In the center of you there is an eternal kingdom. You will not reach it at the end of a quest, but by revealing yourself as its sovereign.
— Yves Cadoux, A Book to Free the Soul
There are many philosophies, debates, speculations, and long-held beliefs as to the nature of our reality — and not simply that of this Earth. Countless rites, rituals, and religions have emerged throughout recorded history, exploring and exploiting myths and gods, demigods, and various human perspectives of what they observe in nature. The machinations of our perceived reality and all manner of strange and wonderful events and happenings contained herein have spawned libraries of literature and study.
Yet there are seemingly those “in the know” — some sort of ancient priestly caste or family lineage — that have guided and led an easily confused or utterly memory-wiped humanity into all sorts of dark and dismal directions, arguably in order to maintain power, influence, and control over the species at large. What are they afraid of? Whether they’re purely physical, energetic, or a blend of the two, it’s difficult to know for sure. But their motivations aren’t difficult to discern. Regardless of all the good intentions and great aspirations we humans can imagine, envision, or subscribe to, these malevolent forces are somehow free to pursue their own agendas, perpetuating struggle, suffering, and pain for humanity, without any restrictions, accountability, or inhibitions whatsoever. Why is that?
Regardless, through objective and unbiased observation, we can see that something isn’t really working in our favor about this place we consider to be our home. We’re reminded all the time of our insignificance in an allegedly immeasurable universe, while our frail and fragile bodies (clearly designed to be this way) routinely succumb to all manner of malady, disease, and short-lived lives. What kind of loving “god” would permit such immense and persistent violence, brutality, and division to coexist amid boundless love, joy, and the pursuit of happiness? Why is it necessary to kill in order to feed ourselves and to survive?
It would appear that something else is going on here in what many perceive — and I would argue quite mistakenly — as “earth school.” We buy into novice ideas such as clearing karma, evolution of the soul, and pursuing an important life mission. I would simply ask you to dig a little deeper because these ideas — while honorable and respectable — are, like our emotions, routinely weaponized against us.
NDE stands for “near death experience” and LBL is “life between lives” — the two operate in the same way, though the former is usually temporary, even accidental, while the latter is part of a much more intricate and deliberate process. What is a soul? What is a spirit? Why are these terms so easily conflated and used interchangeably? I don’t know, but it’s misleading. What is our fundamental essence? What is our true origin? It’s hidden and obscured. It’s lied about and maligned through myth, theology, and philosophy throughout all of human history. Why?
The overall structure generally comprises our physical, material realm and the in-between space wherein our “soul” allegedly travels “into the light” once more back to a non-physical, entirely disembodied, disencumbered spirit world. Ultimately, there should be some essential aspect of universal substance maintaining the whole apparatus that exists beyond the constructs we know as physical, metaphysical, and spiritual. We’re fond of the term “universe” in the modern era, but it is so vague and nondescript as to carry little to no definable quality, quantity, or meaning.
Some would argue, as the author mentioned below, that the “spirit world” is where our “soul” ends up “after death” in order to have a life review, under the mentorship or guidance of “more advanced” souls, about what we maybe could have done better, or how we strayed entirely off the pre-destined path, then to undergo “healing” or “reprogramming” and thus to be convinced to pick another body and head on down for another go. This injecting of a soul into a body in itself raises alarms because it would appear that an innocent baby can get along just fine without a soul “melding” with it for its earthly life. And, there are many stories of “walk-ins” wherein a soul that wasn’t born of a body replaces the one that was… What a mess! These are but a few of the many issues I have with this rather strange and convoluted idea.
Where is the regard and respect for pure and pristine origin? In the second book of the series explored below, it is noted that a “soul” can go in and out of a child’s body until about the age of 5. That is astonishing, if not disturbing. It can leave a child to go hang out with its friends — and where exactly is that occurring? — and goof off until it’s arguably forced to be stuck in this new human for a lifetime, while in the process being wiped of all knowledge and memory of who and what it was before. There are, of course, perfectly reasonable rationalizations for this memory wipe as well, which, to me, are rather spurious.
Again, again, and again, around and around we go. When should we stop? Who decides, and who knows? Supposedly, we’re learning something each time we venture back to physical life school that is then discussed, studied, and picked apart in spirit school, wherein the “love and light” is enough to coerce even the most resistant and exasperated soul that it’s the right and best and just thing to go forth and engage in another physical lifetime.
I say that’s all nonsense and very misleading, never mind woefully misinterpreted by those who actively work in this field of research. They are apparently blind to their own ignorance, which in this day and age is par for the course in most any scientific field of study. I would have to say, quite frankly, it’s all merely a trap. It’s an endless repeating incarnation-reincarnation cycle that something, somewhere, benefits from, but not us, the individual creator beings, going through the process.
If it is true that a Creator defined and designed and made manifest this place, this reality, this dimension, everything in it, and is all-knowing, then there is fundamentally no logical reason whatsoever that it should have any need to break off little pieces of itself and subject them to extremely low-level energies and vibrations in order to “learn, grow, and evolve itself.” It makes no sense. That which made everything knows everything, has nothing to learn, nowhere to grow, and nothing to evolve into. It is complete, and our perception that it’s simply “experiencing itself” through our multitude of repeating iterations and incarnations is ridiculous on the face of it.
Therefore, I think it’s fair to suggest that there is something that has inserted itself into the process — at some point, at some critical juncture, at some forgotten time — that has effectively hijacked the construct entirely — this physical life as well as the so-called “spirit world,” which, in principal, echoes so many similarities to earthbound life it’s uncanny. But when you learn about the process in which researchers such as Dr. Newton and many others have looked into it — and do so with an impartial, unbiased, and spiritually uncompromised manner — you’ll probably come to a similar conclusion that most any skeptic or critical thinker would: something of a parasitic nature is using and abusing us for their own needs and is extremely skilled and convincing when it comes to keeping us enrapt, blissed-out, love-bombed, and consenting to going back into the game in perpetuity.
We forget, and we are made to forget, both in the physical and the spiritual aspects of this fabricated experience — and yet, we may retain certain traits or emotional imbalances, frailties, or other quirks and handicaps that harmed or hindered our process in a previous incarnation. In fact, it seems that we can choose very specific parameters to experience in a human lifetime, including what era we’re born into, what race, geographic location, and what most-likely story may play out given the parameters we’ve — at least in part — opted to experience. Again, there is limited information and disclosure at play in every part of this spiritual game. We’re led to believe that our soul is learning, growing, and evolving through many lifetimes, and that we have soul groups, guides, and mentors, and that all is well and good beyond the confines and limitations of our “meat suits.”
It all sounds plausible, and hundreds of sessions led by Dr. Newton alone corroborate these ideas. All of these patients recount the same stories with minor variations, and yet one wonders how much of the experiences the good doctor decided not to recount and express in his books.
Unlike this preamble, which is all my own writing, what is included below is based entirely off a “chat” I had with ChatGPT about Dr. Newton’s books and the concept of the “soul trap,” so take it all with a grain of salt. I have listened to his first book, Journey of Souls, in its entirety but stopped abruptly after going only part way into the first chapter of the second book. Far too many intuitive alarms were triggered; red flags were coming up, and I could go no further. It was all the same thing, repeating over and over, and yet seemingly leaning more and more into strangeness and malevolence. This is my take; of course, you’re encouraged to draw your own conclusions.
As ever, my goal is to discern truth from nonsense. And in this rather broad and controversial topic, I think it’s critically important — simply because we’re talking about life, death, and everything that most seem to be experiencing in between. Something is wrong with this picture, in my view, and it behooves us to question the motives and machinations of that which seems quite literally to feed off not only our bodies and our minds but also our spirits.
How do we end the cycle? What is truly at the heart of this existence, beyond the fakery, fabrications, constructs, simulations, and algorithms? I do not except that earth is a school. It is a game, and it is a rather vicious, unbalanced, and unfair game wherein the cards are arguably stacked against us. Why is this? Who benefits? What will it take to remedy the intrusion, or to simply unplug and remove ourselves from it entirely?
Detailed Summary of Michael Newton’s Life Between Lives Series and the “Soul Trap” Concept
Dr. Michael Newton’s Life Between Lives series consists of four books: Journey of Souls, Destiny of Souls, Life Between Lives: Hypnotherapy for Spiritual Regression, and Memories of the Afterlife. These books provide an in-depth exploration of the spiritual journey of souls through multiple lifetimes, detailing experiences in the spirit realm, pre-incarnation planning, and reincarnation. This summary consolidates key insights from all four books and examines their relevance to the controversial concept of the “soul trap,” where the Earth and spirit realms are seen as parts of a larger system that ensnares souls in a cycle of reincarnation.
1. Introduction to Life Between Lives (LBL) Hypnotherapy and Dr. Newton’s Research
Michael Newton, a hypnotherapist specializing in past-life and life-between-lives regression, developed techniques to access the superconscious mind, where he believed soul memories are stored. Over decades, he conducted thousands of sessions with clients, guiding them into deep states of hypnosis to explore their soul’s journey in the afterlife.
His books reveal patterns and stages in the soul’s journey, including experiences immediately after death, the transition to the spirit world, soul group dynamics, and pre-birth planning. Newton presents these stages through detailed case studies that collectively form a framework for understanding what happens to souls between lives.
The series offers a comforting view of the afterlife, depicting a structured and purposeful system designed for the spiritual growth of souls. However, when examined critically, these insights may also suggest a more complex and potentially deceptive reality, as theorized by proponents of the “soul trap” concept.
2. Journey Through Death and Transition to the Spirit World
In all four books, Newton consistently describes the process of death as a peaceful transition. Souls report a sense of liberation as they leave their physical bodies and enter a tunnel of light, which serves as a gateway to the spirit realm. Guides or familiar spiritual beings often greet souls, providing comfort and helping them adjust.
Souls pass through orientation centers designed to assist in acclimatizing to their non-physical state. These centers offer a space for healing and review, where souls can release the emotional and psychological residue of their past life. Souls describe these environments as filled with light and loving energy, creating a sense of safety and familiarity.
While Newton’s depiction paints an inviting picture of the afterlife, some critics argue that this imagery aligns with descriptions found in accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs), which often involve a bright light and a sense of being pulled toward it. The “soul trap” hypothesis suggests that this tunnel of light and the welcoming guides could be part of a mechanism designed to lure souls back into the system, ensuring their return to the cycle of reincarnation.
3. The Spirit Realm: Structure, Levels, and Soul Groups
According to Newton, the spirit realm is an organized and hierarchical place where souls engage in various activities aimed at their growth and development. The structure includes different levels and areas for training, healing, and education. Souls progress through these levels as they accumulate experiences and wisdom across multiple lifetimes.
Souls belong to “soul groups” or “clusters”—spiritual families that incarnate together repeatedly to support each other’s growth. These groups consist of souls that share similar levels of maturity and spiritual development, and they work collectively to resolve karmic issues, fulfill spiritual contracts, and evolve.
In addition to their soul groups, souls interact with their guides, who are more advanced beings that mentor and support them. Newton also describes the Council of Elders, a group of wise and evolved souls who oversee the progress of individual souls. They offer feedback and guidance during life reviews, helping souls understand their experiences and plan their next incarnations.
The spirit realm’s detailed organization and hierarchy are comforting to some but suspicious to those who support the soul trap theory. Critics argue that this system of soul groups, guides, and councils may be part of an elaborate structure designed to maintain control over souls. The repetitive cycle of life reviews, planning sessions, and reincarnation could be seen as a mechanism that traps souls, making them believe they are evolving spiritually while keeping them bound within the system.
4. Life Review and Council of Elders: Constructive Reflection or Manipulation?
A crucial stage in the soul’s journey, according to Newton, is the life review. Souls are guided by their spiritual mentors or the Council of Elders to reflect on the lessons learned in their most recent incarnation. This process is not punitive but rather a constructive evaluation meant to help souls understand their actions, decisions, and the impact they had on others.
The Council of Elders, as described by Newton, is composed of benevolent and wise beings who assist souls in gaining clarity about their spiritual evolution. Souls receive feedback and advice on how to approach future incarnations to address unresolved karma or pursue specific lessons.
While this process is portrayed as supportive and enlightening, critics of the system suggest that the life review and council meetings could be manipulative tools. The soul trap theory proposes that these entities are part of a controlling hierarchy that reinforces the soul’s sense of responsibility and obligation, leading it to choose another incarnation. This cycle of evaluation and reincarnation could be a deceptive method of keeping souls within the system, convincing them that they are progressing while actually preventing them from escaping.
5. Pre-incarnation Planning: Purposeful Choice or Predetermined Loop?
Newton’s research shows that souls participate in pre-incarnation planning sessions where they choose their future lives, bodies, and circumstances. Souls work with their guides and members of their soul groups to design a blueprint for their next life, selecting challenges and experiences that will facilitate spiritual growth.
These planning sessions often involve creating spiritual contracts with other souls, agreeing to play specific roles—such as family members, friends, or adversaries—to support each other’s development. Souls aim to address karma, learn lessons, and enhance their understanding of love, compassion, and forgiveness through these interactions.
While Newton presents these planning sessions as empowering, they could also be interpreted as part of a predestined loop within the soul trap hypothesis. Critics argue that the illusion of choice offered during these sessions may simply be a mechanism for making souls feel they have control over their destinies, when in fact, they are being guided into another cycle of incarnation by their guides and the system’s higher authorities.
6. Earth as a Training Ground: Growth or Entrapment?
Newton emphasizes that Earth serves as a valuable training ground for souls. The duality, challenges, and intensity of emotions experienced on Earth are seen as crucial for the soul’s growth. Souls choose to incarnate on Earth to experience hardship, love, loss, and other intense emotions that are not present in the spirit realm. These experiences help them develop empathy, resilience, and wisdom.
The reincarnation cycle on Earth allows souls to resolve karma, improve their character, and progress toward higher levels of spiritual awareness. Advanced souls may even take on roles as teachers, healers, or guides, assisting others in their evolution.
However, from the perspective of the soul trap theory, Earth may not be a true training ground but rather a realm of entrapment. Proponents of this theory argue that the physical and emotional challenges faced on Earth are part of a mechanism designed to create attachments and emotional imprints that keep souls bound to the cycle of reincarnation. The Earth experience, rather than leading to spiritual liberation, may instead perpetuate suffering and attachment, ensuring that souls continue to reincarnate within the same system.
7. Soul Healing and Rehabilitation Centers: True Healing or Manipulation?
In the spirit realm, souls undergo healing processes to recover from the trauma and emotional impact of their earthly lives. Newton describes healing centers where advanced beings assist souls in cleansing and restoring their energy. These centers are depicted as places of light and tranquility, providing emotional and spiritual rejuvenation.
The healing process often includes revisiting and releasing emotional pain or negative energy accumulated in past lives. Souls are encouraged to let go of their earthly attachments and prepare for their next incarnation with a clear mind and spirit.
While this aspect of Newton’s findings may seem benevolent, it raises questions within the context of the soul trap theory. Are these healing processes genuinely aimed at liberating souls, or are they designed to keep them emotionally attached and mentally conditioned for another cycle? If these centers only offer temporary relief but ultimately prepare souls to reincarnate again, they could be part of a deceptive system that maintains the reincarnation cycle.
8. Advanced Souls and the Role of Spiritual Guides
Newton’s work categorizes souls based on their level of spiritual development, ranging from beginner to advanced. Advanced souls are depicted as those who have accumulated significant wisdom and are often tasked with guiding others, either during their incarnations or as spiritual guides in the spirit realm. These advanced souls play crucial roles in helping less mature souls navigate their lessons and progress toward enlightenment.
Spiritual guides, who are described as mentors and protectors, help souls plan their lives, interpret their experiences, and align with their soul missions. The presence of guides is meant to provide reassurance and support throughout the soul’s journey.
However, the soul trap theory suggests that these guides might not be as benevolent as they appear. Critics argue that they could be part of the system’s mechanism to keep souls compliant and convinced that they are progressing. By appearing as trusted allies, these guides could manipulate souls into accepting another cycle of reincarnation, reinforcing the belief that they are learning and evolving when, in fact, they are being kept within a controlled cycle.
9. The Ultimate Goal: Evolution Toward Unity or Perpetual Enslavement?
Newton’s books emphasize that the ultimate purpose of a soul’s journey is to evolve toward higher levels of consciousness, wisdom, and unity with the divine source. Souls progress through multiple incarnations, gradually accumulating experiences and learning lessons that lead them closer to spiritual enlightenment. The process is depicted as one of constant evolution, where each life serves as a stepping stone toward greater understanding and integration with universal consciousness.
According to Newton, some advanced souls eventually reach a stage where they no longer need to incarnate on Earth and may choose to become guides, teachers, or even merge with the source itself, contributing to the evolution of other souls.
However, the soul trap theory interprets this differently. Critics argue that the idea of spiritual evolution and enlightenment within this system may be an illusion designed to maintain control. Rather than reaching a state of liberation, souls may be tricked into believing they are evolving while remaining within a matrix that perpetuates their captivity. The concept of merging with a higher consciousness could be another trap, preventing souls from realizing their true nature and escaping the cycle altogether.
10. The “Soul Trap” Hypothesis: Analyzing Newton’s Work Through a Critical Lens
The “soul trap” theory posits that Earth and the spirit realms described by Newton are part of an elaborate system designed to keep souls trapped in a cycle of reincarnation. Here’s how this theory intersects with and challenges Newton’s findings:
- The Tunnel of Light and Guides: Newton’s description of the tunnel of light and the presence of spiritual guides aligns with many NDE accounts. Critics suggest that these elements are part of a soul capture mechanism that ensures souls are drawn back into the system.
- Life Review and Council of Elders: The life review and council sessions, which Newton presents as enlightening, could be seen as manipulative tactics used to impose guilt, responsibility, and a sense of unfinished business on souls, convincing them to reincarnate again.
- Pre-birth Planning: While Newton depicts pre-birth planning as an empowering experience, the soul trap theory suggests it may be another method to enforce the cycle. The illusion of choice and the guidance of “benevolent” entities could be ways to keep souls bound to the system without them realizing it.
- Healing Centers and Soul Groups: Critics argue that the emphasis on healing, soul groups, and spiritual contracts might not be genuinely beneficial but instead a sophisticated form of programming that keeps souls emotionally and energetically tethered to the Earth realm.
11. Is There a Way Out? The Potential for Soul Liberation
If one considers Newton’s findings through the lens of the soul trap theory, the question arises: is there a way out of this cycle? Proponents of this theory suggest several potential paths to liberation:
- Awareness and Discernment: The first step is for souls to recognize the possibility of deception. Awareness of the soul trap theory could help souls make conscious decisions at the moment of death, avoiding the tunnel of light and refusing interaction with entities that may attempt to guide them back into the system.
- Reclaiming Sovereignty: Souls may need to assert their independence and sovereignty, rejecting the authority of spiritual guides and councils. This involves breaking free from karmic cycles and spiritual contracts that tie them to the reincarnation system.
- Seeking Alternative Realms or Dimensions: Some suggest that souls should focus on finding exits from the Earth/spirit realm system entirely, aiming to transcend to higher planes that are not part of the perceived matrix. This requires a deep understanding of soul navigation and a willingness to explore unknown dimensions beyond the familiar structures described by Newton.
- Detachment and Non-Participation: Another approach involves detachment from earthly and spiritual attachments. By releasing the emotional and karmic ties that bind them, souls may free themselves from the cycle and choose not to reincarnate or participate in the system.
12. Conclusion: Newton’s Work and the Controversial Concept of the Soul Trap
Michael Newton’s Life Between Lives series provides a detailed and comprehensive framework for understanding the journey of souls, the spirit world, and the process of reincarnation. While his findings offer comforting and hopeful insights into the afterlife and spiritual growth, they also raise questions when viewed through the critical lens of the soul trap theory.
The idea that Earth and the spirit realms might be part of a controlled system designed to keep souls trapped in cycles of reincarnation is controversial and challenging to Newton’s optimistic view. If this theory holds merit, then the descriptions of light tunnels, spiritual guides, life reviews, and councils could be seen not as paths to enlightenment but as sophisticated forms of manipulation.
Ultimately, whether Newton’s accounts are viewed as revelations of spiritual truth or as parts of a deceptive system depends on one’s perspective. The potential for liberation may lie in the awareness of these possibilities and the conscious decision-making of each soul when faced with the choices presented in the afterlife.
This synthesis of Newton’s work with the soul trap theory offers a dual perspective—one of spiritual growth and one of caution—encouraging readers to explore their own beliefs and prepare for what may lie beyond the veil.
For further study, the presentations of Forever Conscious Research on YouTube goes into deep discussions and debates regarding NDEs, OBEs, and other related phenomena. There are clear and distinct patterns that emerge across all reports and experiences, and I believe it’s useful to us to understand more clearly what the system has in store for us — should we choose to continue to play along the birth, death, rebirth cycle some more. Intro is at 20:15 or so into the video.