Equanimity and Unconditional Love: My Compass built in 2025
An appreciative inquiry into Fundamental Peace As 2025 comes to
Imagine a client coming to therapy with a profound sense of emptiness, a feeling that traditional techniques haven’t quite touched the core of their being. In one session, under deep relaxation, this client suddenly describes floating in a realm of light between lifetimes, surrounded by wise, compassionate presences. In another session, a different client is guided into an “expanded state” where she experiences herself in a parallel life, making different choices that heal a current fear. Meanwhile, halfway around the world, a meditator in India reflects on ancient teachings that the true Self is immortal, merely donning and shedding bodies like clothes. What’s happening in these scenarios? They are all part of a quiet revolution in therapy and coaching, where quantum physics meets spiritual wisdom, and where consciousness is explored as the key to understanding who we are and how we flourish.
In this in-depth exploration, we’ll journey through quantum consciousness, the intriguing Life Between Lives hypnotherapy of Dr. Michael Newton, the time-tested insights of Advaita Vedanta and reincarnation, and modern frameworks like Luis Miguel Gallardo’s Fundamental Peace. By integrating these perspectives, we can form a richer picture of personal identity, spiritual evolution, and emotional flourishing. This narrative is intended for therapy practitioners and life coaches seeking to deepen their integrative or transpersonal practice – those curious about the bigger story of human consciousness and how it can inform healing and growth.
In recent years, terms like quantum healing, quantum consciousness, and multidimensional self have entered the therapeutic vocabulary. While we must approach the “quantum” metaphor with both openness and discernment, it offers a bridge between the language of science and the language of spirit. Quantum physics has shown us a world where particles can exist in multiple states at once, where observation influences outcome (the famous observer effect), and where everything seems interconnected through phenomena like entanglement. These discoveries spark a powerful question: Could human consciousness operate in a similar multi-layered, interconnected way?
Australian consciousness explorer Peter Smith asked this very question and developed a therapeutic model he calls Quantum Consciousness. Smith, once a corporate executive with a passion for physics, became a hypnotherapist and eventually the president of The Michael Newton Institute (more on Newton’s work soon). Through years of exploration, he created the Quantum Consciousness Experience (QCE) – a guided journey into expanded states of awareness, drawing on quantum concepts to facilitate healing. The premise is both radical and intuitive: we are far more than our linear life story. In a Quantum Consciousness session, a client is gently led into an altered state where they can explore various “realms” or aspects of their consciousness. These realms mirror ideas from quantum science and beyond. For example, a person might explore:
Clients often report these sessions as “out-of-body trips” that highlight their healing path in surprising ways. Rather than going deeper down into trance as in traditional hypnosis, QCE invites people to go farther out – expanding outward into the cosmos of their own being. In this expanded state, one might simultaneously witness a current life issue from a higher vantage point, visit a past or parallel life where a similar issue was resolved, and connect with a wiser aspect of themselves that offers guidance. It’s not uncommon for someone to finish a session and say, “I can’t look at life the same way anymore.”
What’s the benefit of all this? Practitioners of quantum consciousness therapy report that even a single journey can lead to profound shifts. Clients often experience a release of long-held fears and emotional blockages, coupled with a deep serenity about life. For example, someone terrified of death might, after “touching” their eternal consciousness, lose that fear and gain a calm perspective that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Another client struggling with guilt or low self-worth might, through a parallel life exploration, see themselves making empowering choices – and realize that the capacity for those choices already exists within them here and now. The quantum model suggests that all healing ultimately involves returning to our “natural resonance” – our innate vibrational harmony. In other words, every emotional issue or trauma is viewed not as a flaw or illness, but as a “request to reinstate our innate resonance” – a signal that we’ve temporarily lost touch with our true self’s frequency. By consciously tuning back in (through intention, altered states, and expanded awareness), we can restore wholeness.
This approach resonates (pun intended) with a broader movement in the therapeutic world: a shift from solely talking about problems to experiencing transformation in altered states of consciousness. It’s important to note that while the quantum terminology is used metaphorically, the experiences clients report are often very vivid and meaningful. They might meet what seems like a future self who has conquered their current challenge, or sense their consciousness “entangled” with a loved one as if connected by invisible threads. These symbolic journeys leverage the power of the subconscious mind and the imagination, but to the client they often feel profoundly real. And perhaps they are real, just in a way our conventional models don’t yet fully understand. As Pete Smith often says, “We are so much more magnificent than we have ever been told,” and the answers we seek are often lying latent inside of us – in the inner universe – waiting to be discovered.
One of the most groundbreaking contributions to this integrative understanding of self comes from the late Dr. Michael Newton, a clinical hypnotherapist who, somewhat accidentally, opened a door to the spiritual realm through his clients. In the 1960s and 70s, Newton was conducting past-life regression therapy when a client spontaneously slipped between past lives and began describing an entirely different scene: a realm where she existed as a soul between incarnations. Intrigued, Newton refined a method to guide people into this state deliberately. He went on to facilitate thousands of such sessions, documenting them in his books like Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls. Thus was born Life Between Lives (LBL) hypnotherapy.
In an LBL session, conducted in a deep superconscious trance, individuals recount amazingly consistent experiences of the afterlife or inter-life. They often describe leaving their body at death and being greeted by loving spirit guides or deceased loved ones. They might report traveling through a tunnel of light or arriving in a beautiful, ethereal environment which serves as a kind of soul homeland. Clients frequently speak of a “council of wise beings” or elders who review the life that was just lived, drawing out lessons and growth opportunities. They might then talk about planning for the next life – choosing a new body, life circumstances, even key relationships – all with the guidance of more advanced souls or teachers. Astonishingly, people from different cultures and belief systems (including those who consciously did not believe in reincarnation) gave very similar accounts under hypnosis, suggesting that they were tapping into a real common experience of the soul’s journey.
For therapy professionals and coaches, Newton’s work offers a rich model of understanding personal identity as a soul that is evolving. The person sitting before us is not just a product of genetics and upbringing; they are, from this perspective, an immortal consciousness temporarily incarnated. This soul has a purpose for this lifetime, lessons chosen, challenges accepted, and talents brought from previous lives. When clients experience themselves as this larger soul-self, it can be profoundly healing. Many report that the session gave them a “renewed sense of purpose and peace.” They see their hardships in a new light – not as random punishments or failures, but as part of a meaningful curriculum for growth. They often lose their fear of death completely, coming back with the calm understanding that only the body dies, not the soul. In fact, fear of death and the existential anxiety that pervades so many lives can evaporate after even a glimpse of life beyond the physical. One might say they no longer believe we are more than our bodies – they know it, from direct experience.
Another outcome of LBL insights is a more compassionate view of relationships. Clients often discover that souls tend to reincarnate in groups, playing different roles for each other across lifetimes. Your difficult parent or your supportive best friend might have been with you in many forms before – always helping your soul learn, sometimes through love and sometimes through tough challenges. Realizing this can shift people out of resentment and into forgiveness or understanding. It also underscores a sense of interconnection: we are not solitary beings, but part of a much larger community of souls learning together.
From a practical standpoint, not every client will undergo a full LBL hypnosis session (which can last 3-4 hours and requires deep trance capability). However, the principles of LBL can inform everyday therapeutic conversations. As therapists or coaches, we can gently introduce the idea that perhaps some fears or patterns have roots beyond the current life story, alleviating the burden of self-blame. We can help individuals find meaning in their struggles by asking, “If your life were a chapter in a bigger story your soul is living, what might this chapter be about?” This kind of question, inspired by the life-between-lives perspective, invites a person to step into a more expansive identity. It can be surprisingly effective even without formal hypnosis – engaging the client’s intuitive imagination and reframing their narrative into one of growth and purpose.
The convergence of LBL hypnotherapy with quantum consciousness is also fascinating. While Newton’s clients described sequential past lives and between-life realms (a very temporal model: soul learning over time), Pete Smith’s quantum approach adds the idea that everything might be happening at once in the eternal now. Some quantum consciousness experiences include meeting one’s own future self or parallel selves – which is less common in Newton-style regression. Whether time is linear or all timelines exist simultaneously is perhaps an esoteric point, but in practice both views offer something valuable. They free the client from identifying solely with the isolated ego of the present. Instead, healing can occur by drawing wisdom from a broader canvas of experience – be it past lives, parallel lives, or communion with higher guidance.
Long before quantum physics or hypnotherapy, the sages of India were mapping the terrain of consciousness through inner exploration. Any integrative journey into the self would be incomplete without acknowledging the contributions of Indian spiritual knowledge systems such as Advaita Vedanta, as well as concepts like the subtle body and reincarnation that permeate Hindu and Buddhist philosophies. What do these traditions say about who we are?
Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy, offers a strikingly elegant answer: We are, at the deepest level, pure consciousness – the Atman – and this consciousness is one with the universal consciousness (Brahman). The world of forms and differences is seen as Maya, an illusion or a transient appearance of that one reality. In practical terms, Advaita suggests that our sense of being a separate individual – our ego identity – is a case of mistaken identity. We have identified with the body and the mind, which are temporary containers, rather than with the true Self, which is immortal and unchanging. As one Vedanta text puts it, birth and death are events pertaining to the body, not to the consciousness. The consciousness (Atman) was never born, and it never dies – it simply is, always. This perspective resonates deeply with what people report in LBL sessions (where they experience themselves as an eternal soul) and with the quantum consciousness notion of an eternal state of being. It provides a philosophical backbone to those experiential approaches, reminding us that ultimate liberation (moksha) comes from realizing our true nature beyond all these cycles.
The subtle body is another key concept from Indian yoga and Vedanta that can enrich a therapist’s understanding. According to these traditions, the human being is not just a physical body; we have multiple layers or sheaths. Commonly mentioned are the gross body (physical), the subtle body (which includes the mind, intellect, emotions, and prana or life-energy), and the causal body (the most subtle layer, akin to a soul blueprint). When physical death occurs, only the gross body perishes. The subtle body – carrying the mind with all its impressions (samskaras), habits, and unresolved desires – continues on. This subtle body is what reincarnates, inhabiting a new physical form in order to express those latent impressions and continue the journey of the soul. In therapy terms, this idea can be empowering. It means that some of the challenges a person faces may not originate in this life’s experiences at all, but could be carry-overs from previous lifetimes embedded in the subtle body. It also means that skills, affinities, and positive traits can carry over as well. (Have you ever met a young child prodigy and wondered, “Where did they learn that?” Reincarnation offers one possible answer.)
For a practitioner, talking about subtle bodies and past lives with clients needs tact and timing. It may not be appropriate for someone firmly rooted in a materialist worldview or someone currently in crisis who needs grounding. However, for spiritually open clients, these concepts often bring relief. For example, someone who has struggled with a lifelong phobia or an unexplainable emotional pattern might feel a weight lift when considering that it’s not their fault – it could be a story that began before they were born. Using gentle language, a coach might say: “Some believe our consciousness carries patterns from other times or lives; if that were true, could this feeling be coming from something bigger than just your childhood?” This opens a door to exploration without insisting on a doctrine.
Indian wisdom also provides practical tools that align with the quantum and transpersonal approach. Meditation and breathwork are central to yoga for training the mind to perceive subtler realities. Many therapists incorporate mindfulness or yogic breathing to help clients access altered states similar to those in hypnosis – states where the ordinary mental chatter subsides and deeper insights can emerge. Additionally, Advaita’s method of self-inquiry (“Who am I?”) can be a powerful exercise in a therapeutic setting, gently stripping away identification with roles, body, and thoughts to reveal a peaceful sense of “I am” beyond description. This is very much in line with Gallardo’s idea of fundamental peace, as we’ll see next.
Before moving on, it’s worth noting how beautifully the Eastern and Western perspectives dovetail here. The Eastern idea of karma – that our actions create imprints that influence our future experiences – complements the therapeutic idea of personal responsibility and growth. Instead of sin or permanent flaws, there are just lessons and consequences in a grand learning process. And reincarnation, as described in scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, assures us that no effort is ever wasted; if we don’t solve an issue or fulfill a longing in this life, we’ll have other opportunities. This can instill hope and encourage perseverance. As Krishna says to the warrior Arjuna in the Gita, “No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come.” In a therapeutic context, that translates to a message of hope: your life is part of something larger and benevolent, so keep striving and seeking – every bit of progress matters.
If quantum consciousness, LBL hypnotherapy, and Advaita Vedanta give us pieces of a grand puzzle, modern integrative practitioners are trying to put that puzzle together into practical frameworks. Luis Miguel Gallardo’s “Fundamental Peace” is one such framework that speaks directly to therapists and coaches. Gallardo, a transpersonal hypnotherapist and coach, suggests that the ultimate goal of inner work is to achieve a state of Fundamental Peace – a profound inner calm and wholeness that can weather life’s fiercest storms. In his view, this state is characterized by a triad of freedom, consciousness, and happiness. It’s not a passive or dull peace, but a vibrant, dynamic equilibrium where one feels free inside, fully aware, and joyfully alive.
What does Gallardo’s approach entail? In his recent book Hypnotherapy: The Essential Guide to Fundamental Peace and Conscious Realization, he blends the latest findings in psychology and neuroscience with the wisdom of spiritual traditions. This means using evidence-based techniques (like cognitive reframing, somatic healing, and positive psychology exercises) alongside practices that expand consciousness (like guided imagery, regression therapy, breathwork, and mindfulness meditation). The philosophy behind it echoes many themes we’ve already touched on:
For therapists and coaches, Gallardo’s framework is a call to expand our toolkits and not be afraid to go beyond conventional methods if it serves the client. It’s an encouragement to incorporate meditation, breathwork, even creative arts or rituals, into healing – anything that helps the person access that fundamental state of peace. It’s also a reminder that our own state as practitioners matters: cultivating our own fundamental peace can make us more present and effective with clients (much like how a tuning fork can bring another into resonance, a calm therapist can subtly invite the client’s nervous system to calm).
One can apply the Fundamental Peace concept in small ways with clients. For example, when a client is overwhelmed by external chaos, a coach might help them identify experiences of peace in their life (moments in nature, meditation, or flow states) and then anchor those, teaching that they can return to that inner sanctuary even when storms rage outside. Or, if a client is dealing with conflict, the coach might use a “parts work” hypnosis to bring the warring parts of the psyche into dialogue and harmony, aiming for an inner balance that will reflect outward. The combinations are endless, but the guiding star is clear: wholeness. We approach the person as an interconnected whole, part of larger wholes (family, community, universe), and any insight or breakthrough is integrated across all these levels.
As we weave together these diverse threads – quantum science, soul journeys, ancient wisdom, and modern psychology – a beautiful tapestry emerges. In this tapestry, a human being is not merely a victim of genes or circumstances, but a conscious participant in an ongoing adventure of growth. Personal identity becomes a story that spans lifetimes and dimensions, where even the stars (through the lens of quantum physics) seem to wink at us, saying “you too are made of cosmic stuff.” Spiritual evolution is no longer a metaphysical speculation reserved for monks, but something that can occur in a therapist’s office on a Tuesday afternoon, as a client’s awareness shifts and they release a burden carried for centuries. Emotional flourishing, in turn, is not just about achieving happiness in the here-and-now, but about aligning with the deeper currents of one’s soul – finding that sweet spot where personal fulfillment and spiritual fulfillment converge.
In practical therapeutic terms, this integrated approach invites us to be storytellers and guides of consciousness. We can help clients reframe their challenges as sacred opportunities. We can use the language of whatever framework resonates with them – be it science (“Let’s imagine rewriting the code of your reality” or “What does the quantum field of possibilities hold for you?”), spirituality (“What might your soul be wanting you to learn from this experience?”), or simple humanism (“How can you find meaning and grow from this hardship?”). Ultimately, all these paths lead to the client accessing their inner wisdom. Whether one believes that wisdom comes from God, the quantum field, the higher self, or simply the subconscious mind, what matters is the tangible result: the client discovers answers and peace within themselves.
There’s a lovely metaphor in the Upanishads (ancient Hindu texts) that compares the soul to two birds in a tree. One bird (the individual self) eats the fruits of the tree (experiences, pleasures and pains), while the other bird (the higher Self) simply watches with love and detachment. Our suffering lessens when we shift our identity from the eating bird to the observing bird – realizing our higher Self has always been there, unaffected, waiting for us to notice it. Modern quantum explorers and hypnotherapists are, in effect, helping people make this shift. Through a quantum consciousness journey or an LBL session, a person suddenly steps out of their usual perspective and becomes the observer: seeing their life and identity from a higher plane. In that state, insight blossoms naturally. Healing often happens not by doing something to the pain, but by expanding awareness beyond it.
As a practitioner reading this, you might wonder how to start incorporating these ideas. A good first step is self-education and personal exploration. Perhaps try a past-life regression for yourself, or attend a Quantum Consciousness workshop, or read more about Vedanta and see how it resonates with your own life. The more you broaden your own consciousness, the more ease you’ll have holding this holistic space for your clients. Another practical step is to introduce reflective exercises that hint at these bigger perspectives. For example, guided journaling where clients write a letter from the perspective of their future self or soul-self can gently open the door to transpersonal insight without needing a trance. Mindfulness practices that cultivate an observer stance can mirror the effects of that “bird in the tree” realization, even without explicitly spiritual language.
The intersection we’ve been exploring is fertile ground. It’s where a neuroscientist can talk with a mystic, and both nod in agreement that consciousness is powerful and mysterious. It’s where a life coach can quote the Bhagavad Gita to a client (“The soul is never born, nor does it die”) and find that it brings comfort, or where a psychologist can use the metaphor of parallel universes to help a client feel less stuck in one narrative. It’s also a place that invites humility. We don’t have all the answers – no one does, and perhaps that’s the point. Life is a grand mystery, but as we open ourselves to multiple lenses, we see more of the hidden picture. Each model – quantum, transpersonal, spiritual – is like a lamp shining from a different angle, illuminating what it can. By using many lamps, we minimize shadows and help the client see the fullness of their own being.
In closing, consider the possibility that flourishing is our natural state. The impediments to flourishing – trauma, fear, disconnection – are like knots in the fabric of consciousness. Therapies informed by quantum consciousness and spiritual models don’t shy away from the mystical notion that by shifting consciousness itself, those knots can untie. A person can, in a moment of grace or deep insight, suddenly realize they are not broken at all – they are part of a magnificent, coherent whole. From that recognition, even if fleeting, they carry back into daily life a little more lightness, trust, and joy.
As practitioners, we have the privilege of facilitating these moments. We stand at the crossroads of the known and the unknown, the rational and the intuitive. And if we are wise, we draw from all the available wisdom – from quantum physics labs to ancient meditation caves – to serve the growth of those we work with. The invitation is open to us and our clients alike: Step beyond the physical, dip into the quantum soup of possibility, remember the soul you are, and come back to this life with new eyes. In doing so, we don’t escape reality – we learn to embrace a richer reality, one in which healing and flourishing are not just goals, but the very nature of our journey.
Each of these resources can deepen your understanding and confidence in bridging quantum physics, consciousness exploration, and spiritual wisdom in your practice. As you explore them, remember to stay curious and open-minded – take what resonates, and let the rest inspire further inquiry. After all, the journey of integrative practice is a never-ending expansion, much like consciousness itself.
An appreciative inquiry into Fundamental Peace As 2025 comes to
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