Experience description:

At the time, I was enrolled in the past-life regression course at the Hypnotherapy Academy of America. The night before I was to do my first regression in class I awoke around 3 am in intense pain from my lower back. I had had issues previously with 'throwing my back out' when doing certain physical moves - sometimes something as simple as digging in the garden or pulling out a drawer. These episodes would force me to be immobile for a couple of days. But this time, nothing precipitated the event, and the pain was much more intense than ever before. I took some ibuprofen and stood in a hot shower to try to get relief - but to no avail.

I felt it must be related to a past life- like my back wanted to be healed - if you will.  So I literally hobbled bent over into class and went to the main instructor, pointed to my back and said "I think this is related to a past life". He had me sit in the a recliner, close my eyes, breathe into my heart and answer the question "Is this related to a past life?" A deep voice boomed out of me "Yes!" This surprised me and everyone there. So he Proceeded to regress me. I found myself near a horse in a forest - I was a man, I had a sword, from the clothing the time was around the 1400- 1500's. I met a woman there - also on horseback - a clandestine meeting. We were planning how I and my men would enter her husband's castle and kill him so she and I could be together and I could take her husband's place. She would make sure we could gain entrance and take his men by surprise. I flashed forward to my band of men - about 20 of us give or take. We gained entrance easily to the castle and I remember feeling uneasy and saying "Something's not right." Feeling our entrance was too easy. Sure enough the castle gate came down and trapped me and my men inside the walls. I knew I had been double-crossed by my lover. We were captured and my men killed. I had an image of the woman and her husband watching the scene unfold and their pleasure in our pain. I again flashed forward to being on the rack and being tortured. I squirmed in pain in the recliner and the instructor had me rise above and just observe the scene. We then went to my moment of passing, and I was asked what my final thoughts were, and I said I felt immense guilt for getting my men killed - that it was all my fault. Then I felt myself passing into a foggy peaceful place, no more pain. I was then asked - so why do you continue to have back pain and issues in this life, and I replied that I was reminding myself of my guilt- that I had betrayed my men, and this was my way of punishing myself.

So the instructor then called in my men from that time and I saw many faces around me sort of floating and the instructor asked if they blamed me for what happened, and to a person they emphatically replied No. Of course not. and things like We'd have followed you anywhere, and she was the one who betrayed them all. I then asked their forgiveness which they freely and enthusiastically gave, and I felt an intense wave of relief literally wash over me and wept. It was an intense release and profound.  THe forgiveness of myself was clearly key.

Since then, I have not had another issue with my back, ever. And that was basically 13 years ago.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      When I realized I'd been betrayed; being on the rack itself, and the processing of thoughts afterwards. Though the whole experience was pretty clear.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      More consciousness and alertness than normal   I was more aware of the thoughts I was having in the moment. I would say it was a different type of alertness - hard to put into words. An interior alertness.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Like having a lucid dream - being aware I was in an altered state

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I was more intune with interior thoughts.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Love, Fear, betrayal, Intense relief  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Uncertain   A different quality of light

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
I felt the presence of a guide or being - a presence that was unearthly; felt protected

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Yes   My comrades in arms - the men I commanded

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
After dying, I was clearly in an unearthly realm - surrounded by a sort of cloudy fog

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
Time moved at different rates - some very fast - like knowing many details n a flash, and after 'death' a sense of timelessness.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   Everything about myself or others
I gained a much deeper understanding of myself and my physical issue with my back - why it existed and why it was no longer needed.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Yes
Not sure about this question - but certainly when I was on the rack I felt very physically present and limited.

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes   I went to a place after death where I interacted with the men who had died with me. I sensed a protective presence with me.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   In the moment of my asking for and receiving forgiveness, I felt profound release and at one with everything

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   Yes   I felt that the woman - my lover- who betrayed me in that life, was one of my sisters in this life. Funnily enough, she very much lives the "queen' archetype, and we have a strained relationship.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I did believe in past lives - that was consistent. But prior to this experience I had never thought about ailments and physical difficulties as possibly tied to another lifetime, and further that the key to release was through personal forgiveness.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience   The remembrance is easily recalled, and I can still see it in detail and in color, as well as in sequence of events. In life events at that time - more hazy scattered as memory goes.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   No more difficulty with my back - as that had been a chronic issue. I have not once 'thrown it out' since. So I am very intrigued by the link between body/physical/mental issue in this life possibly linked to or affected by a past life.

My experience directly resulted in:   Moderate changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes   A belief that at the heart of many issues lies our own lack of self-forgiveness, a sense that we punish ourselves on many levels, many that we are entirely unaware of. Also, that we have greater agency over our lives than we realize.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   No   I have always been

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     As I've said before - the link to my physical condition to the past life; and the importance of forgiveness.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I've shared with several friends over time. Most are intrigued and curious to know more. Some have sought out regression with a professional.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   No  

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   As soon as I got out of the chair from my regression, my back pain was gone.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   My back issue never returned.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   No  

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   No.  Though I am very grateful for the skill of the teacher - who led me to the at death thoughts I had - and then linking me to the other men and seeking forgiveness.  I believe without this step, I would not have gotten relief. Just remembering wasn't enough as it wouldn't have completed what was needed for healing.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   I was able to explain my experience fully.