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Curiosity -- Past Lives and Taboo

Hi there Deborah. You know what they say about cats being curious? Well that's the reason for my journey - and I just hope it doesn't kill me as it's supposed to do for cats!!!!
I was getting so many strange things cropping up that it felt as if I HAD to start exploring.
I've had a lot of bad experiences in my life but am well known for being able to rebuild and bounce back - against all the odds. So I'm not looking for healing or closure or that kind of answer.
Each step of the adventure fills me with almost electric excitement and is making my life a much more rich experience.
I suppose I can best describe it as how a kid feels at Christmas. A rush of delight when the find out something in your mind has reason to it. Then a feeling of warmth and contentment as you look back on it.
It's made me feel very ancient in some ways. I can look at other people around who are leading spiritually empty lives and feel sorry for them. I wish they could share the happiness. That makes me feel like an ancient spirit in earth terms.
Yet when I look to the future, I feel like that kid in a candy shop. I know there are much older souls ahead of me on the journey, looking at me and laughing at my childish enthusiasm. (The laugh is kindly though, not scathing).
I can only hope everybody else is having as much fun.
Love Gemeni.
 
Gemini-

It´s funny- you describe some of what I had begun to set in words for a reply , before I got to your post; the kid part of your self and the ancient. I read your description of your feelings as a bit of an example. As a more resolved, unified way, of seeing the young and the old in yourself. Since in my case they tend to clash a bit.

The comic-reading, short-spanned, happily irresponsible little sociopath v/s the oh, so-deep, humorless, hyper-moral, hermit with his #%& stick and lantern ( O.K., I guess from the tone you can tell there is an unresolved inner struggle going on here...

Anyway, for the subject. These to sides obviously have differing motives in delving into the reincarnation-related. Fantasy v/sTruth-seeking in all it´s shades. It can make for a bit of a schizoid life, at times;.

Still, for me too, there are moments, when I do posses more enlighted versions of these archetypes... When they aren´t so extreme and closed to each other. And, at those times, I think the exchange between them can be fruitful, combining their motives in sniffing out interesting stuff.

P.S. I have the moon(emotions) in Gemini ( if it wasn´t already obvious...)
 
Hello there Shield. It's nice to know somebody else has this weird conflict going on. Pretty strange feeling isn't it!!
I am a Gemini and picked the name Gemeni (it's not that I can't spell - honest!) from a book about Ancient Egypt. It was the name of a cheap slave found in records! It just seemed to suit my present lifestyle somehow!!
So with my Gemini twin mind and the twin mind of ancient times I really don't stand much of a chance of being 'normal'.
Thank goodness for that!!!!
I also find the twin voices useful. When the young wants to dash in, swords and pistols waving, the elder steps in with the voice of reason. And then I can have a good arguement with myself just for the hell of it.
Nice to chat with you. Gemeni.
 
Hi Gemeni,

Thanks-it´s very cool and comforting to hear that someone else has got a similar thing going on, and that you´re able to make a positive use of this dichotomy

Another thing(not to stray from the subject, to much), about reasons for being so fascinated by all this(PL). Many reasons, but the word: "roots" comes to mind. And "home". That´s what I´m looking for. Out of ..homesickness.

Now, I´ve got a growing suspicion, and a happy one, that this inner home, in the end is really only to be found in God(however defined). Here my PL "investigations" can offer valueable clues, revelations and temporary "homecomings". Tracks in the dirt for the spiritual scout ( apart from being just plain fun! :D One has just not to confuse them with the goal or a haven to the soul in themselves. I think.
 
Ah Shield, I'm right with you there. The 'roots and homesickness' really gets to me too. I actually have a very nice home and a lovely family around me...but I just know there's something else. Something I had once upon a very very long time ago.
I also agree that the PL investigations (are a whole lot of fun) and are just a part of the 'ultimate search'.
I'm sure that now I'm looking back at what appears to be my starting point (Ancient Egypt) I'm beginning to recall what this journey is all about. Learning - of course - is a part of it. But I think we all get distracted from our true path/destiny. Enjoying life and all it has to offer wipes out the memories. Perhaps we find fame in one life, then we want to come back to find it again. Maybe we find something else that tempts us to return again...and again..
Then suddenly you think 'hell, I've experienced all this before, but it didn't make me truly happy'. Then you have to start looking back.
Well that's my idea anyhow. How do you feel about this?
All the best Gemeni.
 
Hi Gemeni-

Yeah, the problem is, I find in myself, this
feeling - that worldly strivings are all in vain - may result in nothing but passivity and feelings of meaninglessness, which
lead to nothing. To be honest, for me it´s prob´ly got a lot to with fear and good old laziness, too, more than any profound realisation :)
Then again, if I follow the tracks of my fears, that effect my ambitions in this way, they could take me to some key moment in a distant past that might offer resolution. I guess it´s the hope of this kind of therapeutic effect that is a driving force in my interest as much as plain old sweet nostalgia( ...ah, the freedom riding across those plains...was it Mongolia...or the old North American prairie?....) I am planning to see someone for a regression, soon.

BTW on the original Q. of guilt in searching just for fun: I guess anything that you indulge in to an excess with no other reason but to get tickled, tends to produce a little guilt in the end
( but maybe that´s just the old hermit monk part of me, speaking ;)
 
Hi again Shield.
I get the feeling that 'all the worldly striving' is one heck of a test, that's for sure. We have to find the truth for ourselves and keep pushing on towards it, ignoring all the obstacles that society insist on putting in our path. I think you have to look backwards to find the way forwards!!!
I was interested to see your comment about Mongolia. Several years ago whilst sitting listening to music, from out of nowhere I had a very clear vision of horsemen galloping around what I can only describe as a natural bowl in a very dusty landscape. When I described what I'd seen, my husband told me that it sounded exactly like Mongolian warriors. I checked it out...and he was right. I think that must have been a more violent point in my history!!!
I haven't tried regression so I'll be really interested to know how you get on.
I don't think we should feel guilty about indulging in looking back. It's a hell of a lot of fun, but I'm sure it's really important. And best of all - it's free!!
With best wishes from the hermit cave. (If you can count it as that when three of us live in it!!!!!)
 
I for one, think there is no such thing as an intellectual taboo.

About 20 years ago, I got into a discussion with a group of lawyers, assorted corporate big shots and their companions at a posh dinner party. A few drinks and they start working Jerry the reincarnation thinker over! The hosts have been the people keeping me going on this thing of ours.Naturally, my mischievious hosts brought up THE SUBJECT .

Anyway, I startled everone by saying that most souls are more stupid and idiotic in the "dead" state than they are in the "living" state. Just look at the evidence! What are most people seeking by remembrance of things past or future? Growing better! How can this be if you are immortal? Now can you be a higher self? You are you and can only vicariously know "unyou"! Unless you forever change, of course!

Consider this? You "live" on a planet where all existence REQUIRES you to kill and consume other "living " things as a condition of existence. You kill billons of "things" every day, with every breath. Billions of things are trying to kill you too!

Now does this existence "improve" our souls? WE have adapted to the body of a certain hairless chimp of no great cosmological importance! Except to us. I am sure the Tiger eating us feels the same sense of self importance.

THe punch line may only be that WE are BE ing! This seems to me to be obvious. Compassion given freely with no strings attached, no saviours in particular, seems to be the only valid thing.

The swells at the posh party were speechless, till I said "See what happens when the servers are catching a joint out back".

I still get questions from people who were at the dinner. Have I changed my mind? Nope, other than to add, the hairless chimp is unable to govern him/herself in any meaningful general manner. The hairless chimp soul needs a crutch to survive!

My favorite Hairless Chimp writer is H L Mencken, so pardon the barbs folks. Been imbibing on HL today. ( Gene Kelly played Mencken in the 1961 movie of Robert Bolt's play "Inherit the Wind) I suspect I was also imbibing before going to the boring posh dinner party. Tried to do some good!!
 
Gemeni-

What me not feel guilty!? And miss out on such a grand opportunity of self-torment?
No, uh-uh! And no other well-bred little lutheran ding-dong daddy from down deep in Ingmar Bergman-land, either, I should hope not!! :)

Mongolia... I´m gonna try and target that for my next reincarnation ( O.K.! Drop and do a hundred push-ups for shameless exoticism!). :)

Fun fact having to do with nothing(of which I love to boast): my grandfather was born and raised in China by swedish missionaries.
(He later went on to be a pioneering socialist and language-researcher). The church they built still stands. I believe it´s a cinema now(pretty cool, eh ;)
P.S.
On my wall, have a picture of my great-grandfather(ca.1900) dressed in chinese clothes. He resembles me, almost laughably. Past life or genes, who knows...?
 
Ah Shield, those Bergman movies are such a laugh aren't they!!!! When you feel down you can rely on them to lift your spirits anytime!! Or maybe that was Laurel and Hardy I was thinking of?
I think you should find out about Mongolia, then if it seems really heavy you can save me the horror of exploring. I only saw a very brief glimpse, but I'm certain I wasn't about to have a picnic!!!
My grandfather had a sister who died when she was about 18. My mother found some old photos of her once and really freaked because she looked exactly like me.
I thought your grandfather sounds really interesting. Wouldn't it be funny if you went to find that cinema and discovered they were showing Bergman movies!!!
 
Hi!

It´s funny, I only read about your very interesting chinese dream after writing about my G-dad. Synchronisisissity!?
One time, someone with supposed medial abilities spontanously
channelled(?) a whole row of people dressed seemingly chinese/mongolian,
that had come to offer their greetings to me. Not 100% sure of the validity here, but could be good (she wasn´t aware of my relatives).

Anyway, it´s a blast seeing what looks exactly like yourself, only in a super-long sleeved chinese frock, a little cap on the head and a round fan in one hand. What time period was that picture of your Grandfather´s sister? Beginning, middle 20th century? Interesting!

P.S.
It´s funny, I would have thought M. would have been a dream-incarnation for everyone. I guess either I wasn´t there at the violent times of Djingis etc, or I must have been enjoying it whole-heartedly

Ingmar B. is a kick in the pants. He´s still alive, 83 or 84 yrs old, putting up plays at the National Theatre in Stockholm(!).
 
Hi again. Don't you just love that synchronicity? Almost as much as Bergman?
I don't think in my Mongolian memory I was about to offer greetings to anybody - not unless it was done with the sharp end of an outstretched sword!!!
I was petrified of all things Far Eastern when I was a little kid. I probably thought they were going to go for revenge!
Love the idea of seeing yourself in ancient Chinese garments.
My grandfathers sister died in the early twenties. As all my relatives on that side of the family are dead I can't find anything out about her, which is a shame.
In fact my grandfathers side of the family has always been a bit of a mystery - so maybe I should delve in and see if it's a suitable topic for a Bergman movie!!!!
 
Deborah, I have to admit I am a VERY curious cat when it comes to past lives. I know that there are some things I would like healing on, but to be honest, I wonder if finding out your past lives would actually enhance your talents you might have forgotten about.
 
curiosity and Bergman

I do. I confess that I'm curious! My interest in past lives started with curiosity.

Shiel and Gemeni,
I have to add to the not original question that IB is 89!! and still directing and since it is confession time: I am so swedishly damaged so I like his movies. (Except for the one he made last year. Boring)
 
Re: For new members

Originally posted by Deborah
I would be interested in your thoughts regarding the original questions posed in this thread. ;)
Click to expand...

Okay, my opinion: I never heard that there was any taboos :confused: about wanting to know one's own past lives. It never occurred to me to feel shame about it. I feel that it is only natural for people to want to know about themselves.

My own interest in the subject of reincarnation has been there pretty much my whole present life, having been bought up by parents who are open to the idea. It seems as though it might be my purpose in this life to understand my other lifetimes. Of course there are doubts sometimes as to whether the thoughts and impressions are real, and sometimes people have said maybe I'm "not supposed to know," but it would surprise me if that was the case.

Anyway this is an interesting discussion and I have enjoyed Deborah's and CrowEyes' experiences; thank you for sharing! :)
 
It is an old old thread - but perhaps new members have something they would like to share - or add. :)
 
For me, a believe it definitely is curiousity on the surface. I'd love to know who I was in my imediate PL and I'd like to know who I was in all my PL's to date. Not just who I was, what I did and what kind of person I was but, what centuries in concerned myself with and where in the world was I? I'd just love to know.

However, it leads onto wanting answers to questions. Why did my soul choose to be albino for a start? why on earth give myself an unconventional look that would just give me grief! not to mention an actual disabilty (visual impairment). I used to think, until recently it was some karmic punishment served to me or bad past deads. From what I've red here and what I've red from doctor Weisses books that its actually a major test my soul has undertaken. OK, that sounds better but, the question still persists even though it's changed form. Rather than; what have I done wrong to get what I've got, it's now a, exactly what did i do/achieve to feel the need to take on the task of being albino and disabled? How evolved am I to undertake a task which is... a pain really :rolleyes: Well, it could have been a lot worse.

Ok, other questions, why is it when people cry, do I cringe and freeze emmotionally, why am i with the family/parents that I am (due to lack of support and the type of love i need, my family seem hopeless in giving). Altimately, what do I have to learn from being with such people? i.e. my family. I suppose i could generalize the question and say "why make it so hard for myself"? I'm sure there was easier lives on offer to me. Actually, it would explain my charactor. I've always been a person that did everything the hard way and, sometimes would get into a mess! I'd like to.... sort of learn why is it that rooms without windows (shower rooms, box rooms) give me the creeps and why I find the fact that a light could go out while I'm in that sort of room? it doesn't seem to concern many. I'm cautious about asking this question as.... I'm not sure I want to know the answer to be honest. However, these questions bring up curiousity in me. Simply being that.... I don't expect to use regression for healing but, rather for question asking and answer seeking. I'm thinking about doing a self regression sometime soon, just to see what comes up.

I can relate to the taboo issue though as, wouldn't really tell anyone that I'd do something like this. I come from a large town (recently grown in size) but the people have a very simple view on life generally and, although very few people are staunchly Christian (where I live) they're not open minded generally. Certainly not to reincarnation. So, this would be my little secret. I wouldn't even tell mum even though she, somewhat, open to it. I don't know. I feel I'd rather explore this on my own. At least I can have control over how far I go into my subconscious. I'm way to careful and don't fancy unlieshing any unwelcome PL's memories that may make this life more difficult/complicated as need be.

I'm just fascinated and curious to see what I (my soul me) has actually done and what path I took in order to have become me, JUstin in this present life. Not sure I'd wanna delve into the future though. Dr Weisses book "same soul, many bodies" has spooked me when it comes to progressions he's done on people.
 
i agree with justin, in that theres a certain amount of just needing to know, on a surface level, but to me, its like a calling, something that is pulling me toward it. maybe thats still curiousity, but id still believe its a valid feeling to persue the intrigue developed from it.

i have always felt that souls can travel along through time visting earth for whatever reason they need to, its always just been a feeling, something id always believed. but inspite of this ive only ever had one feeling of my souls former path, having never been on a train until the age of 14, naturally you would think it would seem all very new to me, but it felt like id come home, i knew "the train". since then ive never had that same feeling, in any form, not even in a dream, and to this day, i havent a clue what it meant.

i dont believe u need reason to validate an interest in anything, especially if that interest is in yourself, regression is a personal thing to me. yes its fascinating but why should that make anyones intrigue a taboo?!

it seems only naturally to me to take an interest in where ive been before, and the things i may have accomplished. i cant understand why anyone should think of such a curiousiy as a taboo?? :confused:
 
Basically I started searching because I noticed that I had 2 very different types of dreams, one that were very hazy, uninteresting, bizzare/symbolic imagery, which I usually forgot about the next day, basically ordinary dreams. The second were dreams that were so realistic where I could remember details even after several years, the distinct feeling of actually being there, dreams where certain images revive strong emotions. I think the most important characteristic, for me anyways (and I mention this all the time) is that those dreams linger, they're constantly part of your memory, your entire being. Because there was such a great difference, I instinctively did a bit of researching, an urge to find the meaning behind those dreams, which of course I discovered were pastlife memories.
 
Since Curious is my first name how can't I be curious about my past life? ;)
It started all with dreams, flash backs and deja vus, that was the healing part of remembering.
But I've always loved history and I like to research things, and that's what I'm doing now.
Research doesn't have a spiritual meaning for me, I simply enoy it, I like to find old pictures,
old letters and interesting historical details.
Research is the rational part of understanding past lives.
It makes the past life picture more realistic, it unnerves those intense emotions and nostalgic feelings.
Although you also need your intuition and memories to get somewhere.

For me remembering my past was much easier than to find dates and facts.
I still can't prove anything, but I'm getting somewhere and of couse it keeps me busy :)

Curious Girl.
 
very interesting. I was told by a friend yesterday that I was a 'Seeker" it hit home. When I was in college my interest was Maslow and his theory of humanistic psychology. I love his theory on self actualization, I have read it and reread it. So for me it is about personal growth, and the fasination I have with fellow man/woman and their personalties, how we deal with life. I watch how my sister and hubby deal with things, they are so different than I am in how we deal with things, because i am a seeker. It fasinates me, maybe it is because my brain is just wired such a way that wants to learn more??? For whatever reason I will continue to seek out answers!
 
I didn't have time to read the whole thread with thought, but I'll just add my experience:

I'm very curious. But not about being famous or anything great. Well, why not, but I wouldn't consider it any more interesting than some other life. I love history and am very interested in different countries and cultures. I guess that's why I'm so fascinated by the idea, I may have lived somewhere else before. I didn't get conciously any spontaneous memories before I started really researching things, but I've had these feelings.. For example I always felt like crying at British countryside, because of strong emotions I had there.

But I wouldn't mind growing up spiritually while I'm learning about my past, and I'm getting all the time more and more interested in the spiritual and esoteric matters along this journey. I really think that at the end of the day there is a "bigger" reason behind it, if one gets interested in past lives. Even if one thinks at first, it's just about curiosity. Though there's nothing wrong with "just" curiosity either, in my opinion.

Karoliina
 
Wow, I can't believe that I've never posted on this thread. What is wrong with me?!! :)

Curiosity is what leads me to find out about my past lives. So far, I can't remember much healing that has taken place as a result of remembering things, be these memories spontaneous or not. Is that bad? Well, maybe I'm just unaware of the healing.

I always want to know more...and why. Why is there reincarnation? I still don't know the answer. Why did I live at this certain place, and why did I encounter the people that I did? I don't know, but I'm extremely curious. And I will be until I figure it all out!


My one example of healing: I have always been bothered by my left wrist, and a few months ago it got really bad. I couldn't move it at all, and the doctor couldn't find anything wrong. I decided to do a regression, and when I did I asked myself if this pain was related to a past life. I saw myself mending clothing, a young girl, the same age as myself. (not sure which life this would tie into) I was sewing with my left hand, the same as the one that was hurting. I remember just having to sew and sew and sew, no fun, and very painful. I guess I didn't have a sewing machine (were they around back then? I don't know), or was too poor to have one. I still don't really concider this a memory, simply because I'm not sure if I imagined all of this as an excuse for the wrist pain, or if it was really connected. My wrist completely stopped hurting a day after, though, and I havent had problems since, so who knows?
 
Deborah...
well my personal feelings on this one is that certain pl's are most relative to this lifetime... and thus most important to keep up with unfinished business and to explain certain things that are burdens now... although i myself have done a bit of inquiry and a pretty accurate timeline of lives i mostlikely have lived (although very very general)... i have left a lot out... and have only really tried to focus on a few... being as most my recent day problems come from those lives...
i guess it really isn't talked much about... but personally i don't consider talking about curiousity in pl's as taboo. I am very curious about the lives i've lived and how it affects me today... and i imagine others are too.
interesting subject tho.

~Elese
 
I don't think there's anything necessarily bad about looking into your past lives with a healthy dose of curiosity. I think that, perhaps, if we're interested and actively searching, then we may be meant to discover some of our previous lives, especially the ones that are influencing our present life. There are many people who never even think about exploring this part of their existence... and, for them, maybe it's not part of their plan. But for those of us who desire to know who we were before, I don't see anything wrong with investigating. After all, they are our lives, and can only serve to deepen our understanding of ourselves.

Lib
 
Curiosity---Past Lives and Taboo

Curiosity has driven me from the beginning. Then the learning, and the experience of the remembering and the relief that I know what was happening to me. I love the learning. I have learned so much from all of you. You are all incredible people.
 
Yeah, I know I've already thrown my two cents into this thread, but a thought occurred to me today that was along the lines of this topic.

We know that society doesn't really believe in reincarnation. Even among those that do believe, I've often heard stuff like, "It's in the past. It's over. It won't do any good to remember it now." And yet, look at the emphasis society places on learning history in school! It's as if we're supposed to learn history, but not our own history, which really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Just look at the arguments that society gives us for learning history: It's good to know where you came from. Those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it. But if you try to apply those things to reincarnation, people (sometimes even people who believe) will get all uptight and tell you to stop living in the past! :eek:

I don't get it. Where does that taboo come from? If our collective history is so important for us to learn, why are there people who say our personal histories should stay forgotten?

Lib
 
Very good point, Lib, and one worth examining.

I think a lot of it may be fear. Fear of facing unpleasant things about oneself, fear of taking responsibility for the roles played in history, fear of becoming rooted in the past and unable to move forward in the present.
 
So much truth in all these posts..... I always knew that we reincarnated (when I was 3 or 4 years old) and was surprised when I heard Christianity didn't support it in their teachings..(the bible doesn't really deny it)


Anyhow, I never strove to research it to find answers. I just had dreams and flashbacks of a traumatic or emotional nature...AFTER I had known in my mind it was possible to reincarnate. But I didn't connect the 2 things at first!!..was too busy in my present life dodging bullets figuratively speaking.
 
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