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Geisha past-life memory?

ptrcancer

New Member
Hello all. :)

I had a rather interesting experience in my last meditation and I thought I'd share it here, seeing as I can never think of anything else to post. :p

This 'vision' of sorts began on the upper level of a house. The architecture was clearly Japanese and the room I was in appeared to be a bedroom of sorts. It was comfortably small and sparsely decorated with the exception of one or two small items. I was knelt in the centre of the room with a curious arrangement of trays before me, each containing various items and tools that seemed to be for applying make-up. After a minute or so of kneeling there I rose from my position and made my way over to a window in the wall to look out at the city - before my eyes there stood a sprawling metropolis, seemingly built into hills and mountains, all of the buildings clearly Japanese. As I was stood there an older woman entered into the room, dressed in a richly decorated kimono. She was talking to me in Japanese, yet I could clearly understand her - she told me to hurry up and that I was going to be late enough as it was.

I apologised and immediately returned to the middle of the room, kneeling before the trays again. I took a bowl of medium size and a brush - the bowl appeared to contain a thick, white paste. As I began to cover the brush in paint I heard footsteps going by my room but ignored them. When the brush was sufficiently coated I began to apply the paste to my skin, starting around the back of my neck/shoulder. I spent a great deal of time in that position applying the paste to my face, neck, shoulders and other exposed areas of flesh. When the process was completed I used a large hand-held brush to almost dust off the paste, making the makeup distinctly white and solid. I continued to apply the rest of the makeup before me, such as bright red lipstick and eyebrows drawn in with charcoal from a specially burnt piece of wood. When I had finished with the equipment I called another woman into the room who helped me dress properly and adjust my hair so that it was set a certain way.

When all was complete I rose from the floor, tidied away some of the trays and equipment and left the room. I emerged onto a staircase and was joined by another woman wearing similar clothing and identical makeup, one who I instantly understood I was good friends with. We descended the stairs in a somewhat awkward manner. At the base an elderly lady in a kimono was speaking in a hushed voice to a middle-aged gentleman. Noticing us, she told us that we needed to hurry if we were going to make our appointment. I had a strange feeling that there was something unusual with our arrangement, as though the two of us would not have been going alone under normal circumstances.

The two of us left the building and emerged into a cobbled road lined with buildings on either side. We were both carrying small umbrellas over our shoulder even though the weather was quite pleasant, making our way through the streets to some other destination. We engaged in conversation along the way - we were commenting that we should like to have apprentices of our own one day. Eventually, we came to a small building which appeared to have been built into a slope on the road (a foundation protruding out of one end to support it). We both entered to find a room filled with men knelt at short tables. We joined a table each and began to perform what I believe to be the tea ceremony. Next to me a very elderly and mean-looking Japanese man was sat: he was slightly overweight and had certainly not aged well over the years. I had the impression that this man was incredibly important, even if the place we were in was decievingly small. As I handed him is bowl the vision seemed to jump for a moment and I was stood once more with my companion, this time infront of the group in what I then suspected to be a local teahouse.

We both bowed and then I proceeded to the corner of the room, where I was handed a shamisen. I knelt there and began to play as my companion started to dance in a very traditional Japanese style. The memory ended abruptly then when I was suddenly disturbed from my meditation, but it was quite an interesting experience. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the occurance in general, or if anyone had a similar experience to share?
 
Hiya,


It certainly sounded like an interesting experience. I haven't had any memories of Japan myself unfortunately. Is this the first memory of this life or have you had other memories of a life in Japan?


:)
 
A very detailed account of your vision. Interesting to read, so thanks for sharing.


I also have strong visions, either spontaneously or meditatively, imaginally some of the images I get are very intense. Some people like to call this 'clairvoyance', and having read your account of this richly descriptive experience, then I feel you may be similarly inclined. I also have words and sounds which come to me (as you also described), which is 'clairaudience'.


It seems you're a natural 'seer'.


I am getting impressions of a what I think is a Japanese life, and this forum helped to jog my memory of a dream I had in which I woke up in bed as a Japanese (or at least oriental) girl, a dream I had forgotten I had until this environment stimulated the memory.


I also had a word jump into my mind upon thinking about this dream, which you may have seen in another thread, and I'm trying to concentrate upon this in meditation, but I haven't had much peace lately, although there are things coming, I'm just not sure if I'm mixing up more than one oriental 'life'.


I am still writing things down, and still trying to sort a lot of things out comes to my many visions and notions, and I am still exploring the significance of two very distinct dreams I've had in the past, but I will post all in due course.


Such a lot is coming to me since joining here, and things are coming together in strange ways. I'm making realisations that have never dawned on me before.
 
Sunniva - currently, this is my only memory of this life (or any life in Japan). All though I do recall a rather interesting experience when I was younger: my mother used to have a pair of beautiful fans similar to those traditionally used by Geisha, albeit with a more western pattern and design. I remember finding them in a draw as a child and instantly falling in love with them. I would spend hours simply playing with them, all though I believe they went missing many many years ago. Still, I suspect there may be a connection there. :)


Draco - I definitely think that I am a 'seer' as you put it. I only ever really use meditations that rely on heavily visualisation and I find it far easier to percieve the physical environment of a memory than anything else - often I have to strain myself to fully understand what people are saying. I've read your thread and what you know so far definitely sounds interesting! If you share anything more when you discover something new I'll be sure to keep track of it.


I've been thinking back on the city I saw in the memory today. It seemed to be in the very early stages of modernisation and industrialisation - I think it was the beginning of the Meiji Restoration, which would place it in the 1860s or so. I also think the city could have been what is modern-day Kyoto: the trees and pattern of hills/mountains of the city in the images I've seen fit with my memory and, in a drawing from the beginning of the Meiji Restoration, the general architecture seems to suit the buildings I saw in my dream. Kyoto is also famous for it's two Geisha districts of Gion and Pontocho. I have a strong feeling that I was living in Gion rather than Pontocho.
 
ptrcancer - I was really interested to read the details of your meditation. It must be amazing to get so much detail.


I was particularly interested because I feel very strongly that I had a life as a geisha too. As a child, I used to obsessively draw what I now recognise to be a geisha. It was always the same picture - a pagoda in the background and a Japanese woman in the foreground with a colourfully decorated kimono, large heavy bun in the hair with long pins sticking out of it and I often used to draw the lady with a parasol. So when I read that you remembered going out with an 'umbrella', I gasped with the similarity!


I also had a strange experience a couple of years ago when I was training to be a clinical hypnotherapist. We were practising finger-signalling where you will raise a finger for 'yes' and a different finger for 'no' with the idea that your subconscious will know the true answer to a question and will over-ride your conscious movement. After I'd been the subject, I was emerged from the hypnosis and my friend said "Wow - so when did you live in Japan?". I told her that I'd never lived in Japan nor even visited. She said "But you lifted your finger for yes when I asked if you'd ever lived there!". I clearly remembered her asking the question and I firmly remember lifting the finger for 'no'.....but my subconscious evidently knew of another truth!


During the same session, I was regressed to a child where I was encouraged to draw a picture. Yet again, I drew the Japanese lady and when the girl leading the hypnosis commented on what a pretty dress it was, I rather sniffily told her "It's not a dress, it's a kimono".


So, I'd be fascinated to hear of any further insights into this particular Japanese life you have ptrcancer.
 
Hi ptrcancer,


Very interesting and detailed memories!


Many years ago I had a past-life regression (done by someone who usually only does current-life regression) and had a fleeting image of myself as a Japanese male rice farmer. Later, I lived in Japan for 3 years as an English teacher... but alas I didn't have any special gift for learning the language -- it was a struggle! ;)


It seems that you know quite a bit about Japan. Have you ever lived or visited there, or studied it?


Best regards,


Beth
 
Hello ptrcancer:)


thank you for sharing this detailed memory. Have you read any books about geishas and their tradition ? If you type in amazon 'geisha' it comes up with many - maybe one of them 'jumps' into your eyes.


Klarry :) - thanks for reminding me of the finger technique - I studied hypnotherapy for a year and we were taught the same - it's fascinating how our subconscious responds.


Beth:) - I lived in Japan as well - 4 years in this life - and I know of one japanese pl as a japanese fire fighter - though i am pretty sure that I had more japanese pls - I loved to live there from the first to the last moment - I felt home in Japan and japanese food is still my favourite.


But my knowledge of japanese remained little as I was pretty lazy:eek:.


Clivia
 
All very interesting ptrancer. Why do you think you have recalled this particular incident from that particular life at this particular time? Just curious.


It is a very detailed memory, but 'not much happens' if you get my meaning. What would you describe as the main emotion of that incident/life, if you thought about it more deeply? Did something more momentous happen later that evening? I wonder if further exploration would yield some more insight?

I remember finding them in a draw as a child and instantly falling in love with them. I would spend hours simply playing with them...
What did this play with the fans make you feel? Happy? Sad?...Sometimes getting into the emotions behind a memory can be very illuminating.
 
Forgive my delay in replying. I'm also replying in reverse order, because I'm lazy and the forum list them backwards in reply mode. :p


Tanguerra:

All very interesting ptrancer. Why do you think you have recalled this particular incident from that particular life at this particular time? Just curious.
I normally meditate in silence, but this time I had a piece of traditional Japanese music playing in the background. I imagine that was a significant factor in triggering the memory.
Did something more momentous happen later that evening?
I believe so - I had a feeling that there was something very wrong or unusual about the meeting. I was almost afraid of the elderly gentleman and he was certainly not kind to me or the others. I feel that the woman I was going with was my equal and not my superior. I cannot say whether or not I was still an apprentice Geisha or not - the full-face makeup implies so, but some fully fledged Geisha still wore it for more important meetings. I think I was still an apprentice at that time, and all though rare, I have heard of instances when two apprentices performed without a senior Geisha being present (especially if all senior Geisha were unavailable). I'm almost certain something important happened not long after I was unwillingly roused.
As for the fans, they evoked feelings of happiness to my memory. I was never able to explain why - I could always draw a great deal of happiness from simply twirling them around in the air.


Clivia:


I have read the fictional (albeit factual based) Memoirs of a Geisha, but after I posted this I did look online for any books. I'm now reading Geisha of Gion, which is the autobiography of the modern world's most successful Geisha. All though her career began in the 1960s it's still proving to be a useful insight and I'm keeping an eye out for any similarities or items that provoke strong feelings/images.


Littlebug:

It seems that you know quite a bit about Japan. Have you ever lived or visited there, or studied it?
Never. When I was younger I had intended to move to Japan, but I didn't have the resources to being fluent in the language or the money to set myself up properly in Japan. I do study Japanese culture however - I have a particular love of traditional music and dance, which I have been told many westerners have a great difficutly liking. I would still like to visit Japan someday.
Also, I'm curious about your brief glimpse into a life as a rice-farmer. All though a common occupation in pre-modern Japan, I'd imagine you could have seen some interesting things depending on the time period!


Klarry:


The picture sounds fascinating! I know for a fact there is a five story Pagoda in Kyoto (I think it's in the Geisha district of Gion actually) - the Tō-ji Temple. The sister temple was destroyed but is thought to have been virtually identical, so if you really were a Geisha you could have seen either depending on your time period. Here's an image from wikipedia: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Toji0116.jpg


Is it anything like the ones in your drawing by any chance?


Anyhow, I intend to meditate again soon and try to see if I can learn anything more about this memory and/or life. I'll post any new updates here!
 
Thankyou for posting that photo from Wikipedia ptrcancer. It is VERY similar to the ones I used to draw. The thing that struck me mostly was the up-turned nature of the eaves on each 'roof'. I clearly remember my pagodas having that very same upturn. The 'spire' structure at the top also is similar to my pictures.


The only differences are that I think my pagodas only ever had three (maybe four) roof levels and they reduced in size towards the top. I hope my memory is serving me correctly though as it's been 25yrs since I used to draw them and though I've searched, my parents never kept any of them that I can go back to and re-examine.


I look forward to any more updates from your forthcoming meditations!
 
Klarry said:
Thankyou for posting that photo from Wikipedia ptrcancer. It is VERY similar to the ones I used to draw. The thing that struck me mostly was the up-turned nature of the eaves on each 'roof'. I clearly remember my pagodas having that very same upturn. The 'spire' structure at the top also is similar to my pictures.
I look forward to any more updates from your forthcoming meditations!
There are numerous smaller structures around the temple which are made in an identical fashion, as well as several similar styles of a less grand nature throughout Japan. I believe several such structures were built across Japan during the Sengoku period (mid 1400s to early 1600s) by various factions and the unique pagoda design was used quite extensively. Depending on the time period, the image could be a memory of any number of structures. If your description from your memory is right, it's likely you may have been drawing a lesser temple.
I intend to meditate tonight before I go to sleep to see if I can learn anything more, so check back over the next few days.
 
Interesting experiences, thanks for sharing Ptrcancer and Klarry! :)


Here is "my Japanese PL building" that I saw in a memory flash. It's Horyuji Temple in Nara. The complex has also pagodas.


Karoliina
 
Hi Karoliina,


I was standing in front of that very temple just a couple of months ago! :thumbsup: If you've never been to Japan in this life, I really hope you can go there and experience it -- I'm sure it will bring up very powerful images/emotions for you!


Does your PL memory of Nara have any deer in it? The parks and grounds of Nara are absolutely teeming with deer -- people feed them deer-crackers (shika senbei) which are purchased from little carts. As a result the deer can be quite aggressive in their pursuit of snacks!


(Technically Horyuji is about 12 km from central Nara, but if you remember it then you would almost certainly have also experienced the rest of Nara as well)


Ptrcancer, unfortunately my memory of the Japanese rice- farmer life was quite fleeting. It was done many years ago by a hypnotherapist who ordinarily does not do PL work, only present-life stuff, and it was my first attempt at PL regression. I only got enough of an image to clearly see that I was a male Japanese rice farmer living comfortably but modestly in a rural wooden home, I'd say at least a century ago but can't be sure.


Beth
 
Hello!!


I was also a Geisha in a past life-around the 1400s or so. I don't really remember a lot of it. I do have very fleeting memories of it. I do remember walking up to a house via stones (think Memoirs of a Geisha in the end, when Sayuri is walking up to the Gazebo), someone standing outside of it, and inside the house. I do recall I didn't like my danna-I thought he was very creepy to say the least. *lol* I do know that I was also a Buddist (with some Ancestor worship mixed in).


For some odd reason, if someone is talking in Japanese-I can always tell it's Japanese and not something else. (This also goes for my Thai life-I can also recognize Thai and Korean by sound)-This was also way before I started watching Anime or J-Horror in Japanese.


I had several "triggers" for instance, while reading "Geisha" by Liza Darby.
 
Past Life as a Geisha


Hello!


I also had a past life as a Geisha---not sure about timeframes but it was definitely in Japan. I have to admit that I had some serious issues with opium addiction, and basically was not a very maternal Geisha "mother" to the other Geisha girls. So in this lifetime, I am trying to bring karmic balance to this situation.


Interesting that in this lifetime I have always been VERY careful about drugs and going there experimentally in college and getting addicted to substances...I think I have definitely learned this lesson and it has carried over into this lifetime.


Isn't it interesting how we remember what we have already learned?


Also, it is interesting that I have come across many of these girls that I was a "Mom to" in this lifetime, in fact one of my best friends just recently invited me to her Professional Dance Recital at the Grove Park Inn in NC ...it was such a surreal experience, it was like we stepped back in time, it was a healing for both of us. She was so pleased that I drove up to see her to watch her dance. She doesn't have a relationship with her mother so in a way, I felt like I was a motherly figure to her watching her dance.


Another "weird" thing that happened to me that day, when I was putting on my makeup to get ready to watch her dance recital, I powdered my face and put on bright red lipliner (which I NEVER wear) and when I realized what I had done, I actually had a Geisha look. It was so bizarre, it was like I didn't realize what I did until I realized it later in the day!


Life is a strange trip, huh?


Blessings,


Jennifer
 
Hi Jennifer! Welcome to the forum.


Yes I too have learned that we carry our lessons from life to life. The cool part is knowing what they are, and utilizing them to their fullest potential here and now. It is especially wonderful to "know" friends from the past, today, and see the progression of lessons the soul is making... almost like it's tangible. I'm fortunate in that regard also.


Tinkerman
 
Hi Tinkerman,


Thanks so much, so glad to be here! I heard about this on Coast to Coast AM and so happy to find other like-minded people in the US.


I have always had a sense, even as a small child, that there had to be something "more" to this earth game, that we all have to experience all states of our be-ing-ness.


Blessings,


Jennifer
 
Hi Jennifer


and welcome :)


I also believe that we are here to learn and you certainly can consider yourself lucky that you know at least one of your lessons.


I personally don't know of any specific lesson (yet) - so I try to learn what ever I can but wished I knew more - but maybe that's a lesson in itself :) .


Clivia
 
Hi Jennifer,


Welcome to the forum, and thanks for sharing your experiences here. I'm just curious to know if any of those girls that you know in your present life remember you being their Geisha mother in a past life, or whether you suggested it to any of them?


I hope you enjoy yourself here, and if you have any more memories to share, then please feel free to do so, but only if you're happy to.


Chris - :)
 
Hi ChrisR,


You know, I did, actually, tell my friend Melanie about this and why we were meeting up again in this lifetime.


Her immediate response with a little bit of disdain was "well, I have never really had a huge desire to go to Japan or can't say that I have a lot desires for Japanese things."


This to me was interesting because it made me:


1.) Start to doubt myself, and was I just making this all up? Am I just such a creative person that I am living out some sort of fantasy with this past life stuff, to make myself feel more unique? But then I remembered all of Dr. Weiss's research and I shut myself up! LOL


2.) Then I started to think, well, maybe this was a traumatic lifetime for Melanie and she isn't ready to face it yet and heal those wounds. This was not apparently a very happy lifetime in terms of the prostitution/sexual abuse with men and some of the loss of power that we experienced because of it...


One thing that I have noticed with my friends is that if they aren't really "open" to this concept, then my words don't "land" with them, but then later in conversations, they will bring it up kinda in a joking manner like "hey, you were the one that was a crack addict, not me!"


LOL


Jennifer
 
It is interesting how the reactions of others force us to move deeper into our own self analysis and introspection. These things, too, are apart of the learning. Jennifer, her reaction is not uncommon, but I'll bet you that in her private thoughts she is searching for meaning. I also believe that some people aren't capable of remembering, at least not on the same level... perhaps it is not their time. I'll bet Melanie will want to talk about it more when the time is right.


This all leads into some interesting thoughts for another thread perhaps.


I'm glad you've found a home here, Jennifer. :)


Tman
 
Hi Jennifer, I've been reading your posts with great interest. I was intrigued to read about how your friend dismissed the idea of a past life as a geisha because she had no urge or leanings towards Japan and, as you suggested it may be because she is not ready to remember some of the more upsetting things that occurred in that lifetime.


Between the ages of about 18-29, I developed a really odd aversion to Japanese people. It was entirely out of character and I only mentioned it to my mum and a few close friends who wouldn't misconstrue it as racism as I have never had a racist bone in my body and find it deplorable. But, the feeling was there and shamefully inescapable. I would see many Japanese people at university and upon sight I would instantly feel pure anger and would almost feel my face turning into a snarl of disgust. It was the strangest thing.


It's only been in the last two years that the feeling seems to have evaporated and I have exactly the same respect for the Japanese as I had before the weirdness set in. I know I'm not alone in this as a friend of my mum (who is roughly the same age as me) is terrified of the Japanese. Rather than feeling anger like I did, she simply has an inexplicable fear.


So, it felt like something of an incongruence to realise that I had been a geisha and if someone had suggested it to me within those years of my life, I would have dismissed it entirely.


I look forward to reading more about the relationships between you and your friends and how that ties in to your past life dynamics as a geisha.
 
Hi Jennifer and welcome to the forum thank you for sharing with us. I hope you will enjoy your time here.


Kind Regards


Kay
 
Hi Klarry


I think we do developoccasionally negative feelings towards people or places where we had negative pl experiences. Thanks for your refreshing honesty.


I hope you will find out why you had developed these feelings - and it would be interesting to read about them.


Clivia
 
Thanks Kay, glad to be here, it seems that there are some wonderful old souls here who "get it" and are clued in to the bigger picture. It is so awesome to be able to have this kind of frank dialogue with people.


Hi Klarry,


Don't feel bad about that, we all have "stuff" that we are letting go of..I also had some ill will towards Japanese people, but that preclusion towards them came from my lifetime as a WWII Medic who got the back of my head blown off at Omaha Beach.


Another reason for those feelings was also that my Grandfather was also a Medic in WWII and used to talk about the Japanese and what they did to men that he took care of on the aircraft carrier. It was very brutal torture.


About 15 years ago, I went to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, I saw things in a totally different light. It was very healing for me and moving to be around all of those Japanese people. It really woke me up to the fact that most people who fight in wars just do it because they have to...most of that hate propoganda is propelled by governments and fueled by the military industrial complex, as Eisenhower warned us about! There is a great movie called Letters from Iwo Jima that talks about how people are brainwashed in the military so that they are actually able to kill other people without hesitating.


Anyway, I went to a beautiful Japanese Department store in New York City and had a great time looking at everything, it was just exquisite...if you ever go, check it out...it is called Takashimaya.


I also went to hear a guy by the name of Masura Emoto to talk about the Hidden Messages in Water, it really was a great seminar.


Looking forward to hearing more about your Geisha lifetime--I love Japanese Rock Gardens and Japanese Coy fish, they are so peaceful to look at...


Blessings,


Jennifer
 
I read your post very carefully. When I realized my own past memories( five years ago) of a Japanese life, I did a lot of research on Japanese culture. I even studied how to speak in Japanese for two years. I know much about the ways of the Geisha.


Alright, what you you sound like your discribing is a party hosted my Maikos ( Geisha's in training.) I wish you gave more discriptions in what types of clothing you wore. Also, there is a curtain.. elegant way the make-up is put on a maiko depending on your level of knowledage. If you didn't have some one help you put the make-up on or arrange a wig ( Maiko's wear wigs only Geisha use there real hair)..that normally isnt a good sign. Also the Okketa you sound like you resided in was packed! I'm getting the sense that you came from a house that wasn't very popular and most likely poor.. but packed with those trying to become Geisha. Maybe you where about to make your big break with the an important local offical! Who knows.. I wish you had been more distriptive.
 
PTRCancer, thank you for posting your Geisha lifetime! My Geisha memories started when my parents took me to a chinatown gift store and I saw a Geisha doll there that came with 6 wigs! I begged my parents to buy it for me but the answer was "NO". I thought I'd die without that doll and still, I've never forgotten it. Then growing up I noticed I had the hots for Japanese men but didn't know any, just thought they were sexy! ;)


It wasn't until years later during my Tai Chi lessons that I began to have flashbacks to a Geisha lifetime. I saw myself preparing and preforming tea ceremony for a Samurai, it was in the mid-1500's. I only saw myself with this one Samurai, I was his Geisha and lover. At that time he was one of the 12 best Samurai in Japan. The final event I saw, I was wearing a butter yellow kimono with matching hat to a Samurai duel. My lover was fighting an enemy and he won but unbeknownst to me, he knew there would be no victory. He was to either take his own life or be killed by the others there. He stood straight and locked eyes with me, took his sword and turned it inward plunging it into his stomach then used a swift upwards pull to his heart. He sank to his knees and fell never breaking eye contact with me. He wanted me to be the last thing he saw in that life. He was my Tai Chi teacher in this life! :eek:


I told him about that life and he went pale. He knew of it but never knew 'how he died' so I told him. Apparently he has a huge Japanese sword collection as well as being a martial artist.


~Zengirl
 
Wow, that's pretty intense, Zengirl! :eek: If you don't mind my asking :eek: , did you end up having a romantic relationship with your tai chi teacher?
 
Yeh I second your idea Jody . I would be interested too Zengirl .:cool -- not to push you too much : angel


soulfreindly
 
The short answer is "NO", he's was single but I'm married with a family. He did ask me out after class one night but I told him; "My husband doesn't allow me to date". :rolleyes: We kept it on a teacher-student level with others around us for more than a year. Then one day he said: "I love you...." and kissed me on the cheek and that was the last I saw of him. I understood but it still hurt.


It just wasn't to be this time around. :(


~Zengirl
 
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