Other Lives, Other Selves: A Jungian Psychotherapist Discovers Past Lives

by Roger J. Woolger

In this fascinating and provocative new book, Dr. Roger J. Woolger, a graduate of Oxford University and a certified Jungian analyst, presents a firsthand look at the emerging psychology of reincarnation - and the dramatic power of past-life regression radically to transform and heal our lives. Other Lives, Other Selves reveals an exciting new psychotherapeutic technique that produces astoundingly beneficial emotional and physical results - whether you believe in reincarnation as a literal or a symbolic phenomenon.

Drawing on both Western science and Eastern spirituality, Dr. Woolger shows how patients have unlocked the secrets of their innermost memories - the often self-destructive cycles that are repeated life after life - to overcome the insecurity, depression, guilt, inhibition, family dysfunction and physical illness that they have inherited from their past lives. A lucid, compelling account of a revolutionary therapeutic technique. Other Lives, Other Selves offers an alternative path to self-improvement and self-enlightenment that addresses the whole person: mind, body and spirit.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Science

386 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 1987

Reviews

[Natacha Pavlov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so enthralling… but also very gruesome. I spent quite a bit of time crying over the stories shared. The author does make a point to remind us that, as Jung stated, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious,” which explains the need for delving into dark events. After all, if we are to fix things about ourselves, it’s the ugly stuff that’s gonna need to be addressed (since the good obviously doesn’t need to be worked on).

It also served as a fascinating reminder that things like fantasies, tendencies, preferences--especially if they don’t really make sense in our current lives--are never random and can often be remnants of past life experiences. I was just as fascinated by the issue of a mother’s emotional state while pregnant and its influence in attracting a particular soul to birth into the world. It also mentions the use of the Tibetan Book of the Dead as meant to be read before death, to know how to let go and transition into the next cycle—which only makes me want to read it more. The book closes with an interesting discussion on whether or not Jung believed in past lives; which it seems he did but for different reasons may have either chosen not to mention it and/or was edited out by others (something I've questioned before whilst reading Jung's Man and His Symbols).

The material may be harsh but very worth the read!

[Chris Healey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written & comprehensive exploration of the idea of past lives & reincarnation from a Jungian perspective. The author offers a moderate & therefore accessible perspective on the subject extrapolating & illustrating his ideas with case studies from his psychotherapy practice. The one thing that occasionally jars with me is the “miracle cure” tone with which many of these experiences are conveyed. Sometimes it all seems a bit too simple, although to give him his due he does acknowledge that it doesn’t work in every case.

A subject of which there’s plenty to read, this is definitely a very good place to start.

[Neftalí del Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

No soy un lector habitual de psicología ni de temas terapéuticos, pero este libro logró despertarme una curiosidad que no esperaba. “Otras vidas, otras identidades” es una mezcla muy interesante entre psicoterapia, espiritualidad y exploración emocional, aunque el tema de las vidas pasadas podría sonar extraño o lejano, Woolger lo presenta de una manera seria, clara y sorprendentemente humana.
El autor, que era psicoterapeuta junguiano, comparte casos reales de pacientes que, a través de regresiones, se encuentran con experiencias que no parecen pertenecer a su vida actual, más allá de si uno cree literalmente en la reencarnación o no, el enfoque del libro hace que estas historias funcionen como un espejo emocional: hablan de miedos, patrones repetitivos, relaciones complicadas y heridas que nos condicionan sin que entendamos del todo por qué.
Lo que más me llamó la atención fue que no se me intenta convencer de ninguna creencia, si no que se enfoca en cómo estas “otras vidas” pueden servir como metáforas terapéuticas para liberar emociones profundas y entender mejor quiénes somos.
A pesar de no ser experto en estos temas, pude entenderlo sin problemas, los conceptos están explicados de forma accesible, y la narrativa te va llevando poco a poco hacia ideas más complejas sin perderte, el libro alimentó mi curiosidad y me dejó pensando en cómo nuestras emociones pueden tener raíces más profundas de lo que creemos.
Es una lectura interesante que no me arrepiento de haber rescatado en un bazar de libros en uno de mis viajes, increible.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible book, but I had to go back and buy it on CD because there are exercises. Also, listening to Dr Woolger's voice is very soothing, very relaxing - so while doing the exercises it's easy to get into the state of mind to do so, and I never failed to be able to experience something from the exercises. However, of course some I liked better than others, and like someone else said, some of the stories were SO sad that I finally recorded the exercises on their own.

Reading about Dr Woolger's take on whatever you interpret he is saying - be it the unconscious, the dream state, our mythology, or our past lives - he didn't commit, maybe he had his own thoughts on the matter, but like a good therapist, didn't want to make up our minds for us!

It was a very interesting read, and then an even more interesting listen! I loved it!

[G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is the first time I have encountered this concept.Out of curiosity and administration of Jung,I decided to read it.I don't know if I believe in reincarnation but I still wanted to learn about the whole concept behind it.

It started really well but after awhile it became repetitive.The pas life stories are very sad and going through them seems to have helped the writer's clients but repitition got to me.

I couldn't finish the book because overall there was no new concept.It was mostly similar sad past life stories.

I recommend it if this is something that interests you but if you are like me who just got introduced to the concept,it might bore you after awhile.

The writing style is fluid so at least stories could be read as stories without boredom.

[Pittounikos Dmt Moesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past life is probably the lunatic fringe of the lunatic fringe of ideas. But these days even UFO's are starting to make a comeback, but rebranded as 'UAP' (I prefer UFO). Even psychedelics are becoming mainstream, but rebranded as 'plant medicines' (I prefer psychedelic).

These days even the podcast world caters for the above ideas so making them at least appear respectable. Joe Rogan even interviews real scientists about said subjects!

I might add that even entities and other worlds via the Epstein Files and the DMT experience are creeping into our land of normal, like that terrifying being from Lovecraft's imaginings. We live in strange times.

So to write Other Lives, Other Selves decades before the return of the weird took courage.
The book is persuasive but past lives has yet to gain traction like the other crazy ideas. But I found it very scholarly and clever.

So, yes, it's a good one. Keep an open mind.

[Nadine Al lahham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting read. The writer, a psychologist, uses a scientific approach to explore the phenomena of past lives. Although he clearly states that this book does not intend to convince readers to believe or disbelieve in past lives, he himself seems puzzled by the concept. He connects the idea of past lives to past experiences, including the ones we might not remember such as our own birth. His detailed explanation of birth trauma and how it can affect us in various ways was compelling.
Not the best psychology book but worth reading.

[Leslie Portu]

To be revisited

[Lau Mendes · Rating 3 out of 5]

ME TARDÉ DEMASIADO leyendo este libro no se pq… ESTUVO MUY BUENO pero al tardarme leyendo tanto tiempo pues obvio me aburría a ratos y pues…

[Else Byskov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an insightful book

[Roger Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the title, this is not a book about past lives, exactly ... For the late Roger Woolger did not even believe in past lives - although he didn't disbelieve in them either. Rather, this is a book about the healing that can happen by cathartically releasing stories carried in the unconscious. Stories which _appear_ as though they belong to another life.

Oddly, I am not sure I ever quite finished this book. But, long ago, it had a BIG impact on me. I went to a first workshop with Woolger and also held a lecture by him in the town where I lived. But then, the astonishing Meditations on the Tarot interrupted my trajectory with Woolger and suggested to me an even deeper form of transformation. My review of Meditations on the Tarot here:

http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...