Definition - context - limits

What is regression between lives?

Life Between Lives regression is a guided hypnotic process in which a client describes subjective experiences that seem to occur between incarnations. Dr Michael Newton organized and popularized this line of work through his case-study books.

The basic idea

In a standard past-life regression the attention usually moves toward scenes described as another lifetime. In Life Between Lives work the session goes further: after an initial past-life sequence, the practitioner guides the client toward the transition after death and the symbolic territory that Newton called the spirit world. The reports are personal and subjective. They are not scientific proof of reincarnation, but many clients use them as material for reflection, grief work, meaning and life direction.

Why Newton matters

Newton's contribution was not only the topic itself. He gave practitioners a repeatable sequence, a shared vocabulary and a calm case-study style. His books made phrases such as soul group, guide and council familiar to readers around the world. This website uses those terms historically and descriptively, not as verified facts.

How to approach it

A good practitioner should explain the process, screen for contraindications, avoid promises and allow the client to stop at any time. The session should feel structured rather than pressured. If you are dealing with acute mental-health distress, psychosis, heavy trauma activation or a medical crisis, seek qualified care first.

Typical session structure

A between-lives-oriented session is usually longer than an ordinary guided relaxation. It begins with an intake covering health, expectations, consent and the questions the client wants to explore. The practitioner then uses a hypnotic induction, often followed by autobiographical or past-life imagery before moving toward a scene described as death, transition and a between-lives environment.

There is no guaranteed sequence or result. Some people describe vivid scenes and dialogue; others notice emotions, bodily sensations, fragments of imagery or very little at all. A responsible practitioner does not fill in missing details, demand a particular answer or treat hesitation as failure. The session should end with gradual reorientation, a debrief and a plan for handling strong emotions afterward.

Claims, memory and interpretation

Hypnosis is a studied psychological phenomenon, but a vivid experience under hypnosis is not automatically an accurate memory. Recall is reconstructive and can be influenced by expectations, leading questions and prior reading. This matters especially when a session appears to concern another person or a serious event. Session material should not be used as the sole basis for accusations, medical decisions or major financial and relationship choices.

Three readings can coexist without being confused: a participant may understand the material as spiritual memory, as symbolic imagery, or as a personal narrative created during focused attention. The first is a belief claim; the second and third are interpretive possibilities. None converts the session into scientific proof of reincarnation or a spirit world.

Questions worth asking before booking

• What training and supervised experience does the practitioner have?
• How are contraindications, consent and stop signals handled?
• How long is reserved for intake, hypnosis and integration?
• Is the session recorded, where is the file stored and when is it deleted?
• What happens if no imagery appears or the session becomes distressing?

Sources and further reading

• Michael Newton, Journey of Souls (1994) and Destiny of Souls (2000) - primary sources for Newton's model.
• APA Dictionary of Psychology: hypnosis - definition and psychological context.
• Otgaar et al. (2021) - false-memory risks in suggestive therapeutic contexts.