As reincarnation gains ever more acceptance in our society, you may have been hearing about something called past life regression. This is exactly what the name implies; and it is something that a growing number of people are interested in. When we know more about our past lives, it gives us insight into our lives in the here and now.

If you would like to try past life regression, the best first step is to keep a journal of your past lives. This journal will be your workbook as you put together the pieces of your former lives. It can contain any of the thoughts and emotions which you see as being out of context in your present life as you know it; even the seemingly most trivial of things can actually be important clues. Your emotions are an especially strong indicator. If you have any fears which seem irrational to you or you are inexplicably drawn to certain places or things, these are likely to be very important details.

You can start off your past lives journal by making a list of likes and dislikes, foods, places and cultures you seem particularly attracted to and other such details about yourself. Any talents you seem to possess without having had to practice should be noted; basically, everything which makes you who you are should be here; this will help you to identify patterns later on as you add to the journal.

You may also want to write down some of the details of your dreams in your journal; but remember that much of what appears in your dreams is likely to be taken from your present life.

You could also try past life regression.

Often, this will mean a session with a professional past life regression therapist. These people are trained in using hypnosis to guide you through a regression experience and help you to understand the information you gain from the session. While many choose to go to a professional, self-hypnosis may also work for you.

Meditation is another way to delve into your past lives

For a lot of people, it is hard to induce a past life regression experience using meditation. We are often skeptical of what we receive during these experiences; but in order to make the most of your regression, you have to learn to trust your instincts and to listen to yourself.

When you meditate, you might feel as if you are daydreaming, but some of the information which comes through as you calm your mind may be important. Be sure to write down everything which comes to you in your journal so you can compare it against the larger picture you are assembling there.

Many people find meditation aids like a mandala or other focal point, incense, music or other accompaniments to be helpful. There are also recordings you can use including water sounds and other soothing audio, as well as guided meditation tapes.

You can also use binaural beats.

These are specially designed recordings which contain frequencies which are tailored to help listeners quickly reach a deep meditative state. These can be very helpful in training your mind for meditation; but whatever method you choose, make sure to meditate in a place which is quiet and where you will not be distracted from the task at hand.

In order to reach a meditative state, you need to completely relax your mind and your body. If thoughts about your everyday life intrude, just acknowledge their presence - and quickly move past them to clear your mind. This can take some practice, but if you are willing to dedicate some time to meditation, you will soon learn - and you can start to learn about your previous lives.

Past life regression can even help you to cope with problems in your present life as well as give you information about the past. Some even learn that they have known the people they know now in a past life.

A large number of the world's religious traditions include reincarnation among their beliefs, particularly the Karmic religions of South Asia. Jains, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists all believe that your actions in every lifetime influence the circumstances you will be born into the next time around. What this teaches us is that having an understanding of your past lives can be the key to living better right now.

Regression has to be done with an open mind to the possibilities the practice opens up. You need to be willing to take in what comes to you and open to learning from your past mistakes to change your current life for the better.

There are many who hold the opinion that a regression through a past life can help to free you of mental blocks and improve your mental health and your outlook on life.

Once you are able to face up to mistakes you may have made in a past life, you have the opportunity to avoid repeating these mistakes. This information can help you to improve your life and make your world a better place.

You may also discover latent talents which you had not suspected that you possessed. For example, you may learn that you were an accomplished violinist in a past life; and upon giving it a try, you find you have a natural aptitude for the instrument! This is the sort of experience which can really enrich your life.

Past life regression offers a number of benefits to anyone who is willing to listen to what their own personal history has to tell them. As long as you approach it with an open mind, the results can be impressive.