And Louise, I'd be VERY interested to know more about the techniques you mention (really).
Also, can you tell us more about what you remember of your previous lives please?
hee hee, well that is an honest answer! I love it!
I don't like to go into details about what I recall, until I know someone quite well, because - well, frankly, I probably am talking to them because I know them, and one of the principles of awakening spirituality is not to provoke another's memories before they recall them themselves. I usually put what I remember into my poems and stories and if someone can relate to it, they are attracted to it and tell me.
Obviously - homosexuality plays an important role in my past. I have a rather complete understanding of my previous lives going back several cycles, and according to the Hermetic tradition, these cycles are approximately 144 years. Therefore working back from 1959, my present incarnation, my previous incarnation would have been in the early years of the 19th century, if it were exact (it is not often exact) it would be 1815, but was actually 1810. And the one prior to that would have been 144 years prior to that, which, correcting for error, would have been 1666, etc, etc. Most incarnations alternate between male and female lives, which is where I am unusual in that I have very few memories of female incarnations at all. What I will say is that I have always been involved in the law and in the study and recording of history, and at one time was politically active, but have never ranged far from scholarly endeavours.
As far as the techniques go, I have learned that past life regressions can be traumatic. Also, that readings by psychics can also be too traumatic, and awaken something before the mind can handle it. It is not that the memories may not be accurate or meaningful - however, like being told by a doctor that you have six months to live, when he can't possibly know that - another person's interpretation of your own past life experience, unless they are a very well trusted intimate - are relatively useless in your own self understanding, unless you yourself can validate that memory and that awareness. None of the memories I have acquired have been given to me by other people, nor induced by past life regressions - they were all given to me during a gradual process of awakening as my soul has been ready to receive them.
I hope that helps.