In February, 1995, I was an advanced student studying with Richard Zarro. I had taken my basic hypnosis certification the previous Fall. This certification allowed me to "practice" hypnosis with clients wishing to use that modality for whatever personal goal they desired.

I had always been fascinated with the mind and how it worked. This was a chance to study with a master teacher about consciousness, spirituality and communication and I thought that was what I was doing. I would take the bus to Kingston from Albany, New York and transfer to another bus to go to Woodstock, NY and from there go to Richard's office -- usually spending the whole afternoon "working" on whatever topic seemed relevant.

As I prepared on that fateful day to walk to Albany for the bus trip, I became increasingly convinced that this was the time to broach the subject of a past life regression. Sitting comfortably behind the driver of the Trailways Bus as it traveled south along the New York State Thruway, I altered my consciousness and found I was concentrating on how to use my best communication skills to convince him this was something I wanted to experience and with so many uncovered topics yet to explore that this was a worthwhile diversion. I considered various scenarios, imagining a successful persuasion of one not so easily persuaded. If all else failed, I could always remind him that the client as with all hypnosis is in charge of the topic and setting the target state. I convinced myself this would be an excellent use of our time. Clients and students, not to say the least of me, frequently like to explore this whole concept. Time, space, energy, the possibility of having life challenges coming from another time to say nothing of the whole "concept" of the continuity of the soul -- yes this was a worthwhile subject. I made up my mind. I would not be dissuaded in the day's topic. In the retrospect of time and events, I was indeed very naive about all the topic entailed.

Having arrived at 23 Easton Lane, I went into the "client room" to "relax" while he let the anticipation of the afternoon's events build. About the time I started to feel "antsy", Richard came in and we exchanged the usual pleasantries. We then went over what had transpired since the last time I was there, dreams, unsolicited positive remarks, and the other standard areas covered in Holographic Hypnosis, a unique form of hypnosis that was his trademark.

About the time I started to feel "antsy", Richard came in and we exchanged the usual pleasantries. We then went over what had transpired since the last time I was there, dreams, unsolicited positive remarks, and the other standard areas covered in Holographic Hypnosis, a unique form of hypnosis that was his trademark.

What area or trait of my personality did I wish to consider so that we would have some focus on where we go to learn what started this issue for me. Not having even considered this and without giving it another thought, I blurted, "my fear of success". With a look of feigned incredulousness, he informed me there was no such thing. Having spent hours of training time as an advanced hypnosis student, I knew and recognized this ploy -- Did I really or could I be easily persuaded in the face of adversity to change my mind....

"Okay", he agreed. "However, I'd like you to experience something first, take a short break and then we would do the regression." Agreed? I agreed.

The initial part experience was dubbed by me as "Star Stepping" and was an exercise in astral travel. We then took the agreed upon ten minute break for us to stretch our legs or do whatever else was needed.

When we were both back in the client room, he told me to prepare myself. Lying down on his mother's dark blue and gold floral print couch and covering with his mothers mother's hand crocheted blanket "as clients frequently experience temperature drop in trance" I prepared to begin the adventure.

I have no idea why I felt this way but from the outset I did not want him to be able to calibrate me (observe minute physical changes in the client as the process proceeded). I deliberately laid down so that he could not observe my skin coloring, etc. as I went into "trance" and followed his instructions exactly. He did not tell me to lie facing him and so I did not.. "Roberta, you know you have to lie facing me". I advised I did not want to do that. He just sat there and waited, saying and doing nothing until I realized that we were not proceeding until I followed the "rules". Richard was a stickler for "follow the rules until you master the topic. Then if you want to vary, fine." I believe rules are only guidelines and do not take on a life of their own otherwise and today was no different.

Once I finally settled into the routine, I was reminded that I knew how to access trance and I no longer needed his guidance in that. Not too happily, I obliged. With increasing relaxation, I could feel the changes in my skin temperature and the other physical signs (which are different in each of us) he had learned were so prevalent in me as I accomplish that brain-wave state level which allowed me to do the "work" I had chosen to accomplish.

Back through linear time I "travel" with brief stops in places such as the settlers in the American West, I remember nothing but stopping. The stay was only the briefest and each time Richard would ask where I was and the time frame. I remember nothing else other than each time I was female and Richard was there. In each, we had some varying relationship. I did not stay long enough to explore it. Richard, as far as I know, did nothing to prompt me to continue backward in time. As I recall, these brief stops happened four times. I do not know how he knew I had stopped. Perhaps from eye movement as I looked around to take in the scene although that doesn't particularly fit because I was in the scene......

At any rate, the next thing I know, I am surveying a scene where there were numerous scattered boulders and very little evidence of trees or any other large plant growth. I felt the time was prehistory from the absence of structures, lack of any animals, how we were dressed, etc. I am not sure of the living accommodations. I believe we were at a relatively high altitude in a mountainous area because of the terrain and perhaps we lived in the caves. There certainly was not sufficient wood to build structures and I surveyed nothing man-made. There was a fast moving, clear, sparkling stream not too far from where the clan lived. This stream served as the clan/tribe's water source.

I am sitting scantily dressed and barefoot on a huge bolder, soaking up the Sun for its warmth and healing powers. Both Richard and I were adults at this point in the particular lifetime being examined. Neither of us were in a marriage type arrangement/we were both single by choice. We did not live together but were still members of the same "clan". We were, in fact, brother and sister who frequently enjoyed each other's company.

I was a trained and extremely proficient natural healer, having learned the basic elements of the "profession" from my mother and her mother, both of whom were no longer present. I not only ministered to those in my own group, I was recognized for my skills far and wide. Other healers from the surrounding areas would send people to me for healing when they were unable to accomplish such themselves. Somehow, I was "guided" to accomplish what normally was beyond the realm of possibility.

Richard was a skilled hunter and, in fact, was an excellent tracker of game. Since we neither were married, he provided my source of meat as well as his own. Since he was so skilled, he also provided for many others where the men were too ill or too infirm or had since passed over. Because of his extraordinary skill, given so freely to those in need, he was known to be the provider of life for many in that time.

The day of my arrival in that lifetime from this one, it was a particularly warm and sunny day. The men, including Richard, were planning on going on a major hunting expedition. It was not too hot and I had the impression the hunt was in preparation for Winter. During that expedition, Richard fell and became severely injured. Those in the hunting party who could be spared or chose to be of that service brought Richard to me so that I might heal my best friend and the brother I loved so much.

I tried everything I knew to do. Messengers were dispatched to other healers in a plea for help. I made poultices from "jars" containing herbs and other healing items to relieve his pain. I could feel the weight in my hands of the containers as I raised my hands to access the contents of the jars.

Richard, in one of his few comments, during this past life regression exercise, asked me what I was doing just then. I told him I needed to mix a poultice and need certain stored items from the jars.

Anyway, alas, nothing could be done. The damages and assault to him physically were too great and he was slowly dying. The day soon came that he asked I do nothing further as the pain was too great and he would never be able to hunt again as there was so much physical deformity. Heartsick, I told him I would honor his wish.

The next scene I remember was walking behind his body as it was being drawn in a cart to its final resting place. I could have ridden also and yet I chose to walk behind him in a show of great respect.

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In my first private advanced training where we had completed a Holographic Cleaning, he told me he did what he did (hypnotherapy) because someday someone would walk through the door who would work with him and help him. I have no idea if he said that to everyone or he already knew the import I would play in his life.

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One day several years later after the advanced training, I received a telephone call from Richard. I hadn't heard from him in a long time. He quietly indicated he wanted to know if I would help him. He needed to "get his house in order" before he went into the hospital for a hip replacement. He quickly caught me up to the events in his life, indicating he had become Disabled and unable to work for some time and funds were very limited. He would do his best to pay me what I wanted if I would do this for him. Somehow, I heard the unspoken that there was no one else. We set up a day and a time and I told him I would "check it out" and we would talk about it then. That weekend, Dice and I drove to Easton Lane in Woodstock.

I did my best to be caregiver, friend and whatever else was needed. Sometimes I wondered "why me". I had forgotten about this regression done so many years earlier. Yet, in the modern day setting, that lifetime was again played out.

We were both single by choice, we did what we could to assist others in their journey, etc.

I did what I could to heal a lifetime of assault to him and to ease the ravages against his body as his health rapidly declined. He had provided for those he loved who wanted to learn by his legacy given to me to protect and share as he had provided sustenance in that ancient lifetime. I walk behind him in respect for him.

I did my best for him, providing for his needs -- physical (cleaning the house, running errands, providing food), mental (typing letters, transcribing the last book he wrote), and spiritual (we were kin more than blood relatives and on a very deep enduring level).

It was not enough. It was not to be. Both I and others had seen the "death pallor" in him, he made passing comments to me that indicated he would soon be transitioning.

On August 12, 2003, his spirit departed his body for what I believed to be the final time during this "lifetime". The day before, he had promised me he would return and that he would be "here" for me.

I didn't want to face the inevitable and so did not deal with it. He kept his promise and in so doing in part has provided the photo of "the Spirit Behind the Mask" posted on this site available for any and all to witness and learn from, always the teacher which was truly his greatest talent.

In so saying, to answer many questions having been put to me -- "yes, I believe in reincarnation and what lessons it has to teach as we proceed along our journey." How could I not?

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