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Do you talk to your friends and family about reincarnation? (merged)

how do you tell others about past lives?


this is a tricky question and i thought i'd throw it out there....how do you tell other people about your own past lives? im sure a lot of ppl dont want to talk about theirs, but i do enjoy talking to my family and friends about mine, to some extent...their reactions are different and sometimes amusing :laugh:


my sister adamantly does not believe in reincarnation, while my dad believes in the same things as me and we both enjoy learning more...my friends sort of pat me on the head when i talk about it but they mean no harm :)


my husband seems to have mixed feelings on the subject and i dont want to tell him that ive had dreams of us being together before, only that time he was the wife and i was the husband...he would FREAK :laugh: he's a very traditional person who would frown on gender-switching LOL
 
Hi alaskanlaughter,


I am very open about my experiences – and don’t mind sharing. However I am also very cognizant of others’ feelings and don’t just blurt it out, either. If someone asks (say a co-worker), I will talk without any hesitation. If I feel like talking - but am unsure how another person feels - I will often bring up an article or book I read to gauge their reaction before proceeding ;)


My biological family has very little interest in reincarnation – or my experiences, although sometimes my biological mother will ask me questions.


My adoptive family all have wonderful experiences of their own – so there’s no problem sharing - especially with my adoptive mom - she's a peach! ;)


Also the majority of my best friends all believe – and have their own experiences to share, so it’s never like I am without someone who understands. I do choose to surround myself with like-minded people, which I think helps enormously. Aside from that – there are several of them that I share past lives with – so talking about shared memories and actively working together is a pretty joyful experience.


Aili :D


P.S. You might enjoy a similar discussion here :)
 
I've talked about this only with some friend, generally friends i know since my youth.


I told them all the facts open-hearted and without using other words: simply i told them.


"i'm pretty sure i lived at least another life before this one as a simple young pfc (no emperors, queens, singers, actors or famous people) who died in the Vietnam War 41 yrs ago."


There's no other way to tell somenone something like that...


And i don't like at all making pointless and steamy discorpses just to make a pill taste sweeter. Especially not in this case.


That said, I'm not going to tell anything about that to my parents. Despite they're open-minded, i think that this would give them some worries and/or clues about me and because of the fact they're growing old i think it would be a useless further trouble.


For that i prefer silence.


I have much better support from friends, and, as i am 40 yrs old, i think it's absolutelly natural this way. Maybe it was a bit different if i was a kid, but here i am now...


Let's say it with the right words: if we get into some triggered recall of a past life (or whatever we think it is), i think that it's a matter of our own, completely and entirely. We need to manage by ourselves.


No one can tell us better than ourselves what to do or what direction we need to get. Maybe we can have little help, support, suggestions or whatever. But decisions are ours, not from a psychic, not from a psychiatrist or astrologist or priest, guru or whatsoever.


At least, this is my point of view.


:)
 
Simple -- I don't. I used to, but I stopped its practice because, well, nobody believed me. Which is why I was so happy to find this forum. It's still actually a bit unbelievable to me that I can speak here about things I'd not dare tell another soul, and no one will snicker, or feel that they have to humor me along.
 
same here martydee...i talk about it to friends but not in depth, just in passing, none of them are very interested in it....my husband thinks he's being supportive but he really isnt interested in any details of what ive seen or experienced either...i was SO glad to find this forum :) here i can write everything down and that helps a LOT...i am a writer by trade, or rather, a journalist for 8 years and so my best thinking comes when putting it down on paper....and i like that i can ramble on and no one seems to mind :laugh: even better, they actually listen and respond :laugh:
 
We are glad you are here alaskanlaughter. :D It is nice to know you are enjoying the forum, the discussions and finding it useful and fun. The topic of reincarnation can be a touchy subject for many. Especially if family members are not open to the idea or have experiences themselves.


Here's an idea. If some of your family members are willing to do a meditation together; ask a question such as "when were we last together, why is our connection....such and such." Then take a half hour and mediate. Saying nothing. Each person writes down their experiences at the end. Have each person read their experience aloud after.


Sometimes taking the time to explore - is all that is needed to open the door a little wider. ;)


Love and Light.....
 
alaskanlaughter said:
my husband seems to have mixed feelings on the subject and i dont want to tell him that ive had dreams of us being together before, only that time he was the wife and i was the husband...he would FREAK :laugh: he's a very traditional person who would frown on gender-switching LOL
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How about picking up a copy of the movie Dead Again and watching it together.


*spoiler*


That's the plot device. A couple is reincarnated and finds each other again, but they have both switched genders.


It's a great movie, and Robin Williams is (as always) hysterical in his cameo role.


Let the movie generate the discussion and see where it goes.


Phoenix
 
I generally don't talk about it. Only to my wife and one close friend who is also a believer. And of course the people here in this forum. It was a great day when I stumbled into this forum. Thank you Carol Bowman and staff. :thumbsup:


Other family members, friends and coworkers? No. They look at me like I should be committed and exchange glances. Plus I am sick of hearing people hum the Twightlight Zone theme! :laugh:
 
This is an old thread, maybe newer members have something to add? Personally I only talk about my past lives with people who I've met in this forum, which is why I'm so grateful to be a part of it :)
 
I only discuss past lives on this forum as well. I've discussed it with two friends. One of them, I think, thought I was full of it. The other one was fairly open to it. I haven't discussed it with any of my family. They are all Catholic, and I seriously doubt they would be open to it. I know my mom would have a fit if she knew I was involved in this forum.
 
Talking to others about Reincarnation


Hi,


It is easier for me because I live in the midst of Buddhist.


Discucssing about reincarnation is pretty well accepted.


From my experience, the most interested listeners are the mother to be and new mothers.


Having this knowledge about reincarnation help them in identifying and be on the look out for the kid's old habit or previous skill. Once identified it is easier to groom the kid for their career in this life.


torrd25


torrd25
 
My sister is the only one I can talk openly with about reincarnation. We both have similar philosophies about life and we've both read the same kinds of books.


My mother is a Jehovah's Witness so reincarnation is something she would call "pagan" and I wouldn't hear the end of it if I ever told her. My father is a bit more open-minded (not a Jehovah's Witness) and I've broached the topic with him a couple of times. He's finds it interesting but he's rather skeptical of it. Lately, after his mother passed, I think he's opening himself up to different possibilities, though.


My husband is getting warmed up to it but he's a skeptic like my dad. It'll take some time for him, I think. :)


My brother doesn't seem very far in his spiritual progression and so I think talking about spiritual things such as reincarnation would just confuse and bore him.


I haven't broached it with my best friend yet. I'm not sure how she would respond. She'd either really be into it or it would bore her. Sometimes, I can't tell where she stands. I've tried talking about a multitude of deep topics but I've never really gotten anywhere with her. I love her though, aside from that, we're so much alike!
 
GreenKnight, I certainly can relate to what you said... it's amazing. We probably don't even live in the same part of the U. S. and yet we get similar responses.


Despite the scientific evidence, the average American is not remotely interested because of societal prejudices. Even when you go on U. S. web sites about ghost hunters and the like, there is no discussion of the subject.


For example, many of us on this forum would naturally conclude that the reason a spirit no longer seems to be present somewhere that was well known as a "haunt", might be that the individual spirit was reborn. Nothing like that seems to occur to the ghost hunters. Furthermore, I have talked to some hobbyist ghost investigators in person and most never heard of reincarnation. They don't keep up with the findings of the University of Virginia... they just don't know anything about it.
 
I live in the midwest U.S. so reincarnation really isn't something most people here talk about. Once in a while I come across someone who brings up the topic because they have a few short memories and then a few more will join in. I've told a short, very edited version of a few memories to them but I'd feel really uncomfortable telling everything I remember.
 
Adding my two cents...


Sometimes I think it's okay to lead up to it. I'll give a recent example: A friend of mine had a baby last year, and it started doing things when it was way too young. Apparently it has puzzled doctors. The fast maturation has since slowed, but at the time it freaked her out a little.


Instead of laughing and telling my friend she was imagining it, or telling her I believed in reincarnation, I let her talk about "weird things that happen." After a few times, she started asking me other things... which finally led to a very quiet "have you ever felt something for a place you've never been?"


I won't get into where the conversation led - she knows about this forum, and so it's for her to share. However, I think that discussing it was good for her, and I think it happened when it needed to happen.


I do think that more people believe in reincarnation than we realize. It's just so hard, not to mention the fact that even the idea itself has opposing views. I don't necessarily think it's good to force the idea out of people, but I do think it's okay to do what I did - let a friend who seemed to want to share something know that I was okay with it, that I wasn't going to judge her even if I disagreed.
 
wednesday said:
I live in the midwest U.S. so reincarnation really isn't something most people here talk about. Once in a while I come across someone who brings up the topic because they have a few short memories and then a few more will join in. I've told a short, very edited version of a few memories to them but I'd feel really uncomfortable telling everything I remember.
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That's so unfortunate, isn't it, Wednesday?


I grew up in a staunchly Catholic family in the 1950's and until moving to St. Louis a year ago lived my entire life in Kansas.


Yeah, you SURE don't find people chatting about past lives over dinner in the Midwest or Plains States, that's for certain!


As adults, the cousin I was closest to as a child and I have talked about such things since he's become quite interested in "woo-woo" spirituality.


But other relatives? No way!


Fortunately, I've been able to discuss past lives openly with my second husband and current husband and a few friends here and there. Mostly, though, I can only talk about this on forums like this one which makes me ever so grateful that we have these.
 
Tonight I went to visit my mom. I was making small talk with her and mentioned that they are advertising that the Dalai Lama scheduled to come here to speak. She expressed her disinterest in anything he has to say and mocked his belief in reincarnation. I did not know what to say. My mom has no idea that I believe in past lives. Because of my silence she stopped with a puzzled look and said, "You know he believes in reincarnation, don't you?" All I could manage to say was, "Yeah, what about it?" She took the opportunity to express how ridiculous and wrong she thinks it is. :butbut: I was faced with a decision. Do I defend reincarntion and all but out myself as a believer in the process? To do so would have been a declaration of war in this instance. Or, do I take the high road, let the moment pass, and maintain peace? I chose the high road. The night was young and she was in the middle of making homemade pizza - yum. :D It doesn't look like I will be able to share my beliefs and experiences with her anytime soon. :o


Would anyone else like to share whether or not they are able to share their beliefs with friends and family.
 
Wow, Truthseeker, I'm sorry to hear :( Sorry in the sense that it always frustrates me that some people are passionate about intolerance - no offense to your mother specifically, of course, I'm sure she's a wonderful mother :thumbsup:


It's just the general tendency that we often hear about on this board from people coming from a religious environment. Even, as some threads her show and which I also personally believe, the belief of reincarnation is not impossible within a Christian context.


I completely understand your choice, Truthseeker ;) I would have done exactly the same. My mother knows I believe in reincarnation and I think my father knows it too. My mother believes in it, my father is open to the idea. My boyfriend, who believes only in science ( :D ), knows about it too and he accepts and tolerates that I believe in it even though he thinks mumbo jumbo. I'm lucky to live in a family who is open and tolerant, but I generally keep my beliefs to myself :)
 
Sunniva said:
It always frustrates me that some people are passionate about intolerance
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It frustrates me too. I've tried to open her mind to other points of view, but she feels her intolerance is justified because she knows the "truth." :rolleyes:

No offense to your mother specifically, of course, I'm sure she's a wonderful mother :thumbsup:
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None taken. She is a loving mother and she means well. She's just worried about my salvation. : angel What was strange about it was she brought up reincarnation, not me. I've never heard the word come out of her mouth before. She was insulting me without even realizing it. It was hard not to retaliate, but I knew how monumental the argument that would result would be. So, I let it pass. Something tells me that's not going to be the end of it.


I'm sure that my experience and frustrations are not unique. That's why I bumped this thread. :cool
 
Well, anyone who's ever read my blog knows that I'm beyond caring whether or not people think I'm a flake -- I believe in a lot of unpopular "conspiracy theories" and feel it's my duty to get people to talk about subjects that many feel are taboo. I mean, if so many people think it's a taboo subject, why? Still, I found it very difficult to broach the subject with my parents, even though they tend to be more open-minded than most.


First, I had to get an outside opinion about my handwriting compared with a possible past life. I asked a few minor acquaintances about it, and they all agreed that the handwriting was similar, but I really wanted to ask someone I trusted, so I showed my Dad a photocopy of a sample of the very old handwriting, asked him to read some lines while I wrote it down in cursive. Then I asked him to compare the sample. Was it the same handwriting? Well, a couple letters didn't exactly match (they were written in an archaic style) but I told my Dad, "yeah, but what if many, many years have gone by? Could this be written by the same person?" My Dad agreed it could. I told him the photocopied sample was written in the 1700's. He looked at me like I tricked him and seemed a bit spooked out about it. When I broached the subject with my mother she told me I was nuts, but that's not exactly new to me. :o
 
Along our sometimes rocky road through 37 years of marriage, my wife and I have discussed reincarnation, and she has felt safe to reveal some of her dreams of living in the fishing town of Marblehead, Massachusetts during the early 19th Century, as well as later being a spirit floating in that same house. Another possible past life dream/memory caused her to sit bolt upright in bed; after which she described being in a huge pre-18th Century stone kitchen with an adjoining scullery. The fireplace was huge; and the austere walls, cooking fireplace, and stairways were all made of very large, carefully cut stone blocks. Obviously, she is open to the possibility that these might have been real memories.


But, even though we have discussed these experiences, I've been very hesitant to divulge my own thoughts of the matter as anything other than curious interest in reincarnation -- that is, until recently, when I came to this Forum. I described to her the a few of the many verified cases of children researched by Dr. Ian Stevenson and others. In addition the case of James James Leininger was especially interesting to me, because of my own vivid dream of crashing a Spitfire into the English Channel during the battle of Britain. And then, as if that wasn't enough I described the cockpit with its unusual "donut" stick and other features. Finally, when I described clues that possibly linked me to a 3 year old brother, who was killed by a car in 1943, she looked at me strangely, and I felt rather foolish for having revealed anything.


Although we have always "felt" that we were together during the American War of Independence, I don't think that either of us actually firmly believed this was true, despite the many clues and native insights into the period. It's one thing to entertain these possibilities, and quite another to firmly conclude that they are fact. So, I dropped the subject and haven't mentioned it since.


I think there is a part of us that holds out from being absolutely convinced until we discover empirical proof of reincarnation. And, discussing these ideas with anyone that we know might be unwise, if we care in the slightest about what people might think. For you and I, this Forum would be the only place that offers anonymity and the freedom to enquire and share. However, in all honesty, I don't think I would want my wife to come near this site, let alone anyone else that I know. Besides, I think that some people may believe whole heartedly today; and then be skeptical the next. I've long suspected that the beliefs can be fluid and changeable; and that some folks will lean toward the beliefs of the last person they've spoken with.


Thanks for listening!


-Nightrain
 
A few of my online friends know about it, and they have generally being accepting of it, but I remember one incident that really upset me.


I was talking to an online friend of mine, and the subject sort of came up. I had always thought she was a spiritual sort of person, so I decided to tell her about what I saw. Since the general reaction of my close friends had been positive, I totally wasn't expecting what happened next.


Where she laughed at me when I told her I thought I was in Auschwitz- I remember her words, "You had to pick the most famous camp, didn't you?"


She told me I was "mental", crazy for thinking such things and then said I was a horrible person, a monster for writing about the Holocaust in my short stories/poems.


She also spent a good deal of time yelling at me about how even if I converted to Judaism I would never be a "real" Jew.


Needless to say, that kept me quiet for quite some time. I had told my mother much earlier, after I saw my first vision, but she didn't believe me. I found that a bit ironic because out of all the people I have seen in my memories, she is the one I instantly recognized.


My boyfriend is aware of my memories, and though he doesn't remember it now (his short term memory kind of sucks) he has had a few dreams of his own that involve us in that life.
 
Jody said:
Well, anyone who's ever read my blog knows that I'm beyond caring whether or not people think I'm a flake ...
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I am like Jody, I don't care if anyone thinks that I am a flake.


I usually don't talk about spiritual beliefs unless someone else opens that door. Usually, I think that a person will bring the subject up if they are wondering about reincarnation or the afterlife and they are looking for some kind of affirmation that there is some greater purpose to their life. When the door opens, I will sometimes (not always) say something like "we have been here before and we will be here again - we are eternal spiritual beings". That gives them something to think about and it also gives them an indication of where you are coming from.


Also, I refuse to debate the subject with anyone. Either they are genuinely interested in and respectful of what I believe or we don't talk about it.
 
Justin Smith said:
My parents always sneered at the idea of reincarnation (and any sort of religion). Before he died, my father said he'd always had this strange memory of marching in a parade commemorating the "end of the great war" (world war I) and it didn't fit into the normal sequence of his life.
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This is OT, not to mention the fact that you posted this years ago, but your father disliking religion makes me recall something I learned in school. Apparently in the 1920s and 1930s, a lot of people stopped holding onto their faith like they had in previous years. If your father lived during that period, it fits - he may have carried the disdain for religion to the next life.


I'll tell people I believe in reincarnation, but I've discussed it with very few people. It's especially hard because not everyone takes it seriously. And I think that there are a lot of flakes who say they believe in it only because they want to look "mysterious." But I think there's flakes in every belief system, who don't really believe as much as they say they do... they just want attention. I also think that if you look down on people who believe in something or anything, you're going to think they're flaky no matter what. I was called a "wishful thinker" once, which IMHO is more or less another version of "flake." This person, however, had no interest in understanding or respecting my beliefs - he just wanted to make me feel bad about not subscribing to his beliefs.
 
Wishful thinking???:rolleyes:


If you ask me, reincarnation is the most fair-minded belief system there is -- a real stickler for making people take responsibility for their own actions.


If you ask me, the Christian who believes you can be as greedy and nasty as you want to be throughout your life but can void all of that with a simple "I profess Jesus Christ to be my personal savior" at the end of it and enjoy the same paradise (without learning anything) as a selfless saint is the wishful thinker.


Some people who think we just die and that's the end of it are wishful thinkers, too. Some of them don't think they'll ever have to face the things they've been too fearful or selfish to face. Of course, not all Christians, Agnostics or people of other faiths believe we will be exempt from responsibility of our actions during life, but the idea of karma and "reaping what you sow" and learning from your actions is kind of built in the idea of reincarnation. Maybe I'm a wishful thinker in that I'd like to think the universe is fair ... but if you truly believe in taking responsibility for your actions, that's a lot harder row to hoe than many Christians want to believe.
 
Jody said:
Wishful thinking???:rolleyes:
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Whoops - I guess I should explain the context; his comment had nothing to do with reincarnation. The man in question said I was a "wishful thinker" because I affirmed my belief in God, something he condemned me for. :rolleyes: Although I'm sure he would have some negative things to say about reincarnation too - I just don't want to know what.


And he definitely wasn't Christian - in fact, he's probably the most anti Christianity guy I know.


I agree that reincarnation is far from wishful thinking, though. Why would anyone want to have killed someone? Or been a victim of a brutal crime?


I don't think belief of any kind is necessarily wishful thinking.
 
Looking Backwards said:
The man in question said I was a "wishful thinker" because I affirmed my belief in God, something he condemned me for. :rolleyes:
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It's easy to call someone a "wishful thinker" for believing in heaven. However, Jody brought up a good point. I can see where an atheist who believes that nothing we do in life matters because there is no ultimate consiquence is also guilty of wishful thinking.


This idea of wishful thinking reminded me of something. I little while back, I brought up the new FOX show Past Life (premiering tomorrow night BTW :D ) to a friend to test is attitude toward the idea of reincarnation. To my suprise (because of his strong Christian faith) he was very open and interested. So I shared with him the James Leininger story (always good to stick to the mainstream when testing the water with someone ;) ) and he was very intrigued.


He is a very logical thinker, so I then decided to show him an interview with Michael Newton. I thought Dr. Newton's no-nonsense, scientific approach would appeal to him. He was enjoying the interview until Dr. Newton said that he has never found the existance of hell in his research. My friend did not like this idea at all. Of course, he had lived his whole life with hell discouraging him from doing anything immoral, and he just could not accept the possibility of it not existing. I think he took comfort in believing that he, and everyone he liked were punching their tickets to Heaven. And all the people he doesn't like are on the highway to hell.


I believe that this is very wishful thinking on his part. He just wouldn't accept that if you (for example) kill someone, you aren't going to be punished for it. I then expressed that, maybe, there is still karmic consiquences in the next life. Or, perhaps, the person you killed will get even somewhere down the road. That seemed to make some sense to him, but he's been less interested in the idea of reincarnation ever since.
 
This is not something I generally discuss with anybody. I have spoken to a few of my close friends on the subject, but they are quite open minded and spiritual people anyway.


My immediate family (my mother and sister in this case) would definitely not accept my belief in reincarnation as they are born again christians. I was also raised as such, but consider myself spiritual and do not align myself with any particular religion anymore. Were my mother to know of my beliefs, she would be convinced I was being deceived by the devil and on my way to hell. I did actually try to speak about reincarnation with my sister once, but I could tell she didn't get where I was coming from. That said, she didn't judge me, for which I am grateful.


My girlfriend is also christian and was actually freaked out when she discovered I believed in reincarnation (which she did by snooping through my internet search history on one occasion...). To her mind, it is "ungodly" and I know there is nothing I could say to convince her of it, so I just don't talk about it with her. She has her beliefs, I have mine.


However, I have discussed some of the past life experiences I've had with the aforementioned friends, and they've been quite accepting. In fact, I spoke about some of Carol's book on children's past lives to one of them who was mostly fascinated with the anecdote (from the book) concerning the boy who doted on his friend to the disapproval of his sister, only for it to later transpire that the boys were lovers in a previous life. The whole idea actually blew my friend's mind with regard to the relationship we, as souls have with others, and this has got him curious about his own past lives!
 
Jody said:
Wishful thinking???:rolleyes:
If you ask me, reincarnation is the most fair-minded belief system there is -- a real stickler for making people take responsibility for their own actions.


If you ask me, the Christian who believes you can be as greedy and nasty as you want to be throughout your life but can void all of that with a simple "I profess Jesus Christ to be my personal savior" at the end of it and enjoy the same paradise (without learning anything) as a selfless saint is the wishful thinker.


Some people who think we just die and that's the end of it are wishful thinkers, too. Some of them don't think they'll ever have to face the things they've been too fearful or selfish to face. Of course, not all Christians, Agnostics or people of other faiths believe we will be exempt from responsibility of our actions during life, but the idea of karma and "reaping what you sow" and learning from your actions is kind of built in the idea of reincarnation. Maybe I'm a wishful thinker in that I'd like to think the universe is fair ... but if you truly believe in taking responsibility for your actions, that's a lot harder row to hoe than many Christians want to believe.
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Your post reminds me of some musings of my own earlier. The way I see it, christianity appears to offer a kind of Get Out Of Jail Free Card. As you say, you can be as nasty as you want, but so long as you make verbal assent to Jesus, you're in the special club and will be "saved", while everyone else gets thrown into hell, no matter how they've lived their lives.


Beyond that, my beliefs in reincarnation have been reinforced by a lot of work on near-death experiences that I've read. What is of particular interest to me is the process known as the Life Review where a dying person essentially relives their life, but with full awareness of what everyone else around them was thinking of feeling, and with the awareness of how their actions affected others. Now, for a person who lived a "good" life, a process like this would not be so bad, but for a greedy or selfish person, this would be extremely painful and torturous. With that in mind, the traditional christian view of just being slung into a fiery lake really is getting of lightly in comparison.


It is also worth considering that ultimately, a Life Review process serves the purpose of education rather than vengeful punishment. To my mind, an infinitely compassionate and gracious God would give people as many chances as they need (through reincarnation) to make good, rather than giving them only one shot, particularly given the unequal circumstances into which we are all born.
 
Inphanta said:
It is also worth considering that ultimately, a Life Review process serves the purpose of education rather than vengeful punishment. To my mind, an infinitely compassionate and gracious God would give people as many chances as they need (through reincarnation) to make good, rather than giving them only one shot, particularly given the unequal circumstances into which we are all born.
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I agree 100%. :thumbsup:
 
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