. And keepers are damned good at pulling that ball back out of the goal, so you only have an instant to make your determination. If the keeper was between the linesman and the ball, I can easily see how he missed the call. It is still his responsibility, but you cant call what you cant see. Position is everything and sometimes even that isnt enough.

I can easily understand how, when the ball was played thru, the linesman starts his 60 meter sprint with his head down, trying to catch up to the play. the internatinal game is very fast.

Oh well.

And dont give me this girlie stuff. The girls and women I coached, and those we played against, and those I now referee, run, and defeat, very sophisticated offside traps. While a girl having some sophistication in soccer may be an exception where you are, it is pretty common here in the US now, even in East Tennisshoe, where I live.

But you gotta understand, there may have been 50,000 in Manchester who were unhappy, but there millions elsewhere who were delighted. :)

skip

[Unregistered]

...On the other hand, a woman is born with a certain number of eggs as I understand it, and these begin to leave the body at regular intervals during the lifes cycle from puberty until menapause. Given this fact, ...
However you did ask, so god has answered and you are truly blest (EG)

Really "as you understand it". better check the facts again god.

at last count, about 80 women ages 50-63 successfully birthed babies, some twins and triplets from scientific help, some just one if mother did it on her own. Read about what, really, happens in the Harvard Gazette: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/03.25/11-moreeggs.html

after 5 sets of experiments, they got their "Aha moment" : In hindsight, Tilly and Johnson both said it seems somewhat obvious that the original theory was wrong. In several lower animals, such as fruit flies, fish, and chickens, the females continue to manufacture eggs throughout their lives, much as males manufacture sperm cells.
That evolution would suddenly switch to a system in mammals where a large store of eggs is created at birth and then waits for years or even decades before being used - subject to damage the whole time - really wasn't logical.
"It just opens up enormous possibilities that we couldn't fathom before," Tilly said.

Way to go! - now, as always, the question remains: What do you want?

[Cassandra 8]

But you gotta understand, there may have been 50,000 in Manchester who were unhappy, but there millions elsewhere who were delighted. :)

skipAye, 'appen. But I bet none of them were Spurs fans! :)

[Neurotic1]

>We know memories are stored in the brain,

You *Know*
*We* do not *Know*
Many may think this, but we really do not know.
Yes Merlin, agreed. My model of PLR & brain/mind relationship (above) provides a feasible explanation for memories NOT being stored in the brain and merely accessed through it. Therefore it follows that if the part of the brain responsible for accessing those memories from wherever else they 'reside' is damaged, those memories will be inaccessible or distorted. Viewed simply, one might conclude that the damaged part of the brain 'held' the memories. This conclusion might be rather like thinking that the Earth is flat because you can walk across it. Until we fall off the edge, we cannot draw that conclusion.

[Merlin]

Interestingly, the female can regenerate eggs.
Recent study was done where all eggs were destroyed.
The test subjects regenerated the egg cells.

Can anyone say STEMCELLS?

The blood is teaming with stemcells :)

[Merlin]

Thank you Neurotic1 :)

[Vincent]

Has anyone heard about the Hypnosis sex scandal involvine ... and Michael Johnstone thats going on in Connecticut? If so, can you tell me if it is possible to rape someone while under Hypnosis? I've heard different opinions on the subject.

[Don]

Mr. Johnstone abused his position of power in dealing with some women who were seeking his help. He supposedly had sex with them and videotaped it. Although one person claimed this was done while under hypnosis, this claim was not made for the other women involved. After he spends 90 days in jail he will be deported.

It is unfortunate that people abuse their position of power to take advantage of people in a fragile state. From what little has been published, it appears that this had nothing to do with hypnosis, but rather the abuse of power. It happens between doctors, psychologists, and even dentists and their patients. It happens between lawyers and their clients.

Unfortunately, some women who have too much partying end up having sex with a date. This is known as date rape. In some cases, some women use the excuse of being too drunk or too stoned as a way of explaining their sexual activities because "they are good girls and wouldn't have done it otherwise." Sometimes, a few women will acquiesce to sex and later change their mind, once again accusing their date of rape.

Rape comes in many forms--mental, spiritual, emotional, physical, sexual. It is always about one person abusing power over another. It is a horrible experience for the victim with physical and mental effects that can last a lifetime. Hypnosis has nothing to do with it.

There are sites on the internet which imply that you can hypnotize a woman and have sex with her--hypnotic rape. Some of them honestly reveal that it is all made up. The others are clearly fantasies of warped minds sitting at computers with nothing better to do.

If you think you might be able to rape someone whle under hypnosis, or if you think you've been raped while hypnotized, you are quite mistaken.

[Rose]

Before anyone condems Michael Johnstone you all need to know that these women were not sexually assaulted they were not in a trance they were consenting adults who knew and often times initiated the sex. As a matter of fact they were often the aggressors. The only thing that Michael is Guitly of is having affairs and poor judgement. So unless you know all the facts and truths I suggest you stop writing such negative things about him. In no way did he misuse power.

[Don]

Hi, Rose.

Having relationships with clients who turn to you for help is considered an abuse of power. People often see someone who is helping them as powerful and want to get some of that power. In some situations, this interplay can be taken advantage of by the person in the position of perceived power. To prevent this, some universities prohibit relationships between professors and students. The military in the U.S. prohibits relationships between officers and enlistees.

In such situations, the person suffering from abuse of power may, indeed, be the aggressor. If the person in power wants to have a personal relationship with a client or student, the ethical thing to do is to stop the professional relationship and refer the person to another healer, teacher, etc.

If the facts in the case are as stated--even as you have presented them==then Mr. Johnstone could be seen as abusing his power over his clients.

[cas]

If someone IS raped while under hypnosis (and when I say this I mean the patient said 'no' but the therapist took advantage of them) is it possible that the patient won't remember the rape happening because they were hypnotized? Or would the patient know that they had been taken advantage of?

[Don]

If you can give ten documented examples (with analysis by at least two objective certified hypnotists) of someone being raped while hypnotized, this is a wonderful question.

Respectfully, I would content that you will be unable to do this. It doesn't happen. Therefore your question, while interesting, has no validity in the real world. It's sort of like asking what the moon men look like. You could argue the validity of any answer but it's a non-issue because there are not any moon men. Likewise, I would contend that the situation you describe can only lead to endless debates with no "correct" answer.

But if you find those ten cases you'll have your answer.

[Merlin]

>If someone IS raped while under hypnosis (and when I say this I mean the patient said 'no' but the therapist took advantage of them) is it possible that the patient won't remember the rape happening...

Not likely, but *possible*
If a loaded 9mm pistol was shoved into the mouth, with threats, someone *might* not remember too.

>because they were hypnotized?

Probably no.

[Yorgo]

Oooooh, what if you have the person hypnotize you for the sake of making sex more interesting? lol is that hypnotized rape? cuz im DOWN lol

[Terry (existing)]

If someone IS raped while under hypnosis (and when I say this I mean the patient said 'no' but the therapist took advantage of them) is it possible that the patient won't remember the rape happening because they were hypnotized? Or would the patient know that they had been taken advantage of? Well Cas, I am no expert, I have only raped a few of my clients, (I am picky you know,) but non of them said "no", and it wasn't hard to erase their memory so they didn't remember. Hope that helps....

[Merlin]

Is that hypnosis?
Yup.
Hypnosex is wonderful!!

Is it rape?
What is rape?

[Terry (existing)]

Well Cas, like Don, I am not sure what you meant, but I would take issue with the author you quote. Regardless of the facts of PLR nobody is of greater or lesser importance, so that remark is one from a bumpkin, not an intelligent person. Famous people are written about, and therefor facts are known which are not nescessarily known about normal people. Hence the need to be somone you can relate to if PLR is, as I believe, a matter of imagination, which needs fact to work with. On the other hand, if PLR is suggestive or accepted as suggestive of many lives lived, then surely some of them might well be famous, and due to how they reacted during that time, came back for very different experiences. Hence my comment that there are no greater or lesser persons in many lives, just different experiences to learn from...

[lucia]

interesting question, apparently when you're an egg, a fetus, you're still aware of what's happening outside your mom's tummy. You can hear thiings and feel how your mom feels.

[Connie]

Interesting discussion! I was doing reiki on my mom last night and she had a dream which seemed to me to be her reliving a previous death. She was terribly disturbed by it, and had trouble extricating herself from it.

It involved drowning. And her baby, too. It was clinging to her back, and it was falling, or she was dropping it as the waves were crashing around her. She kept asking me to take the baby.

I'm still learning, but I read in the book "Essential Reiki" that emotional disturbances (and what some believe are past life experiences) may surface during reiki sessions.

My mom has always disliked water. Beaches. Oceans. I LOVE them, and we've had the discussion several times. I wanted to live on the water, and she said she never would. She dislikes the water and is frightened of it. Not frightened to the point of a phobia, but it makes her uncomfortable. (That said, we lived and I grew up on an Island.) If there ARE past lives, I would not be surprised if she drowned in one.