Attempted past-life regression this weekend. Interesting results.

[BlueIris]

I confess, I wasn't too enthused about doing a regression as opposed to an "ordinary" past-life reading, which is the strategy that has worked for me in the past. Plus, though as I explained to the reader, I don't question the idea that we have lived many lives before this one, I do question (a little) the validity of the concept of hypnosis...well, okay, I guess I question it less now.

Anyway, for various reasons, (like the fact that I didn't think the hypnosis had "taken"--ie; I didn't feel engaged in it) when the person doing the regression got to the part where she asked me to "be in the past," I didn't think I was "getting anything" and told her it wasn't working. I thought that because all I was seeing after she said "be in the past," was an image that looked like a place I'd been to in this life (an annual Ren Faire thing we have around these parts) and I assumed that it wasn't an authentic memory. She didn't charge me. We talked about the reasons I might have gotten blocked, perhaps because I didn't feel comfortable in the space we were in, (true, it was in a not-so-good part of a certain building in town that I've spent a lot of time in--very old space, a few negative entities there) perhaps because I don't come from a culture that believes in past lives. I also admitted that I was getting the sense that my spirit guides didn't like what I was doing. (I wasn't getting any info from them about why I couldn't regress or what was up with the situation generally, even though we'd had some communication earlier in the day.)

It took me two or three hours to put my finger on something, though...I think it did work! Suddenly...I realized that the tiny image I'd seen in my brain was of a tavern! Probably at least a couple of hundred years old, although I got the sense it was farther back in the past than that. It was daytime and the tavern was empty. Little brown wooden tables all around, with metal mugs on the tables. It seemed as if the walls and floor were either made of mud or extremely muddy, but there was what I would swear was a glass window in one of the walls. Another thing, I got the sense that it was my tavern! I had a tavern (I think)!

So, actually, this little snippet of a memory was useful to me. It's sort of the answer to a question I've been asking myself lately...although curiously, it was the last question I was going to pose to the reader. I was expecting things related to relationships I'm leading or trying to lead to come through. Maybe that's why my guides didn't feel like trying to help, even when I asked for it--they realized I was focused on the wrong issues.

Finally, a curious thing occurred in the wake of this mini-regression...despite some concerns that a regression was going to send me into some kind of anxiety-ridden downward spiral, as I've often seen people describe happening to them post-regression on these boards, all I felt after the regression attempt, even before I realized that it had partially "worked," was a new sensation of peacefulness. (Of course, that might have just been about the fact that I was relieved nothing traumatic had come through about things that happened to me in the early part of this life cycle, I dunno.) I kept the reader's info, and will probably try to contact her again this week to see what we can see.

[yellowdawgdem]

1. So you were a bartender

/tavern owner somewhere back there, eh? I think it's a natural response to be cautious, could be you were shutting down to slow down some of the memories. But it is good that you did allow an image in. For what it's worth, I've often wondered if you were Edgar Allen Poe, or someone like him, in a past life. A spooky writer of some sort.

[BlueIris]

2. No, I OWNED a tavern.

I'm thinking about starting my own business. I think that's why the image of the tavern I felt was mine came through.

[yellowdawgdem]

6. So the image you got

is actually of the tavern that you owned at one time? That is interesting. Well, from one inft to another, and I hope I've got that spelled correctly- I have heard that having your own business is the way to go for us introverts. But that is depending on how far the introversion goes, and sometimes it is necessary to work with a more outgoing, sociable partner. I totally agree with those who encouraged you not to discount the images that did make their way through to your consciousness. The more you can let in without censoring, then the easier for more information to come through. This is helpful for me in the creative work that I do, so I am fairly aware of it's helpfulness in that.

[momzno1]

3. when I did a couple of regressions

I had a similar sense of "doubt" about the images that I saw. Mostly I think, it was because the images were not some technicolor, dreamlike sequence as I imagined a regression was supposed to be.
I found that the more I relaxed into the experience and didn't resist it, the more images and "memories" I received. I later realized that my memories in this current life are just "awareness" and "snipets"
of pictures, not elaborate movie-like sequences. This is how I remember things, so my regression memories were on par with my way of remembering things.
After I did the regression all of the parts of the regression memories came together, much the same way you realized later that the tavern was a memory, and I learned alot about myself.
Even if the "memories" were simply metaphors (which I don't believe) it was incredibly useful.
this was about 20 years ago - I have a book called Llewellyns Practical Guide to Past Life Regression - funny title, what is "practical" about past life regression?

[Angel Wings]

4. Did you do your regression through the book

or was it guided by a person? I've always wanted to have one but I've been afraid of someone messing with my mind. hehe

[lildreamer316]

5. Ha! I just uncovered that book yesterday...

going through my stuff!
Guess I need to re-read it.