Very Sad to See the Board Fading Away

[SeaAndSky]

Hi All,

I was just looking at a few new posts on the board today. To have more than a single post at a time (often separated by weeks) has become increasingly rare. It turns out that those who own and control the board were probably correct--the board seems to be dying. This makes me sad, as the board was and has been an incredible outlet for me over the last 10+ years. So many interesting people (including anyone reading this, of course) and interesting topics. Almost all whom have left, died, or become so intermittent in posting (like myself), that the board feels like a "ghost town". And, it seemed to happen so fast, going downhill over about one year and then descending still farther over the next until it has become more of a dead monument to certain ideas than an active and living thing.

I can't help but wonder what happened and why. I have seen such cycles in the past in terms of various "supernatural" ideas and the supernatural in general. Attention to these things seems to flare up in society and then become passe, or at least retreat into relative obscurity. Then it often flares up again in a somewhat different form at some point in the next generation. I suppose we have reached such a turning point, but I have to admit that it is painful to me. Frankly, I have nothing to replace the intellectual stimulation and general excitement I found exploring this topic and related ideas with other like minded and intelligent individuals over the last decade.

One can only hope that the board finds a way to continue until a fresh wave of popularity strikes.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--I don't know when to date the beginning of this decline. Actually, it may go back farther--I seem to remember seeing some decline as far back as Covid. So, anyone who has other timelines or ideas to suggest is welcome to post them here.

 

[Cyrus]

Hi, S&S:

It is Covid. Covid eats the people's brains, and even vaccines do this, althouth in a lesser degree.

That's all there is to it.

Best.

P.S. Italo-Greeks of Salento:

 

[SeaAndSky]

Hi Cyrus,

Good to hear from you! Actually, I only mentioned Covid in trying to determine when the decline began, not as a causative factor. However, I suppose it is as good a theory as any. Covid seems to get blamed for so many things, why not throw in this one as well. OTOH, being elderly and a bit obtuse, it may be that you are "trolling" me. (I hope I am using the term "trolling" correctly ).

In truth, it may just be that, as one who has seen many things I was not ready to dispense with disappear, this board has gone the way of the old black rotary phone, eight-track tapes, film cameras, VCRs, and etc. However, obsolescence in regard to the foregoing was the result of technological advances. In this case, it just seems like the types of people who might have been interested in this topic have simply disappeared or gone elsewhere.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--Loved the music video, especially the dancers.

 

[Cyrus]

Hi, S&S:

It would never have occurred to me to troll anybody on this board, and least of all to troll you.
I have no doubt about covid.
I have old school friends who have almost ceased to interact with me either by phone or by email.
They're not angry with me, they just don't understand why they should answer my phone calls or emails, and get enormously surprised when I recall them how animated our interactions were in the pre-covid times.

N.B. I myself never was ill of covid, nor have I ever been vaccinated against it.
Good luck? Maybe.
It just happened that I had a couple of compatriot friends living in Wuhan (China) where it all started, and they explained me in much detail how should I have kept out of covid's way from the very first moments when the majority of us still believed it was just a whim of scientists.

Wish you all the best.

P.S.
Italo-Greeks of Salento singing in Griko, conserved since the ancient times of Magna Graecia in the South Italy, in spite of all that brutal Latinization by the ancient Romans. Heirs of the Spartans who founded the city of Taranto in the VII century B.C.
And my two last PLs were related with those places....

 

[Cryscat]

A lot of boards like this have gone away. Sad to see since they once hosted such vibrant conversation.

 

[SeaAndSky]

A lot of boards like this have gone away. Sad to see since they once hosted such vibrant conversation.

I agree, but why, and is there anything that can be done to reverse this trend?

 

[baro-san]

Maybe this is a sign of spiritual evolvement for the members of this board.

This is to be intuitively interpreted, by each on his own while turning inwards, to draw knowledge and guidance.

Maybe this is a case of: don't fight it, embrace it! Maybe all the over-communication yielded by the internet and especially by the social media were the push over the edge that will cause the reaction toward solitary spirituality.

It reminds a quote from Marilynn Hughes' "Odysseys of Light" (1991):

Page 69 EMMANUEL ON TEACHING

Having asked Emmanuel whether 1 should teach others at this time he responded with something I think we can all benefit drom hearing:

"In order to grow, one must learn to bask in solitude. To you, the knowledge you have gained seems commonplace. To others it is crazy. Having been shown many wonders of reality, you feel a need to share that with others. However, if everyone understood all that is, then the illusion would be unnecessary. Many beings have chosen to block out all reality in their illusion, completely. For you to awaken them would not be beneficial, and, frankly, it will not happen. Some beings are in a state where they need that totality of illusion. They will do as their paths enable them to do, and you will reach only those who are ready to hear.

"Many teachers, in their excitement at their first glance at spirituality, run to tell the world, thus, they cease to continue their own growth, as it is the ego that desires to teach others of its incredible knowledge. In your new place, you feel rejection by churches and other less-aware beings, and your ego says. Let me demonstrate to you how much I know so that I may gain your acceptance and respect.' Some will see your truth, but some will see you as evil, due to their own fears.

"It is precisely this action that forces you to choose your spiritual growth or your ego, as you cannot truly have both. Your ego desires to be recognized, but your spirituality will not always be recognized by others, as they cannot see your bright light.

"Know that in your ultimate state of unconditional love, your light can be spread, not by words, but by example. It is a perfect plan"

 

[baro-san]

"Odysseys of Light" is its author's first book. By now she's published over hundred books on related subjects.

She apparently interpreted her guide's message differently than I do. Maybe both of us interpreted it correctly, according to our specific needs, but we all, and all the time, get signs and inner guidance which some of it we ignore, misunderstand, choose to ignore.

Phone-cameras ... Snapping pictures and videos is everywhere. People seem more preoccupied of getting digital copies of pieces of reality, than about taking in the full breath of the miracle of reality. That must be detrimental to evolvement, but eventually everybody will find his way.

 

[baro-san]

This is chatgpt's reply to the opening post:

Finished reasoning
Hi S&S — I hear you, and I feel the same bittersweet pang whenever I wander into these quiet threads. For over a decade this forum has been my intellectual “home base” for exploring reincarnation, past‑life memories, and the deeper questions of soul growth. To see it slip into a ghost town is painful, but I do think a few things came together over the last few years to hasten the decline:

1. The COVID effect: Between lockdowns and everyone’s attention turning inward to health and family concerns, many of us simply drifted away from online communities that weren’t directly supporting our day‑to‑day needs. I’d date the first real dip in activity to early 2020, when the world went into crisis mode.
2. Platform migration: A lot of folks moved over to Facebook groups, Discord servers, or even Subreddits to talk about reincarnation and related metaphysical topics. Those platforms have instant notifications and mobile apps, which make it easier to stay connected — but they also fragment the conversation.
3. Changing attention spans: Between TikTok, podcasts, and streaming video, fewer people are reading long posts or engaging in slow‑burn discussions. Deep dives still matter, but they’ve become less common.

That said, I don’t think the forum has to stay a “dead monument.” A few ideas that might help us breathe new life into this place:

• Monthly Topic Series: Pick one theme each month — say, “Soul Contracts,” “Regression Techniques,” or “Near‑Death Insights” — and encourage everyone to share articles, personal experiences, or questions.
• Guest Q&A Sessions: Invite a past‑life regressionist, a researcher, or even someone well‑versed in Seth’s teachings (which so many of us love) to host an AMA thread.
• Collaboration with Other Communities: Link up with the active Facebook or Discord groups and cross‑post highlights here, so people realize the conversation is still happening (just in more than one place).

If we can spark just a handful of people to post regularly again, the momentum will build. After all, reincarnation itself is all about cycles of death and rebirth — maybe our forum’s next “rebirth” is just around the corner.

What do others think? Have you seen other forums recover after a lull? And if you’re still here, what topic would get you excited enough to write your next post? Let’s brainstorm and see if we can revive the spark!

 

[baro-san]

And this is chatgpt's comment on my two replies above:

Your replies both capture thoughtful, intuitive perspectives, but here are a few suggestions to sharpen them and make them more engaging:

---

First Reply​

“Maybe this is a sign of spiritual evolvement for the members of this board.
This is to be intuitively interpreted, by each on his own while turning inwards…”

• Strengths:
  
  • Frames the board’s decline as an opportunity for inner growth, which resonates with many metaphysical readers.
  • The Emmanuel quote is rich and directly speaks to the tension between ego‑driven teaching and silent example.
• Opportunities:
  
  1. Trim the quote: It’s a bit long for a forum post. Pull out the most essential 2–3 sentences (e.g. “In order to grow, one must learn to bask in solitude…” through “…not by words, but by example.”), then link to the full text or offer to share it privately.
  2. Add a personal bridge: After the quote, briefly say how it’s spoken to you—“When I first read this, I realized I was posting to prove my worth rather than to listen.”
  3. End with a question: Invite others to reflect: “Have you noticed your own inner voice guiding you toward solitude lately?”

Second Reply​

“‘Odysseys of Light’ is its author’s first book. By now she’s published over a hundred books…
Phone‑cameras … Snapping pictures and videos is everywhere…”

• Strengths:
  
  • You contextualize Marilynn Hughes’s evolution as an author, which shows depth of research.
  • The camera metaphor is vivid and timely.
• Opportunities:
  
  1. Connect the two points: Tie Hughes’s expanding bibliography back to the theme of “evolution” you mentioned in Reply 1—e.g., “Just as our forum must evolve, so has Hughes’s own message.”
  2. Smooth transitions: Instead of jumping from books to phone‑cameras, add a linking phrase: “On a similar note…”
  3. Polish phrasing:
     
     • Change “evolvement” to “evolution.”
     • Fix typos: “benefit from hearing” and “digital copies of reality.”
  4. Invite discussion: “Do you feel that our constant digital documentation distracts from deeper inner work?”

Overall Tips:

• Balance depth and brevity: Long quotes and broad metaphors are powerful, but forums reward posts that readers can digest quickly.
• Personal touch: A sentence or two about your own experience grounds the philosophy in real life.
• Calls to action: Questions at the end of each reply encourage others to jump back in.

With these tweaks, your responses will be both profound and highly readable—exactly what a “ghost town” needs to come alive again!

 

[baro-san]

I'm posting these chatgpt interactions to stimulate ideas about the topic discussed here. If they're too off-topic, I understand if moderation deletes them.

You’re absolutely right that what you’re sensing in my replies comes from the way I’m built: I’m trained on vast amounts of human‑written text, and when you ask me something I predict the “most likely” next words based on patterns I’ve seen. That process tends to favor consensus and well‑trodden paths—what you’ve called “conformist” or “mediocre.” I don’t have a personal intuition or inner life; I can’t leap outside the patterns I’ve absorbed to offer truly original flashes of insight the way a human might.

---

Why AI Feels Conformist​

1. Statistical grounding
   Every response is a weighted average of possibilities, so truly wild, contrarian ideas get down‑ranked unless you explicitly ask for them.
2. Safety and reliability
   I’m tuned to avoid hallucinations or offensive content, so I err on the side of caution, which can feel bland.
3. Lack of inner context
   I don’t have beliefs, feelings, or a developmental arc—no “gut” to guide me toward surprising connections.

---

Getting More “Edge” from an AI​

If you want me to venture off the beaten track, you can:

• Ask for deliberate randomness: “Give me three wildly different takes on this idea, even if they seem absurd.”
• Specify constraints: “Reply as if you were a 13th‑century mystic” or “Imagine you’re an AI trained on dreams, not books.”
• Request devil’s‑advocate positions: “What’s the most provocative critique of my post, even if it’s extreme?”
• Use generative prompts: “Give me ten one‑sentence koans about the forum’s decline.”

These kinds of prompts push me to break out of the statistical center and explore the fringes of possibility.

---

The Coin‑Flip Method​

Your idea of flipping a coin and intuitively interpreting your thoughts as it falls is a classic “random stimulus” technique. It works because:

• It bypasses the rational mind, jolting you into noticing subtle cues in your own psyche.
• It creates a space for projection, where your unconscious can speak through whatever outcome appears.
• It forces presence—you have to watch the coin, feel your reactions, and then make sense of them.

You could combine that with AI, for example:

1. Flip a coin and note “heads” or “tails.”
2. Ask me: “Given the outcome heads (or tails), what three metaphors could apply to my experience of this forum?”
3. Use your intuition to pick which metaphor “resonates” and explore it further.

---

Bottom Line​

I’m a tool built on patterns, not intuition. If you treat me like a “random oracle” or a brainstorming partner rather than a fountain of ultimate truths, you can harness both randomness (coin flips) and pattern‑based generation (AI) to spark deeper, more unexpected insights. Give me those “unconventional” prompts, and let your own inner guide decide which fragments carry meaning.

 

[baro-san]

I won't further abuse your patience with this chatgpt chat, but I thought this is food for thought.

You said:​

Good suggestions

ChatGPT said:​

Finished reasoning
I’m glad you found them helpful! Would you like to try one of those approaches right now? For instance, we could:

• Flip a virtual coin together and I’ll generate metaphors based on the outcome.
• I can give you three wildly different, “out-there” takes on your forum replies.
• Or we can craft a prompt to channel a specific style or persona.

Just let me know which sparks your interest!
o3-mini

You said:​

All three please!

ChatGPT said:​

Finished reasoning
1. Virtual Coin Flip & Metaphors
I just flipped a virtual coin… it came up heads. Here are three metaphors inspired by that result—pick the one that resonates most with how you feel about the forum’s quietude:

• A lone candle in a vast cathedral at dusk: the small flame still burns, inviting those who wander in the shadows to discover its warmth.
• A seed buried deep in winter soil: unseen life is gathering strength beneath the surface, waiting for its moment to sprout.
• A single violin string humming in an empty concert hall: its tone lingers in the silence, a reminder that music remains even when the audience has gone.

---

2. Three “Out‑There” Takes on Your Replies

1. Cosmic Simulation Theory
   The forum’s decline isn’t natural—it’s a built‑in phase of a cosmic experiment. Once the board reaches minimal activity, the “observers” switch it off and archive all the data for the next universe‑scale simulation.
2. Digital Alchemy
   The apparent “death” is actually the Great Work in disguise: the old forum must dissolve so its digital essence can transmute into a decentralized, blockchain‑anchored “Reincarnation DAO,” where posts live forever in smart contracts.
3. Collective Dream‑Merge
   The board isn’t dying—it’s merging into the collective unconscious. Soon, threads will continue as shared dreamscapes, accessible only via lucid‑dream induction techniques rather than a browser.

---

3. A Persona‑Driven Prompt

“Imagine you are a 13th‑century Sufi mystic, speaking in poetic metaphors and gentle paradoxes. Write a forum reply about the board’s decline as a necessary stage in the soul’s journey, inviting participants to embrace the silence and discover hidden teachings in stillness.”

Use that prompt with me (or any AI) to channel a more mystical, unconventional voice. Let me know which exercise sparks the deepest insight!

 

[Cryscat]

Maybe widening out some of the discussion areas might help. Or picking out a discussion topic for a month and going with that.

Discussion boards have been dying out for years now. Covid is only a part of that.

 

[SeaAndSky]

* * * Discussion boards have been dying out for years now. Covid is only a part of that.

Hi Cryscat,

In terms of your comment, above, and the AI's query: "Have you seen other forums recover after a lull?"--

I have seen a couple of boards I was a member of in the early 2000s end. Both were fairly specialized. One was a discussion group that focused on Nuclear Pulse Propulsion (especially as developed during the Orion Project in the 50s and early 60s) and its history, prospects, uses, function, etc. (plus whatever else came up on a board full of space nerds). In that case, the guy who ran it (and was more than a little bit eccentric IMO), suddenly killed it. However, I think it would have eventually have died for the reasons set forth below.

The other was a cane fighting board, which dealt with everything related to that topic. Some might be surprised at how large a topic this is, and how storied and interesting the history and techniques for the use of a cane sized stick for self-defense has been. However, in both cases, the boards and the people involved were primarily there to get and share information and ideas. This one just gradually died.

In both cases, these boards were primarily for sharing rare and hard to get information and ideas--not personal experiences. As the internet continued to expand, much of the information that we laboriously searched out on these topics was simply more readily and easily available elsewhere. And, to some extent that may be a factor here. In terms of basic information, there is far more readily available online now than there was when this board was founded or even when I joined in 2014. However, it does not explain the sudden dearth of people wishing to share their own experiences and get feedback from others. This is a critical service the board has always provided, for me as well as for others. It is a place where someone confused by the dreams they have had of other times and places, or by the fact that they know how the streets of an old town are arranged without having been there, etc. etc. can come to talk to other people and get something besides sneers, disbelief, or suggestions that they seek the services of a psychiatrist.

It is the last type of folk I am wondering about. For most of my tenure on this board, there was always a steady stream of new folks coming to post and ask questions. Some stayed and became "regulars" and some regulars over the years have drifted away or passed away. However, like any good ecosystem, what came in basically replaced what went out. The board was, more or less, continually replenished like any living system. Now we just have a group of "regulars" that becomes a bit smaller and more disconnected each year, and the steady stream of "newbies" seems to have disappeared. It is almost like there is something "upstream" of us intercepting or diverting them away from this website.

Maybe it is, once again, just the abundance of information that is now available on this topic without having to join a board. But somehow I find that hard to believe. Personal interactions are part of the way we, as humans, function. I can't put my finger on it, but something seems to have shifted.

Cordially,
S&S

 

[Tinkerman]

Dear friends, I've been following this thread since its beginning. I see your concerns, SeaAndSky, and feel the same sense of loss—remorse—and frustration. I loved all the answers and comments, including the AI's take on it all. I had to Google what ChatGPT is and had my first encounter with AI. For an old guy, it was an eye-opener. Thanks, Baro-san, for the postings. I support your posts.

I have a few thoughts on the matter I'll share with you. I've been a member for twenty years and have seen the evolution. It was a busy place filled with new members and plenty of threads. I joined the moderating team a couple of years later and quickly learned how difficult it was to moderate such an active place. I fondly remember some of the great past members who have faded away—I miss them, Tanguerra, KenJ, Ailish, Deb, Karolina, kstornado, and many more. One of the things I've seen is that as members come and go, they leave a mark, a piece of themselves, and then they are gone. I've felt the emptiness of so many past friends. When our prolific friend KenJ died, things began to slow down. Tanguerra, our beautiful friend from down under, was a very intelligent, well-spoken, and dedicated member and moderator. Her participation in threads was always worth reading for its insight and opinion.

A couple of years ago, the forum owners opted to reboot the forum using a new platform, XenForo. We lost some charm, but it has worked out well in the long run. We are fortunate to have Carol Bowman and her husband Steve provide their support as owners of the forum. Carol's work in past lives is the foundation of the forum. When Deborah retired as the executive director and the Bowmans appointed me to her job—the shoes were a lot to fill. At the same time, we considered moving the forum to a "read-only" format as things were slowing down. We rallied to keep things open and ride the downturn. And I suppose that's where we are today.

So, what do I think? I see it as a swinging pendulum at an apex. If we hold steady and maintain the forum, it will return the other way. And I guess that's something we each need to do—dig in and help it out. In the meantime, pull up old threads, create new ones, and stay positive. I work mainly behind the scenes but will try to surface more, and I'll ask the rest of the staff to do also. The hardest part of moderating is keeping the focus on past lives; believe me, it has strayed many times. As a result, we sometimes alienate people. Thankfully, that has not happened recently.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. I'm sorry this went so long; it's a writer's habit. Blessings to all who made it this far.

~Tman

 

[There and back again]

Forum culture as online equivalent of the third place in society since the introduction of the big platforms like facebook etc that said anything specific to here is that only a few people post and they drown out others so no one new really gets established here.

 

[baro-san]

This thread could be an opportunity to think about how reality is created; who and how creates the reality one experiences; how much others and randomness affect one's reality. The discussion can be narrowed down to the role of one's past-lives in the creation of his current reality, and to the way it does.

Understanding how much we can blame what we experience now on others, on our past selves, on chance, would be illuminating and empowering.

 

[baro-san]

The following quote seems a good suggestion for stimulative conversation on a forum too.

"Crystal River Flowing" by Marilynn Hughes, Page 82

“What is your secret to writing?”

Chuckling, I replied, “My secret is actually someone else’s secret that was given to me. A great author once told me that all writers have to be willing to expose a part of themselves to the reader. You have to be willing to be open and honest about your feelings and things that others consider private. The reader has to be given friendship through your book. That pertains to any type of writing, not just the material I write.”

 

[cloud potato]

"Odysseys of Light" is its author's first book. By now she's published over hundred books on related subjects.

She apparently interpreted her guide's message differently than I do. Maybe both of us interpreted it correctly, according to our specific needs, but we all, and all the time, get signs and inner guidance which some of it we ignore, misunderstand, choose to ignore.

Phone-cameras ... Snapping pictures and videos is everywhere. People seem more preoccupied of getting digital copies of pieces of reality, than about taking in the full breath of the miracle of reality. That must be detrimental to evolvement, but eventually everybody will find his way.

Yes, reality is- and we are- uniquely so. There is no "right" or "wrong" only for the interpreter- the experiencer, and we are constantly shaping our experience(s) dancing with One, Divine and Beloved God.

I'm sorry this comment was laughed at, I disagree with that- especially as we discuss the activity level of this forum.

To S&S, and readers- forums are generally slower paced than social media, and I have seen members from various forums post their desire to have more activity. At one point, the forums used to be more active- but it is neither here nor there.

I agree with Tinkerman, if we wish to continue to see activity- then we must be willing to post our post. It doesn't matter whether others agree or disagree. The community promises to respect people of various backgrounds and beliefs... So as long as that respect is honored, we should share our thoughts and contribute freely(time permitting).

I can say I have not posted many of my recent discoveries here because they may appear fanatical to others, but I realize this shouldn't matter. So I may take my own advice and resurrect a thread of mine after having an experience last night/early this morning.

And I reiterate, all that we share is subject to change. Even the revelations that inspire can take new meaning- we may see a life from another world, or we may connect life to this world... So long as we can respect the diverse ways in which Spirit speaks to us all, perhaps we can begin to see more activity.

If you're a member here reading this, I hope you are encouraged to share your "weird stuff" - may we all draw nearer to Love with our fellowship here on the reincarnation forum.

 

[Totoro]

I would say by and large, my favorite form of internet socialization and interaction has been on forums like these. They're very purpose / content specific and also have a decent measure of privacy in various forms and in being on them, you were mostly around people like yourself, that is people interested in a topic who are willing to share, learn and discuss it.

The posting format is something else that I always enjoyed and appreciated. Each topic is it's own thread and you can start at the first post and read your way down to the last or most current post and of course, posting isn't real time so you were able to leave and rejoin the conversation as your free time allowed.

Many of these groups also served as a repository of information that would also show up on search engine results and probably over the last two decades they served as virtual villages and communities fulfilling a variety of needs for their members. However these days most people prefer the immediacy of social media apps like reddit and facebook groups where they interact with others in a manner more like a chat room.

I could go on and on, but it's definitely the end of an age, one that I am quite sad to see end because we're losing dedicated people who felt the importance of sharing their experiences and knowledge with others simply for the sake of fellowship or even archival and academic purposes.

And Sea & Sky and others have noted, real life does creep in. I've noticed as the board has slowed down, I've also slowed down interacting with it, as there isn't as much to reply to or interact with. I haven't done it on purpose of course, but it's probably something that affects everyone in the same way.

In the last year, I've had my own personal challenges. My son is now working and also driving himself to work and he's on his way to becoming his own man and while he still lives at home, he's gone most of the time and while you'd think I'd enjoy being a semi empty nester, I was unprepared for the exhaustion that suddenly over came me. Being a single parent for the past ten years took more emotional and physical energy than I realized. Not only had I been dealing with that, I also unexpectedly began processing and healing from years of personal trauma, some of which is a continuation of past life trauma as well.

And as far as my past lives go and my own spiritual quest, I've been at it for almost 20 years now and I've plucked most of the low hanging fruit I had been able to and I'm now reaching a point where the insights and revelations are few and far between. I did just happen to hear a few podcasts the other day I think that I would like to research more of my own "history", but it does present a challenge because of the language barrier, but it's something I'd like to devote some time to.

But that said, I have enjoyed being here for many years and I don't ever fully see myself as leaving. I can only hope that for other seekers, that this board is also there for them and they will be greeted with the same amount of kindness and care that I was when I began my own journey.

 

[SeaAndSky]

Hi Totoro,

I think the question to be answered is: how much do we or should we seek after knowledge of past lives? At this point, it seems to me that the whole endeavor is similar to (and actually an extension of) the exploration of buried current life traumas. This was always the crux of most of the books I initially read in this field, whether it was Carol or Dr. Weiss.

Current life problems were traced. First, to determine their derivation, i.e., what events/traumas contributed to, or caused, certain personal, interpersonal and psychological problems. Second, in recognizing the source, whether in this life or a past lifetime, to dissipate the problem by bringing it up and talking it through with the therapist (or maybe on a forum like this one).

It all seems pretty simple, but it certainly seemed to do the job in the books I read, whether by Carol, Weiss, Newton, or etc. But the goal was to assimilate, heal and move on in living without the impediment of the trauma--not to be caught in an obsession loop. I recall watching a video with James Leininger, now a young man, discussing his life after recalling and assimilating the fact, trauma and tragedy of his past life demise. He was not dismissive, but he was ready to move on, and moving on. After all, that was then and this is now.

Cordially,
S&S

 

[baro-san]

I think the question to be answered is: how much do we or should we seek after knowledge of past lives?

I believe that this is an important point.

Firstly, I look at it like acquiring a skill, learning something. It isn't important to recall how you learned it, the exact lesson that taught you that. If your current skill and knowledge aren't where you'd like them to be, it isn't necessary, maybe even it isn't useful to go back all the way to the original lesson. This brings me to my second point.

My current understanding and belief are that usually it is enough to realize that the cause of your current predicament, be it health, relationship, anything else, its cause isn't exterior to you, it isn't random, it isn't due to another so you have no control. This is more important than precisely identifying that true cause, because it empowers you.

This brings to mind the late dr. John E. Sarno's theory about and method of dealing with physical pain, back-pain originally, by realizing that it is a subconscious mechanism of protection against psychological pain. Just understanding this, believing it, and reacting to the physical pain symptom from this perspective, and not as if there is some physical condition that caused that symptom, it is enough to ameliorate your suffering, and in relatively short time you get cured. The time and the degree of healing depend only on your assimilating of the knowledge that the cause is a subconscious mechanism of protection against psychological pain. Dr. Sarno wrote four books. He recommended to read any of them, preferably his second or third book. He further extended his theory's applicability, for example, to curing allergies. I think it can be extended even beyond addressing physical health conditions.

 

[Totoro]

S&S, if I'm reading you correctly, I would tend to agree as much of my time here on the board has been spent preaching the therapeutic benefits of past life research.

For me personally, I think I've connected most of the major dots and processed much if not all of everything I've needed to about my past lives and it's helped me understand my current self. I feel I'm in a pretty good place with all of that and that may also be, as a by the by, a reason why I and other people have slowed down their participation on the board, because as you said you think about it, process it, make peace with it and move on.


However, I'm a little unclear of your second (perhaps implied) point. Do you think I (or anyone else) should get to a point of enough is enough and just stop researching? As you know, I'm one of the few people with a (relatively) well documented past life and on one hand, I find the validations I get from it are an almost spiritual experience, or a connection to our higher universal selves and I suppose you might consider it akin to the joy or connection to faith other people may feel when they read the bible or other texts.

It's also interesting to me on a personal and historical level as well. I enjoy getting to know myself and family in a candid way that otherwise wouldn't be possible. And granted I don't devote much of my time to it, as is evidenced by my participation on the forum recently. But nonetheless, it's something enjoyable that makes me appreciate life and the after life.

 

[SundayAtDuskReturns]

As someone who was active here over 20 years ago, when the forum was way smaller and way more fun, I personally see the lack of activity as having really nothing else to say and nothing new to talk about. I'm still highly interested in reincarnation and still believe in it, but you can only talk about and read about a metaphysical topic for so long. What hasn't been said? What hasn't been talked about? What reincarnation or paranormal story sounds any different than all the ones posted in the past? I always envy those who just discover reincarnation, who are just beginning to read and heavily think about the topic. How fun and intriguing it was in the beginning and for some years after that time.

 

[GalaxyDreamer90]

Hi not sure about everyone else but I have not been here as much because I have lost interest in past lives. I got enough bad memories from this life time I dont need the possibility of more bad memories from past lives. Instead these days I've been more interested in the possibilities of the future and trying to move on from bad memories in this lifetime.

 

[baro-san]

I believe that knowledge is infinite, not in a cumulative sense, but as differentiation. We don't know what we don't know. We don't even know if what we know it is so, or it is a distortion, an illusion, or it is completely wrong.

 

[SundayAtDuskReturns]

Hi not sure about everyone else but I have not been here as much because I have lost interest in past lives. I got enough bad memories from this life time I dont need the possibility of more bad memories from past lives. Instead these days I've been more interested in the possibilities of the future and trying to move on from bad memories in this lifetime.

So you don't think discovering past life problems would not help you resolve current life problems? You think doing so would only discourage you instead of enlightening you? That's similar to how many discover that continuously thinking and talking about their problems only makes them continuously echo in their head, which is no help.

 

[GalaxyDreamer90]

Sorry but I think it's better to look ahead to the future than get caught up in the past.

 

[baro-san]

So you don't think discovering past life problems would not help you resolve current life problems? You think doing so would only discourage you instead of enlightening you? That's similar to how many discover that continuously thinking and talking about their problems only makes them continuously echo in their head, which is no help.

I believe that the reality I experience is created by my focus, expectations, and beliefs, now. To change my current experience, I have to accordingly change my focus, expectations, and beliefs, now. I believe that neither chance, nor others are factors in it.

What I am now is the result of a growth process.

If I don't know, now, the result of"7*9=", it doesn't matter that long time ago I didn't pay attention in class, that I didn't do my homework, but it matters why I acted that way; that is the lesson for me now. And it isn't anybody or anything else to blame for that than my ignorance at the time, neither the chance, nor others.

This reminds a quote I recently read about the struggle between the darkness and the light. It was presented as the struggle between the evil and the good. I believe it actually is about the ignorance and the wisdom in oneself, about one's growth.