Past Life FAQ's
Introduction of the concept of Past Lives:
Past lives, in the simplest context, and where we will keep it at this stage, is or rather, are, incarnations prior to this one, from birth to death. The soul/spirit/essence chooses to return to physical life. One is not simply placed into a body to be born, to live and to die and disappear.
The implications of that definition. As far as defining the role of the soul or humanity.
Barring the concept of past life based karma, souls
move through each incarnation to experience, in depth, certain
circumstances.....to gain a specific perspective. As the non-physical essence is limitless, it has to be in the
physical to experience certain things,
and it choreographs it's physical existences in a way that each new
perspective will enrich the next one, expanding itself, creating an
individual bank of knowledge to be drawn on.
While the soul has access to Universal Knowledge, it is seeking the
balance of being part of All and standing as the Individual facet, doing
its part in that same 'All.'
The culmative results or potential of such existences.
The cumulative result, in a nutshell, is to develop the being that exists in both the low-vibration physical world with full access to it's highest-vibrational "UberSelf"
It's a balance and respect.
“How do I find my past lives?”
Hypnotic regression, guided meditations, dreams, spontaneous memories that do not belong to this lifetime, and lastly.....readings.
“How do I know if I've lived before?"
The first step is realizing you Have lived before. Sense of familiarity, memories that are not from this incarnation, etc.
"How do I know if what I'm finding out
is true?"
You ask yourself the simple questions.... "Why am I looking?"
There are three basic reasons people search for their past lives.....
1) They are remembering
2) They are looking for what they don't feel they have in this life - Avoidance and Escapism in fantasy
3) Simple curiosity
If the initial answer is something like "I want to know what it is I'm paying for in this life" or "Anything is better than this" they're not ready to truly remember.
While finding a past life may explain 'issues' or tendencies in this life, this is a byproduct of the process and only a part of the whole reason. It enables the individual to work through the issue, understand the tendency and move into fully utilizing the perspective they have regained through recollection.
“How about discerning what are actual memories? “
We are responsible for using common sense when delving into past lives. But that leads back to the Escapist who wants the famous past life to make up for an inadequate (in their eyes) life, this time around. As someone is searching, they need to keep the salt shaker handy. Grain by grain, that salt will come in handy. Especially if someone else is telling them who they were.
There's that Balance thing again. It's not ALL letting go of skepticism or ALL proof. But when the past life seems questionable, question it. Places, names, cultural clues are easy to verify. Do it.
“Is the point for validation or affirmation or are they more significant than that?”
The point is....if you are looking at the life honestly, you are focused on the perspective, not romanticizing and going back to Escapism. Better to have a clear looking glass than the steamed one with which to see yourself, no?
“Someone said I had an 'old soul'. How can they tell?”
Really there are no 'new' or 'young' souls, only those who have chosen to be here this time as the reminders that we are still learning and growing. Some 'splinters' of the All will come in to experience the physical life, but are not doing the 'long haul'. Like the stories of angels come to earth......they are the etheric guides who, for a time, choose to be here...in a sense, as a physical being, yes, they are very new. Being human is a very new thing...so may be things like discernment, morality, common sense, are all alien to them in this plane.
This leads into the discussion of 'otherworldly' beings, and yes, some do spend past lives as something other than humans. The concept that every living being is here with the mission of 'ascension' is a well-meant but naive generalization. The only way to illustrate it other than 'old' would be of more physical facets, and the accumulation of experiences in this world through incarnations is not exclusive to human lives. Look at those people who have a certain 'animal' or 'pixie-ish' or 'reptilian' quality about them.
Describe one who would achieve that end, could they exist in this current manifestation as we view it now?
I have no doubt that there are already those who have achieved that 'end.’ They are the Merlins of history, using Merlin as the archetype. These are the 'supershaman' who walk between worlds, whose lives are written in 'myth' and legend....who seemingly walk between worlds and are easily seen as having both sage patience and wrath for
the 'unjust'. They are at once, both awe-inspiring and yet approachable. This is also the person who does, simply because they do, not for the recognition. They exude the pure energy that all beings, on the deepest level will resonate with. It's gravitational.
It's also overwhelming.
.
“What affects are there for this on the individual, the community, globally and for human evolution?”
Wow, we're taking the big leap. The affects are limitless. They are quite honestly, at
the mercy of the individual's reactions and choices. The more the topic is discussed openly, the more who felt they were alone in their 'quest' will step forward and locate those they were seeking, and the more HONEST searching goes on, the more people who realize there is a difference and a real purpose to Re-Membering. For decades there have been throngs of self-proclaimed soothsayer yelling about a Shift coming. Folks who have been seeking awareness have been feeling it coming, have been discussing 'when it comes' when actually, it is already here. Slowly but surely, people are finding those they came back to work with again, and they are finding those facets of themselves, like the lost books of a conclusive library that they need to bring their own work forward. They are better equipped to do the group work they Know they are called to do and they are better settled in themselves, having let go of the insecurities of 'what if' or 'why me?' The shift has already been happening. A year to us is a hiccup in the bigger picture, but even the smallest events in that year are important. So the images of a huge earthquake of a shift is, in all truth, their Superconciousness showing them the bigger picture.
“Why does it matter?”
The main answer as to why it matters is because it matters to the individual. Quite literally, they've put energy into following their curiosity. In most cases, the curiosity comes because they've already felt the tug to the familiarity of another life. That tug is a trigger. It intends to be heard. It is the Self cluing the self into the fact that there is already knowledge they hold themselves, that is to be put to use now.
Most people that pull in their past lives say they feel they are more 'complete'; That a missing piece of themselves is finally back. When an individuals moves past the notion of past life suffering, that this life is spent 'paying for' past life actions, they are able to finally see the wisdom and insight that the memories really hold.
“What do they do with it?”
That is entirely their choice. Ideally, however, the purpose of Re-Membering is to put that knowledge and wisdom to work, to reintegrate it into the functioning, living person we are now. Past life memory is not like watching a movie. We more often than not feel the old emotions again, recognize smell, environment, a certain energy, even cultural comfort and discomforts. A lot of our predisposition can be found in who we were before. We are able to shed light on current issues, talents, fears, fascinations.
With issues, we are able to lay them to rest, especially when we do not take the step into victim mode. There's no need for that. In fact, many who look back at past lives that were very hard, may be drawn to saying "I understand suffering.....I've been there"....but that's not the point. DO something with that understanding. You are Here, Now. And you have this life's experiences and resources at your disposal, so recognize those in the same position this time, even if it is you, and tap into those resources to make a difference.
If a past life illuminates a particular fascination or talent with music, you now better understand how large a piece of you is the music. Take that infinite talent and run with it. It is your calling. And in some cases, it may be your best vehicle to help others, IF that is also your calling. Some recall simply for the purpose of being the conduit of certain knowledge....to be the mouthpiece or glimpse into what came before, to keep others connected to what has been, and what can be. They keep certain wisdoms alive.
“Do people have any ethical or moral obligation, or responsibility for those memories?”
People always have Responsibility for the memories, and more so for their reaction to them. Memories/Perspectives are incredibly powerful tools. One person sharing their memory or discovery is also indirectly displaying their reaction to and use of that memory. All those around them learn by their example. Some see it as "Oh man, that might happen to me....." and others will actually sit back and say "You know...there's got to be more to it than that." There is still the responsibility of the bystander for their own reaction to another’s past life experience, but remember that you set an example of how to or not to face the knowledge. To someone knew to the concept it will make a huge difference.
Got a question to add? Send it in!