Article: Time Travel – Henry Leo Bolduc (Is.1)

by Henry Leo Bolduc

Time travel, or age regression, is a tool for better understanding one’s self, for obtaining greater insight into soul origins, life purposes, and skills. With greater self knowledge it is possible and relatively easy to put the past to work in building a brighter, more rewarding future. Many excellent books written by nationally known psychologists, counselors, therapists, and physicians who use past life research to discover the origins of patients’ fears, anxieties, habit patterns, and health problems, are now available. Past-life therapy is being used more every day and is becoming an innovative and important tool in the field of mind sciences.

Even people who do not believe in past lives can achieve results and insight by experiencing the process of past-life therapy. Results do not require belief. Open minded inquiry is all that is necessary. Not all information proves to be applicable A subject may wonder if he or she is just making up the details described. Subsequent research and evaluation usually show the past life memories to be as valid as present life early childhood memories.

All recall is based on accessing short-tern or long-term memory files. Present life memories are often recalled both consciously and subconsciously. Most memories of the present life are readily available to conscious recall. Very early childhood memories and memories of traumatic or painful incidents are repressed or buried in the subconscious.

The entire process of time travel or hypnotic past-life regression can be divided into four distinct parts or stages, each part progressing naturally into the next.

Hypnotic Induction

Past-life therapists are knowledgeable and experienced in the field of modern hypnotism. There are hundreds of induction techniques. Each therapist develops his own method. A quiet room or office with soft lighting and without interrupting telephones is appreciated by both patient and hypnotherapist. Sometimes the patient feels more comfortable if accompanied by a friend or spouse.

Because throat muscles relax a great deal, it is difficult for the subject to speak except in a low voice. A good microphone is required for recording. The therapist guides the subject into the alpha/hypnotic state. As the subject enters the natural level of relaxation, he can be guided into stage two.

Present Life Regression

This step is simply recalling, mentally viewing, or remembering events and impressions from this present life. We do this every day. This starts the gears of the mind’s memory projector turning—usually both an audio and visual playback—and opens the door to clear recall.

During hypnosis-assisted age regression, different senses come into focus. As new levels of perception and awareness are reached, images may be seen or sounds heard. The subject may first feel an experience, sense an impression. Occasionally someone begins by smelling an odor. More rarely they mentally read inner records from their own book of life. Responses of a single subject can vary from session to session.

The therapist asks the subject to relate what comes to him or her, no matter how it comes through. The subject is asked to state the impressions he or she receives without analyzing, censoring, questioning, or passing judgment. Present-life recall or regression is usually enjoyable. We ask the subject to look first at happy, pleasant experiences. During subsequent sessions more in-depth explorations can be requested. Most people like the active dialogue of questions and answers, but others may relate a flood of information with little questioning by the therapist. The hypnotherapist’s principle role is that of questioner and guide. The following is a transcription of present life regression which clearly illustrates the process.

March 27, 1979 – Virginia – Subject assisted into alpha/hypnosis state.

Therapist:    In a few minutes we will begin a series of exercises into recall and memory. Go now to the time when you were twenty-two years old and choose a pleasant happy memory…Take your time. You will be able to speak freely, clearly and easily, remaining at this same deep level of relaxation. Don’t worry about any little movement in your eyelids. (Note: the subject was experiencing rapid eye movement or REM which often accompanies internal visualization). It is perfectly natural and part of this experience. It will pass quickly. What is happening? What do you perceive?

Subject:       It’s Saturday and I’m all dressed up ‘cause Bill is coming. I hear his motorcycle so I know he’s coming. He’s coming up the stairs and he tells me how nice I look, and I say, “What do you want to do, Bill?” He says, “Let’s go to a movie.” We leave the motorcycle parked behind the house and walk to the Paramount. It’s Love in Bloom with Jack Benny. After the movie, we go down to the Kentucky Grill and meet some of the girls and boys there. We sit until eleven before we come home.

Therapist:    Thank you. Go back now to the time you were eight years old. Choose a pleasant, happy memory. When you are ready, just tell me about it.

Subject:       I just got over yellow jaundice and measles and Grandma came to stay with me. She got me up out of bed. It’s the first time I have had my feet on the floor all winter. She says, “I’ll fix you same eggs and toast.” Daddy says, “I wonder how much you weigh.” They put me on the scales and I weigh thirty pounds. I have on blue pajamas. Grandma brushes my hair. It’s gotten so long since I was in bed—reaches about halfway down my back. She puts a blue ribbon in it to match my pj’s. Daddy’s so glad I’m feeling better that he puts me on his shoulders and takes me into the yard. The sun feels good.

Therapist:    Very good. Now continue back to the time you were four years old. Choose a pleasant, happy memory when you were four years old. What’s happening now?

Subject:       I’m with Grandma down at Ripley, and we’re…oh, she’s cutting out dolls…she folds the paper…newspaper…and she takes scissors and takes a little whack here and a little whack there and she pulls them out in a string, and it looks like dolls dancing. And she makes snowflakes and some that look like doilies.

Therapist:    Thank you. Now continue back…

When guiding a present life regression, the hypnotherapist may spend time exploring the womb and birth experience or may pass quickly through it. We use what we have named the “blue mist approach” when reviewing the pre-natal time. Each therapist develops his own style.

Therapist:    Continue back to when you are two…and then one. You can even go to the time of your birth. Go now to that very warm, very safe, and very secure place where nothing can harm you. You feel so very good…so protected. This is a good time…a forming and growing time. You can go beyond this event…Go now into the blue mist. The blue mist protects you. This is a time of trust and a time of understanding. This is a time of rest, of ancient echoes and quiet movement—a time you only thought you had forgotten.

Past-Life Regression

The next step, whether or not the womb experience has been reviewed, is to go back to a former life.

Therapist:    Now you are looking into the deep recesses of your own mind, opening your memory banks to the remembrances of your innermost feelings. Through the avenue of the heart are all things revealed to you. Embrace the feeling…reach deep within.

(Pause—wait for a change of expression or body movement—evidence of awareness of an experience.)

Therapist:    What are you experiencing? Look around you. Look down at your feet. What are you wearing on your feet? Describe what you see or feel…The more you tell me, the more clear and vivid it all becomes. It is very easy for you to speak. You remain at this same level of awareness, at one with yourself, at one with the creative forces and at one with your own higher intelligence. Take all the time you need and tell me what you are feeling, what you are sensing, what you are seeing and experiencing.

Subject:       It’s a party. The ladies have hoop skirts, big wide skirts. Their hair’s parted in the middle and fastened in back with flowers and ribbons. The men have on long swallowtail coats, and oh! They’re so polite and nice. They’re hovering around the girls like bees. We’re eating off little plates that you hold in your hand like a dainty napkin. We’re sitting on the grass. Our skirts are all around us—like flowers. It’s a beautiful day. Everyone’s so happy.

Therapist:    Look around you. Tell me who you see. Is there anybody special?

Subject:       Yes, there’s one tall man with red hair. He’s staring at me. Now he’s bending over me asking me if I’d like a cool drink. I say, “Yes, I’d like some lemonade.” He goes to get it. I watch him and think how graceful he looks. He’s so tall.

Therapist:    Then what happens?

Subject:       He brings me back the drink and he sits down beside me on the grass and we talk. He tells me he will soon be going to—up north. And I tell him I hope he doesn’t stay very long—I hope he comes back, and he says, “Oh, I will.” and then he laughs.

Therapist:    Do you know where he will be going?

Subject:       Syracuse.

Therapist:    Do you know what he will be doing?

Subject:       I think he’s a banker.

The Sellers Family of New Orleans, circa. 1880s / Photo © St. Charles Herald

Subject had come to us out of her natural curiosity and a strong desire to understand more of herself. She wanted to understand the significance of a recurring nightmare that had begun when she was a young girl. The dream was always the same. The setting was a plantation in the Deep South. She would often waken crying, distressed and fearful. In every instance, the dream ended as she was running up the porch steps of a southern mansion. The regression transcript follows:

Therapist:    Now go to the next important event. What happens next? Take your time. What is the next big event? (Note: Facial expression becomes very sad.) Tell me what is happening. You may detach from it. Just tell me what’s happening.

Subject:       Well, I’m on a horse and I’m riding down the road. Something terrible…

Therapist:    Detach yourself from it and just tell me very calmly. Remain very relaxed. What’s happening?

Subject:       I’m going towards the porch—and I’m riding on this big brown horse side-saddle. I get to the porch and they tell me he’s gone. And all the slaves are crying and I say, “Oh, God, I’m too late,” and I know I’m too late—but I kneel down beside him and I say. “Love, don’t go, don’t go.” But he didn’t come back.

Therapist:    Then what happens?

Subject:       Then they put him in a box. I’ve got a long black dress and a black thing on my head. They put flowers on him-and they take him out and bury him under the magnolias.

We did not press for more details during this first session. We suggested that she send blessings and love to John and then to go forward to the next major event.

Subject:       Well, the war is over and I’m all alone. The big house is empty because all the slaves are gone—there’s just a couple of faithful ones that stayed.

Therapist:    Continue forward to the time of your death. What is happening? What do you see around you?

Subject:       I’m lying in my four-poster and my hair is white and they’ve put a little cap on my hair. My Mammy’s still with me. She didn’t go with the rest of them. She says, “Now, don’t you fret, love.” She puts cold cloths on my head ‘cause my head’s so hot and she says I’ve got the fever. And I don’t mind dying ‘cause I know I’ll go out there under the magnolias where he is.

Therapist:    How old were you when you died?

Subject:       Oh. I think I’m about sixty-eight.

Therapist:    Where is the town where you are living? What is the name of the place?

Subject:       It’s near New Orleans.

Therapist:    And do they put you out under the magnolias where he is?

Subject:       Yes.

Therapist:    Move on. What is happening now?

Subject:       Everything’s just sort of misty.

Therapist:    Just stay in the mist for a moment now. Look back at all the people in that life. Bless them and send them your love. As you send the love they begin to fade. Slowly start returning to the present. You will retain in your conscious mind only that which is important and beneficial to retain at this time. You will be detached from the pain and sadness, for that is past. You are now back in the present. Let the white light surround you and protect your heart and soul. In a little while, when you awake, you will feel very good. You will feel much better than before. I will count from one to five and at the count of five, you will open your eyes, be wide awake, and feeling fine. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Open your eyes. Just stay right there—don’t get up.

Subject:       I’ve been crying.

Although she reported great emotional release after reviewing this life and shedding appropriate tears, it was decided that a second session was desirable and an appointment was made for a month later. She responded quickly to hypnosis and was soon in a scene from the life sampled during the first session.

Subject:       I’m about eight years old and they are brushing my hair in curls all around. My hair is black and shiny. They’re taking their fingers and making the curls fall around my head. I’m wearing my pantaloons, my chemise shirt, and my petticoats. My dress is blue silk with ruffles and a bow in the back. Papa brings me a little gold locket and puts it around my neck and says, “That’s for my girl.” I’m going to a party. I take mother’s hand and she takes me out to the carriage. Then Papa puts me in and says, “Now you all be careful.” Mammy’s with me. Caleb cracks the whip and off we go

Therapist:    What happens next?

Subject:       We’re going down the road to a big house. It’s got wisteria hanging all over the porch. The children are all out in the yard, picking up acorns and chasing each other. They stop the carriage and I get out and the minute I get out, somebody starts chasing me. The boys are being real mean. One of them undid my sash. It’s Nancy’s party. Her momma calls us into the dining room for the cake. She gets lots of presents We all just sit around and watch her open them. Then her mother takes us out back on the lawn again and we play blind-man’s-bluff and hide-and-go-seek ‘til about four in the afternoon. Then Caleb comes back for me. I had a good time.

Therapist:    Now go forward to the next event of major importance.

Subject:       It’s a garden party. We’ve strung Japanese lanterns all through the trees with candles in them. They look like fireflies—beautiful. We have two or three people playing guitars. There is a violin and there is a place to dance. The tables are out under the trees.

Therapist:    How old are you?

Subject:       About seventeen. My hair is long and I’ve got it sort of swirled on the back of my neck and have a big magnolia pinned right where it goes together in back. I’m wearing a white dress and I have a fan I hold before my face.

Therapist:    What is your name?

Subject:       Sarah. (Expression very sad).

Therapist:    Why are you sad, Sarah? This is a party. Is something making you sad?

Subject:       I’m watching for someone. He hasn’t come yet. Somebody’s always asking me to dance. I’m dancing but I keep watching.

Therapist:    Can you tell me who you are watching for?

Subject:       I’m watching for John. He hasn’t come yet and I wonder what in the world’s a-keeping him.

Therapist:    Move forward a little. Tell me whether he comes.

Subject:       Well, I keep dancing. I don’t want anybody to know I’m a-looking for him ‘cause they’d be sure to tell him. I think I hear him. Yes, it’s his horse. He comes up to me and said, “What in the world? Where have you been?” And he said…(Here she stopped talking and appeared to be listening to an inner voice.)

Therapist:    Listen carefully and hear him say it. What does he say?

Subject:       Something about his horse. He started to ride his horse and a shoe was loose so he couldn’t take that one. He had to take his dad’s mean horse that would rather throw than carry you. But he got here in one piece anyhow. He’s a good dancer. They play a waltz. I like that. So I tell him it’s all right, but next time he’d better start a little early.

Therapist:    What is happening now?

Subject:       Everybody’s going home and the servants are picking up all the debris on the lawn. John and I are out back in the grove where there’s a swing, a-swinging. He swings me real high. It must be getting late cause Momma comes out and calls me and says, “Sarah, you better come in. It’s getting late.” He walks me to the door and she stands there on the porch ‘til I close the door. I think she’s afraid he’ll try to kiss me goodnight. Then he goes home.

Therapist:    Very good. Now continue onto the next major event. It will be very easy for you to tell me what is happening.

Subject:       I’m up in my bedroom and I’m putting on my dress and a long white veil on my head. It’s my wedding day. Momma’s fussing around fixing my hair. She says, “You’re not gonna be my baby any longer.” I say, “Yes, Momma, I’ll always be your baby.” And she says “Well at least you’re not going far away.” John don’t live very far. I’m kinda worried ‘cause it seems like a big step we’re taking. I guess it’ll be all right. I’ve known him for a long time. Daddy comes and says it’s time to go down stairs. I can hear the music playing. I walk down the stairs real careful, ‘cause I have a long train. Momma takes it up over her arm so I won’t fall. A lot of people are in the parlor—all my friends and all our relations—never knew I had so many relations. John comes in. I look at him and I know everything’s gonna be all right.

Therapist:    Go on. Tell me what is happening.

Subject:       We’re on the lawn. There are tables spread out on the lawn. We’re standing in a line and everybody’s coming along kissing us and they say they hope we’ll be happy. Then everybody goes to the table for all kind of refreshments. Then Mammy comes and gets me and I go up to my room and put on my traveling costume. I’ve got a green velvet dress and a little green hat.

Therapist:    What happens next?

Subject:       I get in the coach and I’m trying to think where we’re going. Oh, it’s Savanna. John has relatives there that we’re going to visit.

Therapist:    Tell me about the trip.

Subject:       Pretty rough. The road’s awful rough. We sit real close together and when the coach bounces, we laugh. Some of the bridges are nothing but logs stretched over. We have to be real careful that the wheels don’t come off. It’s really fun. It’s the first time we’ve been away from everybody. Feels sort of funny not having all the people around.

Therapist:    Go to the next important experience and tell me what’s happening.

Subject:       I’m in the house. ‘Sorta nice to have your own house. It’s big, but I don’t really have to do very much—just sew and always have a lot of company. There’s always someone visiting to talk to. I spend a lot of time sewing and embroidering. We have musicals in the evening and I play the piano and sing and say poetry. The days just drift along.

Therapist:    How old are you?

Subject:       Twenty-four. I’m almost twenty-four.

Therapist:    What does your husband do for work? What is his profession?

Subject:       Mainly, he just oversees everything. He’s got an overseer, but he rides out every morning and inspects everything.

Therapist:    Can you tell me what year it is?

Subject:       It’s about 1834, I think.

Therapist:    What is the name of the place you are living?

Subject:       We have a plantation out in the country. It’s in Louisiana.

(Because the subject was responding so well, this seemed a good time to continue with more serious work. The subject was guided to the critical time that was responsible for the nightmares. In this session she was able to relate the experience, to understand it, and remove the emotional block—become free from the emotional tie to this lifetime. The following is the conclusion of the important part of the session relating to her life as Sarah).

Therapist:    Continue to relax as you move ahead to just a few days before the death of your husband. Remain detached. Stand above yourself looking down on the scenes. Now, I’d like you to tell me what is happening.

Subject:       It’s not good. John’s not feeling a bit good. He looks real sick. I keep asking him what’s the matter. He just says he’s all right, but he doesn’t look good.

Therapist:    Has he seen a doctor?

Subject:       No. He won’t go. He says he don’t have any faith in that doctor—that he’s a quack. But I wish he’d go to see someone. I know he’s in pain. He won’t talk about it, but I think it’s in his chest.

Therapist:    What do you do?

Subject:       I fuss around him. He gets mad at me ‘cause I keep asking him to sit down. He keeps telling me not to fuss, but I’m worried and Mammy’s worried too. She says, “There’s something wrong with that man, but you can’t get him to stop going.” He just gets on that horse every morning and goes out to those fields. He won’t quit.

 Therapist:    Continue to be very detached, Go now to the time of his death—or to when you first hear or sense his death. As you tell me, you free yourself from this burden. What is happening?

Subject:       It’s morning. John looks so pale. I don’t know whether to leave him, or not. He says, “Go on and stop fussing.” So I have ‘em saddle the horse and ride over to Mary’s. Her brother is there and we have such a good time visiting, I stay longer than I planned.

Therapist:    What happens next?

Subject:       I’m riding down the road toward home. I see Jacob riding up the road on a mule. Oh he’s just a-tearing. I say, “What in the world is the matter, Jacob?” He says, “Oh, Miss Sarah, something awful’s done happened.” (Intense emotion and tears beginning)

Therapist:    What do you say?

Subject:       “My God, Jacob, what is it?” He says “I can’t tell it.” And I say, “Well tell me, man, what is it?” He says, “Master done shot himself—he shot himself in the head.” I say. “Oh, God, Jacob, I can’t stand it!” I fly down the road, run upon the porch—oh no! He’s lying on the couch and blood is all over his face. I said, “Oh God, what in the world did you do a thing like this for?” Maybe he was so sick and tired he just couldn’t stand it any longer. I will never know why—why he did it. Why did he do it?

Therapist:    I will help you to understand, As I count from ten to one, go to your Higher Self—that part of you that knows and understands all things—and ask why. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Now ask yourself and ask him and you will know the reason.

Subject:       Oh, it hurts so much. It hurts so bad. I’ll never know. Is it my fault or what?

Therapist:    What does he say to you? What does he tell you? Listen very carefully and you will hear him speak to you. What does he say?

Subject:       It wasn’t my fault, really. It was just the pain. He couldn’t stand the pain. He hurt so bad.

Therapist:    What are your thoughts?

Subject:       Just sad—sad that it happened this way. He wasn’t very old. We had a lot of good years ahead of us.

Therapist:    Then what do you do?

Subject:       Everybody comes and tells me they’re so sorry. They put him in a box. Oh, I guess that’s the end of everything for me.

Therapist:    And then what?

Subject:       They bury him out in the magnolia grove. Then everybody leaves and I’m all alone in that big old house; just me and the servants. Momma comes and stays with me a few days. She says I’ll just have to face it and learn to live with it, ‘cause she can’t stay there forever. She’s got to take care of Papa. He’s not well either. So she goes away and leaves me there by myself and I’ll just have to learn to stand it.

Therapist:    Now listen very carefully because this is very important. Go back to the morning before he died. Look into his eyes that morning. Send love to his eyes and send your blessings and your forgiveness. Pour all the love you can into his eyes. And then he fades. The more love you send him, the more he fades away. Let this memory go now. Let it go. He has gone now. Bless him and forgive him. You understand the reason now. You understand this was not your fault. Let the memory go, sending your love and happiness and compassion and understanding. Let him go now.

As a result of these two sessions, the subject reported that she has not been bothered in any way by the recurrent nightmares. She was able to understand and free herself of the guilt and sorrow associated with that life. There has been absolutely no recurrence of the nightmare problem in more than five years.

Life or time travel may be experienced in different ways. It may be as the detached reviewer. Many memories and impressions are recalled and related, but they are from the viewpoint of a spectator rather than a participant. It is almost as if the subject were looking through a family photo album and commenting on some of the favorite pictures.

The other way is called reliving. This is more intense and dramatic. It is not always desirable in early sessions. This level may be too intense for a first or second session. Many sessions are actually a combination of the two—with an ebb and flow of involvement and detachment, of reviewing and reliving.

One lifetime or several lifetimes may be explored in a single session. A detached view of the death experience is also valuable near the end of the session. Death is simply a state of growth, and most people are amazed to discover that awareness does not end with death—that the death itself is rather easy. Many people achieve their greatest personal insight through reviewing a former death experience.

Returning to the Present and Waking

Closing the mental, emotional and spiritual door to a past life is as important as opening it. A person’s subconscious usually has the final say as to which memories are to be consciously retained and brought back and which are to be filed again for future reference. Many regression therapists use this type of healing suggestion near the end of the session:

Therapist:    Now see in your mind’s eye all the people you recognize in this life (or these lives). Now send love to them as they begin to fade. Bless them. Release them and let them go. You will retain in your conscious mind only that which is beneficial and helpful for you at this time.

These suggestions are a gentle yet definite way of closing the door to the past. These suggestions allow the subject’s subconscious the choice of what is to be remembered. My preferred words for returning the subject to the present and waking them are as follows:

Therapist:    Return through the blue mist…go to the warm, safe and very secure place. Return to the present. Feel the life energies flow throughout your being. You may forget or remember all that you have experienced here today. You are in the present. The date is…the place is…I will count from one to ten, and at the count of ten you will be wide awake, clear headed, refreshed and relaxed. One, coming back now. Two, three, coming up. Four, feel total normalization at every level of your being. Five, feel the circulation returning and equalizing. Six, awakening to your full potential. Seven, perfect equilibrium. Eight. Nine. Ten. Wide awake and feeling great.

Most commonly the subject recalls the entire session and can even add more details and information not mentioned during the actual experience. He may, however, only remember bits and pieces.

Those who are interested may wish to check and verify historical information and may require such verification to accept the experience. The validity of the emotions felt amounts to proof for most people. For others, there could never be proof. Past life feelings, like love, are hard to measure or prove.

The human mind is an unlimited storehouse of knowledge—the answers are already there. All that is required is to ask the right questions and wait for the answers. The mind resonates with excitement of discovery, and time travel is perhaps one of today’s greatest adventures.

 

 

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