My Search for Truth, Spirituality and the Meaning of Life
By Danny Start-20-minute reading time
Have you ever felt that your soul is calling you towards a different path?
Perhaps you’ve experienced that gentle inner voice, that feeling deep within your heart, encouraging you to explore something greater. A sense that there is more to life than what we see around us.
For the past 25 to 30 years, I have been searching for answers to some of the biggest questions in life. Questions that humankind has been asking for thousands of years:
- Where have we come from?
- Why are we here – does my life have a purpose?
- And where do we go after this life?
These three fundamental questions have shaped much of my spiritual journey and ultimately led me to the work I do today as a Life Between Lives (LBL) Facilitator & Career Partner.
But looking back, I often wonder why I was so driven to find these answers.
Why did I spend so many years reading, researching, questioning and searching? Why couldn’t I simply accept what I had been taught and get on with my life?
Today, I believe I know the answer. It was my soul calling me, guiding me towards something greater, even when I didn’t fully understand where that journey would lead.
As the great mythologist Joseph Campbell encouraged us to do, perhaps I was beginning to follow my bliss, even before I fully understood what that meant.
The Calling That Wouldn’t Go Away
Looking back, I can see that there was something driving me throughout this journey.
Even when I questioned religion, doubted the existence of God and eventually went through periods of atheism and agnosticism, my soul never stopped calling me to keep searching.
At the time, I didn’t recognise it as my soul. I simply felt this persistent desire to discover the truth. I hoped for the best, but decided I must know the truth, even if we are simply worm food when we die!
Why couldn’t I simply accept that life was a biological accident, that consciousness was merely a product of the brain and that death was the end of everything?
Richard Dawkins in his seminal work ‘The God Delusion’ (2006), makes a very interesting case!
But something deeper within me kept questioning.
Today, I believe that something was my soul. My soul knew there was more, and it was guiding me towards the path I was meant to follow.
It was as though my soul was gently nudging me, sometimes even pushing and prodding me, towards something I had yet to discover.
I didn’t always listen. Sometimes my logical mind questioned whether I was wasting my time, and sometimes I wondered whether I would ever find the answers I was searching for.
But that calling never went away.
And looking back now, I can see how one experience led to another, how doors began to open and how my journey gradually unfolded.
I believe I was learning to trust my soul, follow my heart and, as Joseph Campbell so beautifully described it, follow my bliss.
That calling would eventually lead me towards exploring consciousness, near-death experiences, Past Life Regression and ultimately the extraordinary world of Life Between Lives.
And perhaps, as you read this, you recognise something similar within yourself.
Is your soul calling you towards a different path?
Are you listening to your heart and allowing your soul to guide you?
Are you following your bliss?
Perhaps the very fact that you are asking these questions is the beginning of your own journey of discovery.
My Search for Truth — From Atheism to Spiritual Awakening
For a period of my life, I moved away from religion altogether and became an atheist, and later an agnostic.
I spent considerable time reading the work of Richard Dawkins, exploring scientific explanations for life, consciousness and the universe.
I wasn’t looking for something simply to believe in. I wanted to discover the truth. That was always my motivation, wherever that truth might lead me.
But looking back now, I find something rather interesting.
Even when I stopped believing in God, even when I questioned the existence of the soul and the possibility of life after death, I never stopped searching.
Something deep within me kept encouraging me to question, investigate and explore.
Perhaps I was already learning to follow my bliss, even though I didn’t fully understand it at the time.
Discovering Spirituality Beyond Religion
During this period, I also attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) while addressing my own difficulties with alcohol.
AA introduced me to a spiritual programme of recovery, encouraging me to explore meditation, self-awareness and the possibility of connecting with something greater than myself.
I began meditating more regularly and discovered the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, particularly his wonderful book The Power of Now, along with the work of Dr Wayne Dyer and many other spiritual teachers.
These teachings helped me develop a deeper understanding of the mind, the ego, consciousness and the importance of living in the present moment.
What particularly resonated with me was the idea that we are more than our thoughts, our fears and the identities we create for ourselves.
Eckhart Tolle spoke about becoming aware of the thinking mind and discovering the deeper stillness and presence beneath it.
Wayne Dyer often encouraged people to listen to their inner wisdom, live with intention and recognise that there may be a deeper spiritual purpose to our lives.
And I began to notice something fascinating.
Different spiritual teachers, from different backgrounds and traditions, seemed to be pointing towards similar truths.
Perhaps we have an inner wisdom that can guide us. Perhaps our lives have a deeper purpose. And perhaps learning to quieten the mind allows us to become more aware of that guidance.
These ideas began to resonate with something I had felt throughout my own journey.
Was this what had been guiding me all along? Was I beginning to recognise the voice of my own soul?
Near-Death Experiences — A Turning Point
But perhaps one of the biggest turning points came when I read Dr Penny Sartori’s The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences.
Dr Sartori, a registered nurse and researcher, had spent years studying near-death experiences, including accounts from patients in intensive care.
This book really opened my eyes.
For the first time, I began to seriously consider the possibility that consciousness might continue beyond physical death.
I became fascinated by research into near-death experiences (NDEs), reincarnation and the possibility of life after death.
I explored the pioneering work of Dr Raymond Moody, whose book Life After Life helped bring near-death experiences to international attention.
What fascinated me wasn’t simply the extraordinary experiences people described, but also how profoundly those experiences often changed their lives.
Many people who reported near-death experiences described returning with a greater appreciation for life, less fear of death and a deeper
A Profound Turning Point — Discovering My Purpose
Another significant turning point in my spiritual journey came after a particularly difficult period in my life.
Due to alcohol and drug use, I ended up in a coma for approximately a week. It was a serious, life-threatening experience, and one that profoundly changed my outlook on life.
When I eventually regained consciousness, something extraordinary happened.
I experienced a profound sense of inner peace and a deep knowing that my life had meaning and purpose.
Before this experience, I had often questioned whether my life really had a purpose. But when I came out of that coma, something within me seemed to know that I was here for a reason.
It was my soul speaking to me, saying:
“Danny, you’re here for a purpose. You have a meaningful life ahead of you. But you need to stop drinking, take care of yourself, follow your heart and trust the path your soul is guiding you towards.”
I had this extraordinary feeling that if I listened to that inner guidance, made the necessary changes and followed my bliss, I could go on to live a long, healthy and meaningful life.
It felt as though my soul was reminding me that my journey wasn’t over — in many ways, it was only just beginning.
That experience has stayed with me ever since.
Looking back, I believe it was another moment when my soul was calling me to awaken, trust myself and begin following the path I was truly meant to take.
Discovering Life Between Lives — A Turning Point in My Journey
Throughout my search, I had always tried to keep an open mind. I questioned everything, explored different perspectives and continued searching for what I believed to be the truth.
I wasn’t interested in simply believing something because someone told me it was true. I wanted to discover it for myself.
Then, one day, I came across a podcast featuring Dr Michael Newton, who was discussing his pioneering work with Life Between Lives (LBL) regression.
He described how, through deep hypnosis, clients were reporting experiences of what they understood to be the spiritual realm — a place they believed they returned to between physical lifetimes.
What fascinated me was how closely many of these accounts appeared to align with descriptions from people who had experienced near-death experiences (NDEs), as well as those who reported memories of previous lives.
Different people, different experiences, yet often remarkably similar descriptions of the soul, spiritual guides, life reviews and the possibility of continued existence beyond physical death.
I was intrigued.
And eventually, I decided that I had done enough reading.
It was time to stop researching these experiences and actually have one myself.
My Own Past Life and Life Between Lives Experience
I booked a Past Life Regression and Life Between Lives session.
And I can honestly say that the experience completely blew my mind.
By nature, I am a sceptical person. Perhaps even a little cynical at times! I like to question things, look for evidence and avoid accepting something simply because it sounds wonderful.
But what I experienced during those sessions felt extraordinarily real.
During my Past Life Regression, I experienced what appeared to be another lifetime, in which I was a woman living during the Middle Ages.
In that life, I was a healer, using plants, herbs and the natural world to help people recover from illness and suffering.
Unfortunately, the local villagers did not take kindly to a woman practising this kind of healing.
And in that experience, I was eventually burned alive.
Whether such experiences represent literal memories of previous lives, symbolic experiences of the subconscious mind or something else entirely remains open to interpretation.
But for me, the experience was incredibly vivid, profound and deeply personal.
It felt as though I had genuinely experienced being another person, living another life.
And my Life Between Lives experience was equally extraordinary.
Something had shifted within me.
I had spent years reading, researching and questioning the possibility of life beyond death. Now I had experienced something for myself that opened my mind to possibilities I had never fully appreciated before.
What I Now Believe Happens When We Die
Perhaps the most profound realisation from my Life Between Lives experience, and from the many accounts I have since explored, was that what we call death may not be the end of our existence at all.
In fact, I came to believe something quite extraordinary.
We are eternal spiritual beings, and our true nature is love and light.
One of the remarkable similarities between many Life Between Lives accounts and near-death experiences is the description of entering a realm of extraordinary light, peace, joy and unconditional love.
A place where the fears, worries and limitations of our physical existence seem to fall away.
A place where we are no longer defined by our bodies, our possessions, our achievements or the difficulties we experienced during our lives.
Instead, we become aware of something far greater.
We are loved. We are supported. And we are never truly alone.
In these accounts, people frequently describe encounters with loving spiritual beings, guides, departed loved ones and what we might call our soul group — souls with whom we share deep connections across different lifetimes.
Some also describe meeting ancestors and recognising a sense of belonging that goes far beyond anything they experienced during physical life.
What I find so beautiful is the overwhelming sense of acceptance and unconditional love.
There is no need to prove ourselves, no need to compete and no need to fear that we are somehow unworthy.
We are simply loved for who we are.
For me, this is one of the most wonderful messages to emerge from Life Between Lives regression and many near-death experiences.
And although these accounts cannot establish with scientific certainty what happens after death, the similarities between them have profoundly influenced my own spiritual understanding.
Why Are We Here? The Purpose of Our Many Lives
One of the biggest questions I spent years trying to answer was:
Why are we here? What is the purpose of life?
Through my exploration of Life Between Lives, I came to believe that our physical lives are opportunities for our souls to learn, grow and evolve.
Rather than experiencing just one lifetime, I believe we return to physical existence many times, experiencing different circumstances, relationships, cultures and challenges.
In one lifetime, we might experience wealth; in another, poverty.
We may experience love and loss, joy and sorrow, success and failure.
We may be male in one life and female in another, live in different parts of the world and experience life from completely different perspectives.
Each lifetime offers opportunities to understand ourselves and others more deeply, develop compassion and grow in spiritual awareness.
And perhaps some of the people we encounter in our lives are souls we have known before, returning in different roles to help one another learn.
This doesn’t mean that every painful event is deserved, predetermined or something we should simply accept. We still have choices, free will, responsibilities and opportunities to change our circumstances.
But within my spiritual understanding, even life’s challenges may offer opportunities for growth, healing and greater wisdom.
The Source — Where We Come From and Where We May Return
As my understanding developed, I began exploring an even bigger question.
Where did our souls originally come from?
My personal belief is that everything ultimately originates from one infinite source of consciousness — what some people call God, Source, the Divine or Oneness.
I believe that this Source is fundamentally love, and that all consciousness is connected to it.
One way I have come to understand creation is that Source expressed itself through countless individual aspects of consciousness — millions, billions, perhaps trillions of souls — each capable of having its own experiences.
In this spiritual understanding, we are individual expressions of the same divine consciousness.
Through our many lifetimes, and perhaps through experiences in other dimensions of existence, we encounter the extraordinary contrasts of life.
Light and darkness. Love and fear. Joy and sorrow. Separation and connection.
Through these experiences, we learn, develop and gradually expand our awareness.
And perhaps, through all these individual experiences, Source itself comes to experience and know the infinite possibilities of its own creation.
We are not separate from the Divine. We are expressions of it, exploring existence through countless different experiences.
I also believe that as souls continue to evolve, they may eventually reach a point where they have learned all they wish to learn through individual experience.
At that stage, perhaps we have the freedom to return fully to Source, reconnecting with the Oneness from which we came.
Or perhaps we can choose to continue existing as individual beings, exploring other dimensions, creating new experiences or even participating in the creation of entirely new universes.
They form part of the understanding I have developed through my experiences, my studies and the work of Life Between Lives.
And to me, they offer a beautiful perspective on the meaning and purpose of existence.
The Most Beautiful Realisation — There Is Nothing to Fear
Of all the things I have explored over the years, perhaps the most life-changing has been the possibility that we are eternal beings, deeply loved and supported, and that death is not something we need to fear.
Imagine genuinely believing that your existence does not end when your physical body dies.
That beyond this lifetime, there may be a realm of extraordinary peace, love and joy.
That the people you have loved are not necessarily lost forever.
That you have spiritual guides, a soul group and loving beings supporting you throughout your journey.
And that your life, with all its highs and lows, is part of something much greater.
Imagine knowing, deep within your heart, that you are an eternal soul, made of love and light.
For me, this understanding has changed the way I look at life.
Many of the things we spend so much time worrying about — our mistakes, our failures, what others think of us, whether we are successful enough — can begin to lose their power over us.
Not because our lives or difficulties are unimportant, but because we begin to see them from a much wider perspective.
Our fears may begin to soften. Our worries may become less overwhelming. We may find ourselves living with greater compassion, gratitude and purpose.
Of course, spiritual experiences do not automatically remove anxiety, grief or life’s difficulties. But for some people, they can bring a profound change in perspective.
Perhaps we are not human beings trying to become spiritual. Perhaps we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
And perhaps the greatest lesson of all is learning to remember who we truly are.
Eternal beings of love and light, here to learn, grow, experience life and ultimately rediscover our connection with Source.
From Personal Experience to a New Calling
After my Past Life Regression and Life Between Lives sessions, something inside me said:
“I don’t just want to experience this. I want to learn how to do it. I want to help other people have these experiences too.”
I knew I wanted to train with the Michael Newton Institute and become a certified Life Between Lives Facilitator.
So I visited their website and looked at the training requirements.
At the time, applicants needed at least two years of professional hypnotherapy experience and experience conducting a minimum of 40 Past Life Regression sessions.
I remember thinking, That’s an awful lot of work!
The prospect of retraining, gaining the necessary experience and investing so much time and money felt rather overwhelming.
And so, initially, I put the idea to one side.
But it never really left me.
Around two years later, I finally made the decision.
I was going to follow my heart, listen to my soul and pursue this calling.
Falling in Love with Hypnotherapy and Past Life Regression
I retrained as a hypnotherapist, and something wonderful happened.
I absolutely fell in love with hypnotherapy.
I discovered how powerful and rewarding it could be to help people overcome anxiety, fears, phobias, unwanted habits, emotional difficulties and past trauma.
I then completed specialist training in Past Life Regression Therapy, and once again, I fell in love with the work.
I began helping clients explore experiences they interpreted as previous lives, using therapeutic techniques to work with emotional difficulties, limiting beliefs and patterns that were affecting their present lives.
Alongside hypnotherapy, I continued expanding my therapeutic knowledge, training in approaches including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Reiki.
These approaches have different theoretical foundations and levels of scientific evidence, but I found that elements of them could complement the therapeutic and spiritual work I was developing.
Over time, I began bringing these different approaches together, developing my own way of working that combined clinical hypnotherapy, emotional healing and spiritual exploration.
And eventually, after gaining the necessary qualifications and experience, I was ready.
Becoming a Michael Newton Institute Life Between Lives Facilitator
I applied to the Michael Newton Institute, was accepted onto their professional training programme and eventually became a certified Life Between Lives Facilitator.
For me, this was the fulfilment of a dream that had begun years earlier when I first listened to that podcast.
And I can honestly say that being an LBL Facilitator is one of the greatest joys and privileges of my professional life.
To accompany people through such deeply personal spiritual experiences, to witness the emotions, insights and transformations that can arise, is something I never take for granted.
Becoming part of the Michael Newton Institute community has also been wonderful.
I have met extraordinary people from around the world who share a genuine passion for exploring consciousness, the nature of the soul and the deeper questions of our existence.
And then another unexpected opportunity came along.
The Michael Newton Institute invited me to become one of their Career Partners.
This was an incredible honour, and it opened the door to the next chapter of my journey.
Start Hypnosis Academy — Helping Others Follow Their Calling
Today, I am delighted to be running Start Hypnosis Academy, where I train people to become professional hypnotherapists and Past Life Regression therapists.
Through my Beyond Hypnotherapy Diploma, I teach students the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to begin working professionally with clients.
The training brings together clinical hypnotherapy, Past Life Regression Therapy and complementary approaches, including NLP and EFT.
Students also learn how to facilitate spiritual exploration, including working with experiences involving spirit guides, the higher self and the deeper dimensions of consciousness.
My teaching is strongly influenced by the work of Dr Michael Newton, while incorporating the clinical and therapeutic knowledge I have developed throughout my career.
And importantly, this training provides a pathway towards future professional training with the Michael Newton Institute, for students who wish to pursue certification as Life Between Lives Facilitators once they meet the Institute’s entry requirements.
It has been particularly rewarding to see students from my previous training programme now establishing themselves as hypnotherapists, working with clients and beginning to offer Past Life Regression sessions.
Some hope to continue their journey towards the Michael Newton Institute over the coming years.
To think that my own spiritual search has now led me to helping others begin theirs is something I find incredibly meaningful.
And perhaps, we are helping to raise spiritual consciousness, one person at a time.
Following My Bliss — Learning to Trust My Soul
Looking back over the past 25 to 30 years, I can see that my journey has not always followed a logical or straightforward path.
There have been many occasions when I have had to take risks, invest considerable time and money, retrain professionally and step into the unknown.
My logical mind has often said:
“Danny, are you sure about this? Is this really a sensible thing to do?”
But somewhere deeper within me, my heart and soul seemed to be saying something different.
“Trust yourself. Follow your heart. This is the path you’re meant to take.”
And increasingly, that is what I have learned to do.
To listen to that deeper inner voice.
To trust my intuition.
To follow what feels meaningful, even when the destination is uncertain.
The great mythologist Joseph Campbell spoke about the importance of following your bliss.
He expressed the idea that when we follow what truly calls to us, doors may begin to open where previously there appeared to be only walls.
I love that philosophy.
Because when I look back over my own journey, that is exactly how it feels.
One opportunity has led to another. One experience has opened the door to something I could never have imagined.
And perhaps most importantly, I have discovered that when we begin listening to our hearts rather than allowing fear to make all our decisions, life can take us in some extraordinary directions.
I believe that, in many ways, I have been allowing my soul to guide me.
And perhaps that is one of the most important lessons I have learned.
We are not necessarily here simply to follow the safest or most conventional path. Perhaps we are here to grow, to learn, to love, to discover who we truly are and to follow the calling of our soul.
Is Your Soul Calling You Towards Something More?
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Perhaps some of what I’ve shared resonates with you.
Perhaps you’ve also spent years asking the bigger questions about life, death, consciousness and the purpose of our existence.
Or perhaps you have a feeling that there is something more meaningful you would like to do with your life.
Something that allows you to help others, develop spiritually and make a genuine difference in the world.
If so, perhaps it’s worth listening to that feeling.
- Is your heart calling you towards something more?
- Could this be the beginning of your own spiritual journey?
Explore Life Between Lives
If you’re curious about the nature of the soul, what may happen after death or why we are here, you may wish to explore these questions through your own Life Between Lives regression session.
These sessions offer an opportunity for deep personal and spiritual exploration, although the experiences and their interpretations vary from person to person.
You can find out more about my sessions at www.starthypnosis.co.uk.
Train with Start Hypnosis Academy — January 2027
If you feel called to help others through hypnotherapy, emotional healing and spiritual exploration, I would love to welcome you to my next training programme.
Beyond Hypnotherapy — Clinical & Spiritual Hypnotherapy Diploma
Next course begins: 15 January 2027
- Live online professional training
- Clinical Hypnotherapy and Past Life Regression Therapy
- NLP, EFT and complementary therapeutic approaches
- IACT-accredited hypnotherapy certification pathway
- Preparation for a professional hypnotherapy practice
- A pathway towards future Michael Newton Institute LBL Facilitator Training, subject to its entry requirements
- Early Bird offers, payment plans and possible scholarship places
Applications are now open.
Discover more at www.starthypnosisacademy.co.uk.
And whatever path you choose, I hope you find the courage to listen to your heart, trust your inner wisdom and follow whatever brings genuine meaning and purpose to your life.
Follow your heart. Trust your soul. Follow your bliss.
With love and gratitude,
Danny Start
Michael Newton Institute Career Partner
Founder, Start Hypnosis Academy
