Hi, I’m Barry. I’m a psychologist exploring the hidden depths of human nature — what may be called our essence or soul.
Many people ask themselves “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”
To answer “Who am I?”, they might begin by looking into their own personality.
To answer “Why am I here?”, they might turn to a spiritual teaching or philosophy.
But ultimately, both searches end up in the same place — who we are is why we are here.
In other words, your personality — with all its quirks and limitations — is no accident. It is a kind of vehicle for your higher self (or soul) to operate in the world.
And while many psychologists, philosophers and other thinkers regard spirituality as meaningless or irrational, I cannot deny my own experiences nor can I dismiss the experiences of others so lightly.
The purpose of this website is to be a hub of information, inspiration and occasionally entertainment about who and what we really are — beyond (but including) the personality.
For my blog posts about the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, including positive psychology and transpersonal psychology, see Research. For journal accounts of my own experiences, including meditation, manifestation, self-discovery, spiritual awakening and past life regression, see Journal. And for items in the world’s news that are relevant to all of these topics, see News.
My perspective is informed by various spiritual teachings, particularly those which focus on consciousness evolution and enlightenment. See Teachings. You could also take a look at my various Articles, or check out my list of recommended reading under Books.
- Children with past life memories wanted for TV
- ‘Michael Speaks’ — the 1970s group transcripts are finally published
- Peter Higgs – the reincarnation of Isaac Newton?
- Tarot and the Michael Teachings
- “How near-death experiences are changing the world” – new video
- NDE researcher arrested for “waterboarding his own daughter”
- International Association for Near-Death Studies – 2012 Conference
- Explaining near-death experiences – Or, why Occam’s razor cuts both ways
- Psychic experiences and synesthesia – online survey invitation
- Reincarnation and world population – Do the numbers add up?
- Final message: Inspiring video from the boy who died on Christmas Day
- Soul mates: The reincarnation of Emily Brontë?
- Bluejay: The reincarnation of Gustav Mahler?
- New research: a mystical experience on psilocybin can transform your personality
- Simply beautiful… Neale Donald Walsch tells of his journey to the Light
- New book explores ‘The Lennon-Brontë Connection’
- Life after death – two upcoming conferences
- Alanis Morissette — the reincarnation of Sergei Prokofiev?
- Wounded at Gettysburg – an optician recollects a past life
- Chinese government assumes control over reincarnation
- The Sphere of Universal Communion – insights from William’s journey into light
- The story of a child’s visit to heaven is a best-seller in the U.S.
- “Lives changed forever”: near-death experience conference call (IANDS 2011)
- Hereafter UK: Spiritual beliefs and near-death experiences in Britain
- Onward Christian soldiers? The U. S. Army wants only one kind of “spiritual fitness”
- Feeling the future – Are results of recent experiments evidence of precognition?
- New book explores soul patterns from past lives
- Phil Collins – the reincarnation of an Alamo soldier?
- Pyramid scam? – Evolutionary psychologists take on the Hierarchy of Needs
- Western belief in reincarnation on the increase
- Growth and the journey of life: A dream
- New Zealand near death experiencers needed for first Kiwi study
- Successful psychopaths [update]
- Update on Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka – India’s past life reality TV show
- The Swiss mystic and his big Red Book: the secret world of Carl G Jung
- The Character Project: Templeton Foundation funds study into the nature of human character
- Enlightenment Intensives podcast: “What is direct experience?”
- A new international organization for reincarnation research: IISIS
- The seven soul types: what do they look like?
- Conference Call: ‘Mysteries of Near-Death Experiences: Perspectives from Experiencers, Science and Spirituality’
- Boy of 3 has near-death experience and meets his [great?] grandmother
- Groundbreaking study of near-death experiences by renowned cardiologist
- US health professionals offered new online course on Near-Death Experiences
- Lovers’ reincarnation story told in new book: ‘Lifetimes Ago’
- Conference invitation: ‘Evidence-Based Spirituality for the 21st Century’ (Colorado, June 2010)
- Early video of near-death experience interviews released
- Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor: the neuroscientist who had a stroke and discovered Nirvana
- Near-death experiences explained by carbon dioxide? [or: How journalism works]
- Being spiritual (but not religious) makes children happier: new research
- Why people think psychology is just common sense: children’s misperceptions
- In search of harmony: A life-between-lives regression
- At the cliff edge: A past life regression
- Your Soul’s Plan [book review]
- Dark, satanic mills: A past life regression
- Self-transcendence and the brain: new research, old fallacy
- Jim Carrey’s moment of spiritual awakening
- Physician says near-death experiences are evidence for life after death
- Groundbreaking reality TV show features past life regression
- Reincarnation of American pianist as blind Korean girl?
- Cynthia Lennon – the original “Mrs. Robinson”?
- Are narcissists as attractive as they believe?
- The most important conversation of our time!
- My first Enlightenment Intensive – by Isis the psychic
- The soul of Barack Obama – eight profiles compared
- Being Nefertiti – past-life recall or mid-life crisis?
- Manifestation – a big one
- Spiritual experiences in the movies
- Personality quiz: discover your soul type
- All You Need Is Love (book review)
- John Lennon – the reincarnation of Branwell Brontë?
- 10 things everyone should know about reincarnation
- Michael Jackson – the reincarnation of Mozart?
- Astrology and personality: a study of animal behaviour
- Reincarnated World War II American fighter pilot
- The Personality’s Place in Spiritual Practice (a review)
- My first enlightenment experience
- Self and no-self: the personality crisis of a Zen master
- Truth – relative and absolute
- A spontaneous enlightenment experience
- Insight into body state and self-critical attitude
- Meditation as a dialogue
- One good meditation
- Allowing myself to feel great
- Highs and flat periods
- This manifestation stuff really works!
- The money connection
- Insight into good states
- A difficult time
- Ups and downs
- “Getting” what I want
- My first manifestation?
- More insights
- Good vibrations
- An insight into my purpose
- Ask And It Is Given
BRAVO!! Well done Kudos to you for this! I have been a Micheal Group follower since 1987 and to find an extentensive and simple compilation of basics teachings in such a simplistic form is a blessing! I will positively pass and promote this blog because, this is powerful information for self-discovery and understanding!
Thank you and NAMASKAR!
I love your blog. I didn´t knew I can leave comments since today.
Well, very nice colours I mean design.
And it is interesting I like to read.
Thanks very much, Valnea.
Hi, Barry.
Can I get your permission to put a link to your website on mine (ReincarnationTruth.com)? Just let me know … thanks!
Carol
Of course
And by way of reciprocating, here is a link to yours: ReincarnationTruth.com
- barry
Hello – Enjoyed your website. I had an extraodinary, surprising experience of visions of past lives years ago and finally had the courage to publish the book. If you would like to see a little about me, visit my website. The book, “Looking Out the Back Door: Visions of Past Lives” will be out in a few weeks.
If you like I could send more about the “happening” and my adjustment to it. May I make a link to your website from mine?
Thanks, Ann. Sounds fascinating – I will take a look.
Feel free to link!
- barry
I just stumbled upon this – wonderful and looking forward to reading more
Hi Helen
Mr. Barry im doing research paper and would like to cite you from one of your articles, therefore i need some qualifications other than psychologist; and a last name would be nice! Thanks!
Done
Barry! I am also writing a paper for a class and would like to cite some of your work. Wondering if you could provide me with the same info, and possibly answer some questions for me? Thanks.
No problem. I’ve emailed you.
This is a lot of reading materials for me which are very interesting. Thank you for listing them down.
So I have been reading a lot about reincarnation and different soul types and stages etc. Now I’m just wondering who came up with all these? How did they know about all of these? Is there any proof other than the children with past life memories? I really need some kind of proof to truly embrace this concept. Can we explain this scientifically? Or this is just something you just have to believe…like religion???
The idea of reincarnation has been around for thousands of years, enshrined in various religious teachings around the world. There have also been new teachings about it in the last hundred years or so, received through channelling (that’s when a human being goes into a meditative state and allows a higher consciousness to speak/write through them). What we might call scientific evidence for reincarnation has only appeared in the last few decades, in the form of children’s testimonies, past-life regression therapy, and documented physical correlations (e.g. birth marks that correspond to past-life gunshot wounds).
However, none of this is “proof” for the existence of reincarnation, nor will it ever be. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a proof when it comes to science and nature. Proofs exist only in mathematics and logic, for the simple reason that these are closed systems of meaning. (If X=1, then by necessity 2X=2. Why? Because that’s the way we define truth in algebra.) In science, however, we are just trying to find the best ways to describe the myriad facets of an infinitely open system – nature, reality.
In maths and logic, there is only one possible right answer to any question. In science, no question is ever finally answered. Instead, we have theories, or working models, and those theories/models that appear to be supported by a lot of evidence tend to be accepted as “the likeliest explanation”.
There is no “proof” for evolution, for example. As a theory, it is undeniably so well supported by the evidence as to appear to be the best explanation beyond reasonable doubt. Thus, many scientists assume it to be “true”, at least privately. Some, such as Richard Dawkins, go so far as to claim it to be “true” publicly and outspokenly. But all (good) scientists know that a well supported theory isn’t proof of anything – the question is never fully answered.
So there is never such a thing as scientific proof – there are only scientific theories plus an accumulation of observations and other evidence which may or may not allow us to make a judgement as to which theory is probably “right”, or at least worth adopting as a working model. It’s similar to how a court case works. We can’t prove that so-and-so did the murder, but do we have enough evidence that supports the prosecution’s case “beyond reasonable doubt”?
In the case of reincarnation, there is not now and there never will be proof that it is true. (Until, that is, the day you die and find yourself in the afterlife with total recall of your past lives!) So there is no proof, but there is an accumulation of evidence. There are a few scientists who find that the evidence is persuasive, and so they personally accept reincarnation as “true”. But most scientists have an unfortunate prior commitment to a materialistic worldview — they see metaphysical, paranormal and supernatural explanations as unscientific by definition, and therefore not acceptable as viable theories. They denounce the case for reincarnation as “pseudo-science”. They in turn are denounced as “pseudo-skeptics”.
Now, another grey area in science is that, when it comes to testing a theory, a lot depends on the validity of the evidence. That’s another judgement call — some will accept (say) a personal testimony as evidence, and others will reject it as mere “hearsay” or “anecdotal”. Much of the evidence for reincarnation is of that type.
So at the end of the day, it’s down to you. I personally came to a point where, after reading a lot of accounts of past-life regression, of children’s spontaneus past-life recall, of physical correlations between facial and pther physical features from one life to the next, of channelled material describing the reincarnation process … I was eventually persuaded to see the theory of reincarnation as the likeliest explanation. And privately I do believe it to be true, though I always leave some room for doubt as well — I’m not a “reincarnation fundamentalist” or an evangelist, just someone who has moved from an anti-reincarnation to a pro-reincarnation position over the course of many years.
The descriptions of soul types you refer to have been around for about 40 years and come from a channelled source: http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/the-michael-teachings/