Dr. Brian Weiss on The Oprah Show

Past-life regression was the subject of a recent Oprah Winfrey television show. The point of the discussion was attempting to determine the veracity of past lives. Is it true or false. Do we really live more than one, and in some cases, numerous lifetimes? And if so, how do we remember them?

Oprah’s guest for this particular show was Dr. Brian Weiss, who uses hypnosis to facilitate memories and impressions of former lifetimes. Dr. Weiss attempted mass hypnosis of Oprah’s entire audience. A recap of the show on her website states:

"Between one-quarter and one-half of the audience say they had some success being hypnotized and recalled old memories from their current lives. Some even say they experienced visions of past lives.

One woman says she recalled how, in a previous life, she was a man who was murdered by someone while in a swamp. ‘I could feel blood running out and I could see my attacker and I was killed with a knife’", she says.   

Another woman who was childless experienced several past life-times in which she had children, but they lived and she died each time.

An African-American woman said she was a nun in a past-life and was white.    

“Dr. Weiss says these experiences are all quite common. ‘We change race, we change religions because we have to learn from all sides. Souls don’t have those characteristics. We’re all connected. It’s not about color or race. You have to learn from all sides, and that’s part of our learning here on the planet.’”

                       

Reincarnation is a Premise of … The Secret of the Veil

That we all live multiple lifetimes is a premise of my novel, The Secret of the Veil. I believe, as Dr. Weiss does, that we are here on earth to learn … to elevate our level of spiritual consciousness during each lifetime.   

I also believe that children have natural memory and impressions of past lives, perhaps the most recent one lived, but don’t have the ability or understanding to articulate those memories.

In my book, the strange occurrences experienced by the heroine, Alexis Ashley are based on her eventual awareness, and acceptance of the connection of all life, including hers … to the past, present and future.  

Not to give anything away to those who haven’t … but might read the book, one such passage that deals with the subject of past lives is found in book two, chapter two. It is an instance where the past and the present inadvertently meet.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I turn to go down   the hall to the kitchen, but  just as I turn, I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye.

It looks like someone turning to go into the dining room. I run down the hall into the dining room and turn on the light. There’s no one there. I run through the dining room into the parlor and then, across the hall into the sitting room.  Nothing. I don’t feel it is a trick of light as I had that first night. This time I definitely made out the figure of a woman … a woman in a long, dark dress.

                    (Skip several paragraphs)

 I look around but there’s nobody in the room, which is quite a switch. It is the first time I have walked into an empty vision. I check the furniture, and except for the       chandelier and the basic design of the room, it is totally different from the one I so recently walked through.

Then, a movement at the front of the large room catches my attention. I look down and there she is. She’d been there all the time .. on her knees, scrubbing the floor. I know it’s the woman I glimpsed earlier, only this time I’m looking directly at her.            

                       
She’s a black woman who’s perhaps around thirty, maybe a little younger or older. She has on a plain, floor length rustic dress, and a wrap on her head that’s knotted in front. With a pail of soapy water at her side she’s scrubbing the floor with long, slow strokes of a brush. Her dress, covered in front by a long apron, is damp but she doesn’t seem to notice.

 Alexis has walked into another time. The woman scrubbing the floor, and some others that she will meet has a special relevance to her life. The whole point of the book is her discovery of that relevance.

So, when people ask at book signings if I actually believe that people live more than one lifetime. The answer is  an emphatic … "Yes, I do." 

 

            
          On another page on this website I offer a free booklet titled "The Little Book of Overcoming: Trading Synthetic Joy for the Real Thing Through God's Amazing Grace". 

     

                                                                                                                                                
When I first wrote and released The Little Book of Overcoming, I made a big mistake. I didn’t explain under what circumstances the book had been written, and what gave me, someone who is not a religious leader, a layperson, the right to chastise Christians.

My mistake was that I thought because I had the understanding of how the book was written, a disclaimer by me on the book would help everyone else understand.

Well, everyone didn't understand. I have been called a hypocrite by some individuals who know me personally, and I'm sure by some who don't know me at all, who feel that the first stone cast, should be at me.

 First, I’m not casting stones. Second, the book is not written in a negative spirit, and if there is  chastisement. … it’s not coming from me. Like the television character Monk would say …. here’s how it  happened.

HOW THE BOOKLET WAS WRITTEN

            As a writer, I’m often asked by individuals to write something for them personally, and often I do.  In late 2003 my pastor at that time, asked me to ghost write a book for his ministry. I agreed, explaining that I would need to sit down with him or, someone close to him so they could provide me with  the information  to be included in the book.

            Well, it was a busy season for the church, and the time never seemed to present itself when I could confer with someone and receive the information and guidance I would need to write a book for the pastor.

            Months later, when I was frantically trying to finish my Secret of the Veil novel, I awoke early one morning … much earlier than was usual for me.

            I remember getting up and going straight to the computer. I had something I wanted to write that had nothing to do with my novel. I had something spiritual I wanted to say.

            But wait! I had something spiritual to say? Me?

            Well, apparently so. Although I tried, I couldn’t get back in bed. So, I sat down at the computer and started to write. I didn’t have to think of a topic, didn’t have to grasp for words, didn’t wonder how long or how short it should be. It just flowed.

            Trust me, I am not particularly a bible scholar, but I wanted to emphasize some points in the book with bible verses. I thought nothing of it at the time, but every time I picked up the bible to look for something, it was right there, easily found ... I'd turn right to it.

            At one point, I remember thinking I needed a bible verse that was just right for a rather sensitive point I was making. I had the television on one of the spiritual channels, and just as I thought … I really need a verse that speaks directly to this point, there it was on television.

            The television was on, but I was so engrossed in my writing, I hadn’t been paying attention. Amazingly, the program’s host was making a point similar to the one I was making in my writing; which he clarified with a bilbe verse.  I couldn’t believe it. What a coincidence, I thought.

           The verse appeared on  the screen, I grabbed a pen, wrote down the book, chapter and verse, and had exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.  

            I finished The Little Book … in one sitting. In a little under three hours. There was a little refining to be done later, but it was written, as they say, chapter and verse in that less than three-hour period. 

REALIZING WHO REALLY DID THE WRITING

            Now, when I finished writing, I decided to read it over for typographical errors. Believe me, I thought I knew what I wrote … after all, I had written it. Right? Wrong.

            When I started reading, I began frowning. Then, I started crying. Why? Because I hadn’t the slightest idea what I’d written until I read it back to myself.

            When I began writing about joy, I thought my intention was to sort of “bring in the sheep”. I thought I was writing something to help bring people to Christ.

            The first thing I noticed was that what I’d written  wasn’t about bringing anyone in, it was written directly to those who were already supposed to be in. It was directed at Christians. People who were supposed to already have given their life to Christ.

            What, I wondered in amazement, gave me the right to write something like this.

            That’s when I realized … I didn’t write it. Oh, I was the one at the keyboard, but it hadn’t come from me. When I read it, I was seeing it for the first time the same way others would.  

            I began to cry for real then, as all kinds of emotions took over. There was sadness, joy, and yes, fear. There was fear because the message in the writing was as clear as day.

            As I read, I really understood for the first time how painful it is for the Father to watch us do the things we do; and watch the way we can fully justify our actions. The sadness I felt was overwhelming.

            
             Right on the heels of the sadness was fear. I felt His anger. Yes, I said anger. It was the first time I realized that some of us have this idea of the Father as this “all forgiving” entity that just loves us so much, it doesn’t matter what we do, as long as we say I’m sorry … before deliberately doing the same thing again. 

           
           I was feeling the other side … the side that was clear about consequences for our actions.

THE DISCLAIMER THAT DIDN'T  CLAIM ENOUGH

Finally, I pulled myself together and put my little disclaimer on the book, thinking whoever read it would understand that the book did not come from me, but through me.

Now, as for why I should be chosen to write what I did?  I have no idea. Am I without sin? Absolutely not. I work at being a good Christian everyday. And, some days are better than others.  I believe a point of the book was that it was not written by a religious leader, but by a layperson to perhaps demonstrate a need for greater spiritual involvement by all of us. 

I was raised and was baptized in the Baptist church, have always known God, and have always believed.

Of course, I feel that oftentimes when we’re children, we can accept and believe, but there must come a mature awakening and acceptance. Some call this being “born again”. I don’t know about labels, so call it what you will … I’ll just say some Christians experience that awakening at some point in their lives.


MY SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

My spiritual awakening began in the mid-1990's. I began feeling a closeness to the Father, began having a better understanding of His teachings, and began trying to live by those teachings and laws.

Then early in the 2000's, I had a spiritual experience that changed my life forever. I won't go into detail (that's probably another book), but I will say, I was attending a Women's Prayer Breakfast one Saturday morning.

During the prayer session, two ministers laid hands on all of the over 100 people present as they prayed for them. After the prayer, I went back to my seat and calmly sat down. That's the last thing I remember until I came to myself again with three female ministers and deacons standing over me praying.

Now, I asked myself some questions about what happened that day. Below are some of those questions and the answers.

•Did I make a spectacle of myself that day?
Probably.

•Did I care?
No.

•Do I remember anything about what happened?
Only what I was told later.

•Was I changed afgterward?
Absolutely.

•Does everyone have to experience something similar?
I don't know. Somehow though, I doubt it.

I do know the book was written shortly after this happened to me. I know that I had sinned in my previous life. Okay, had sinned over and over. But, I know God forgave me for that. Let me say again, I am not the same person I was in the past, and for the transgressions I committed then, I know I have been forgiven.

FOCUS ON THE MESSAGE 

So, before stones are cast at me, let me say, I am not perfect. Never said I was, and through the book have no intention of condeming anyone. I don't have the power to do that even if it were my intention.

Today, I am a fun-loving, healthy, happy, individual who enjoys life to the fullest, however there are things in my life that had to change because I understood, without equivocation they are wrong for me as a Christian. Everyonemust decide for themselves what they choose to do, or not do. Maybe the booklet wiill help.

                                                     
       


Recently, in an online forum, the question was asked if people actually do give money to beggers and homeless people on the street. I was surprised at the many who responded saying ... "No, seldom if ever. Why would I, when they're just going to spend it on alcohol or drugs?"

I wondered how anyone could know that for certain. Everyone on the street that's homeless, or asking for money isn't an addict. Many are, but not all. So, I wondered how would you know the difference. What defining factor would neatly separate those who really are down on their luck, or suffering from mental illness from those who would take the money and run to the nearest liquor store or drug dealer? 

The answer of course is ... you couldn't really know. You might suspect which was which, but you wouldn't know. Not for sure. So then, how do you solve the problem? 

By listening ... to the Father. Here's how it works for me ... I can pass someone begging - walk right by sometimes, acknowledge them, but don't feel moved to give them anything. Other times there is no way I could pass someone asking for money without going in my purse. 

The difference is something inside that moves me to give. I don't arque with it, I don't question it, I just do what I'm feeling. It's what's referred to as the little voice inside. Of course, there really isn't a voice that's actually speaking, but it's talking to me, directing me nontheless. All any of us have to do is listen. 

If I was closed minded and believed everyone out there that's homeless and begging is simply out to get as much money from an unsuspecting public as possible, I wouldn't be open to divine guidance.

I wish I could credit my own wisdom for my actions, but I can't; I was placed in a position to learn a valuable lesson about the destitute ... and believe me I got it. It happened one night in an airport in Atlanta, Georgia. 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS FASCINATING STORY, CLICK ON THE WEB ADDRESS BELOW.


        www.authspot.com/short-stories/thenightIspentwiththehomeless.74710  

                       

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I'm taking this blog on Paul Potts from somthing I wrote about him recently regarding ... you guessed it ... purpose. I promise this is my last word ... at least for now, on this subject.

The video is all over YouTube, and has been seen by millions of people all over the world. I can't think of a better, more inspirational way of beginning the new year than by reflecting on this extraordinary, inspirational story.

So, here we have Paul Potts, an humble man of humble means revealing his awesome gift last year on "Britain's Got Talent" (the British version of American Idol).
 
What gave us a peep into Paul's heart, if not his enormous talent, was a statement he made during a pre-performance interview. When asked about his goals he replied ... "MY DREAM IS TO SPEND MY LIFE DOING WHAT I FEEL I WAS BORN TO DO. SING OPERA."

Clearly, he is someone who recognized his voice as "special" and that his purpose in life - no matter how personally frightening - was to use ... and share his blessing. He confided to the interviewer that he'd been plagued most of his life by a lack of confidence. Notice how he overcame his fears when presented with the opportunity.

Again, we recognize our gifts as those things that we do exceedingly well, better than the average person, and enjoy doing, to the point that if we couldn't get paid, we'd just do it for free. In Paul's case, it is his ability to sing with the voice of an angel.

Many individuals commenting on Paul's performance on YouTube relate how much they're moved; how they cry; and generally feel exalted everytime they hear him sing. That's a big clue by the way ... definitely a blessing.

How much did I cry the first time I saw this video? You don't want to know. It was ridiculous. His voice isn't the most polished, the most powerful, the most operatically trained, but it is so pure, so from the heart, it pulls deep emotions from most listeners.

So, as we begin a new year, I thank Paul Potts for giving us a wonderful example of how we should perservere, seek to discover, develop and use what God has given us all ... for the glory of God, His Kingdom .. and ourselves.

Of course, Paul went on to win Britain's Got Talent, and his first album, "One Chance", sold a million copies like in a week or something.

Paul's life and his journey since the win has been and continues to be one of extraordinary inspiration.