Past life regression therapy, a form of hypnosis aimed at uncovering memories of past lives, has drawn both curiosity and skepticism over the years. As individuals seek to explore deeper layers of their consciousness, many report vivid experiences during these sessions, recounting what they believe to be memories from previous incarnations. While the scientific community remains divided on the validity of these recollections, participants often describe the therapy as enlightening and introspective, offering new insights into their lives.
Dan Harary, a Hollywood publicist and author, is one such individual whose experience with past life regression has shaped both his personal journey and his creative work. Harary’s curiosity about his past lives was initially sparked decades ago by a psychic’s reading.
“About 30 years ago, a very well-known Hollywood psychic told me that I had been, in a past life, a ‘star in the Hungarian Theater in the 1870s,’” Harary shares. “Because he was incredibly accurate with many other things about my life—as well as the lives of my closest friends—I took him at his word.”
This revelation stayed with Harary for years, eventually influencing his writing. In 2023, he began to develop a character based on this supposed past life, a journey that would lead him to further explore the concept of reincarnation through past life regression hypnosis. Harary turned to Dr. Bruce Goldberg, a physician known for his expertise in regression therapy.
“I had once undergone ‘regression hypnosis’ about 20 years ago by Dr. Bruce Goldberg,” Harary explains. “He presented case studies of young children who had recalled, in vivid detail, the names, time frames, and circumstances of their previous lives.”
During his own regression, Harary recalls recounting scenes from various past lives, including those of a Roman soldier, an Amish farmer, an Egyptian priest, and a 1920s police officer in New York. While he acknowledges that these memories cannot be scientifically proven, Harary found the experience compelling. “Can I prove that I was any of those people from the past? No, of course not. But I found the whole idea of reincarnation and past lives simply fascinating.”
The concept of reincarnation became central to Harary’s creative process as he crafted his latest novel, FIVE. Inspired by the idea of his past life as a theater star, he developed a character named Feival Vados, a performer in the Hungarian theater of the 1870s. “I wanted to write about that guy, the ‘Dan who was a star in the Hungarian Theater,’” Harary says. “To see what his life would be all about and explore who he was.”
In his novel, Harary reimagines Feival Vados reincarnated in the modern era as Billy Simon, a contemporary pop star with a dark side. “Once I settled on the idea of bringing his soul back to life after 100 years, I developed Billy Simon—a modern-day pop music star who, unfortunately, also inherited Feival’s darker traits.”
Past life regression therapy, like the experiences described by Harary, invites individuals to explore the possibility of past lives and how these could influence their present identities. While the practice has its critics and remains a topic of debate, many who undergo regression describe it as a meaningful experience that expands their understanding of themselves and the nature of existence.
Though not everyone may accept the concept of reincarnation, past life regression therapy continues to attract interest from those looking to explore their past and its potential impact on their present lives. Whether viewed as a psychological exercise or a genuine glimpse into past incarnations, the practice offers an intriguing lens through which to explore identity, memory, and the unknown.