Europe, 1300's NUN

I finally found some time to meditate the other day. It was an interesting experience. I had remembered this life time back in the early 1990's and recorded it in my journals. This meditation seemed to be an extension of the last one.

I was immediately drawn to Europe the 1300's. I saw several nuns in an area doing chores. Folding cloth, preparing food, cleaning utensils. It was so cold - VERY COLD! It must have been winter. I was one of them. There was a sense that we had taken a vow; a vow of silence. Although we were all aware of each other - the hard part was staying focused within. Not projecting outward to others and respecting their space... as if scared.

At one point I was walking in the halls of a tall stoned building with candles lit way above head level. I passed a stained glass window; it was not in an important part of the chapel - but near the back. It had a lot of blue glass and was my favorite. I held a rosary in my hand - the beads were blue. Funny it felt tied around my sash - a sash that acted like a belt, and then the cross was tucking into my pocket on the right side. I have no idea if this was how they would carry them but that was what it felt like.

At one point I was seated, I had just pulled up woolen socks to my knees and was tying the moccasin type boots/shoes on my feet.The leather was buffed-and the loops held the strings. The shoe went only half way up the leg - not to the knee. When I stood up and looked down,I saw what I was wearing, heavy linen undergarments, and a gray habit over the undergarments.

Most of what I got I would consider the little things. I was dusting off a chair that had a rose patterned seat. At one point I was seated and another nun was cutting my hair very short. She used a curved blade not scissors. Then I was praying and later at a ceremony there was priest giving a blessing .I stood before him, bowing my head in his presence and in the process noticed his gold chain - his rosary.

I spent most of my time behind the Church, in the living quarters, in the garden, and focused all my attention on praying, reading the Bible, doing chores, washing, and cleaning. I did experience several times the feeling of being in prayer..deep in prayer and entering an altered state. It would happen so FAST and I would go so deep it would scare me.

Somewhere on the forum I have posted about this life time and helping orphaned children whose parents had died in the Plague. I am also looking for historical clues to help me validate the experience. I am very curious about the shoes I described, if nuns wore sashes around their waist, and if they wore linen undergarments. If anyone comes across this information - I would be most grateful if you would be willing to share.

Lots of interesting details in those memories, Deborah! From what I've read about clothing, your description of a linen undergown with a (probably) woolen overdress is accurate to the period. People wore layers to keep warm and cut down on the amount of clothes-washing.


This reminds me of the time I was regressed to a life in 17th century New England. I expected to see myself wearing the standard black and white Pilgrim suit Americans are familiar with. Imagine my surprise at seeing a rough tan homespun skirt and dirty workboots. IMHO, when details that come out in past life memories are more accurate than our preconceived notions of how things "ought" to look, it's a good indication that the memory is valid. Good luck in finding out more about your interesting past life.

Very interesting, Deborah! I'll pass along anything I might come across. Not real familiar with that time period though, but do like doing research.

Thanks for sharing this memory. I found a page which might be of interest to you I hope at least a bit:


It's about the different more known orders of monks/nuns during the centuries in Europe mostly.


Do you know which order you belonged to?


Edit: I'll put some links. Read through them if you have time. They may be informative of the lives of some nuns during that times. Not specifically what you said but perhapst more comes to you later, who knows!!


http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22115


http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=37845


http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/nuns-clothes-middle-ages.htm LOOK HERE FOR THE CLOTHING!


http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/nuns-clothes-middle-ages.htm


"What Did Nuns and Monks Wear?. Most of the holy orders wore long woolen habits, immitating Roman clothing. You could tell the order by the colour of the habit: the Benedictines wore black; the Cistercians, undyed wool or white. St. Benedict stated that a monk's clothes should be plain but comfortable and they were allowed to wear linen coifs to keep their heads warm."


http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/medieval-nuns.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1300-1400_in_fashion - fashion 1300/1400 (see linen)


http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Scissors.html- About scissors


http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/RESEARCH/GLOSSARY/bdefpq.htm - footwear


http://www.godecookery.com/mtales/mtales08.htm - daily life


http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html -Middle Ages ressources

Thanks! I am pretty sure I was in England - and I am inclined to think - Benedictine. Perhaps I need to do some research on this. I tried the other night and nothing came up for clothing specifics. :butbut:


BUT- a friend sent me this ....Nuns Clothing in the Middle Ages. :thumbsup:

I just noticed all the links you added above Rynen - THANK YOU. One confirmation -

The earliest Benedictine Nuns wore wore clothing consisting of white or grey habits which were the colors of un-dyed wool. However as time went by black became the the prevailing color of their clothes. Other orders of Medieval Nuns adhered to even stricter rules than the Benedictines and wore totally un-dyed wool for their Nuns clothing to proclaim their poverty. The habits, or clothes, of these nuns were generally a greyish-white, and sometimes brown.

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I am also fascinated with the shoes I saw in the meditation. They looked like moccasins! I found they called them Turnshoes. I had no idea. I have never looked into footwear from the 1300's. I have not found the exact match from what I remember - but many seem to laced up.


And way cool -

A nun's habit, tied around the waist with a cloth or leather belt

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the clothing link confirmed a sash -(cloth) around the waist.
Thank You Rynen.

Those are fascinating memories, Deborah, I also loved the details. They're the best thing about past-life recall, aren't they? Please share more if you remember more, I'd be very interested!

I noticed this in one of Rynen's pages too regarding woollen socks.


"The Poor Clare Sisters, an order of Franciscan nuns, had to petition the Pope in order to be permitted to wear woolen socks."


So, I guess socks were perhaps not that common?


Picture of 'Turnshoes': http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=225&c=40


The haircutting is interesting. Scissors are a fairly modern invention, and I guess, even if they existed back then would have been very expensive and hard to get. Some type of mini-scythe would make sense. It would be simpler and cheaper than scissors. http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/permalink/from_the_history_of_scissors/

HI Tanguerra,


The shoe was more along the lines of this ankle boot (mine was above the ankle mid calf).turnshoe boot.


I am looking into hair that was "shorn" since one of his sites said the nuns hair was shorn. Little hints for searches help.


The research is fun - talk about a crammed history lesson!

Hi Deborah, such an interesting memory:thumbsup: and moving, somehow... Not least your experiences of working and deep prayer. Apparently that´s also a benedictine motto: "orare et laborare".

Interesting memories and validations, Deborah! :thumbsup:


I believe I was a Benedictine monk in the 1300's, in Poland, but I haven't worked much on that lifetime yet.


Karoliina

What a beautiful experience, Deborah. Thank you for sharing! I particularly enjoyed hearing the little everyday things you experienced. I found it extremely interesting as well – your mention of entering an altered state during prayer.


I hope to hear much more about this life!


Aili

Hi,


It took me a while to dig up one of my old journals and find the experience. I wanted to share what happened then, and not just from my memory of the experience. So here it is --from March, 2, 1993.


The session began with Tibetan bells playing in the background. I entered into The Light. I look down to see I am a nun, but not in full habit, I know I am just a Novice. I am in my room and it is very small. Perhaps 8' x10' at the most??? The walls are washed with a bone colored white paint. There is one small bed with black bed posts and it sits about 1 and 1/2 feet off the ground. It is low.. There are white bed covers on the bed and I notice a cross on the wall at the head of the bed. When I walk into the room my bed is to the left and directly across and rather high on the wall is a small window.


There is one small chest with a statue of Mary on a white cloth on top. A very simple room. The rooms are separate from the church, in the back. It felt like my room was on a lower level and it was the early 1300's.


Time sped forward, I am a nun in a very large cathedral in England. I know I am in England. I hear singing. I am on the steps that lead to an alter. I have several small children dressed in ragged clothes around me. They are orphans who have recently come to the church.


I see a man with a round face speaking to me. I am very respected and high ranking. I feel to be almost 40 years old. Time lapsed and I am so cold, my body shivered, my teeth were chattering. I was 'cold to the bone.' I was outside behind the church in a thatched shelter. There were only two walls on the sides and a roof. I was tending to people, but..but they were dead and dying people. I turned to see a young nun pass out (faint). I was worried about her. It was a terrible sickness that swept the country.


I'll share the second half later. Thank you for your thoughts and your interest. It's been good for me to reflect back on an experience from 14 years ago.


If anyone has information about the living quarters of nuns in the 1300's - England...do tell. I am curious.

Hi Deborah, I am going to assume that you have many entries into your journals, and that many others out there do as well. Have you thought about putting a book together with all of these experiences, yours and possibly others? I don't know if such a thing already exists, but regardless, I think it could be a very interesting project and book, being able to have little snippets into the past and how the people who are experiencing these memories tell their own story ...

I think that would be interesting too, Archival. I would pick up a copy. Deb, amazing experiences! :thumbsup:

HI,


I have been working on my book for 7 years. It's half way done. I want to do it right and not be in a hurry. Thanks for suggesting I do it; gives me encouragement that there is still a need.


The last part to this meditation was intriguing to me at the time. I had never seen chainmaille. I found out a few months after the experience that it was a type of armor worn by those who went into http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Baye
ux_haubert.JPG'>battle.


1993**** I was in the church and opening a very large wooden door to a very large stone structure. It was very cold. I was with small children, they were all around me. One little girl clung to my right leg. I saw a man with strange wiry hair, he wore a shirt that was made of metal and looked like netting. He came into the church fiercely mad, stomping with each step. Two others came in and they began to argue loudly about the church, the state and the people.


My heart hurt. Their interests were not with the people or the children. Only power; control and victory over nations, over leaders and religions.


An interesting meditation...at least for me.

...their interests were not with the people or the children. Only power; control and victory over nations, over leaders and religions.

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Ahh! Plus ca change...(The more things change the more they stay the same)


I saw the film 'Perfume' (from A.S. Byatt's excellent novel) over the weekend which is set in Paris not long before the revolution (1780s) and they have obviously gone to a lot of trouble to get historically accurate period details (lots of dirt for instance). There was a scene where they were cutting hair with a little scythe just as you described.


I was watching it on DVD with my 20 year old son and had to stifle a little exclamation of surprise and recognition on seeing it (it would be too long a story to explain to him why I thought that was remarkable! But my son only acknowledges these types of outbursts with a subtle roll of the eyes these days, otherwise ignores them!)

HI Tanguerra,

There was a scene where they were cutting hair with a little scythe just as you described.

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THANK YOU! I have not seen that particular movie yet - now I will have to put it on my list of "must see" flicks.


BTW - my son has the same reaction to me in similar situations. There is a lot of..... rolling of the eyes...LOL .

I was watching it on DVD with my 20 year old son and had to stifle a little exclamation of surprise and recognition on seeing it (it would be too long a story to explain to him why I thought that was remarkable! But my son only acknowledges these types of outbursts with a subtle roll of the eyes these days, otherwise ignores them!)

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I can not tell you, tanguerra, how many times you have made me laugh out loud! Let's have a beer sometime!


I haven't seen the movie either, but this makes me think that if there isn't a post already on movies, there needs to be. Movies that bring back memories, show insight, or help in the understanding of PL's by giving to the visual what may be stuck in our heads.

There is a thread on movies with a theme of reincarnation:


Yes, I have mentioned it before but, like Deborah, my kids are quite used to me saying things like: "Oh that sword is all wrong. They weren't invented yet" "How would you be supposed to fight in a get up like that?" "They didn't have shovels like that" and things of that nature. They just ignore me nowadays. They don't even bother saying "How would you know!" :laugh:


I am pretty sure that there must be some people working in movie art departments, weapons trainers and so on who are living out various 'fantasies' of their own, which they may or may not acknowledge to have past life connections. Certain films certainly seem to get it right more than others and you can't help wonder what drives some of these people to such obsessive levels of detail, as well as what inspires many historical stories.


Sure, we'll have a beer next time you are in Australia! My shout.

I am pretty sure that there must be some people working in movie art departments, weapons trainers and so on who are living out various 'fantasies' of their own, which they may or may not acknowledge to have past life connections. Certain films certainly seem to get it right more than others and you can't help wonder what drives some of these people to such obsessive levels of detail, as well as what inspires many historical stories.

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My thoughts exactly. I have to wonder if the insight someone has to a great movie, or a character in a movie, book, painting is due to a connection to a PL.

There is a thread on movies with a theme of reincarnation: http://www.childpastlives.org/vBulle...ead.php?t=2631

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Sorry, I wasn't clear. I wasn't talking about movies about reincarnation, but perhaps a list of movies which provided insight or visuals to a PL, not randomly placed here or there, but organized. I have seen that Braveheart and a couple of others has been mentioned, I have mentioned Ordinary People ... I am curious about a list of films and the specific connection or visual, audio reference that is pertinent, as a way for others to gain access to the memory.


Hey, you just may have a beer with me then in the future! On my list of travels is Australia! Whoops.

Hi Archival,


Yes, movies can be very validating. Dances with Wolves, Patriot, and the Color Purple are a few of my favorite movies - because they validate in some form (clothing, speech etc) what I remember of that time and place.


I was thumbing through my journals this morning looking for something and came across some healing work I did with a Kinetic healer in 2001. At the time I had a kidney infection. When he got to the area of my kidneys I experienced Medieval Christian images and my life time as a nun in the 1300's. I saw the court yard, the alters, and felt my life of service, silence and prayer. I also felt the fear, the rules, and the dogma of the time.


I had several other PL experiences but will stay focused on this particular one. What was important is that I was beginning to see a pattern. My aches, my pains, my sore muscles, my kidney infection; all related to the negative and angry energy I was holding within my body-- and each pl memory surrounded religion!


Afterward, it dawned on me that I was currently teaching medieval art in my history class. It seemed to me that my kidney infection and my emotions around religion -- which I felt during the body work-- go hand in hand.


My question is has anyone worked with a healer and picked up past live without focusing on the IDEA of going to a past life and had them spontaneously surface anyway in relation to body parts? It seems to me the body remembers and illnesses could be triggered by our current life's experiences.

snippets


I always have snippets and scene's of people and places but I never ever thought that it could be a past life.

HI Teb,


So - you have had body work and seen people and places and never thought of them as past lives? Interesting You might want to start keeping a journal and see if you can see a pattern and/or a consistency between the memories.

Thank you Deborah for sharing this Your memories are very fascinating.


I believe I was a monk around the same time, however I haven't really gone deeper into it. But the things you felt are very similar to what I've felt when I think of this pl. I have had a very strong feeling too of isolation, quietness and a very, very deepfelt faith.


I've been wanting badly to convert to catholicism a few times, but each time I was also repelled by the faith - it doesn't fit into my present life, my values and lifestyle - however, I'm still attracted to catholicism and feel it is my true faith. I gather it must be connected to my very religous past life?

Today it struck me for no apparent reason - the importance of the sound of silence. The spaces between my thoughts. I wonder about the inner light I experience so often - and how it is a vibration and also sound. It is not like the sounds we hear in daily life, but an inner sound.


I was reflecting on my life as a nun and how I took a vow of silence; and how respecting another's space was sacred. As I was reflecting on this I heard a dog barking in the distance near my house and got a flash of doves and pigeons flying overhead. Taking flight from a Church steeple. The sound of the birds wings in flight, the sound of the dogs bark now coincided with another time - another dog barking near the Church. The memory brought me to the awareness of how important it is for us today to stay in tuned with the inner sounds of our being; the inner light of who we are. It reminded me to listen for the sound of silence.


It's hard to explain, but I wanted to at least attempt it.

This is an older thread but I think the sound of silence is important and newer members may want to comment. In our day an age - when there is little silence, I know I forget - to listen.


I did a meditation the other day and although it consisted mostly of violet light - but there was one image of the face of Kwan Yin.


It amazes me when I think of my life as a nun in 1300 and my life in China during the Ming Dynasty. Two completely different cultures during a close time period.


No facial comparisons can be made, no common religion, nor are the cultures even remotely similar. But those differences taught me so much, and I am thankful.

Body Work and Recall

Deborah’s quote:
“My question is has anyone worked with a healer and picked up past live without focusing on the IDEA of going to a past life and had them spontaneously surface anyway in relation to body parts? It seems to me the body remembers and illnesses could be triggered by our current life's experiences.”

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I believe that ALL suffering, physical, mental and emotional, is based in something that we are carrying around, either from this life or a past life. Anything that puts us out of harmony with God reminds us, until we can get ourselves back in balance. Even something simple, for instance; if I am irritated with my friend over some small habit they have, such as the way they laugh or the way they eat, that irritation shows me I am lacking in Divine Love for my friend. If I truly loved them, unconditionally, their small habits wouldn’t be irritating. I won’t say anything about my feeling to my friend, but I will FEEL the irritation. The stronger emotions of anger, fear, despair, etc. leave more than minor irritations; they leave things like panic attacks, feelings of inferiority, self-hatred and physical illnesses. Is there someone I “can’t stomach” or “gives me a pain in the neck”?


It was while trying to find the ‘source’ of some physical problems that I, quite accidentally and unexpectedly, fell into a past life. This happened during meditation and it startled me so badly that I almost came out of it, but I knew what was happening and managed to talk myself into staying with it. What a learning experience that was!


I don’t like ‘body work’, as a rule, but I have had some massage therapy for a short time. During one of the massage sessions I began to cry. I don’t remember now, what glimpses came to me, but I remember there was something and it was released.


Another time, one of my cats had died and I was very upset, for a long time afterward. More upset than would be reasonable under the circumstances. After all, she was very old and had been sick for a long time, so it wasn’t as if her death was unexpected. A week or so later, I mentioned it to my chiropractor, who was quite gifted in other alternative healing methods. I told him I couldn’t figure out why I was still so upset over the loss of my cat. He did a procedure on me to clear my chakras, brief—only a few seconds, and I began to cry uncontrollably. I had a sudden flashback and remembered many other animals I had lost over the years and went way back to a cat I had lost many years ago where the recall sort of ‘focused’. I realized then that I had never fully grieved for the other losses and I still missed the cat from many years ago. After this I was able to let go of the issue (at least that part of it).


In neither of these instances was I looking for a ‘past life’ issue. I wasn’t seeking anything. One was past life, the other, with the cat was present life.


There have been other instances but this is sufficient for now. Whether it’s a sight, sound, smell or touch; anything can trigger a recall from this life or past lives that is still dormant and unresolved. To your question I must say “Yes, it happens all the time.” The only thing I would say differently is that it’s the SOUL that remembers, rather than the body. The soul is just reminding us of unfinished work by giving us the symptoms we have in the body, mind and emotions.


I have enjoyed your recounting of your memories very much. We all learn from each other and I appreciate all those here who are so kind and supportive. Often, when people come to a forum like this, it’s because they are seeking—something. Obviously, they haven’t been able to find the openness and support they need in their lives, or perhaps they are fearful. With most of us the subject of past lives isn’t easy to talk about. Rarely does one find someone to talk with about subjects like this who doesn’t ridicule or criticize. We are blessed to have the Internet and be able to find ‘like minds’ from around the world.

Thank you for sharing Calla Lilly.


I also appreciate your willingness to express the following. I do hope the forum helps people - and in more ways than we know. Please let us know if we can assist you or anyone else with research and/or information.

I have enjoyed your recounting of your memories very much. We all learn from each other and I appreciate all those here who are so kind and supportive. Often, when people come to a forum like this, it’s because they are seeking—something. Obviously, they haven’t been able to find the openness and support they need in their lives, or perhaps they are fearful. With most of us the subject of past lives isn’t easy to talk about. Rarely does one find someone to talk with about subjects like this who doesn’t ridicule or criticize. We are blessed to have the Internet and be able to find ‘like minds’ from around the world.

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I look forward to your posts in the future.

Hope I'm not hijacking the thread...


Some time ago I had some flashes of being a nun (not sure on the time period-possibly 13th or 14th century), standing outside under some stone archways. I was really upset being there, I had the feeling I was forced into going there/becoming a nun. The habit I was wearing-the closest thing I could describe it as, it was very similar to the ones in "The Flying Nun." I think the convent (or abby) was around the French/German border, but not 100% sure.


(Side thoughterhaps this is why I'm very attracted to Nun-related stuff, ie pictures, movies, statues?)