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Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
Warum guten Menschen Schlechtes widerfährt – eine revolutionäre Sichtweise
Was steckt hinter den schwersten Prüfungen des Lebens? Ist jegliches Leiden sinnlos oder gar gottgegebene Strafe? Nein, meint Robert Schwartz. Die Botschaft seines Buches ist ebenso tröstlich wie lebensbejahend: Schicksalsschläge sind sinnvoller Teil unseres Lebens, denn die Seele plant ihren irdischen Weg noch vor der Geburt. Jede Prüfung ist eine Chance auf inneres Wachstum und spirituelle Reifung – eine Aufgabe für wahrhaft mutige Seelen.
Was steckt hinter den schwersten Prüfungen des Lebens? Ist jegliches Leiden sinnlos oder gar gottgegebene Strafe? Nein, meint Robert Schwartz. Die Botschaft seines Buches ist ebenso tröstlich wie lebensbejahend: Schicksalsschläge sind sinnvoller Teil unseres Lebens, denn die Seele plant ihren irdischen Weg noch vor der Geburt. Jede Prüfung ist eine Chance auf inneres Wachstum und spirituelle Reifung – eine Aufgabe für wahrhaft mutige Seelen.
328 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2006
32 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
Robert Schwartz
63 books483 followersMy books Your Soul's Plan: Discovering the Real Meaning of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born (2007), Your Soul's Gift: The Healing Power of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born (2012), and Your Soul's Love: Living the Love You Planned Before You Were Born (2021) explore the premise that we are all eternal souls who plan our lives, including our greatest challenges, before we’re born for purposes of spiritual growth.
Your Soul's Plan contains stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents.
Your Soul's Gift explores two topics that don't necessarily fall into the challenge category: spiritual awakening (though certainly an awakening can be challenging), and the pre-birth planning we do with our future pets. Those of you who love animals will be particularly touched to see how they agree to support us in our upcoming incarnation. The book also explores the pre-birth planning of miscarriage, abortion, caregiving, abusive relationships, sexuality, incest, adoption, poverty, suicide, rape, and mental illness.
The information about people's pre-birth plans was obtained by four gifted mediums and channels. The books present the actual conversations people had with their future parents, children, spouses, friends, and other loved ones when they planned their lives together. For readers, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace.
Author Bio
In a personal session with a medium in 2003, I was astonished to speak with nonphysical beings who knew everything about me - not just what I had done in life, but also what I had thought and felt. They told me that I had planned many of my most difficult experiences before I was born. Realizing that a knowledge of pre-birth planning would bring great healing to people and allow them to understand the deeper purpose of their life challenges, I have since devoted my life to the study of pre-birth planning.
Please visit me online at www.yoursoulsplan.com
Your Soul's Plan contains stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents.
Your Soul's Gift explores two topics that don't necessarily fall into the challenge category: spiritual awakening (though certainly an awakening can be challenging), and the pre-birth planning we do with our future pets. Those of you who love animals will be particularly touched to see how they agree to support us in our upcoming incarnation. The book also explores the pre-birth planning of miscarriage, abortion, caregiving, abusive relationships, sexuality, incest, adoption, poverty, suicide, rape, and mental illness.
The information about people's pre-birth plans was obtained by four gifted mediums and channels. The books present the actual conversations people had with their future parents, children, spouses, friends, and other loved ones when they planned their lives together. For readers, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace.
Author Bio
In a personal session with a medium in 2003, I was astonished to speak with nonphysical beings who knew everything about me - not just what I had done in life, but also what I had thought and felt. They told me that I had planned many of my most difficult experiences before I was born. Realizing that a knowledge of pre-birth planning would bring great healing to people and allow them to understand the deeper purpose of their life challenges, I have since devoted my life to the study of pre-birth planning.
Please visit me online at www.yoursoulsplan.com
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September 19, 2010
Despite the title, this book does not explore or answer the question of if we plan our lives before birth. In the introduction Schwartz plainly admits he will not pursue a logical argument for the belief structure, but rather asks readers to merely entertain the possibility. His goals are clearly to encourage emotional healing and help people mentally get past physically impassable challenges rather than to justify supernaturalism - which is fine, but goes against the title. The lack of arguments for the veracity of psychics and mediums, or the possibility of angels and non-theistic predestination will probably drive skeptics mad, or lead them to dismiss it immediately. I don’t recommend this book to them. It certainly didn't convert me, but if you're interested alternative value systems and beliefs systems and can keep an open mind, it may be worth a look.
Rather than make the case for it, Schwartz goes straight to the healing messages of the work. Even total non-believers should find the stories of struggles with homosexuality in homophobic cultures, cancer, AIDS and the loss of children to be provocative, and the path of emotional healing to be at least interesting, if not helpful. Beyond the metaphysics, Mr. Schwartz has written a book about forgiveness and coming to terms with many grave problems. In essence, most of the great evils in most lives were designed so that people could learn and grow as individuals, giving the psyche a sense of the greater experiences (including traumatic ones), and so while they are very painful, you do not have to grieve over them or loathe the world, and you can come to terms with it and simply experience things. Many of the resolutions and spiritual explanations seemed too pat or strange to me, but the stories of lives made it compelling.
There is one dangerous aspect to his idea. People could easily come to emotionally think they are to blame for problems that are otherwise out of their control, for their own pain and for any trouble they cause others – especially in what they cause others, which is not the focus of this book. Someone suffering from survivor’s guilt could easily spiral into even deeper depression if she came to believe she designed the scenario that killed others, regardless of Mr. Schwartz’s assertion that the souls of those others agreed to the life plan. A disabled boy who already feels bad about inconveniencing his father with all his daily needs could feel worse for coming to believe he designed the scenario. Mr. Schwartz’s book is careful to try to explain its way around such problems, but I fear many people would fall to such emotional and intuitive reactions that would be enormously self-destructive and contrary to Mr. Schwartz’s hope of a healing message. He could easily write a second book about just those sorts of people. Interpretations of the unrepentant would be particularly interesting, even if those sorts of people would be the least likely to submit to his belief system.
Rather than make the case for it, Schwartz goes straight to the healing messages of the work. Even total non-believers should find the stories of struggles with homosexuality in homophobic cultures, cancer, AIDS and the loss of children to be provocative, and the path of emotional healing to be at least interesting, if not helpful. Beyond the metaphysics, Mr. Schwartz has written a book about forgiveness and coming to terms with many grave problems. In essence, most of the great evils in most lives were designed so that people could learn and grow as individuals, giving the psyche a sense of the greater experiences (including traumatic ones), and so while they are very painful, you do not have to grieve over them or loathe the world, and you can come to terms with it and simply experience things. Many of the resolutions and spiritual explanations seemed too pat or strange to me, but the stories of lives made it compelling.
There is one dangerous aspect to his idea. People could easily come to emotionally think they are to blame for problems that are otherwise out of their control, for their own pain and for any trouble they cause others – especially in what they cause others, which is not the focus of this book. Someone suffering from survivor’s guilt could easily spiral into even deeper depression if she came to believe she designed the scenario that killed others, regardless of Mr. Schwartz’s assertion that the souls of those others agreed to the life plan. A disabled boy who already feels bad about inconveniencing his father with all his daily needs could feel worse for coming to believe he designed the scenario. Mr. Schwartz’s book is careful to try to explain its way around such problems, but I fear many people would fall to such emotional and intuitive reactions that would be enormously self-destructive and contrary to Mr. Schwartz’s hope of a healing message. He could easily write a second book about just those sorts of people. Interpretations of the unrepentant would be particularly interesting, even if those sorts of people would be the least likely to submit to his belief system.
July 27, 2025
Po wydarzeniach, jakie miały miejsce w moim życiu i kilku rewelacyjnych lekturach, zgadzam się z twierdzeniem, że ogólny zarys naszego życia zaplanowaliśmy jeszcze przed naszym urodzeniem. I o tym właśnie opowiadają bohaterowie niniejszej książki.
Poznajemy Patryka, który całkiem odłączył się od duchowości i popadł w alkoholizm. Twierdzi, że stało się to po to, aby mógł doznać oddzielenia i ponownie połączyć się z Bogiem (jakkolwiek nie nazwać siły wyższej). Jest Jason, który po wypadku został sparaliżowany. Wgląd w jego planowanie przedurodzeniowe pokazuje, że w poprzednich życiach skupiał się na fizyczności, ograniczając rozwój duchowy. W aktualnym życiu jest odwrotnie, a całkowity paraliż umożliwił mu połączenie z duszą.
Bohaterów jest więcej, np. Jason, homoseksualista, który miał nauczyć się współczucia i tolerancji. Doris, która zachorowała na raka piersi, aby po pozornej utracie kobiecości, odkryć jej prawdziwe, metafizyczne znaczenie i moc. Valerie, która straciła narzeczonego i syna, aby poczuć ich stałą obecność w jej życiu nawet po ich śmierci i dzięki temu odkryć, że dusze i miłość są wieczne. Są też głusi i niewidomi oraz spełniona matka niepełnosprawnych dzieci.
Jest jeden mały zgrzyt, który nie daje mi spokoju. Jedna z bohaterek została ranna w wyniku wybuchu bomby, którą ktoś podłożył w skrzynce na listy. Twierdzi, że jest wdzięczna osobie, która to zrobiła, bo dzięki temu ona odkryła, że chce służyć ludziom jako terapeutka. A co mi zgrzyta? Otóż pytanie, czy rzeczywiście powinniśmy tak całkowicie poddać się temu, co przynosi nam los, bo przecież sami tego chcieliśmy? Czy mamy nie reagować na przemoc wobec nas? Czy nie powinniśmy ścigać przestępców, a jeśli już to po to, żeby im złożyć wyrazy wdzięczności? Co z przemocą wobec dzieci? Reagować, czy ignorować, bo przecież ich dusza to zaplanowała? Jak do planowania przedurodzeniowego mają się nasze ziemskie paragrafy? Mimo, że autor nie zabiera w tych kwestiach głosu, to jednak gdzieś między wierszami zapachniało mi New Age...
Poznajemy Patryka, który całkiem odłączył się od duchowości i popadł w alkoholizm. Twierdzi, że stało się to po to, aby mógł doznać oddzielenia i ponownie połączyć się z Bogiem (jakkolwiek nie nazwać siły wyższej). Jest Jason, który po wypadku został sparaliżowany. Wgląd w jego planowanie przedurodzeniowe pokazuje, że w poprzednich życiach skupiał się na fizyczności, ograniczając rozwój duchowy. W aktualnym życiu jest odwrotnie, a całkowity paraliż umożliwił mu połączenie z duszą.
Bohaterów jest więcej, np. Jason, homoseksualista, który miał nauczyć się współczucia i tolerancji. Doris, która zachorowała na raka piersi, aby po pozornej utracie kobiecości, odkryć jej prawdziwe, metafizyczne znaczenie i moc. Valerie, która straciła narzeczonego i syna, aby poczuć ich stałą obecność w jej życiu nawet po ich śmierci i dzięki temu odkryć, że dusze i miłość są wieczne. Są też głusi i niewidomi oraz spełniona matka niepełnosprawnych dzieci.
Jest jeden mały zgrzyt, który nie daje mi spokoju. Jedna z bohaterek została ranna w wyniku wybuchu bomby, którą ktoś podłożył w skrzynce na listy. Twierdzi, że jest wdzięczna osobie, która to zrobiła, bo dzięki temu ona odkryła, że chce służyć ludziom jako terapeutka. A co mi zgrzyta? Otóż pytanie, czy rzeczywiście powinniśmy tak całkowicie poddać się temu, co przynosi nam los, bo przecież sami tego chcieliśmy? Czy mamy nie reagować na przemoc wobec nas? Czy nie powinniśmy ścigać przestępców, a jeśli już to po to, żeby im złożyć wyrazy wdzięczności? Co z przemocą wobec dzieci? Reagować, czy ignorować, bo przecież ich dusza to zaplanowała? Jak do planowania przedurodzeniowego mają się nasze ziemskie paragrafy? Mimo, że autor nie zabiera w tych kwestiach głosu, to jednak gdzieś między wierszami zapachniało mi New Age...
September 2, 2008
Book By Robert Schwartz
Review by Tedi Elliott
Once I heard a group of people talking about a tragic, fatal accident, in which a small child had been killed when a garage door closed on him. They were trying to come to terms with why such inexplicable things happen in life and spoke of how horrible it was and how heartbreaking this must be for all those close to the child. Someone wondered why God would allow such an awful thing to happen. I wondered why too, and started in on a thought process that went a little something like this:
First, I pictured an uncaring, disinterested God, (long, white beard… sitting on a cloud) randomly picking out accidents and tragedies and illnesses for whoever happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even worse, what if God actually punishes people this way? What if there is no God? Are these simply the natural consequences of living life on Earth? Is it just that accidents happen? Do we all have to be constantly on guard at all times to avoid these disasters? How could I possibly cope if something so horrible happened to me?
In his excellent first book, Courageous Souls, Robert Schwartz plants the seed of a very compelling idea on how and why our great life challenges come about: that we, ourselves, make intricate plans before we are born into the physical plane, about the kinds of experiences we want to have in order to assist our growth on the soul level. In making our plans, we have lots of help from our spirit guides and various discarnate beings. These beings love us a great deal and act in our best interest in all things. In fact, love is the basis for this entire idea.
What we come here to learn (or remember) is that we are love, that we are never disconnected from each other, and that we are eternal. We agree in advance to have these challenging life experiences and nothing is forced on us or decided for us by anyone else. Although specific plans are made, free will always remains available to us during our lives so that when choices present themselves, we may opt to continue with our plans or not....
to read the rest of this review, check out http://www.bleepingherald.com/aug2008...
Review by Tedi Elliott
Once I heard a group of people talking about a tragic, fatal accident, in which a small child had been killed when a garage door closed on him. They were trying to come to terms with why such inexplicable things happen in life and spoke of how horrible it was and how heartbreaking this must be for all those close to the child. Someone wondered why God would allow such an awful thing to happen. I wondered why too, and started in on a thought process that went a little something like this:
First, I pictured an uncaring, disinterested God, (long, white beard… sitting on a cloud) randomly picking out accidents and tragedies and illnesses for whoever happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even worse, what if God actually punishes people this way? What if there is no God? Are these simply the natural consequences of living life on Earth? Is it just that accidents happen? Do we all have to be constantly on guard at all times to avoid these disasters? How could I possibly cope if something so horrible happened to me?
In his excellent first book, Courageous Souls, Robert Schwartz plants the seed of a very compelling idea on how and why our great life challenges come about: that we, ourselves, make intricate plans before we are born into the physical plane, about the kinds of experiences we want to have in order to assist our growth on the soul level. In making our plans, we have lots of help from our spirit guides and various discarnate beings. These beings love us a great deal and act in our best interest in all things. In fact, love is the basis for this entire idea.
What we come here to learn (or remember) is that we are love, that we are never disconnected from each other, and that we are eternal. We agree in advance to have these challenging life experiences and nothing is forced on us or decided for us by anyone else. Although specific plans are made, free will always remains available to us during our lives so that when choices present themselves, we may opt to continue with our plans or not....
to read the rest of this review, check out http://www.bleepingherald.com/aug2008...
October 13, 2010
"Each human has made a spiritual plan prior to arriving in one's current earthly experience according to Robert in this unique book. He delves deep into the perspectives of the human experience, including suffering, questions life and its meaning, and suggests that challenges are opportunities that reflect to us our feelings about ourselves. The ultimate message encompasses several eternal truths, including earth is temporary, we are eternal beings and not just a physical body, and reiterates that this planet is one huge classroom to learn and grow. This book has meaningfully captured that life lessons are eternal gifts of wisdom for our higher, spiritual selves, so begin today to embrace the love in life's offerings." ~Dulcinea Contreras, 2008
October 14, 2008
Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!
Robert Schwartz investigates past lives and the possibility that our eternal souls actually PLAN not only our incarnations and who we are likely to meet, but also the challenges we face throughout our lives.
This book gives some amazing insight to the reality of "heaven" or whatever else you want to call the world between lives. Read this with an open mind.
Robert Schwartz investigates past lives and the possibility that our eternal souls actually PLAN not only our incarnations and who we are likely to meet, but also the challenges we face throughout our lives.
This book gives some amazing insight to the reality of "heaven" or whatever else you want to call the world between lives. Read this with an open mind.
February 11, 2012
I read this book at the request of a friend who said "it was the best summary i've ever encountered about what I truly believe about life." Well, I should clarify, I started this book. I read all the intro, and the intro chapter and the first study and then I picked from interesting chapters going forward. In the end, there are many things my friend and I disagree on, but we agree that we like to discuss them.
I agree with this book that our lives are planned, that there is meaning/ growth/ purpose in suffering, and there is a spiritual dimension to life. However, I think God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, the Holy Spirit and the Bible are at the center of this, not a self-directed pre-birth reincarnation process.
Speaking of reincarnation, I do not agree in reincarnation at all. It's just too risky. Everything points to having only one time around. I figure if I'm wrong I get a 999 life bonus (accepting my friend's theory that we have about 1000 times around), but if you live your life thinking you have all sorts of other opportunities and you are wrong, suddenly you are out 999 lives.
I do not agree that seeing a medium is necessary in order to make sense out of life and it's challenges. I think seeing a medium is dangerous. The tone, content and terminology of this book made me feel like i was reading "Screwtape Letters" (CS Lewis), but this book was serious, deadly serious, in my opinion. I think there is a reason the Bible prohibits consultation with mediums. Of course, there is always the reasonable argument that many of them are frauds, so what's the harm. My question is: why waste your time and money. And for those that are not frauds, how do we know the power they are tapping is good? No mediums for me.
In the end, there were twoish (i say twoish because my second one has three points!) major stumbling blocks for me. 1) Sin. I believe in it. I see it in myself and others. It's a problem. Not only does this book fail to recognize it, it asserts those who do evil things have chosen a "noble" path that others might suffer and be enlightened by their actions (therefore, terrorists, child molesters, murderers, etc are "noble" because of what they contribute to the reincarnation process). That's not nobility, at least not one I can affirm.
2) In the end, I find religious/ spiritual systems focused on meditation/ seeking an inner spiritual guide to be focused entirely on the self. This is utterly distasteful to me for three reasons. First of all, it's a matter of AUTHORITY. I don't think I have the knowledge/ authority in myself to determine why we are here, what we are to be doing, and what happens when it is all over. I'm not comfortable with that kind of authority. But this system of belief encourages people to assume that authority. It's true, I'm trusting in an all-powerful God, who created us, humbled himself to reach down into humanity to reveal Himself, wrote a book, protected that book through centuries and is using that book to speak to and transform my life today. But the authority rests with Him, not with me. I have merely chosen to submit myself to Him and trust Him to get done what I cannot (taking care of that sin problem, for example). I have chosen to humble myself instead of seeking my own answers and explanations.
Secondly, it's a matter of ACCESSIBILITY. These spiritual philosophies involve much meditation, consultation of mediums and shedding of the cares and concerns of the world, etc. This basically mean that most people on the planet (those that have to struggle to survive) are exempt from salvation as they have neither the luxury of time for this intense inner focus nor the resources for the training/ medium consultation/ monastic life. I don't think that is right. I think salvation is available to everyone through Jesus Christ, and it may be a difficult thing (after all, Jesus had to come here and die), but it's accessible to everyone.
Thirdly, it's a matter of SERVICE. Jesus stated the entire teaching of the Old Testament can be summarized in two commands: Love God and Love Others. I've already mentioned a bit about love God. This philosophy negates the need to love others. It teaches they have "chosen" to be poor, addicted, abused, oppressed, in order to learn and teach others. Therefore, there is no need to feel an obligation to help them. Rather we should honor their difficult road as noble and good. I find that wholly unsatisfactory. Biblical Christianity mobilizes us to reach out to others and seek to lighten their load, in order that we might be more like Christ, who lightened our load by paying the penalty for our sin. In fact, Jesus paid for our sin that we might be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Reading this book reaffirmed my commitment to Biblical Christianity, as well as highlighted how beneficial Christianity is to society. I'm not saying we should set up a theocracy. What I am saying is that a nation in which most people (freely, not under coercion) chose to follow Jesus will have a much better thing going on than if the majority of people chose to follow the philosophy presented here.
I agree with this book that our lives are planned, that there is meaning/ growth/ purpose in suffering, and there is a spiritual dimension to life. However, I think God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, the Holy Spirit and the Bible are at the center of this, not a self-directed pre-birth reincarnation process.
Speaking of reincarnation, I do not agree in reincarnation at all. It's just too risky. Everything points to having only one time around. I figure if I'm wrong I get a 999 life bonus (accepting my friend's theory that we have about 1000 times around), but if you live your life thinking you have all sorts of other opportunities and you are wrong, suddenly you are out 999 lives.
I do not agree that seeing a medium is necessary in order to make sense out of life and it's challenges. I think seeing a medium is dangerous. The tone, content and terminology of this book made me feel like i was reading "Screwtape Letters" (CS Lewis), but this book was serious, deadly serious, in my opinion. I think there is a reason the Bible prohibits consultation with mediums. Of course, there is always the reasonable argument that many of them are frauds, so what's the harm. My question is: why waste your time and money. And for those that are not frauds, how do we know the power they are tapping is good? No mediums for me.
In the end, there were twoish (i say twoish because my second one has three points!) major stumbling blocks for me. 1) Sin. I believe in it. I see it in myself and others. It's a problem. Not only does this book fail to recognize it, it asserts those who do evil things have chosen a "noble" path that others might suffer and be enlightened by their actions (therefore, terrorists, child molesters, murderers, etc are "noble" because of what they contribute to the reincarnation process). That's not nobility, at least not one I can affirm.
2) In the end, I find religious/ spiritual systems focused on meditation/ seeking an inner spiritual guide to be focused entirely on the self. This is utterly distasteful to me for three reasons. First of all, it's a matter of AUTHORITY. I don't think I have the knowledge/ authority in myself to determine why we are here, what we are to be doing, and what happens when it is all over. I'm not comfortable with that kind of authority. But this system of belief encourages people to assume that authority. It's true, I'm trusting in an all-powerful God, who created us, humbled himself to reach down into humanity to reveal Himself, wrote a book, protected that book through centuries and is using that book to speak to and transform my life today. But the authority rests with Him, not with me. I have merely chosen to submit myself to Him and trust Him to get done what I cannot (taking care of that sin problem, for example). I have chosen to humble myself instead of seeking my own answers and explanations.
Secondly, it's a matter of ACCESSIBILITY. These spiritual philosophies involve much meditation, consultation of mediums and shedding of the cares and concerns of the world, etc. This basically mean that most people on the planet (those that have to struggle to survive) are exempt from salvation as they have neither the luxury of time for this intense inner focus nor the resources for the training/ medium consultation/ monastic life. I don't think that is right. I think salvation is available to everyone through Jesus Christ, and it may be a difficult thing (after all, Jesus had to come here and die), but it's accessible to everyone.
Thirdly, it's a matter of SERVICE. Jesus stated the entire teaching of the Old Testament can be summarized in two commands: Love God and Love Others. I've already mentioned a bit about love God. This philosophy negates the need to love others. It teaches they have "chosen" to be poor, addicted, abused, oppressed, in order to learn and teach others. Therefore, there is no need to feel an obligation to help them. Rather we should honor their difficult road as noble and good. I find that wholly unsatisfactory. Biblical Christianity mobilizes us to reach out to others and seek to lighten their load, in order that we might be more like Christ, who lightened our load by paying the penalty for our sin. In fact, Jesus paid for our sin that we might be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Reading this book reaffirmed my commitment to Biblical Christianity, as well as highlighted how beneficial Christianity is to society. I'm not saying we should set up a theocracy. What I am saying is that a nation in which most people (freely, not under coercion) chose to follow Jesus will have a much better thing going on than if the majority of people chose to follow the philosophy presented here.
July 13, 2007
Please note that I am the author of this book. For those interested in spirituality, I am posting below a review of my book from the June 2007 issue of New Age Retailer magazine.
New Age Retailer magazine
June 2007 issue
Pre-Birth Contracts | Spiritism
Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
Robert Schwartz
$14.95 QP, 9780977679454, 327 pages, 5.5" x 8", Whispering Winds Press, 800/742-0148, www.courageoussouls.com
The serene cover of Courageous Souls belies the punch with which Robert Schwartz communicates the results of his research into pre-birth planning. Working with four experienced channelers, he asked 10 people, each facing different challenges (AIDS, blindness, addiction, or death of a loved one), to delve into the reasons why they agreed, before birth, to put themselves in such difficult situations. Each entry begins with an interview in which the person’s story is told from his or her point-of-view. Information via a medium is used to provide insight and sometimes actual pre-birth conversations about the goals or life lessons desired, contributing past-life factors, and the people who contracted to play major roles in the person’s present incarnation. Moving us away from the idea of karma as punishment, Schwartz introduces the idea of learning through contrast, for instance, a soul wishing to fully experience her or his compassionate side might choose to be born into a family that lacks compassion.
In addition to the considerable wisdom provided from the spirit side, Schwartz writes a summary at the end of each chapter in which he adds some of his own insight garnered during years of metaphysical study. Overall, it is one of the best books of this kind I have come across.
Courageous Souls will trigger interest in both past lives and spirit-guide contact. Display alongside books by best-selling authors such as Brian Weiss, M.D., and Doreen Virtue Ph.D., or with Ruth Montgomery’s works, A Search for the Truth, A World Beyond, and Companions Along the Way.
Anna Jedrziewski, Spirit Connection New York, New York, N.Y.
New Age Retailer magazine
June 2007 issue
Pre-Birth Contracts | Spiritism
Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
Robert Schwartz
$14.95 QP, 9780977679454, 327 pages, 5.5" x 8", Whispering Winds Press, 800/742-0148, www.courageoussouls.com
The serene cover of Courageous Souls belies the punch with which Robert Schwartz communicates the results of his research into pre-birth planning. Working with four experienced channelers, he asked 10 people, each facing different challenges (AIDS, blindness, addiction, or death of a loved one), to delve into the reasons why they agreed, before birth, to put themselves in such difficult situations. Each entry begins with an interview in which the person’s story is told from his or her point-of-view. Information via a medium is used to provide insight and sometimes actual pre-birth conversations about the goals or life lessons desired, contributing past-life factors, and the people who contracted to play major roles in the person’s present incarnation. Moving us away from the idea of karma as punishment, Schwartz introduces the idea of learning through contrast, for instance, a soul wishing to fully experience her or his compassionate side might choose to be born into a family that lacks compassion.
In addition to the considerable wisdom provided from the spirit side, Schwartz writes a summary at the end of each chapter in which he adds some of his own insight garnered during years of metaphysical study. Overall, it is one of the best books of this kind I have come across.
Courageous Souls will trigger interest in both past lives and spirit-guide contact. Display alongside books by best-selling authors such as Brian Weiss, M.D., and Doreen Virtue Ph.D., or with Ruth Montgomery’s works, A Search for the Truth, A World Beyond, and Companions Along the Way.
Anna Jedrziewski, Spirit Connection New York, New York, N.Y.
September 11, 2023
Cel osiągnięty = mozg wyprany
November 28, 2008
Pondering the Possibilities Outside the Box
Robert Schwartz is an eloquent spokesman for his explorations in the realm few of us have even considered, much less explored fully: the concept of pre-birth planning as a convention of souls who make decisions about incarnation - place, time, circumstances, and challenges - that will heighten the overall improvement of not only their repeated growth in the process of rebirth but also the gift to the betterment of mankind.
Schwartz' manner of writing is so tender and so lacking in preaching that he gradually draws the reader into his realm of thinking in a way that allows us to suspend any doubt or prejudice we may have about spirituality or after life or universal karma. He uses conversations with people who share their experiences of living with such 'handicaps' as physical illness, parenting handicapped children, deafness and blindness, drug addiction and alcoholism, accidents, death of a loved one and alters the word 'handicapped' to 'challenges'; 'Challenges are mirrors that reflect to us our feelings about ourselves. In that sense, they are gifts. Wisdom allows us to recognize them as such.'
In addition to discussing the above challenges with particular people who have them, Schwartz introduces us to mediums and channelers who channel the souls of the people we meet, allowing Schwartz to relay to us the conversations between the spiritual world and the physical world. In this very quiet manner Schwartz offers an explanation as to why 'untoward events' happen: his conversations with the various people he shares (for instance the autistic child or the parent of that child) allow us to consider that these choices are made in the spirit world prior to our birth and that these challenges offer the opportunity to separate the physical self-centered being from the choice to make the situations examples of growth, and of revealing love to those around us.
Schwartz takes no credit for the information he presents in this book. His drive is to open doors to us the readers to consider his findings and philosophy as a means to learning more about how life and the spiritual world are enmeshed. 'I have learned from the wise nonphysical beings with whom I have spoken...Through them I now understand the immense power of this most elemental truth: that we are not our bodies...If you also know that you planned your disability, that it indeed has a deep significance, then your life may become a quest to uncover that meaning. Suffering is lightened, emptiness replaced with purpose.'
Writers such as Robert Schwartz challenge our inside the box thinking, encouraging us to suspend prejudice and the state of being uninformed to enter the arena of growing spiritually. The beauty of this enormously moving book lies in the simplicity of the style Schwartz has chosen to communicate. This is not a sensationalized series of speaking with the 'great dramatic séance', this is instead a welcome to another way of viewing our lives - this one and the ones that have been and will be. Grady Harp
Robert Schwartz is an eloquent spokesman for his explorations in the realm few of us have even considered, much less explored fully: the concept of pre-birth planning as a convention of souls who make decisions about incarnation - place, time, circumstances, and challenges - that will heighten the overall improvement of not only their repeated growth in the process of rebirth but also the gift to the betterment of mankind.
Schwartz' manner of writing is so tender and so lacking in preaching that he gradually draws the reader into his realm of thinking in a way that allows us to suspend any doubt or prejudice we may have about spirituality or after life or universal karma. He uses conversations with people who share their experiences of living with such 'handicaps' as physical illness, parenting handicapped children, deafness and blindness, drug addiction and alcoholism, accidents, death of a loved one and alters the word 'handicapped' to 'challenges'; 'Challenges are mirrors that reflect to us our feelings about ourselves. In that sense, they are gifts. Wisdom allows us to recognize them as such.'
In addition to discussing the above challenges with particular people who have them, Schwartz introduces us to mediums and channelers who channel the souls of the people we meet, allowing Schwartz to relay to us the conversations between the spiritual world and the physical world. In this very quiet manner Schwartz offers an explanation as to why 'untoward events' happen: his conversations with the various people he shares (for instance the autistic child or the parent of that child) allow us to consider that these choices are made in the spirit world prior to our birth and that these challenges offer the opportunity to separate the physical self-centered being from the choice to make the situations examples of growth, and of revealing love to those around us.
Schwartz takes no credit for the information he presents in this book. His drive is to open doors to us the readers to consider his findings and philosophy as a means to learning more about how life and the spiritual world are enmeshed. 'I have learned from the wise nonphysical beings with whom I have spoken...Through them I now understand the immense power of this most elemental truth: that we are not our bodies...If you also know that you planned your disability, that it indeed has a deep significance, then your life may become a quest to uncover that meaning. Suffering is lightened, emptiness replaced with purpose.'
Writers such as Robert Schwartz challenge our inside the box thinking, encouraging us to suspend prejudice and the state of being uninformed to enter the arena of growing spiritually. The beauty of this enormously moving book lies in the simplicity of the style Schwartz has chosen to communicate. This is not a sensationalized series of speaking with the 'great dramatic séance', this is instead a welcome to another way of viewing our lives - this one and the ones that have been and will be. Grady Harp
September 8, 2015
(Book read in polish.)
Very interesting point of view, something to consider for everybody, who seeks the answers about the world, soul mates and free will.
A book for people interested in New Age and it requires an open mind.
A couple of months ago, I found myself interested in topics of soul, soul-mates. On the internet I found some theories about souls and learned new concepts: Twin-Flames and Twin Groups. There are many books and articles about it, but I just didn't find the answers, I was looking for.
I actually took time to write this questions on the paper: What is Soul-Mate? What are Soul Groups? Because I knew from my own experience, that Universe, God, always answers the questions, if you ask them.
Actually, I first "met" Robert Schwartz through his various YouTube interviews and was hooked. He did a good job at advertising his book: he did not reveal all stories from his book! I realised, I wanted to know them all. But I remembered one of the stories he was telling on the interview - about a woman, that lost a husband and son. I was right, the book was translated to polish and I looked at it in a book store some years before. I wasn't concerned with the matters of souls then, but now I just ordered the book.
The book really answers my questions about Souls. It just resonates with my beliefs. My book is already reserved by my mother and then by a friend. I like books, that become alive through lending. This is such a book.
On a side note: Maybe it is the matter of polish translation, but the man, that I heard on YouTube and the one, whose word I read, somehow don't sound as the same man. Maybe it is just me. It does not really have an impact on my reading experience, so... :)
Very interesting point of view, something to consider for everybody, who seeks the answers about the world, soul mates and free will.
A book for people interested in New Age and it requires an open mind.
A couple of months ago, I found myself interested in topics of soul, soul-mates. On the internet I found some theories about souls and learned new concepts: Twin-Flames and Twin Groups. There are many books and articles about it, but I just didn't find the answers, I was looking for.
I actually took time to write this questions on the paper: What is Soul-Mate? What are Soul Groups? Because I knew from my own experience, that Universe, God, always answers the questions, if you ask them.
Actually, I first "met" Robert Schwartz through his various YouTube interviews and was hooked. He did a good job at advertising his book: he did not reveal all stories from his book! I realised, I wanted to know them all. But I remembered one of the stories he was telling on the interview - about a woman, that lost a husband and son. I was right, the book was translated to polish and I looked at it in a book store some years before. I wasn't concerned with the matters of souls then, but now I just ordered the book.
The book really answers my questions about Souls. It just resonates with my beliefs. My book is already reserved by my mother and then by a friend. I like books, that become alive through lending. This is such a book.
On a side note: Maybe it is the matter of polish translation, but the man, that I heard on YouTube and the one, whose word I read, somehow don't sound as the same man. Maybe it is just me. It does not really have an impact on my reading experience, so... :)
July 5, 2010
I adored this book - it made me look at the many things I see as 'sad' or as 'terrible' in an entirely new way. And at people that I had seen as antagonists, as perhaps my greatest 'soul mates'. This offers a wonderful perspective on our lives, and why we have chosen the paths we have - and when you think of it all as choices, it takes on an entirely new Vista. I'm hoping there is more to come from Robert Schwartz!
September 24, 2008
made a significant change in my thinking
October 30, 2008
Fantastic book! This compassionate book delivers a bevy of much needed messages.
January 30, 2012
Loved it. I found it fascinating. IF you are interested in knowing more about who you really are and why you are in this particular incarnation. Read the book. Easy to read and clear information
June 24, 2013
A MUST read.
April 17, 2021
Amazing book! Great perspective about past, future and especially present.
August 22, 2023
Robert Schwartz, if you're checking your listings, you might wish to make an English Language edition available here on Goodreads.
Anyway, I'm come here to praise this book to the skies. I happen to agree with the author that each incarnation includes a Life Contract. These starts of a new incarnation are sometimes designed for the benefit of courageous souls who back come to Earth School in order to pay back karma, or just learn tough lessons, such as apparent tragedies around drug addiction, deafness, physical disability, and more.
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THIS BOOK
Cleverly, Robert tasked multiple psychics to independently research what was going on behind the scenes, leading up to some lifetimes that might have seemed like "meaningless tragedies." Seemed like. But weren't.
NOW FOR A PERSONAL DISCLAIMER
These days, I'm not a fan of psychics. Although I had a small number of psychic readings during the "New Age Years," I haven't done since the Shift into the Age of Awakening.
To me, however, the psychic readings summarized in this book rang true. Even louder chimed the idea of profound spiritual meaning behind the circumstances of life.
FIVE STARS to you, Robert Schwartz, for this inspiring book.
Anyway, I'm come here to praise this book to the skies. I happen to agree with the author that each incarnation includes a Life Contract. These starts of a new incarnation are sometimes designed for the benefit of courageous souls who back come to Earth School in order to pay back karma, or just learn tough lessons, such as apparent tragedies around drug addiction, deafness, physical disability, and more.
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THIS BOOK
Cleverly, Robert tasked multiple psychics to independently research what was going on behind the scenes, leading up to some lifetimes that might have seemed like "meaningless tragedies." Seemed like. But weren't.
NOW FOR A PERSONAL DISCLAIMER
These days, I'm not a fan of psychics. Although I had a small number of psychic readings during the "New Age Years," I haven't done since the Shift into the Age of Awakening.
To me, however, the psychic readings summarized in this book rang true. Even louder chimed the idea of profound spiritual meaning behind the circumstances of life.
FIVE STARS to you, Robert Schwartz, for this inspiring book.
April 25, 2021
Toți oamenii caută răspunsuri pentru a trece, mai ușor, peste suferințele din viața lor.
Exact aceste ”de ce-uri?” își găsesc explicație în această carte.
Drame inexplicabile sunt transformate în lecții atunci când omul înțelege că evoluția sa se face doar prin emoții, indiferent de natura lor.
Că este vorba despre pierderea prematură a unei ființe dragi, lupta cu o dependență, cun un handicap fizic, propriu sau a unor persoane apropiate, toate sunt prezentate dintr-o altă perspectivă.
Ceea ce pare ca un blestem, o nedreptate, este de fapt o alegere a sufletelor, un plan bine stabilit.
Chiar dacă este adevărat sau nu, această viziune conferă liniște minților umane, care nu și-au găsit până acum liniștea.
”Evoluția se face prin intermediul emoțiilor.”
”Tot ceea ce înseamnă judecată este doar judecată de sine, mascată.”
Exact aceste ”de ce-uri?” își găsesc explicație în această carte.
Drame inexplicabile sunt transformate în lecții atunci când omul înțelege că evoluția sa se face doar prin emoții, indiferent de natura lor.
Că este vorba despre pierderea prematură a unei ființe dragi, lupta cu o dependență, cun un handicap fizic, propriu sau a unor persoane apropiate, toate sunt prezentate dintr-o altă perspectivă.
Ceea ce pare ca un blestem, o nedreptate, este de fapt o alegere a sufletelor, un plan bine stabilit.
Chiar dacă este adevărat sau nu, această viziune conferă liniște minților umane, care nu și-au găsit până acum liniștea.
”Evoluția se face prin intermediul emoțiilor.”
”Tot ceea ce înseamnă judecată este doar judecată de sine, mascată.”
April 25, 2023
This book is a deeply spiritual book that explores the concept of pre-birth planning and the purpose of our lives. Robert presents compelling case studies of individuals who have undergone past life regression therapy to gain insight into their current life challenges. While im interested in the spiritual dimension of our existence, it was still challenging read for me. However, for those who are open-minded and willing to delve deeper into the mysteries of life, this book offers a rewarding and illuminating read.
November 15, 2017
I really enjoyed reading the case studies in this book. I fully support the premise of the book and liked getting detailed information on individual's life challenges and how they overcame them. This book is great for anyone going through any type of struggle because there are enough different examples where you can draw parallels to your own life journey. Since reading it, I bought a copy for my sister and plan to borrow my copy to other family and friends you I think will enjoy it.
August 6, 2023
Es ist wirklich finde ich sehr interessant das es sowas gibt… trotzdem gibt es in dem Buch wiederum die ein oder andere Sache die ich selber nicht für wahr halte.. egal ob man an sowas glaubt oder nicht finde ich allein die Schicksalsschläge von jeden einzelnen Mensch in diesem Buch interessant!!
Ich finde das Buch ist ein wenig anstrengend zu lesen und ab und zu schwer vorstellbar was gemeint ist..
Aber im großen und ganzen ein tolles Buch ^^!!
Ich finde das Buch ist ein wenig anstrengend zu lesen und ab und zu schwer vorstellbar was gemeint ist..
Aber im großen und ganzen ein tolles Buch ^^!!
September 26, 2020
This book is life-changing. Not for everyone, but if we are open to the possibility that the ideas presented could be true, our spirituality takes on a deeper dimension, and this crazy world makes more sense.
January 19, 2021
"Fiecare frunză care cade din copac, fiecare fir de iarbă care se unduiește sub adierea văntului... nimic nu se întâmplă la nimereală și totul se întâmplă într-o ordine Divină.
Tema principală a acestei cărți este că noi suntem iubire."
Tema principală a acestei cărți este că noi suntem iubire."
November 14, 2024
Świetna pozycja dla osób zainteresowanych rozwojem duchowym. Potwierdzają się rzeczy przeczytane w innych książkach. Lektura ta może stanowić źródło zrozumienia i pocieszenia w trudnych momentach życiowych. Polecam!
January 24, 2017
A life-changing book!!! Just amazing, read it many years ago...It 's based on a whole unique theory. For whoever is intrigued by it: read it with an open mind!
February 9, 2020
I found this book a little depressing and discouraging.
November 15, 2020
A very good book indeed
June 24, 2021
Wonderful repositioning of central thinking. I think I was supposed to read this book!
January 19, 2023
Wow. An incredibly eye-opening and powerful read.
July 24, 2024
Turns out I already read this under a different title (Your Soul’s Plan).
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