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52Brian L. Weiss, M.D.
crystallized thi s scientifi c method . M y researc h thesi s wa s o n brain chemistr y an d th e rol e o f neurotransmitters , whic h at e chemical messengers in the brain tissue. I joine d th e ne w bree d o f biologica l psychiatrists , thos e merging th e traditiona l psychiatri c theorie s an d technique s with the new science of brai n chemistry. I wrote many scienti fic papers, lecture d a t loca l an d nationa l conferences , and be came quite a hotshot in my field. I was a bit obsessive, intense, and inflexible , bu t thes e wer e usefu l trait s i n a physician . I felt totally prepare d t o treat an y person wh o walke d int o m y office for therapy. Then Catherine became Aronda, a young girl who had lived in 186 3 B.c O r wa s i t th e othe r wa y around ? An d her e sh e was again, happier than I had ever seen her. I agai n worried tha t Catherine might b e afrai d to continue . However, sh e eagerl y prepare d fo r th e hypnosi s an d wen t under quickly. "I a m throwin g wreath s o f flowers on th e water . Thi s i s a ceremony. My hair is blond an d braided. I'm wearin g a brown dress wit h gold , an d sandals . Somebod y ha s died , somebod y in the Royal House . . . th e mother. I a m a servant with th e Royal House, and I hel p with the food. We pu t th e bodie s i n brine for thirty days. They dry out and the parts are taken out. I can smell it, smell the bodies." She had spontaneousl y gon e back to Aronda' s lifetime , but to a differen t par t o f it , t o whe n he r dut y wa s t o prepar e bodies after their death. "In a separate building," Catherine continued, "I can see the bodies. We are wrapping bodies. The soul passes on. You take your belonging s wit h you , t o b e prepare d fo r th e nex t an d greater life." She was expressing what seemed like an Egyptian concept o f deat h an d th e afterlife , different from an y o f ou r beliefc. In that religion, you could take it with you.