By Michael Talbot

The question of karma is obscure to me, as is also the problem of personal rebirth or the transmigration of souls. “With a free and open mind” I listen attentively to the Indian doctrine of rebirth, and look around in the world of my own experience to see whether somewhere and some-how there is some authentic sign pointing toward reincarnation… Until a few years ago I could not discover anything convincing in this respect… Recently, however, I observed in myself a series of dreams which would seem to describe the process of reincarnation. Since this observation is subjective and unique, I prefer only to mention its existence and not to go into it any further. I must confess, however, that after this experience I view the problem of reincarnation with somewhat different eyes… ~ C. G. JUNG, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

Although it has long been known that dreams are storehouses of information about our past in this life, there is evidence that they frequently contain a good deal of past-life information as well. For example, in 1981 psychic researcher D. Scott Rogo of John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California, placed a notice in several psychic-oriented magazines asking interested readers to send him accounts of reincarnation memories they had experienced that had emerged in any way other than through hypnosis. In his 1985 book The Search for Yesterday, Rogo reported that spontaneous past-life memories which surfaced in dreams constituted the largest group of credible accounts.

New York Institute of Technology parapsychologist, Dr. Hans Holzer, another longtime investigator of the reincarnation phenomenon, has also found that dreams are a frequent wellspring of spontaneous past-life memories. Hozler believes that this is because the mind is less resistant to such information during the dream state than when it is awake and notes that such dreams are by no means limited to believers in reincarnation: “The people to whom events of this kind happen come from all walks of life, all social backgrounds, and all ages. There is nothing specific about them, nothing that would single them out as being prone to reincarnation memories or even to psychic phenomena.”

Holzer cites the case of a California housewife named Juanita Thomson. At the age of ten, Thomson had an unusually vivid dream that she was a woman who had lived in a small town somewhere in rural America. As Thomson grew older, the dream kept recurring and was so richly detailed that she was able to render a drawing of the place, complete with road layout, placement of shops, and the way the town was situated amid the surrounding hills. When Thomson was eighteen years old and on a cross-country trip that took her through Zanesville, Ohio, she suddenly found herself swept with a powerful sense of déjà vu. Not only was Zanesville the town she had drawn as a child, but the first thought that suddenly and inexplicably entered her mind as she drove through was, “There are a lot more houses now.”

Although numerous researchers have reported similar occurrences, one of the first to realize that a past-life dream can actually be induced was New York Jungian analyst Erlo van Waveren. Early in their careers both van Waveren and his wife, New York psychotherapist Ann van Waveren, studied directly with Dr. Jung and after the war were frequent visitors at the Jung Institute in Zurich. It was at this time, when van Waveren was in his early forties, that he had a dream that God appeared to him and transported him to the world of the dead.

The dream left van Waveren profoundly shaken, but he realized it was his psyche’s way of telling him that there was something about the mysteries of death which he was meant to explore, so, with the assistance of his wife, he entered a state of meditation to see what he could find out. To his surprise, as soon as he was deeply relaxed, his mind suddenly became filled with what appeared to be memories of a previous existence. Moreover, he found that he had the choice but to allow the information to come tumbling out of his mouth. He states:

“I found myself telling Ann the purpose of both my present and former life as naturally as if I had been gossiping over a cup of tea… Because of this voice which spoke from rock bottom, I was firmly convinced that in my former life I had been a teacher of life’s values and had returned to continue in that work… With the catalytic curiosity of a true wife, Ann asked me naturally and oh, so calmly, ‘But have you any idea who you were?’ And just as calmly ‘it’ spoke right through me and said ‘Fenelon.’ I was stunned, and could have been knocked over with a feather.”

Van Waveren went on to discover that Fenelon was a French archbishop during the reign of Louis XIV, but he became so upset when he reexperienced the emotions and frustrations that Fenelon had not been able to resolve during his lifetime that he ended his meditation before feeling he had truly understood the import of his dream. Skeptical about his experience and the idea of reincarnation in general, but impressed by the power and emotional content of his vision, van Waveren decided to try another tack. That night, before he went to bed, he asked his psyche to explain what it was attempting to communicate to him by providing him with another dream. He was not disappointed.

As he wrote in his [1978] book Pilgrimage to the Rebirth, that night he had a dream that he was in a hall of justice and that he was [a man] trying to break off an engagement with his new fiancée. However, the judge refused to grant his request and told him it was a marriage that must take place. Van Waveren awoke with a start and realized immediately that his unconscious was telling him that his rational side had to accept the new alliance it had formed with that portion of his psyche which contained his past-life memories.

Indeed, his unconscious had told him more than that. In the dream the judge had raised his right arm and revealed that there were nine glistening diamonds floating in the air. Van Waveren realized that his dreaming self was telling him that not one, but nine marriages were going to take place—he had nine previous lives with which he was going to have to become reacquainted. As promised, in the weeks that followed van Waveren’s psyche went on to provide him with a series of dreams about his former incarnations.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A PAST-LIFE DREAM

Frequently something about a dream will immediately tell you that it refers to one of your former lives. For example, in a study of past-life dreams, psychologist Frederick Lenz of the New School for Social Research in New York City found that many subjects were instantly swept with the awareness that what they were dreaming was a scene out of one of their former existences. In his book Lifetimes, he cites observations made by Pamela Cohen, a Montreal hospital worker who has had many past-life dreams, as typical of such experiences. Cohen states, “Dreams of my past lives are much clearer and more vivid than my regular dreams. They tell me things that help me understand certain feelings I have about things. Normally when I dream I’m not aware that I am dreaming. It’s something I’m caught up in. But in these dreams I was fully aware the whole time that I was seeing into my past.”

Another indication that a dream may be a past-life memory is if you find yourself wearing clothing from some other culture or age, or if you find that you are a completely different person or even a different sex in your dream than you are in your waking state. Even just noticing that other people around you are wearing clothing from a different era may indicate a reincarnational dream. Of course, such dreams may also have other meanings, but you should keep a record of them in your journal and view them as potential pieces of past-life information. [How to keep a past-life journal here].

One final indication that a dream may contain past-life information is if it has an unusually powerful feeling of reality about it, or if it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with your waking life, but still has such an impact on you that you aren’t able to forget it. Past-life therapists have found that recurring dreams are especially good candidates. This does not mean that every recurrent dream you have is a past-life dream, or that past-life information cannot surface in single dreams, but if you find that you do have a recurrent dream that has troubled you for months or even years, you might examine it closely for possible past-life information.

WHAT DO SPONTANEOUS PAST-LIFE DREAMS MEAN?

As van Waveren’s experience suggests, a past-life dream is often the first way the unconscious starts to unfold a past-life memory (or series of past-life memories) to an individual. One reason for this is that the dreaming mind is less resistant to such information than the waking mind. Dreaming also seems to be one of the more gentle ways the inner self uses to prepare the waking self for a particular piece of past-life information, and therapists often find that patients begin to dream about a particular past-life memory as a prelude to confronting it in a more conscious state, or even in other states of past-life awareness such as a hypnotic trance.

Similarly, spontaneous past-life dreams are often the un-conscious mind’s way of sending a telegram to the waking self and telling it that there is some past-life information that it might benefit from knowing. As Clyde Reid, a Boulder, Colorado, past-life therapist, has noted in his book Dreams: Discovering Your Inner Teacher, many dreams are invitations calling us to deeper dialogues with the unconscious, but past-life dreams are especially significant. He states, “I am convinced that most past-life episodes that come up in our dreams are invitations to further work. They invite us to deal with that life or that memory by showing us a portion of the experience.”

REMEMBERING YOUR DREAMS

Before you can learn how to induce a past-life dream, you must first be able to remember your dreams. For some individuals this is second nature, but for others it is a talent that takes a bit of practice. If you find that you are a person who rarely remembers your dreams—or fear that you never dream at all—don’t become discouraged. Numerous studies have shown that virtually everyone dreams, and as long as you are dedicated and willing to make an effort, dream recall is a relatively simple ability to acquire.

Keep a Dream Journal

One of the best ways to teach your mind to remember your dreams is to keep a dream journal. Keeping such a journal serves several purposes. First, it communicates to your un-conscious mind that you are serious about remembering your dreams. Part of the reason many people forget their dreams is that they have never communicated to their inner selves that they want to remember them.

Keeping a dream journal also gives your dream memory the regular workout it needs in order to be able to remember. Remembering dreams is like doing push-ups. You must practice in order to be able to perform the task with any regularity, and if you stop for a while, you may have to start all over again to get the ability back.

Lastly, by dating and keeping a record of your dreams you will be able to perceive patterns and recurring themes more clearly that you might otherwise miss.

You can set aside part of your past-life journal as a dream diary, or you can keep a separate notebook or folder for your dreams and record only those that contain potential reincarnational memories in your past-life journal. Keep the journal by your bedside along with a pen and a convenient light source. If you find it easier, an alternative is to keep a small tape recorder by your bed and record each as you remember it. Then, at a more convenient time you can transfer your dictations to your dream journal.

Dream Technique Number 1—Relaxation and Affirmation

Step 1—Clear your body of all drugs that cause drowsiness It is important not to consume any alcohol or drugs that cause drowsiness during the day, because both tend to inhibit dream recall. If you are a regular consumer of alcohol, sleeping pills, or other drugs that affect the quality of sleep, you may have to go without them for several days before your system has cleaned itself out enough for you to be able to recall your dreams. Remember, of course, that you shouldn’t suspend taking any prescription medications without first consulting your physician.

Step 2—Start to relax by emptying your mind and slowing your rate of breathing. After you are comfortably in bed, empty your mind of all extraneous thoughts and start to relax by regulating your breathing. Breathe in and out in long, slow breaths. Focus for a few moments on keeping your breathing as deep, unstrained, and relaxed as possible. Many schools of thought—both ancient and modern—have shown that the rate at which you breathe sets the pace for your entire physical-emotional system. It is, in a sense, the orchestra conductor which sets the tempo for your meditative experience, and your breathing rate must remain slow, steady, and unstrained if you are to enter a state of relaxation.

Step 3—Tell yourself that all of your daily concerns and worries are leaving you. Tell yourself, either mentally or aloud, that your mind is now uncluttered and very much at peace and that no extraneous thoughts will disturb you as you continue your relaxation.

Step 4—Talk to each part of your body and tell it to relax Begin by focusing on your toes. Tell them either mentally or aloud that they are completely relaxed and that all tension and muscle aches and pains are seeping out of them. Continue to breathe in slow, steady, and unstrained exhalations as you imagine your toes becoming so relaxed that you can barely feel them. Once this is accomplished, do the same thing with the rest of your feet. Continue the process with your lower legs, upper legs, buttocks, abdomen, hands, forearms, upper arms, back, and neck. Finally, tell yourself that your entire body is now so completely relaxed that all you are aware of is your head and that it, too, is so relaxed and at peace it feels like it is floating on a beautiful bed of clouds.

Step 5—Tell yourself that you are going to remember your dreams. Once you have relaxed, say aloud, “Tonight I am going to remember my dreams.” Or, “Tonight I am going to wake up after each one of my dreams.” Don’t just mouth the words, but concentrate on their meaning and meditate on your intention for several minutes before falling asleep. For best results it is important that you try to have this phrase be your last thought before drifting off to sleep (given your state of deep relaxation, this shouldn’t be too difficult). Otherwise, if you perform the procedure and then allow your active mind to kick in again with all of your thoughts, worries, and concerns about your daily life, the technique will not be as effective.

Whether you are trying to remember your dreams or not, you should always use some technique to relax before you fall asleep because your last thoughts tend to determine and program the quality of your sleep. If you are worried about something or your mind is racing a mile a minute as you drift off into unconsciousness, your sleep will be tense and restless, and you will be much more prone to anxiety dreams than if you relax before sleeping.

Just before getting into bed, you might also spend a moment writing the evening’s date in your dream journal. This will cue your unconscious mind still further that you want to remember your dream.

Step 6—Record any dreams you remember immediately on awakening. It is important that you record your dreams the moment you wake up from them because dreams have a tendency to fade into a fog of forgetfulness if you do not immediately pay attention to them. As Cambridge, Massachusetts, psychiatrist Dr. Richard Goldwater observes, dreams are “like faeries. If you leave them goodies and treat them well, you can dance with them; if you don’t deal with them well, they’ll ignore you. They won’t come around unless you create a hospitable place for them.”

Many people are able to remember their dreams right away by using this method. However, if you have any problem, here are some further techniques for you to try.

Dream Technique Number 2—The Alarm Clock Method

If you are an unusually heavy sleeper you may find it necessary to set an alarm clock for various intervals during the night. Or, if you prefer, set it for an hour or two before you have to get up and then keep setting it at half-hour intervals. The purpose of this is to try to have the alarm clock wake you up while you are in the middle of a dream. When this happens, quickly go over the details of the dream in your mind, and then record the dream in your dream journal or on a tape recorder. After relying on an alarm clock for a while, you will eventually teach your mind to remember dreams on its own.

Dream Technique Number 3—Nutrients That Encourage Dream Recall

There are several nutrients that encourage dream recall in some people. One is the essential amino acid phenylalanine that is found naturally in high-protein foods such as meat, cheese, and milk. Phenylalanine is one of the two amino acids found in the non-sugar sweetener aspartame (currently marketed as NutraSweet). Studies show that taking phenylalanine in its pure form on an empty stomach before retiring can reduce the amount of sleep an individual requires. I have found that, because it produces a lighter sleep, it can also greatly enhance dream recall.

In health food stores, phenylalanine is available in two forms, D- and L-phenylalanine. I have found that 250 to 1,000 milligrams of L-phenylalanine taken on an empty stomach before retiring lead to a night of vivid dreaming. However, this effect appears to be temporary, and L-phenylalanine may stop working for you after a few nights. Phenylalanine also has some potential side effects that must be taken into consideration. In doses larger than 500 milligrams it can cause headaches and insomnia in some people, and it should never be used by individuals with high blood pressure or a rare condition known as phenylketonuria. As with all vitamin and non-vitamin nutrients, to be on the safe side, always consult a physician before adding them to your dietary regimen.

Another nutrient that is said to enhance the dreaming process (although it has never had this effect on me) is vitamin B12. B12 has no known toxicity and is found naturally in liver, yogurt, buttermilk, and most cheeses. I first learned of its dream-enhancing effects in Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw’s book Life Extension:

“[Vitamin B12] can cause spectacular intensification of colors in dreams or sometimes even produce colors in dreams of people who never before had colored dreams! It works about half the time in the small group of people we know who’ve tried it (sometimes the colors are so vivid they can wake you up!) A dose of 1,000 micrograms or so is effective. Take it just as you get into bed to sleep. If you take the B12 half an hour before bed, the dream-enhancing effect rarely works. Tolerance to this vitamin effect on dreams develops rapidly. So if you use large doses of B12 every day, it is rather unlikely that this effect will occur.”

Again, although B12 is an extremely safe vitamin and has no known toxic side effects, it is best to consult your physician before taking it in the relatively large dosages required to enhance dreaming.

Dream Technique Number 4—Discuss Your Dreams with Your Family and Friends

Another way to encourage dream recall is to discuss your dreams on a regular basis with some interested family member, a friend, or even in a dream discussion group.

One of the most striking examples that talking about dreams enhances recall can be found in the dreaming practices of an isolated jungle tribe known as the Senoi, who live in the rain forests of the Malay Peninsula. Although many people in the so-called modern world may have difficulty remembering their dreams, the Senoi have no problem whatsoever recalling all the myriad details of their nightly journeys through dreamland. This appears to be due in large part to the fact that not only do the Senoi value their dreams as important sources of knowledge and guidance, but every morning on awakening the entire family gathers together to discuss their dreams.

The Senoi do more than just talk about their dreams. They also exert a good deal of control over them and work out many of their emotional and interpersonal problems in the medium of the dreamscape. For example, if a Senoi child tells his parents that he dreamed he was being chased by a tiger, the parents gently instruct the child that when he goes to bed the following night, he must dream that he is being chased by a tiger again, only this time he will turn and attack the tiger, causing it to vanish. Similarly, if a Senoi dreams that he has been attacked or affronted by a friend, he must go to the friend the following day and discuss the dream, making sure that any hidden animosities are worked out.

Scientists who have studied the Senoi point out that their dreaming techniques seem to work, for the Senoi live in a culture that has no violent crime or armed conflict, and virtually no mental and physical disease. The American anthropologist and psychologist Kilton Stewart, who spent several years living among the Senoi, concluded that “they have built a system of inter-personal relations which, in the field of psychology, is perhaps on a level with our attainment in such areas as television and nuclear physics.”

Many modern dream researchers now believe that the Senoi have much to teach us, and conclude that studying, thinking about, and talking about dreams enhance dream recall for two reasons. First, they are other ways of communicating to your unconscious mind that you want dreams to become an important part of your daily life. Second, because we tend to dream about the things that we spend a lot of time thinking about, talking about dreams has a feedback effect that enriches the entire dreaming process.

Excerpt from Your Past Lives

See Part II here.