Adventures Into Time Publishers

            E.  Creative Problem-Solving: An Example

            F.  Self-Directed Learning

G.  The Constructive Mind

H.  Networking from the Heart

I.  A Beginning, Not an Ending

Chapter XIV Perfection

A.  Seize the Day! Seize the Lifetime!

            B.  A Poem

Acknowledgments

The information shared in this book is gleaned from more than three decades of my own research. To the best of my knowledge, every­thing is accurate and authentic; only the names of individuals in the “Case Studies” have been changed to respect their privacy.

Birthing a book is a labor of love — I cannot think of any other reason for doing it. Similar to the birth of a child, there is love, conception, gestation, and — with a few labor pains — the birth itself. With deep appreciation, I thank the following people for giving so generously to the gestation and birthing of this “baby:”

To my wife, Joan Willard Bolduc, whose love of learning is an inspiration to me and to her many stu­dents. It takes a lot of love to be a teacher for twenty years. Joan recently received her Master’s Degree in Education — she is the love of my life.

To the staff of the Grayson County Public Library, my office away from the office. Priceless wisdom is stored there and it’s all FREE!

To chapter editors who helped in the gestation period: Tom Weber, Susan Mayer Bleiberg, Peggy Becker, Jody Menard, Ruby Gillion, Melanie Hertzog, Becky Grey, Roxanne Summers, Egon Frech, Frank Thomas, and Nancy Thomas.

To typists who made sense of my notes: Chris Green, Regina Harris and especially, Virginia Dimmel.

To the gifted artists who made it beautiful: Kathye Mendes, Sue Jones, Jeffrey Winchester, Julia Fierman, Veronica Reed, and Diane Coleman.

A special thanks to Baldwin L. Troutman who provided the early help, vision, and encouragement and to Marjorie Reynolds for the final editing. Most of all, Linda Hutchins helped this book at every stage, nurtured it and dedicated herself to its healthy birth.

To all the people who have attended my workshops, classes, and programs you helped me to fine-tune the work and you gave me great inspiration through your questions and experiences. You inspired this book more than you might realize.

Chapter I

Introduction: Patterns, Lessons,

and Forgiveness

The two most important questions you can ask yourself are:

1.    What did I EVER do to deserve THIS?

2.    Why am I going through this AGAIN?

When you wonder what you did to deserve THIS, you are consciously asking your unconscious mind for insight into the origins of a situation currently being experienced. Everyone realizes, deep within, that for every cause there is an effect. For every action there is a re-action. You wonder what you could have planted originally in some recent or distant past that you now reap.

The second question, “Why am I going through this AGAIN,” is even more profound. Here is where you begin to detect a PATTERN in your life. This pattern could involve a personal relationship. Perhaps in your case it is a social, financial, or business matter. What is important, in order to rectify an uncomfortable situ­ation, is that you recognize that there is, indeed, a pattern which has been or is being established. That is the first important step.

Of course, not all patterns are in need of correction. In fact, we all have many positive patterns. Since they don’t give us any distress, we tend to overlook them. It is said that great truths can be stated simply and directly. The following is a great truth, somewhat understated. “Positive patterns are fun: challenging patterns are not fun.”

What is a pattern? A pattern is a repeating theme or cycle in our lives. It is the mode of behavior, or a combination of actions and qualities of an individual. A pattern is anything that acts as a model, guide, or stencil from which we form repeated activities. A pattern is interwoven threads that form the fabric of our lives.

Patterns can be either positive and beneficial to us, or they can be difficult and challenging. Positive patterns are like good habits. They make our lives easier, bringing joy and satisfaction. Patterns can be certain skills and special abilities such as attracting abundance and good fortune. For example, many people have a wonderful pattern for loving and nurturing.

On the other hand, challenging patterns are opportunities for growth and learning. They are not “bad,” for without challenge we would stagnate and become weak. The challenging patterns can include fears, phobias, and anger. Other negative patterns can be hatred, prejudice, elitist activities, and ego drives.

This book can assist you in the process of discovering your own patterns. It may ask some important questions, but you alone can answer them candidly and honestly. As you read further, you will find new ways to approach your study of self with practical tools like Journal writing and defining ideals. Together we will look into such spiritual methods as self-hypnosis, meditation, and past-life evaluation. You may ask what past lives have to do with your cur­rent patterns and everyday responses. The research of decades has uncovered the fact that the “roots” of our actions go far deeper than yesterday, last year, or even a long ago childhood.

Chapter II

The Patterns of Your Lives

A.  Exploring the Inner Mind

The history of every soul (the cumulative total of the experiences of many lifetimes, spanning thousands of years) is recorded in the subcon­scious mind. Most of us do not have conscious memory of those experiences. Even though we may not realize it, such unconscious recall can have a direct and profound effect upon our actions and decisions in this lifetime. If we could gain access to the record of our past, it truly would be the adventure of our lives.

If you are skeptical of past-life experience, just for a few minutes suspend your disbelief, open your mind, and boldly enter through a new door and into a new realm. Embark upon a journey of exploration —of adventure and discovery. You will be exploring the mysteries of your inner self, where the soul’s history is recorded.

The science of exploring the mysteries of the human soul — the part of us that is most human — is called “mysticism,” and the explorers who study it are known as regressionists. Their work is analogous to that of archaeologists, who study sites and artifacts of historic or prehistoric peoples. Regressionists, the ar­chaeologists of the soul, dig through the strata and sub-strata of memory rather than through the records of geology. They sift through the potsherds of a bro­ken past, discovering what may be of value and what may be discarded as unimportant or even harmful. They reassemble mosaics for a clearer view of the ancient ways of past lives.

Those explorers of the inner mind discover the hidden dimensions of the past and display them for present evaluation. They are the guides who can lead you on your journey. While the primary research of the regressionist is the study of the past, regressionists are also pioneers on the frontiers of tomorrow. They are progressionists and mapmakers of undiscovered realms and future dimensions of reality.

B.     Implications of Past Lives

The mysteries of the human mind have been a “dark continent” for centuries. It is not a final frontier, however, but a vast new world — an explortum! Mind is the pathway through time, from past to present to future. The mind is vast, and contains an amazing paradox: every living person has a mind; yet, most people are afraid of its potential. Perhaps they are more concerned with their darker sides — those parts of themselves they would rather not face.