Recap of lives you remember and lessons

[Obie]

What are the various lives you have had in order and the life lessons you learned from each life?

The only I can remember:

Atlantis: Scientist of some sort. Male

African warrior woman. My mother was eaten by a lion. I was raised by my father. I had no brothers so I became the warrior chief of the tribe once my father passed. I was a wise and just ruler. My only issue in that life was whether people liked me for me or for the fact they are to gain by befriending the chief.

Irish male warrior who died in battle defending his country. Again a life as a warrior who performed his duty to his people.

Post civil war: Actress and performer in New Orleans and the West. One of the Few lives where I wasnt so much bound by duty.

Now: Female, Govt employee who works for the nation's defense.

I have had many lives where I have worked to defend the nation I am a part of. I always had a strong sense of duty. I havent had time to enjoy myself much in my lives. I am learning in this life, the importance of making the most out of life and not wasting it. Making the most means working hard to make something of myself, but also enjoying life and not making work the top priority and to do things for myself.

 

[tanguerra]

Nice idea Obie.


I too have had many lives as a soldier of one kind or another, just 'doing my duty' and not asking too many questions, but learning a lot along the way... loyalty, courage, self-confidence, self-discipline, leadership, love (always)..


I began to question it all about 200 or so years ago. I became more aware of the politics behind it all and became suspicious that I was being 'sold a pup'... Cynicism about politicians and war is deeply embedded in my nature, as is a scorn of bullies.


I have seemed to alternate between lives on a theme of 'war' and on the theme of 'love'. Perhaps this has followed gender changes, but the themes interweave even from on gender to the next...


Something to think about more. Good thread idea!

 

[Spatz]

Nice idea Obie.
I too have had many lives as a soldier of one kind or another, just 'doing my duty' and not asking too many questions, but learning a lot along the way... loyalty, courage, self-confidence, self-discipline, leadership, love (always)..


I began to question it all about 200 or so years ago. I became more aware of the politics behind it all and became suspicious that I was being 'sold a pup'... Cynicism about politicians and war is deeply embedded in my nature, as is a scorn of bullies.


I have seemed to alternate between lives on a theme of 'war' and on the theme of 'love'. Perhaps this has followed gender changes, but the themes interweave even from on gender to the next...

Ooh, not to detract but I think this is not only more than just a bit interesting but also rather lovely. What you mentioned about those themes interweaving and learning a lot about love and confidence even in those lives where you played a part in war, something that seems to discourage those two things very much... hm. The human spirit in everything!


Regarding recaps and my lessons learned, it's rather difficult for me to try and explain those so far. I'll admit that unlike a lot of you who around here who are so terribly eloquent, I'm really not a writer and I don't think I could sum it up so easily. Also, I'll be the first to admit I'm still really learning. But I'll try my hand at it:


One of the most important things that I've been learning this lifetime as a direct result of studying reincarnation and experiencing past life memories would be the value of life and the value of others in my life. Life might be 'short' compared to the scheme of it all but these moments and these interactions matter. I'm better focused on the future now, I guess I liken it to driving. It's important to have your rearview, some times important things come up from where we've already been, but focusing on what's behind us all the time might make us crash. Recovering some of those past life memories helps me understand myself better and so I've an easier time moving forward.

 

[Crescent1]

Lessons learned (or not!)


Long time lurker, first time poster. I’ve been reading the forum so long without having much to contribute, that I thought I should finally take the plunge on this very interesting topic. I love all the information shared in the posts above--food for thought!


I’ve been embarked on a personal exploration of my past lives for the last seven years. My practice involves meditation, guided regression, and self-hypnosis, but whatever the methodology, I always ask for the lesson I should take away from each life I remember. Overall, the lessons (and the lives) have dealt with how one ought to treat other people and how to love and accept “myselves.” There have been a lot of ups and downs, but when there have been instances of “failure,” I’ve had the opportunity to address those issues again in other lives.


So far, I’ve uncovered approximately 18 past lives, although I’ve had a more visceral connection with some than with others. Indeed, I often feel quite bemused by the lives that were “failures” on some level, especially when their most objectionable qualities have been resolved by subsequent incarnations. They can feel quite “distant” from me, as though I were observing someone else’s children misbehaving on the playground. The sting has gone out of their bad behavior (with one notable exception, which I’ll discuss below.)


By way of example, I spent one life as a Jewish woman in Asia Minor. Her lesson: to love others despite their differences. Unfortunately, she reviled everyone who wasn’t a part of her insular community—rigid, intolerant, and judgmental, she made herself miserable. I returned to both Asia Minor and this failed attempt to understand tolerance 700 years later. An aristocratic, cultured woman (and, incidentally, a Muslim this time around,) “I” had great enjoyment in the free-flow of ideas and lived a carefree, pleasant life filled with curiosity, intellectual stimulation, and affection. I consider her one of my most successful lives and somewhat of an aspirational figure still.


Now, while I certainly wouldn’t want to meet the bitter, small-minded woman I once was, I don’t necessarily despise her. She was angry in such an extreme way, I can almost laugh at her foolishness and feel a sort of distant fondness. She had everything so backwards but she believed it so fervently!


In contrast, I had a life as a French soldier in the mid-800s, for whom my emotions run very high. His lesson was to live his life with grit and fortitude, but his weakness was women, with whom he was violent and abusive. I was ecstatic to discover that he came to a sticky end, since it struck me as good riddance to bad rubbish. Still, I couldn’t understand why I hated him so much; I didn’t have so much emotion around other, equally unpleasant, lives. What I eventually realized was that “his” issues had not yet been resolved. I’m still working through them. Not only am I a woman now, but I spent several years volunteering with exploited and victimized women, even though there was nothing in my personal history that would have led me to that work. My passion around the issue mystified my family and friends (and myself, to some extent!) It took me a long time to make my peace with this soldier and to appreciate the ways in which he’s been a useful teacher to me, showing me how to have compassion for others and also how to forgive myself.


Many of my life lessons revolved around issues of compassion and empathy, whether on the level of the individual, the family, or the community at large. Sometimes I took the lesson to heart (which often brought a great deal of happiness into lives that were otherwise filled with difficulty and discomfort.) Sometimes I fell down on the job. Sometimes I still fall down on the job! But exploring these lessons and the ways in which my past lives inform each other and my current life has been illuminating to say the least.


A secondary series of lessons had to do with duty to family/community/nation vs desire to be true to myself. In many lives, I felt these orientations were in opposition to each other, but in retrospect, this was often an illusion. It's hard to find the right balance between giving oneself full expression and satisfying one's obligations to the community. The lives which I found a happy equilibrium can serve as inspiration, especially when I'm feeling torn or out of balance. I do believe that our past lives can be our present teachers.

 

[Mere Dreamer]

What an interesting question, Obie! I might have to answer this again later as I learn more, since elements are still showing up, never mind the slow process of coalescing.


Crescent, it's beautiful how you discovered your need for some element in one life and then found your way through to living that character trait in another. I don't have enough information to be that clear on what I've learned, but it's inspiring to think I may be able to see patterns of that sort later.


One thing that all my lives seem to have been collectively training toward is the ability to contain my "own" authority to choose how I love and invest in life, rather than being controlled/guided by an external culture, religion, or person. I see this inner authority as who I am outside of time, in alignment with love/ the maker of meaning/ ultimate consciousness.


Looking back:


The chaski avatar disagreed with the processes of society-religion, but didn't stand up against the sacrifices and simply went along with it all on a superficial level while being frustrated inside. Superficially going along with destructive (unloving) religious practices causes harm to the inner self.


The asian goddess avatar had the perceived authority to teach others that ceremonies and rituals are purely symbolic and it is the internal knowledge and awareness in alignment with love that matters. She was frustrated by being worshiped, and tried to at least teach those who followed her the beginning steps of inner freedom from external religious practice. It frustrated her that others couldn't let go of the rituals in exchange for the reality, even though the rituals did change their perspective enough to help a little.


The choked boy wanted to warn/prevent/control his father so the man wouldn't cause harm to his small social unit (by cheating on the mother, or abandoning the sister and himself) and ended up being killed by his father for his efforts, thus learning that one cannot force change in others (even with love) without putting oneself under their control/manipulation. By exerting our will on them to that extent we create the chains of the heart by which they harm us.


The California girl began to reject attempted control on herself (at least relational/financial) and to leave others to their own lessons to some extent. She had some experience with fame either for herself or someone she loved that made her pity the famous because of the extensive social/image control that falls upon them. She seems to have been either adopted or strongly supported by a family that was not her own, so she learned that family/ relationship (love) is something that is chosen and not thrust upon us by blood.


The Greek accountant found himself under social pressure to work (and play friendship) for a man who treated him like an object that could be acquired. He also had a deep friendship (and offered the same professional service) with a scientist/artist who valued him for who he was. I'm still discovering what he learned ... but for me, now, the contrast between the two relationships is strong. If relationship is demanded it can actually prevent the other from offering what they have because the demand becomes the only channel through which a gift might be recognized, and as such its authenticity will always be suspect. Giving love can't be demanded, only offered from the source.


The Japanese samurai lived and died by the code, but his blind devotion sabotaged the quality of service he could offer by limiting the perception of what he could offer to what was expected of him. Never mind his death served no one. Love that is genuinely offered can still be limited by external, social/ religious beliefs of what is acceptable and what is not.


The rescued street boy focused his entire life and service on the master who rescued him, and was able to help, heal, and encourage him as a result. That exclusive focus on loving one person also prevented him from offering help and encouragement to others. He could have loved more people, but he was blinded to that possibility. So, when his beloved master died he simply waited for death instead of seeing that he had value to offer elsewhere.


In this life, I've been relearning and applying all these elements in new ways. It's really fascinating how they all come together to give me the strength to choose alternate paths than I had chosen in those lives ... even though I had no clue about past lives at the time of those choices in this life. Knowing might have sped up the process ... but it might have also prevented me from learning what I need to know. Hmm...

 

[Eevee]

That is really incredible what deep spiritual insights you all have in your past lives. Thank you for sharing. This makes me want to meditate further on some PL's of mine.


I remember many, but from most only snippets, a few more detailed. One life lesson I remember: Knowledge is for sharing. It is better to have no knowledge than knowledge you cannot share. (In that life I was working with some secret scientific knowledge, and the result was that I had to flee from my people. This was an ancient life, probably some ancient civilisation).


When I became aware of this lesson, it took me a while to understand the meaning. I still have the tendency sometimes to keep insights to myself, but then I get reminded of this lesson, and realise it might be important for others if I speak up.


Nice thread!

 

[Twilight]

Chinese Noble named Xiang or Xi-Chung; son of Qin and Ming Killed in a invasion of my Property in Shanxxi.


Aryan Chief named Koosna, Was speared shortly after my victory in an Indian jungle.


Mysterious Disciple; Simon Peter, Paul? (2BC-65AD)


First vision: I was born in Malta as a Slave. My Mother's name was Ishtar and my Father's name was Ishmael. My task was carrying stones for the oxes to carry.


2nd vision: When I was 7 years old in 5AD when I got fed up with all the backbreaking work so I decided to hijack an empty ship and go aviking to Judea where I look an occupation as a shoe maker and part time fisherman in my leisure time. Over the years I got into a couple of fights but one of them was one of my current spirit guides; Simon Magus.


3rd memory: I remember hanging out in the temple of Zion, the area was semi sandy/Tropical place with palm trees. Jesus used to tell us all these stories about his adventures.


4th memory: I was in a rustic Iron Age Stage speaking for the Tribe of Benjamin, I was wearing a Blue garb and the other was wearing a white garb.


At the death vision, I was carrying a wooden plank through the desert sands of Syria. I tripped and cracked my ribs but got up with the help with a couple of executioners, we got to out location just about past out, I was secured into the plank and flipped upside down, I was gone.


Jaques the Fool in Normandy?


Diana Devonshire (6/6/1632-1664) English Civil War Vetran executed for Witchcraft as a healer.


My name was Diana Devonshire (1632-1664). I was Born In Reading, Berkshire with a brother named Derek jr, Anya and Tanya. Diana Christine Devonshire was 8 when she was out on the streets with her parents enjoying the view the hills. I lived near the water front and Dad had a boat on the dock. At the age of 10 Diana and her family were attacked by Royalists and one of them charged after me with a sword getting ready to slay me, my Dad Derek Bothel Devonshire intervened reassuring my Mom; Christine Devonshire that he would hold off the knights as me, my Mom and my sisters;Anya and Tanya to get on his ship to sail to Glasgow Invernesshire. Derek Devonshire was killed in a raid so we had to send Derek Jr. to the Orphanage because none of us girls could raise him due to the gender of me, Tanya, Anya and my Mother; us girls sailed to Glasgow as we settled in a hut. Anya past away from a sickness on the way to Scotland I believe leaving Tanya and me training to fight while we stayed at the hut in the countryside. We then sailed to Devon fighting a year later alongside my family during the English Civil War and fought with the 16 and 19th Battalion? My Mom was slain a year later in 1644. When the war ended me and Tanya settled in the countryside of Shropshire in 1650 and meet a broom maker named Derek I married him.Can't decipher his last name at this point but we had a son named Abraham in 1655. I was a healer in Shropshire and a lot of locals came to me to heal them. In 1664 I was token to Nottingham riding in a carriage for a sum of gold for my husband. I found myself shackled in chains, as I was trailed and the judge told me what I was accused for witchcraft, I saw hanging bodies from a rope. I was thrown down and beaten in the chest and the last thing I can remember, I was punched in the face with a club like device.


Now: I'm a Special Olympics Ambassador working for the City of Seattle/FAS Filing Clerk


The funny thing is that I seem to always be fighting yet I can't go into the military because of my Autism so I'm not sure how to apply my pastlives to this life or what my lesson for this life is. But I know one thing, this might explain why I'm so emotionless on the outside, is this the incarnate realm saying I need a break from all the combat business?Idk, how do you guys think I'm doing?

 

[tanguerra]

...One of the most important things that I've been learning this lifetime as a direct result of studying reincarnation and experiencing past life memories would be the value of life and the value of others in my life. Life might be 'short' compared to the scheme of it all but these moments and these interactions matter. I'm better focused on the future now, I guess I liken it to driving. It's important to have your rearview, some times important things come up from where we've already been, but focusing on what's behind us all the time might make us crash. Recovering some of those past life memories helps me understand myself better and so I've an easier time moving forward.

Thanks Spatz and I wouldn't say you're not a writer. That's a great use of metaphor right there.