Reviewed by Virginia Waldron
In JRT Issue 22, 2008

In this book Andy Tomlinson examines and discusses journeys into the interim state of existence for 15 clients to further explore our experiences when we are not incarnated in a physical body. Michael Newton’s previous work clearly set the ground stage for further study in Spiritual Regression, also known as Life Between Lives or as Andy calls it, interlife regression. In this book Andy builds on the shoulders of other authors and researchers in the field thus providing a stronger research foundation for the book case studies. Andy also brings his own style, his own insight and wisdom into this work and it is a very informative, intelligent, and highly readable piece of research. Exploring the Eternal Soul was written as Andy’s report or summary of the combined research project by himself and Ian Lawton. After the initial research project was completed, both authors wrote a book based on their own primary field of research and study. Ian Lawton’s book is The Wisdom of The Soul.

I think the format of this book is arranged very well. Each of the chapters and the information presented in each section is clear and concise. In the beginning he moves through the general information of what the interim life experience is, the healing process that occurs, and the different areas explored. Then he moves into more detailed material about the soul’s growth and how we progress through our own challenges and choices. Throughout he illustrates his ideas with quotes and commentaries from the subjects with whom he worked. His commentaries are quite insightful and articulate. I would suggest, however, that perhaps there could have been more information and material shared in the chapters, especially at the beginning. Maybe more explanations of the different areas that were explored and how they were encountered by each of the individual subjects. There were also times when I was a bit confused when he went back and forth between the different subjects and what they were saying. The flow from one subject to the next was at times awkward and a bit incomplete. But, these are minor points compared to the wonderful experience of just what this book teaches us about our souls!

I especially liked how he explained soul groups, soul mates, and soul families. So often the image of a soul mate is presented as a more romantic experience, the other half to our being. I have had many clients come to me asking if they can find their soul mate so they can live happily ever after. In my classes I try to teach that such a popular image is not at all what we experience in terms of our soul companions. Andy puts it very clearly and succinctly – soul mates are members of our soul family who are very close to us and work closely with us both in the light realms and in the physical realm here on earth.

One thing I was not familiar with that Andy explores in depth with this book is the role that the Elders or Council play in the pre-life selection process. He writes about how much the elders are directly involved with planning and arranging the next lifetime. They actively participate in the choices and negotiations during the pre-life selection, offering suggestions and alternative plans from a higher perspective. I was very much reminded of wise grandparents helping with a college application.

Andy makes another interesting point about emotional lessons and specialist skills. He states that other facilitators who work with interlife regression and healing present these two types of soul lessons as more linear – the less experienced souls work on emotional lessons and as they move forward into being more experienced they take on the specialists lessons. Andy has found with his subjects that it is not always like that. We take on both types of lessons, and often in the same lifetime. It is an individual choice and one that we can make during our pre-life preparation.

A question I am frequently asked in my classes about Reincarnation and Life Between Lives is “why do we remain stuck lifetime after lifetime in the same negative emotional patterns, going round and round with the same issues and problems, if we are such wise soul beings?” I found an excellent way to answer it in this book – as souls we can choose the energy of past-life lessons, unresolved emotions, and experiences to help our souls’ progress and growth, and in what amount. He (and Ian Lawton) calls it “re-layering.” It is the opposite of “de-layering” which is the healing process of removing the negative or dense emotional layers from the life just left behind. What appeared to be random past-life baggage is in fact a choice that was made with a purpose and consciousness.

I would have to say this is an excellent book to read because it is a very interesting topic. It is also a wonderful source of information for both the past-life journey experience and the interlife journey. It is going on the suggested reading list for my students and my classes. Interlife – I am beginning to think that the true interlife is when we are born in a human body – that we are “living” for real when we are not in a body, but home in our true form. Each human lifetime is an interruption to our soul’s lifetime. Hmmmm…