Book excerpt: Are physical and mental illnesses the result of karma acquired in a past life, and if so, does uncovering that lifetime lead to healing? According to the yearlong research project conducted by author and past-life specialist, Joanne DiMaggio, the answer is yes! Fifty volunteers, ranging in age from 34 to 74, participated in the project. They came in suffering from such chronic conditions as arthritis; diabetes; joint and limb pain; head trauma; weight and digestive troubles; sexual dysfunction; skin conditions; liver and kidney issues; drug and alcohol abuse; and mental illness. Employing past-life regression and augmenting the session with soul writing, i.e., writing in an altered state of consciousness, the project sought to find the buried past-life story behind the present-day malady. The book explores the experiences of 23 of those volunteers, sharing the details of the regression, the transcript of the soul-writing session, and the results of the follow-up interview to determine whether the session resulted in the condition being healed, improved, or remain the same. The results are fascinating. Karma Can Be a Real Pain illustrates how ordinary men and women met their past-life aspects and discovered the karmic origin of their chronic condition, resulting in a healthier, happier life in the here and now--and beyond. Karma can be a real pain, but lucky for us, there is a cure!