Loved, loved, loved this book!  So much so that I probably will book an appointment to see one of the contributing authors.  Let me explain.

This book is the third in a series, originally written by Dr. Michael Newton who found during hypnotherapy sessions with average people that some individuals spontaneously entered into previous lifetimes that had direct relevance to their current health or other challenges such as in relationships. In so doing, it was revealed that people can remember and benefit from journeying into these past life experiences because many problems occurring in their current lives were connected to what could be called "unfinished business".  His first book, therefore, was called Journey of Souls, and I believe it reached bestseller status.

This was followed by a second book, called Destiny of Souls presenting a series of case studies highlighting not just a single previous lifetime but a cycle of such, with profound meaning for the person who was searching for answers to their current issues.  The idea of destiny of souls led to the concept of a path, or mission, or agenda.

Not only were these two books successful in presenting the soul's spiritual journey but the hypnotherapeutic process of guiding people into these meaningful and deep experiences inspired Dr. Newton to create a foundation - The Newton Institute for Life Between Lives Hypnotherapy - which trains practitioners of hypnotherapy around the world in specific methods.  I have no data on these methods but I feel confident that the practitioners are being trained to safely elicit responses in journeying into prior lives, and into the soul's experience between each life.

In metaphysics and the whole of Eastern belief systems, the concept of reincarnation and the wheel of existence is at the core of spiritual philosophy.  Reincarnation provides the soul with an opportunity to apply previous wisdom, to learn new lessons, and to work through the difficult issues inherent in any lifetime on planet Earth in order to finally reach higher states of compassion, kindness, peace and harmony.  Even then, we learn, the soul's journey does not end but continues beyond Earth life into more developed stages of consciousness and serenity.  We are even taught that those who have reached transcendent states, and no longer need physical incarnation, work to serve the world in forms such as avatars or ascended masters, guardian angels and protective guides.  None of this is new.

What is new about this book is that practitioners all around the world, from America and Canada, and places far afield such as Europe, Australia, and Malaysia, who have been taught Dr. Newton's techniques, are using relatively scientific methods to bring a person into the hypnogogic space, and guide them to their previous death and passage so that their personal spiritual guide appears, and then gives its name, and sometimes ushers the person to a meeting with their council of elders (higher guiding committee, you might say!), and even learns the individual soul's name on the other side, as its identity is that of its eternal self rather than any temporary physical persona.  "The essence of a soul's existence involves problem solving during their physical incarnations.  Both guides and elders... are in the business of stimulating the gradual development of a soul's ability to improve on their decisions toward making better choices in each new life."

This third book is comprised, then, of contributions from Dr. Newton's practitioners all around the world, each with a case study that had the most relevance, significance, or profound impact as judged by that practitioner.  And the stories are very wonderful - stories of healing current relationships, of learning the true mission, calling or purpose of that particular lifetime, of coming out of one's shell and of reaching a place of greater self-realization.  Its the very universality of these experiences, these stories, these journeys that drives home the point that this is not fictitious, this is real.  People aren't imagining these mystical experiences but are being drawn to them and being enlightened through a scientific methodology that describes another plane.  An eternal journey.  And a very benign universe.

Details such as a cleansing experience shortly after a difficult lifetime, fully energetic in nature - colors, lights, frequencies - make death far less fearful.  Another wonderful element in these stories is the concept of your soul group recognizing those who are your very closest connections, both in the non-physical realm and in your daily life.  For instance, a sister, a parent, a best friend, a spouse, sometimes finding that soul mate in the between lives realm, and understanding that they have not come in with you for this round.

Every page of this book held profound meaning and was well written.  Very enjoyable.  Highest recommendation.