by William J. Baldwin, Ph.D.

Several friends attended a lecture on past-life regression, spirit releasement therapy, and recovery of soul fragmentation. After the lecture, we gathered at our friend Ed’s house for snacks and conversation. The subjects presented at the lecture were stimulating, sometimes threatening, and incredible to many. Ed had paid close attention during the entire lecture. Now he seemed lost in thought. He was contemplating the possibilities in his own life, considering his own big picture.

He was manager of a large municipal organization with many employees and widespread operations in the area where we lived. It was his job to understand and manage the “big picture.” Ed was deeply serious, even somber as he posed this question: “If all this is true, then who am I?” He had grasped the information in a way few people are willing to do. He was clear that it could, and most likely did, apply to himself, his personality, and his life choices. And he was concerned. I had to search my own experience to formulate a cogent response.

Significant changes in personality, behavior, addiction, and life choices are usually slow to happen though psychoanalysis or traditional talk therapy. However, one session of past-life exploration often changes a lifelong problem such as terror of public speaking, fear of heights, snake or water phobia, even signs and symptoms of physical disease.

A woman who lives as a victim, first of child abuse, later of spousal violence, can change that mental framework, her very ground of being, and the victim role will no longer control her life. A colleague described such a case referred to her by the domestic abuse court. The woman, who had been physically abused as a child, revealed that she knew if she acted in a certain way just one more time, her husband, who never had been a violent or abusive man, would hit her. She smiled as she made this statement, “After all, it proves he loves me.” This is terribly distorted thinking. It was conditioned abnormal behavior from her childhood situation.

This sort of distortion is not uncommon. Exploring past lives will reveal other instances of victim behavior. Locating the connecting event when she was the perpetrator would end this downward spiral of violence, perhaps for future lifetimes as well as this life.

Sexual abuse and suicide are not uncommon in cases of dark force entity infestation. The dark influence distorts the thinking, provokes the base desires, and encourages destructive behavior toward self and others. In more than twenty years of clinical investigation, we have found few people not bothered to some degree by dark force infestation.

Drug addiction is a death sentence for many addicts. Releasing the tortured soul of a deceased drug addict can free both the entity and the living person. Some marriages are definitely not made in Heaven, but are the result of attached entities influencing the choices of two people to wed. Following release of the intrusive entities, the individuals involved are able to reexamine the available choices.

Releasing an attached entity will often end specific behaviors, such as the woman who discarded half her wardrobe because her deceased mother was attached, influencing her taste in clothing, or the woman who was bulimic for twenty-one years because she followed the entity’s suggestions, “Eat, it will make you feel better,” and “Throw up, it will make you feel better.” For one man whose burning desire to dress as a woman had been a tragedy in his life, the releasement session was a miracle.

Tessa And The Strong Man

Tessa was twenty-something, a vivacious, tall, lean young woman. She worked for a package delivery company that enforced the requirement that their drivers must be able to lift a seventy-pound package. She enjoyed the activity, the freedom of the job, not being confined to a desk. Her mother, a practicing hypnotherapist, completed our basic SRT training course.

Her mother enlisted Tessa to serve as a practice subject. They discovered an attached earth-bound, a man who had died in his prime, a strong, independent fellow. Following the procedures, the entity was released, more than willing to leave the body of the young woman and move into the Light with the prospect of reincarnating as a man. All well and good; however, Tessa was no longer able to heft the heavier packages. She no longer fulfilled the seventy-pound requirement. End of job.

Ansel Bourne

The case of Ansel Bourne, a man who experienced a total change of personality and life circumstances in the beginning months of 1887, was described by William James.

Reverend Ansel Bourne of Greene, Rhode Island, was by trade a carpenter. Following temporary loss of sight and hearing under very peculiar circumstances, he became converted from atheism to Christianity just before his thirtieth birthday. He lived, for the most part, the life of an itinerant preacher for twenty years. Following the death of his first wife, he soon married a widow who insisted he remain close to home. He resumed his carpenter’s trade.

Subject to headaches and periods of depression, he experienced a few episodes of unconsciousness lasting an hour or less. Aside from an area of decreased sensitivity on his left thigh, he was in good health with good strength and endurance. In his community he enjoyed a reputation of firm self-reliance and uprightness of character.

On the morning of January 17, 1887, Bourne drew $551 from his bank in Providence, paid for a certain plot of land in Greene, paid some bills, and got into a Pawtucket horse-car. It was the last thing he remembered. Nothing was heard or seen of him for two months. Police sought in vain to learn his whereabouts.

On the morning of March 14 at Norristown, Pennsylvania, a man calling himself A. J. Brown, who had rented a small shop six weeks earlier and stocked it with stationery, confectionery, fruit, and small articles, and quietly plied his trade, woke up in a fright. He called the people of the house and asked them where he was. He said his name was Ansel Bourne, that he was entirely ignorant of Norristown, and knew nothing of shopkeeping. The last thing he remembered—as if it were yesterday—was drawing out money in Providence and getting into the horse-car.

During the six weeks as A. J. Brown, he had not seemed eccentric or unnatural to anyone. Now they thought him insane, and telegraphed Providence. His nephew came to set things straight in Norristown and to take him home. He was so horrified by the idea of a candy store that he refused to step foot in it again. He had no memory of the episode and found he had lost twenty pounds during the period.

In June 1890, Dr. James conducted hypnotic sessions with Bourne. In trance, the Bourne personality disappeared, and A. J. Brown spoke clearly of his two month episode in Norristown. He claimed he had only heard of Ansel Bourne, had never met him, and did not know Bourne’s wife. There seemed no motive for the wandering except there was “trouble back here,” and he “wanted rest.” In the altered state trance, he looked old, the corners of his mouth turned down, his voice was slow and weak, and he tried vainly to recall time before and after the Norristown episode.

James had hoped to integrate the personalities, to make the memories contiguous, but this did not happen, “and Mr. Bourne’s skull today still covers two distinct personal selves.” He said the case apparently should be classed as one of spontaneous hypnotic trance, persisting for two months. Nothing of the sort ever occurred in the man’s life. In most similar cases, the episodes recur and produce significant changes in the person’s conduct.

Jame’s reference to “two distinct personal selves” indicates an attached entity, though James does not verbalize such a suggestion. His interest in spirit possession and multiple personality was developing at the time.

Max And Duane

Walter Young described a case of ostensible adult onset of multiple personality disorder, now termed dissociative identity disorder. Duane, a veteran of World War II, began having dissociative episodes after being discharged from the navy. Duane did not drink or use drugs. He described an inner voice that had been present since war that sometimes advised suicide.

Duane had lived an unhappy childhood, but there were not the unusual precipitating factors leading to multiple personality disorder (MPD). Duane and a friend named Max had joined the navy together. In a tragic episode, Duane ordered Max to stand Duane’s gunnery watch. A Japanese plane strafed the area and Max was fatally wounded. Duane was with Max in the last moments and heard Max promise, “I’ll never leave you.” Duane felt responsible for the death of his friend.

With Duane under hypnosis, “Max” claimed to have entered Duane because Max held Dune responsible for his death. He claimed that he had a score to settle with Duane because, “It wasn’t my time to die.” He denied the presence of any other alters. He acknowledged that he was the “voice” that Duane heard. He took full control occasionally, and Duane was amnesic during these periods. Max lived a hedonistic lifestyle when he was in control of Duane’s body, which included riding motorcycles, sexual promiscuity with women, and successfully urging Duane to leave home on repeated trips.

Previous psychiatric records revealed that a dissociative condition was suspected. Max revealed that the former psychiatrist knew of his presence and had attempted to “banish” him. He just went away briefly and returned after the psychiatrist was gone. This is the result of inadequate knowledge of the spirit releasement process.

Duane left therapy with Dr. Young after three months. His anxiety increased as hypnotic sessions were pursued with the intention of exploring the war and early life experiences.

In this discussion, Dr. Young suggests several unusual aspects of the case. Adult onset of MPD is little studied, poorly understood, and considered rare. A single alter in a case of MPD is highly unusual. His discussion attempted to explain the case in psychoanalytic terms but held no concrete conclusions.

The description of the case of Duane and Max is typical of spirit attachment. There are many specific indications, including the following:

1) There is no history that would indicate the antecedents of MPD.
2) The two were friends.
3) Duane was present at the time of Max’s death.
4) Duane felt guilt, Max felt blame, an exact fit of emotions.
5) Max promised, “I’ll never leave you.”
6) Max stated that he had entered Duane, a clear description that the therapist must accept as valid.
7) The voice urged suicide as a way of assuaging blame and guilt and achieving peace for both. This is typical of the influence of the dark force entities (DFEs) exacerbating feelings of revenge in a human mind. The idea of achieving peace is a manipulative deception.
8) With Max in control, Duane was amnesic of the lifestyle adopted by Max. This is a case of occasional complete takeover.
9) Max knew he was a separate being and resisted the former psychiatrist’s efforts to banish him. Max was not confused by the situation.
10) The situation worsened with further inadequate and inappropriate treatment. Psychiatric intervention was obviously the wrong treatment approach for the condition.

Who Committed The Crime?

The inmates at the women’s prison where I volunteered briefly were familiar with entities and discarnate interference. They knew about the “candy striper,” a young woman who volunteered at the facility. Candy stripers often help at hospitals, distributing magazines, candy, and such. This volunteer, however, was not alive in her own body, but was an entity, or ghost, as the inmates described her, which roamed the rooms and corridors of the center. Several inmates, and the supervisor who was in attendance at my lecture, claimed they had seen the apparition.

One inmate asked an interesting question: “Can they ever leave once they attach?” I knew she must have good reason to ask such a question.

“Sometimes they seem to be able to leave. Why do you ask?”

“I shot a clerk in a convenience store. I don’t know how I got there. Suddenly I was standing over him holding a gun and he was lying on the floor bleeding. I think someone else shot him and then left me. That’s why I’m in here.”

It would have been a fascinating session if we could have arranged it. If we had confirmed her suspicions in the session, it would have been my second case in which the entity that orchestrated a shooting had exited following the crime, leaving the living human to take responsibility.

In the earlier case, a woman wanted to explore a specific situation she had read about in the news. A man had been executed for shooting a psychiatrist. He swore he was innocent; he had no association with the victim. She did not know the man, but she believed him. In an altered state, she was able to connect with the executed man remotely; the entity who had been with him was also contacted remotely.

The entity was a young man whose mother had been treated by the psychiatrist for schizophrenia. The man had been six years old when his mother was admitted to a mental hospital, from which she was never released. The boy always blamed the psychiatrist for the loss of his mother. He died as a young adult, and attached to another man who had no connection whatsoever to the situation.

In complete control, the spirit of the young man procured a gun, went to the psychiatrist’s office, shot him, and separated from the befuddled man who would later stand trail, be judged guilty of the crime, and be executed. It took some explanation before the two men understood the situation and forgiveness could bring resolution. Both lost souls were guided to the Light.

So Who Am I?

In view of these and many similar cases from my practice, and related to me by other therapists, my friend Ed’s question, “Who am I?” is profound and far-reaching. Can it be answered? I don’t think so. We are all influenced by the values of our parents, schooling, the political climate and current psychological attitudes—in short, the Zeitgeist of the culture.

People who grew up during the Depression in this country have a different attitude toward money than the present generation of young adults who live in a robust economy. They have developed a different attitude about money. All these influences and imprints on our personality are understandable and easily traceable.

Not so obvious are the unseen influences, the spirit factors as described. These can be discovered and treated in altered states of consciousness. Unfortunately, many people do not accept the existence of these energies, or the possibility of such energies influencing their minds. This is the present state of knowledge and the prevailing attitude toward such phenomena.

The ideas of reincarnation and past-life memories, spirit possession by discarnate conscious beings, and loss of soul essence lie beyond accepted rational thinking. This is certainly true within the mental health and medical professions. Yet traditional psychiatry and use of mind-controlling drugs, psychotherapy, and medical treatments are ineffectual in the face of spiritual influences, and humans continue to be affected by all three conditions.

Seeking wider acceptance by the mainstream Western, materialistic, scientifically oriented society, the Catholic Church has increasingly sought to downplay the existence of spirit or demon possession. Cases of distraught people who think themselves possessed are referred to psychiatrists. Except in relatively few instances, the Church fathers have mostly abnegated their responsibility for the spiritual health of people.

However, in the last two decades, this has changed. Some time ago, the Vatican publicly advertised the need for exorcists, since so many people in that area were showing signs of possession after involvement in satanic cult activity. Recently a new exorcist was appointed in the Chicago diocese. This event made for sensational news across the country. The present Pope himself is credited with performing three exorcisms since assuming the office.

Within this century, many well-educated, responsible people have investigated the phenomenon of spirit possession intelligently and with purpose. A few have sought an alternative approach to healing the condition. Fortunately, there is a growing number of people who are exploring these unconventional treatment methods for these specific conditions because they work.

And so, Ed, my friend, your question remains an intriguing and unanswerable part of the mystery of consciousness.

Excerpt from Healing Lost Souls: Releasing Unwanted Spirits From Your Energy Body