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Cathar Parfait

M

MaritaMari

Senior Registered
I'd like to share with you one of my possible past lives that was in the Middle Ages. But, first I have to tell you how I received the information.

When I was 16, I bought a book about the history of medieval church. I took it with me to vacations, because I generally read history book the was I read novels, especially when they are about Middle Ages (and especially Church).

So, I was reading through chapters and came to the chapter(s) about heresies and Inquisition. It featured 2-3 pages about Cathars explaining all the basic stuff about them - who they were, where they lived, what they believed in (they were dualists) etc. but nothing in too much detail. I must also emphasize that I'd never heard about Cathars before.

Immediately, I felt profound nostalgia and pain for not being there with them. I saw myself in the woods surrounded by men (there were 4-5 of them). They all wore long black robes. One of them stood out and I recognized his as my best friend (in that life, not this one; I don't know him in this one). He also had long, black robe, short beard and was carrying a tall stick that helped him in walking. I saw him in another scene where we were alone and walking through the woods. He was explaining me things in a very warm, soothing way. I considered him my friend and my teacher, someone who would show me where to go and what to do (I believe it was the first time I was in that particular forest). I didn't know my gender (as I never do when it comes to pls), but because I knew I was traveling with those men and doing the same things they were doing, although I was probably a novice, I must have been men as well. I figured that my friend (others were also people I knew and respected, but my friend was more special to me than them) wasn't much older than me even though he was my teacher, probably 5 years older.

I saw another scene with my friend. He was taking me to meet some people who lived in a cottage. I figured he knew them (but I didn't) and he had good opinion about them. We were approaching the cottage from a dirt road, and I saw that these people had pigs in their front yard along with some flowers. A woman was waiting for us on the doorstep and soon her husband appeared as well. They were smiling and they welcomed us warmly. I saw nothing more.

The whole period felt as the happiest period of my entire existence and the profound nostalgia was the result of knowing that I would never experience it again.
 
Now, let me tell you what I discovered only a few years ago about Cathar Parfaits.


I read one book about Cathars, a very detailed one, that said that Cathar Parfaits wore long, black robes and were allowed to wear beards. Also, when someone would become a Parfait (or Parfaitte, a female Cathar preacher, because both men and women could preach; the only difference was that women would stay in one place and preach while men travelled from place to place) he or she would attend a ceremony to become one (I'm not talking about consolamentum given on deathbed, but of someone willingly becoming a Parfait and living the rest of his live as such). At the end of the ceremony, after you became a Parfait (Or Parfaitte) another Parfait was given to the new Parfait; someone who was Parfait longer and who would serve as a guide to the novice Parfait who would show him or her everything there was to know about being one and generally help him. The two would then spend every moment together, sharing food and bed. They would basically become inseparable.


This description sounded very much like my relationship with my friend. This is also a very specific detailed that is not normally found in history books. I checked again the book I read about medieval church when I had this vision, and indeed there was no mention of what they were wearing nor that they were accompanied by another Parfait.
 
The whole Cathar sect is intriguing. I think reincarnated Cathars would be drawn to this site. Your experience has the "feeling of real", MaritaMari. It tugged at my heart, particularly the description of your friend. Thinking about it sends a shiver of electricity through me. Their end was so tragic.
 
That's true, BriarRose, their end was indeed tragic. I don't have any negative feelings concerning Cathars, only positive ones, so I guessed I didn't live as a Parfait during the times of Inquisition but before that - in a more peaceful time. It's not just how I personally felt - no one surrounding me - my friend, those other men and the couple at the cottage emitted any anxiety that would undoubtedly arise if there was any life threat from i


the Inquisition. They all seemed at peace and very happy to live their lives as they were.


I also feel familiar with the concept of the First Crusade, though I never participated in any of them. Maybe this life as a Parfait was from that period?
 
Have you read any of Dr. Arthur Guirdham's books about reincarnated Cathars? Some people say his cases were faked, or a form of mass hysteria, but I am not so sure. What is your "take" on this?
 
No, I haven't read it. If it's about the cases of reincarnated Cathars from '50s or '60s in UK, then I watched the documentary.


If we are talking about the same thing, there are several things I don't like about it.


I heard in the documentary that all of the subjects when to the same psychiatrist. This is a read flag for me. If they went to the different ones, even within the same country, it would be more neutral. It just seems less likely that all of the reincarnated Cathars would be the patients of the same psychiatrist (I'm sorry if the word "patient" is incorrectly used). I also heard that he used to ask suggestive questions during the sessions such as "were you that and that?", "were you there and there?" etc, basically directing the subjects' answers instead of asking general and non subjective questions (like "where are you?" not "are you in the fortress?"). Even the strongest minds can fall into the trap of being led to imagine what the therapist said and asked. I believe he even asked one subject whether she(?) knew him and if her or his name was such and such (I'm not sure if I remembered it well). It's quite unprofessional in my opinion.


Maybe the book is different and it has more significant details, but this is my opinion after watching the documentary... I actually felt quite excited when I stumbled upon it thinking that I might lean about others who were Cathars, but then felt quite as much disappointed...
 
All valid points. I saw an investigation on a U.K. paranormal program, but not the documentary. It focused on two women from Bath in the present day. The program brought them to the place where the Cathars burned. I think I will try to find the book.
 
Is it about those two women who thought they were Cathars and then met and felt like they knew each other all their lives? There were two women featured int his documentary, too, though I don't remember if they were from Bathes. They were then brought to Montsegur, the last Cathar stronghold.
 
MaritaMari, Thank you for bring up the Cathar memories. I have done some personal work on my past life as a Cathar, they are quite sad, yet spiritually up-lifting. I've not written much of anything about it on here, I prefer to keep it to myself for now. I will say that I am traveling to France this Spring and will be doing some serious research there. Montsegur is a place I'm compelled to go to and am somewhat nervous at what I will find... or what I know.


There are some good books on the history of the Cathars. And I appreciate BriarRose's reference to one. Are there any other members on the forum with this same interest? I would be interested in hearing any research materials and books you have used.


Blessings,


Tman
 
It was the women who visited Montsegur that I saw in the program. I'm so glad you are going there, Tinkerman. Visiting a place that could have such strong connections is always an emotional experience. The book I referenced is available on Kindle. Dr. Guirdham was well regarded before he wrote it. I think he believed what he wrote, even if his methods are in question.
 
I am interested in The Cathar's also.


I notice Mata and Tinkerman you are in the US. There is a British author, Kate Mosse who has written a couple of novels based on The Cathar's. You could find them interesting if you can get hold of them. I dod feel anyone who writes about a particularly period in history was probably around at that time to have he interest. I agree Briar they are most likely to find this forum.


Another point I knew nothing of the religion until about a year ago. Since I've been on this site I have inadvertidley been stumbling across things on TV or having a conversation about them and the areas in France.


I've always been interested in South West France. I don't know if it's on your intinary Tinkerman but imagine Carcassonne must be beautiful. Again I know a couple of people who've been there and loved it.


I'm also getting the feeling of large populations (larger than the souls groups) reincarnating in certain areas. I'm finding it must have happened from my last life in France and has got me wondering whether it could be common.
 
We have something in common, starry. I had never heard about them until about a year ago, and references began to pop up all over the place, even in books my husband was reading. He doesn't really believe in a single thing that forum members do. Maybe, they are getting more attention in the media?
 
Another thing in common-our husbands views!


I tell him about our last life & I'm sure he just thinks "Yeah, OK!"


I do think us forum members must be tuned in to the right places to look. It's amazing how I seem to get clues from everyday things. I'm sure they were there before I just didn't get it.


Veering from the Cathars, I was talking to a friend of my mum's & she told me how she worries for no reason every time she goes anywhere. I thought it was only me that did that, I put down to ww2. Then I realised, she must have been there when my mum was. It was like a missing jigsaw piece. I would never have got that before.
 
I was told by someone wise that the Universe is like a huge jigsaw puzzle made of energy. Sometimes, a piece is missing, or out of place. It's strange that you used that term, starry. I wonder if you moved a piece into position when you made the connection between your mother, and your friend?
 
I believe it has to do with the publications of two controversial books - Holy Blood Holy Grail and Da Vinci Code. Since they portrayed both Cathars and Templars as the guardians of the Holy Grail, I believe that the surge of interest in Cathars by the general public comes from this.


Tinkerman, it's very nice to find here someone who might have also been a Cathar :) I respect your decision not to tell your story in detail, but I would like to know, if you are willing to tell, if you think you were connected with Parfaits more or with believer more?


It's interesting that you mentioned going to France this spring, because I also thought of going to France this spring :)
 
Yes, it now makes sense looking years back.


I got a pl name for my mum a while back. It was the name of a radio operator I'd looked at for my pl. We wouldn't have met, she would have been there after me but there was three of them together. I think they were known as the "Three little english pigeons", or similar. In reference to their parachuting in.


When her friend was telling me my mind went immediatley to France and the war. It's also confirmed the other friend is who I suspected she may be.


I can see that about a big jigsaw and how somehow we're all interconnected.


I can bring this back to the Cathars because I think a far wider range of people from that life have chosen to reincarnate here, some have relocated & stayed. Both the friends of my mum are from different areas in the Uk yet it's like the three of them have known each other forever.


I wonder if it's common with other groups?
 
You might find the book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" interesting. It's fascinating and spend some time on the Cathars.
 
Athlynne said:
You might find the book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" interesting. It's fascinating and spend some time on the Cathars.
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Thanks for the recommendation but I read the book and found it extremely bad not only in the form it was written but also in having many historical mistakes. There is a website cathar.info I believe which is very well done and very resourceful. And for those who know French or can read it there is Catharisme d'aujourd'hui. They have really great articles on Cathar believes and philosophy.
 
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