Cory listened to the instructions as Dr. Taylor spoke softly, he felt his body begin to relax more and more. There was a feeling of becoming lighter, as though he were floating in the lounger. He had to fight himself not to open his eyes and look. On and on Dr. Taylor’s voice spoke the soft words and it filled his mind with comfort and relaxation.
“Now Cory, I want you to travel back as far as you can. Take your time. When you’re ready, I want you to open your eyes and tell me what you see.”
“Bi mori kharj baina.” Cory said dreamily.
Renda Taylor jerked and leaned forward, looking at her patient. Cory’s face was soft and relaxed, his eyes unfocused and she knew he was in a very relaxed state. Had he just spoken a language or was he babbling, as in pre-toddler babble?
“What did you say? Can you say it in English?” She asked, her hand poised with pen and paper.
“I see horses.” Cory said.
“Bi mori kharj baina, what language is that?” Taylor asked softly, watching her patient’s face closely.
“Mongolian.”
Renda’s mouth fell open, had Cory gone back farther than his childhood? Had she taken him back to a past life? Her hand began to tremble and she looked down at the pen, which wiggled, then she got a grip. A past life? She was shocked and thrilled.
“What is your name?” She had to ask, she needed to find out if what she was hearing was real.
“Batbayar, my mother says it’s because I bring her much joy.” Cory said, though his voice was his, there was a slight accent to his words. Renda felt the tiny hairs lift up from her arms. She had heard about past life experiences but in all her work, she’d never come across one. She’d had one patient who had faked it, much to her professional embarrassment. That was why she was so hesitant to believe it, but here and now, it seemed very real.
“How old are you Batbayar?” She asked, wiping her damp hands on her trousers.
“I’m twelve. I help my father with the horses, sheep and goats. My mother is ill. We will milk the mare and give my mother the drink once it ferments.” Cory said, and Renda saw the worry crease between Cory’s brow.
“Can you describe what is around you?” She asked, holding her breath. She watched as Cory’s head turned this way and that, his eyes still unfocused.
“I see grasslands. I see our sheep and goats; they eat the grass. Soon we will move, to fresh grasses. I see mountains far away and there is fog on the mountains, so I cannot see their peaks. I see the horses; it is the herd that my father wishes to attain. We have seven horses of our own, but my father wants more. I see my sister; she is setting in front of our home. She is braiding wild onions.”
“What is your sister’s name?” Taylor asked, letting her breath out slowly.
“Chimeg.”
“What does your home look like?”
“It looks like a home. It’s low, but it’s well built. I helped my father build it. It has hides that my mother sewed together. Chimeg is too young to sew, but she will learn. My mother painted symbols around the door, to keep bad spirits away.” Cory said.
“How do you feel Batbayar?”
“I feel afraid, my mother is ill. I’m afraid she’ll die.” Cory said, a frown cutting deep into his forehead.
“Breathe deeply and let that fear go away. You’re safe. Do you know the year of your birth?”
“I…I know it. But I don’t know how to say.”
“Can you say in one hundred years of today?” Dr. Taylor offered helpfully.
“No. I think three thousand years before today. We don’t use a calendar, but three thousand years ago.” Cory said dubiously, then nodded and smiled.
“Batbayar I want you to move forward in time. How old are you now?” Dr. Taylor asked, her heart was racing. She believed Cory to be truly under and experiencing a past life event. It was disconcerting and thrilling at once.
“I’m nineteen. I’m dying. My wife is dying. We are very ill.” Cory panted and coughed.
“You do not feel the fear or discomfort of dying. You are relaxed.”
“My wife came from a visit with her family. She brought the illness with her. Her father was ill. Now we’re sick. We are dying.” Cory said and Renda could hear soft sorrow in his voice.
“What do you see?”
“Nothing. Our fire has gone out. We are too weak to collect more dung for the fire. It is black around us, but I feel the fur beneath me. I am holding my wife. She breathes with a wet noise in her chest…I can hardly breathe.” Cory began to pant once more.
“Let us move forward in your time now. What do you see?” Dr. Taylor asked, not wishing for Cory to spend a lot of time on dying.
“Vlepo enan stratiote, nomizo oti einai o echthros mou.” Cory said excited, his eyes wide open.
“Tell me in English.” Dr. Taylor said, she wanted to shout with joy and laughter. This was crazy.
“I see a soldier; I think he’s my enemy.”
“What is your name and where are you?”
“I…I am Eusebius and I’m a slave. I am in Akogas.” Cory said, his eyes still wide and watching.
“Where is Akogas? You sound almost Italian. Are you?”
“No, I’m Greek. Akogas is in Sicily, Agrigento. I serve my master. He is a soldier. I think I’m going to die.” Cory said, fear lacing his voice as his body began to shrink down
