There is a place between your lives where you are completely yourself — stripped of the name this body carries, the role this family gave you, the story this culture told you. A place where the exhaustion of being human falls away, and what remains is the soul you were before you were anyone. You have been there. You will return. And sometimes, in the quietest moments of this life, you can almost remember.
What Is Life Between Lives?
Life Between Lives (LBL) refers to the interlife period — the state of existence a soul experiences between physical incarnations. The concept was systematically researched and codified as a therapeutic modality by hypnotherapist Michael Newton, Ph.D., based on more than 7,000 clinical sessions conducted over three decades.
The LBL State
According to Newton’s model, after physical death the soul undergoes a sequence of experiences:
- Immediate post-death awareness and separation from the body
- A spontaneous life review
- Travel through a transitional zone
- Reunion with a soul group
- Meeting with the Council of Elders
- Study, recreation, and spiritual development in the spirit world
- Selection and preparation for the next incarnation
LBL as Therapy
Newton developed a specific hypnotic induction technique that takes clients beyond standard past-life regression into the interlife state. Sessions typically last 3–6 hours. The Newton Institute (TNI) trains and certifies LBL therapists worldwide.
Research Context
LBL experiences show significant overlap with near-death experience (NDE) research and with independent reports from past-life researchers Ian Stevenson and Jim Tucker at the University of Virginia.
Critical Perspectives
Cryptomnesia hypothesis: Critics suggest that apparent past-life memories may be forgotten experiences from this life resurfacing in distorted form. Counter-evidence: Stevenson's verified cases were documented before investigation, ruling out post-hoc confabulation in the strongest cases.
Suggestion under hypnosis: Hypnotic subjects are susceptible to suggestion from therapists. Counter-evidence: Newton used open-ended, non-leading questions; subjects from different countries and belief systems described the same architecture independently.
Neurological explanation: The experiences may reflect complex brain states rather than actual non-physical reality. Counter-evidence: Van Lommel's 2001 Lancet study documented verified NDE perceptions during confirmed cardiac arrest with flat EEG.
This content is for informational and research purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice. If you are experiencing mental health difficulties, please consult a qualified professional.