Life Between Lives - Part Two
BOOK TALK: LIFE BETWEEN LIVES--Part 2
Dr. Michael Newton, Ph.D., Master Hypnotherapist with a doctorate in Counseling, rather unwillingly became involved with past-life regression, which then led him to discover, through his clients, possible answers to the age-old mystery of what happens to souls in the spirit world after death. His first book on the subject, Journey of Souls, was published in 1994 (Llewellyn Publication) with a Fifth Revised Edition published in 1996. We discussed a few of the truly amazing stories and insights highlighted in that volume in our last “Book Talk.”
One of Dr. Newton’s missions in that book was to “combat the fear of death by offering people understanding about the nature of their souls and their spiritual home.” In that first work Newton “presented a tight, orderly progression of events of what it is like to die and cross over--who meets us, where we go, and what we do in the spirit world before choosing our next body for reincarnation.” It was a kind of “travelogue through time using actual case histories from clients.” He thought he was done with this exploration and that the material was relatively complete, but people at his lectures and interviews wanted more and clients clamored for his attention. When he resumed his client practice he “noticed a higher percentage of more developed souls” turning up in counseling sessions, perhaps because they wanted to explore life between lives and didn’t need to solve earthly problems. What he learned through these clients led to his second book, Destiny of Souls (Llewellyn Publications, 2000). Newton “designed this book by topical categories rather than by progressive time and location.” Hence this “second expedition” into the spirit world deals in much greater detail with some topics introduced in the first volume.
It is important, I believe, to remind readers once again of the consistency in Dr. Newton’s clients’ reports. He “found that it did not matter if a person was an atheist, deeply religious, or believed in any philosophical persuasion in between--once they were in the proper superconscious state of hypnosis, all were consistent in their reports.” This consistency is important to me as a reader because it underscores the authenticity of the reported information.
The author begins this second volume with an overview of what he has learned through his clients’ regressions into the world after death. Dr. Newton grew “to think of souls as intelligent light forms of energy” which can surprisingly “divide into identical parts.” Readers will need to read the books to comprehend this because it is too complex to explain here. Evil-doing is not punished, but rather, “rehabilitated” in various ways, including treatment in “intensive care units.” “Wrongdoing, intentional or unintentional [is] redressed in some form in a future life.” This is not considered to be punishment, but rather “an opportunity for karmic growth.”
The concept of “soul groups” was introduced in the first book. “Soul groups may range between 3 and 25 members, with the average having about 15.” The way souls “view their group cluster setting” depends on the soul’s state of advancement. Education continues in the after life and “educational placement depends on the level of soul development.”
The author found very meaningful in his research the discovery that souls display different colors. These colors have little or no relation to the aura associated with the physical body. Rather, these colors indicate a soul’s state of advancement. For example, “pure white denotes a younger soul;” more advanced souls move into “orange, yellow, green, and finally the blue ranges” with greatly advanced souls displaying a deep indigo. Again the author reiterates that “in the spirit world no soul is looked down upon as having less value than any other soul. We are all in a process of transformation to something greater . . . [and] each of us is considered uniquely qualified to make some contribution toward the whole, . . .”
The value system of the spirit world is one of “overwhelming kindness, tolerance, patience, and absolute love.” Each soul can make its own choices:
“In the spirit world we are not forced to reincarnate or participate in group projects. If souls want solitude they can have it.” One of the author’s major insights from what he has learned is “that the only thing of true importance in this material life is the way we live and how we treat people.”
Following this review of what he has learned in general about the spirit world, author Michael Newton begins his discussions of various specific topics, all of which are intensely interesting, but more than we can cover in our “Book Talk.” In his discussions in Destiny of Souls Dr. Newton includes 67 case histories, more than twice as many as in his first volume.
His first major topic is “Death, Grief, and Comfort,” chosen no doubt because so many people want to know more about connecting with departed loved ones. We see this concern manifested in current popular television shows, such as James Van Praagh’s Beyond, and John Edward’s Crossing Over. Michael Newton’s discussion should be comforting to everyone. Do you remember my mention several paragraphs back that souls can “divide into separate parts”? This difficult to comprehend point relates to an important insight that Newton and his clients discovered. It seems that we only bring part of our soul energy into any incarnation. “Part of your energy [self] was left behind in the spirit world. . . . When your [loved one] arrives back home again, you will already be there waiting with that portion of your energy which was left behind.” This was a whole new idea for me, but I find the thought quite wonderful. Also in this chapter Newton discusses many ways that spirits connect with the living, such as through objects, dreams, children, environmental settings, or even strangers.
Another very comforting chapter discussion is about “Spiritual Energy Restoration.” Most of us can think of multiple examples of individuals who upon their deaths might need help of various kinds. Those who die traumatic deaths might need reorientation and understanding of “what happened?” Those in great mental distress or depression and suicides could use emotional healing. Those who pass over after long debilitating bouts of cancer or other deteriorating diseases must feel great fatigue. It is stunning to learn that the spirit world is ready in all cases to help and heal each individual soul, according to its needs, when it returns from its tests on Earth. There is often “emergency treatment” right at the “gateway.” Newton reports that “most all returning souls will continue on to some sort of healing station before finally joining their groups.” We also learn that those souls who work as healers in the spirit world often work as healers when they are in the physical state. Dr. Newton includes several such cases in this chapter, such as a woman who is a Reiki practitioner in her current life.
Another intriguing discussion involves the creation of souls and soul group systems. Just as in physical life where no two individuals are identical, as fingerprints and eye scans can prove, every soul is unique. Newton’s clients’ descriptions of the “birth” of souls reads like science fiction. Nevertheless the point is reiterated by a client: “Each soul is unique in its totality of characteristics created by a perfection that I cannot begin to describe. What I can tell you is that no two souls are alike--none--ever!”
Some other points in this very complex chapter are very interesting. One statement is that “there are many physical worlds similar to Earth.” Clients also continually refer to schoolrooms, libraries, and temples in the spirit world, explained by one client this way: “We can create anything we want in the spirit world to remind us of places and things we enjoyed on Earth.” Another point involves so-called genetic memory, or what some writers today call “cell memory.” Newton says this is actually “soul memory emanating from the unconscious mind.” Part of this chapter also includes a much expanded explanation and discussion of the aforementioned colors associated with soul levels of advancement.
Because so many humans fear judgment and punishment after death, Dr. Newton’s chapter on “The Council of Elders” is especially relevant and reassuring. Much of human fear derives from physical life experiences, such as “religious institutions, civil courts and military tribunals [which] give us codes of morality and justice which impact the conduct of millions.” From these institutions people have experienced patterns of “crime and punishment and cultural traditions of harsh judgment for human transgressions” and then they transfer these patterns to their beliefs in an after life.
What Newton and his clients report instead is very different. He says, “Rather than stages of punishment, we go through stages of enlightenment.” Moreover, besides our individual guides, we have some major help along the way from very advanced souls. Dr. Newton says “the two most common names” he has heard “to describe these highly evolved masters are ‘council’ and ‘Elders,’ so I use these designations to describe this body.” As always, Newton tells us, “The spirit world is a place of order and the Council of Elders exemplifies justice. . . . These wise beings have great compassion for human weakness and they demonstrate infinite patience with our faults. We will be given many second chances in future lives.”
Once again Newton confirms the consistency of clients’ reports of their “between lives” experiences. “The descriptions about the form and procedure of council meetings are very consistent among all hypnosis subjects.” The place of meeting is often domed like temples, mosques, synagogues, and churches. At the first meeting following an incarnation, the Council reviews with the soul “the major choices we made in the life [just completed].” The soul’s spirit guide always accompanies and supports the soul during the soul’s review with the Council. The purpose of the meeting is not to “demean the souls . . . or to punish them. . . . The purpose of the Elders is to question the souls in order to help them achieve their goals in the next lifetime.” Newton says, “The Elders are like loving but firm parents, managing directors, encouraging teachers and behavioral counselors all rolled into one..” What is most important is “our intent in life” and if our influence in life was positive and made “original contributions.”
All of the information in this chapter and others in Newton’s book is exceptionally relevant and applicable to each reader’s current life. It all helps us understand better why we are here on Earth and what we are meant to do. We learn that even great problems, difficulties, and pain can have a positive outcome. One client reported a significant statement from a Council Elder: “That which you gain from each difficult life, you gain for all eternity.” A different client also shared a statement from an Elder he called “the Wise One:” “Forgive yourself . . . it is our desire that you accept yourself for who you are with the same unconditional love we have for you. We are here to support you in your work on Earth.” Clients also learn that small, seemingly insignificant deeds of kindness on Earth are recognized as important. “In the spirit world nothing is
insignificant. No act goes unrecorded.”
It is clear that one could go on and on about all the astonishing as well as comforting information in this important work by Dr. Michael Newton. One outstanding chapter explains the importance of relationships, both on Earth and in the spirit world. Newton notes, “Always there are karmic reasons behind the serious events involving relationships in our lives.” One significant, and huge, insight for many people is that “Being with the ‘wrong’ person for a period in your life does not mean that the time was wasted. The relationship was probably intended in advance.” This chapter also gets into the fascinating subjects of gender choice, and linkages between spiritual [groups] and human families. One thoughtful statement may help us feel greater compassion towards those we may consider abusive, or our enemies. “When we are hurt by someone close to us in life, or caused them hurt resulting in alienation and separation, it is because they volunteer to teach us lessons of some sort while learning lessons themselves.”
Clearly, Dr. Michael Newton’s two books, Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls, contain an exceptional richness of information. So much is thought provoking. So much is comforting. So much encourages each reader to grow, to evolve, to become more aware of one’s soul. We feel empowered by these books. A few words from the author will conclude our discussion. “We are not evaluated after death by our religious associations but rather by our conduct and values . . . we are measured more by what we do for others rather than ourselves. . . . You were not given your body by a chance of nature. It was selected for you by spiritual advisors and after previewing their offerings of other host bodies, you agreed to accept the body you have. Thus, you are not a victim of circumstance. . . . We must not lose sight of the idea that we accepted this sacred contract of life and this means the roles we play on Earth are actually greater than ourselves.”
Dr. Michael Newton, Ph.D., Master Hypnotherapist with a doctorate in Counseling, rather unwillingly became involved with past-life regression, which then led him to discover, through his clients, possible answers to the age-old mystery of what happens to souls in the spirit world after death. His first book on the subject, Journey of Souls, was published in 1994 (Llewellyn Publication) with a Fifth Revised Edition published in 1996. We discussed a few of the truly amazing stories and insights highlighted in that volume in our last “Book Talk.”
One of Dr. Newton’s missions in that book was to “combat the fear of death by offering people understanding about the nature of their souls and their spiritual home.” In that first work Newton “presented a tight, orderly progression of events of what it is like to die and cross over--who meets us, where we go, and what we do in the spirit world before choosing our next body for reincarnation.” It was a kind of “travelogue through time using actual case histories from clients.” He thought he was done with this exploration and that the material was relatively complete, but people at his lectures and interviews wanted more and clients clamored for his attention. When he resumed his client practice he “noticed a higher percentage of more developed souls” turning up in counseling sessions, perhaps because they wanted to explore life between lives and didn’t need to solve earthly problems. What he learned through these clients led to his second book, Destiny of Souls (Llewellyn Publications, 2000). Newton “designed this book by topical categories rather than by progressive time and location.” Hence this “second expedition” into the spirit world deals in much greater detail with some topics introduced in the first volume.
It is important, I believe, to remind readers once again of the consistency in Dr. Newton’s clients’ reports. He “found that it did not matter if a person was an atheist, deeply religious, or believed in any philosophical persuasion in between--once they were in the proper superconscious state of hypnosis, all were consistent in their reports.” This consistency is important to me as a reader because it underscores the authenticity of the reported information.
The author begins this second volume with an overview of what he has learned through his clients’ regressions into the world after death. Dr. Newton grew “to think of souls as intelligent light forms of energy” which can surprisingly “divide into identical parts.” Readers will need to read the books to comprehend this because it is too complex to explain here. Evil-doing is not punished, but rather, “rehabilitated” in various ways, including treatment in “intensive care units.” “Wrongdoing, intentional or unintentional [is] redressed in some form in a future life.” This is not considered to be punishment, but rather “an opportunity for karmic growth.”
The concept of “soul groups” was introduced in the first book. “Soul groups may range between 3 and 25 members, with the average having about 15.” The way souls “view their group cluster setting” depends on the soul’s state of advancement. Education continues in the after life and “educational placement depends on the level of soul development.”
The author found very meaningful in his research the discovery that souls display different colors. These colors have little or no relation to the aura associated with the physical body. Rather, these colors indicate a soul’s state of advancement. For example, “pure white denotes a younger soul;” more advanced souls move into “orange, yellow, green, and finally the blue ranges” with greatly advanced souls displaying a deep indigo. Again the author reiterates that “in the spirit world no soul is looked down upon as having less value than any other soul. We are all in a process of transformation to something greater . . . [and] each of us is considered uniquely qualified to make some contribution toward the whole, . . .”
The value system of the spirit world is one of “overwhelming kindness, tolerance, patience, and absolute love.” Each soul can make its own choices:
“In the spirit world we are not forced to reincarnate or participate in group projects. If souls want solitude they can have it.” One of the author’s major insights from what he has learned is “that the only thing of true importance in this material life is the way we live and how we treat people.”
Following this review of what he has learned in general about the spirit world, author Michael Newton begins his discussions of various specific topics, all of which are intensely interesting, but more than we can cover in our “Book Talk.” In his discussions in Destiny of Souls Dr. Newton includes 67 case histories, more than twice as many as in his first volume.
His first major topic is “Death, Grief, and Comfort,” chosen no doubt because so many people want to know more about connecting with departed loved ones. We see this concern manifested in current popular television shows, such as James Van Praagh’s Beyond, and John Edward’s Crossing Over. Michael Newton’s discussion should be comforting to everyone. Do you remember my mention several paragraphs back that souls can “divide into separate parts”? This difficult to comprehend point relates to an important insight that Newton and his clients discovered. It seems that we only bring part of our soul energy into any incarnation. “Part of your energy [self] was left behind in the spirit world. . . . When your [loved one] arrives back home again, you will already be there waiting with that portion of your energy which was left behind.” This was a whole new idea for me, but I find the thought quite wonderful. Also in this chapter Newton discusses many ways that spirits connect with the living, such as through objects, dreams, children, environmental settings, or even strangers.
Another very comforting chapter discussion is about “Spiritual Energy Restoration.” Most of us can think of multiple examples of individuals who upon their deaths might need help of various kinds. Those who die traumatic deaths might need reorientation and understanding of “what happened?” Those in great mental distress or depression and suicides could use emotional healing. Those who pass over after long debilitating bouts of cancer or other deteriorating diseases must feel great fatigue. It is stunning to learn that the spirit world is ready in all cases to help and heal each individual soul, according to its needs, when it returns from its tests on Earth. There is often “emergency treatment” right at the “gateway.” Newton reports that “most all returning souls will continue on to some sort of healing station before finally joining their groups.” We also learn that those souls who work as healers in the spirit world often work as healers when they are in the physical state. Dr. Newton includes several such cases in this chapter, such as a woman who is a Reiki practitioner in her current life.
Another intriguing discussion involves the creation of souls and soul group systems. Just as in physical life where no two individuals are identical, as fingerprints and eye scans can prove, every soul is unique. Newton’s clients’ descriptions of the “birth” of souls reads like science fiction. Nevertheless the point is reiterated by a client: “Each soul is unique in its totality of characteristics created by a perfection that I cannot begin to describe. What I can tell you is that no two souls are alike--none--ever!”
Some other points in this very complex chapter are very interesting. One statement is that “there are many physical worlds similar to Earth.” Clients also continually refer to schoolrooms, libraries, and temples in the spirit world, explained by one client this way: “We can create anything we want in the spirit world to remind us of places and things we enjoyed on Earth.” Another point involves so-called genetic memory, or what some writers today call “cell memory.” Newton says this is actually “soul memory emanating from the unconscious mind.” Part of this chapter also includes a much expanded explanation and discussion of the aforementioned colors associated with soul levels of advancement.
Because so many humans fear judgment and punishment after death, Dr. Newton’s chapter on “The Council of Elders” is especially relevant and reassuring. Much of human fear derives from physical life experiences, such as “religious institutions, civil courts and military tribunals [which] give us codes of morality and justice which impact the conduct of millions.” From these institutions people have experienced patterns of “crime and punishment and cultural traditions of harsh judgment for human transgressions” and then they transfer these patterns to their beliefs in an after life.
What Newton and his clients report instead is very different. He says, “Rather than stages of punishment, we go through stages of enlightenment.” Moreover, besides our individual guides, we have some major help along the way from very advanced souls. Dr. Newton says “the two most common names” he has heard “to describe these highly evolved masters are ‘council’ and ‘Elders,’ so I use these designations to describe this body.” As always, Newton tells us, “The spirit world is a place of order and the Council of Elders exemplifies justice. . . . These wise beings have great compassion for human weakness and they demonstrate infinite patience with our faults. We will be given many second chances in future lives.”
Once again Newton confirms the consistency of clients’ reports of their “between lives” experiences. “The descriptions about the form and procedure of council meetings are very consistent among all hypnosis subjects.” The place of meeting is often domed like temples, mosques, synagogues, and churches. At the first meeting following an incarnation, the Council reviews with the soul “the major choices we made in the life [just completed].” The soul’s spirit guide always accompanies and supports the soul during the soul’s review with the Council. The purpose of the meeting is not to “demean the souls . . . or to punish them. . . . The purpose of the Elders is to question the souls in order to help them achieve their goals in the next lifetime.” Newton says, “The Elders are like loving but firm parents, managing directors, encouraging teachers and behavioral counselors all rolled into one..” What is most important is “our intent in life” and if our influence in life was positive and made “original contributions.”
All of the information in this chapter and others in Newton’s book is exceptionally relevant and applicable to each reader’s current life. It all helps us understand better why we are here on Earth and what we are meant to do. We learn that even great problems, difficulties, and pain can have a positive outcome. One client reported a significant statement from a Council Elder: “That which you gain from each difficult life, you gain for all eternity.” A different client also shared a statement from an Elder he called “the Wise One:” “Forgive yourself . . . it is our desire that you accept yourself for who you are with the same unconditional love we have for you. We are here to support you in your work on Earth.” Clients also learn that small, seemingly insignificant deeds of kindness on Earth are recognized as important. “In the spirit world nothing is
insignificant. No act goes unrecorded.”
It is clear that one could go on and on about all the astonishing as well as comforting information in this important work by Dr. Michael Newton. One outstanding chapter explains the importance of relationships, both on Earth and in the spirit world. Newton notes, “Always there are karmic reasons behind the serious events involving relationships in our lives.” One significant, and huge, insight for many people is that “Being with the ‘wrong’ person for a period in your life does not mean that the time was wasted. The relationship was probably intended in advance.” This chapter also gets into the fascinating subjects of gender choice, and linkages between spiritual [groups] and human families. One thoughtful statement may help us feel greater compassion towards those we may consider abusive, or our enemies. “When we are hurt by someone close to us in life, or caused them hurt resulting in alienation and separation, it is because they volunteer to teach us lessons of some sort while learning lessons themselves.”
Clearly, Dr. Michael Newton’s two books, Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls, contain an exceptional richness of information. So much is thought provoking. So much is comforting. So much encourages each reader to grow, to evolve, to become more aware of one’s soul. We feel empowered by these books. A few words from the author will conclude our discussion. “We are not evaluated after death by our religious associations but rather by our conduct and values . . . we are measured more by what we do for others rather than ourselves. . . . You were not given your body by a chance of nature. It was selected for you by spiritual advisors and after previewing their offerings of other host bodies, you agreed to accept the body you have. Thus, you are not a victim of circumstance. . . . We must not lose sight of the idea that we accepted this sacred contract of life and this means the roles we play on Earth are actually greater than ourselves.”
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