Put it this way: I like to think it is a freewill decision to come back into physical bodies, if we feel there is more to experience and learn - rather than simply be trapped in a karmic cycle that forces us to.
My understanding is the law of attraction is much more prevalent in a mental/spiritual energy sense in the spirit world. Where a person may end up in terms of closeness/separateness from the light and love of God depends on what energy you are attracting/investing during your lifetime on Earth. If you have for example invested your energy in harming others then that is what you can attract spiritually. But no-one is ever permanently cut off and separate from God - they can choose to enter into the lighter higher realms but they have to be willing to change. That is why I think sin and karma can be a far too simplified way of characterising someone's experience and suffering on Earth in many beliefs. To put it another way: not everyone suffering during their lifetime on Earth is suffering because of karmic debt or sin.
@jeanne-mayell I just discovered this thread! Fascinating subject. I have read some of Brian Weiss's books (from previous recommendations on this list) and have also read up a lot on Near Death Experiences. I love reading everyone's experiences and interpretations here.
@luminous I am going to take a look at the book you mentioned. I am really curious to see the alternate perspectives to the traditional interpretation of past lives. I grew up Catholic, so I didn't really look into reincarnation until I was an adult. I am much like Jeanne in that I am sort of agnostic on the topic, but very curious and open-minded as to what it might all be about in the end. I agree with the idea that the total truth is beyond our comprehension as humans. In eastern catholicism, "the incomprehensible" is a phrase often used about God, and that resonates with me as to all things spiritual. We can only catch glimpses and try to piece together our understanding.
I have recently been watching movies that explore quantum/multiverse ideas and it sure is hard to get your mind around! I just watched "Interstellar" from 2014. Long movie, but really interesting in terms of how it all comes full circle.
Anyway - I am thrilled that we are discussing this here and that we are exploring a whole range of viewpoints on the subject. I have not had any past life readings or experiences, but something that always fascinates me about myself and others is what fascinates us? Those descriptions of places and things that you all have encountered that resonated in a particular way (for no apparent reason) are most interesting to me. I have definite interests and things I like or are moving to me that puzzle me, so perhaps it is all connected in this greater consciousness we all experience.
Btw, I meant to say in my previous post that I was referring to the different spirit realms in terms of closeness and separateness from God and our life on Earth being not necessarily tied to karmic debt and sin (for our reasons for suffering on Earth and returning).
I wanted to edit my post to explain this in case I was misunderstood but the edit button had expired.
I see you are/were catholic. Have you ever read the nde experience of Howard Storm? That is a real eye opener.
Like with many religions, I think there are elements of truth in each of them. In what in Catholicism might be described as "hell" for example might be attributed to separateness from God - and there is such descriptions in the lower planes/realms in quite a few nde testimonies - with many useful spiritual insights for why such places exist and how they end up there. In fact, I think it was Pope John Paul II who admitted hell was simply separation from God:
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_28071999.html
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-31-me-61289-story.html
I meant to add, too, that although I read Brian Weiss and am fascinated by the topic, I had an almost physical reaction of feeling rather uncomfortable in my gut about reading/thinking that reincarnation was true. Not from my religious background, but an almost "trapped" feeling that we are all in this cycle of reliving lives over and over. It is a scary thought, actually! But your comments above about the concepts of karma and sin being too simplified to explain people's suffering and experience on earth resonated with me.
It also reminded me of accounts in NDEs about souls choosing to come here (you mentioned this as well) as Earth is a unique physical plane where souls can experience great growth. And I have come across that idea (also mentioned above) that souls are lined up to come here! So, this nuanced discussion of a whole variety of perspectives is very soothing - we don't know it all and the joy is in the discovery and pursuit of greater understanding.
@luminous Yes! I have read Howard Storm's NDE. I just refreshed my memory and it said how one of the beings he saw during this mentioned that the "best" religion is the one that brings you closest to God. I do agree with that and agree that there are elements of truth in all the various religions and spiritual beliefs. And from my own experience, I feel I am expanding my perspective (over the last decade) beyond just my catholic beliefs and learning to not feel guilty about that (any catholics/former catholics will relate!) I have always had an innate belief that whatever speaks to you at a given point in your life is meaningful and as long as it is helping you along towards light and love, then it is a good thing. I had many wonderful experiences with traditional prayer and catholic belief (eastern catholicism, which is a bit more mystical in its approach than western catholicism), but have also had intuitive experiences outside of religion. I think keeping an open mind, calm, curious approach to what we learn from our own experience and others is the key.
@luminous I was making general observations on many of the posts here and not replying or responding to your post specifically. So no offense or misunderstanding was intended.
I personally try to find the balance between being skeptical and being open to possibilities beyond what is known through human science. I tend more toward looking for rational explanations, but know there is so much more that humans don't know - especially about the metaphysical universe.
The idea of genetic memory comes out a lot in science fiction, so I have been familiar with the idea for a long time. I only wanted to point out a few observations about genetic memory that folks may not have thought about - like only being able to realistically have genetic memories up to the point where the genetic material is passed down to one's offspring. I have not ruled out genetic memory as a scientific possibility for past life memories, but it does seem to have at least a few flaws.
I probably could have worded my comments on rational explanations better. They were not meant to be offensive or to single out any specific person. I was trying to point out that the default in our culture is to look for rational explanations and that people often feel much more comfortable with rational, scientific explanations than with metaphysical ones that we can't as easily prove or disprove.
I honestly believe that we are all seekers and that none of us have all the answers (and I'm skeptical of anyone who claims absolutely that they have them). The truth is probably some combination of scientific and rational explanations along with huge leaps of faith into the metaphysical.
No worries. I do agree with a lot of what you say actually - we are all just sharing different perspectives and each investigating in our own way.
I think you are right in that there does tend to be a simplistic approach in explaining these things sometimes, and this is shown in all walks of life - with a too simplistic way of explaining these things with beliefs around karma and sin as well.
I don't claim to be sure of myself and what I know because at the end of the day I am fallible and I am here like you and everybody else just offering different perspectives and experiences of spirit. I don't believe there is anybody who can claim to know the full truth. But I do believe there are nuggets of truth out there. It is like what @cc21 mentioned with Howard Storm's NDE with "the best religion is the one that brings you closest to God."
Just saw your tag. Only a month late :) I wonder why you weren’t afraid? that sounds terrifying. I don’t know if I have told you about all my regressions but the few that I have done have been very enlightening. What strengthens my belief in past lives is that even though I’ve seen, during regressions, in such vivid detail, these different lives and different times, cultures etc, they all feel as if the same familiar soul lived them. Same consciousness. Me. It’s not like watching a stranger, but kind of more like returning to a piece of yourself. Coming home. And sometimes it is frightening. I regressed once and found myself a slave in Mesopotamia or whereabouts and my child wrenched from my arms never to be seen again. How I longed for his return until that life ended. Sometimes enlightening.. have been a medicine woman in several lives, which makes sense. I have even done one with my eleven year child who has a love of art and she saw herself on a deck somewhere painting. These tiny imprints on our soul that are just waiting to be remembered, have so much to teach us about ourselves. We are infinite
After sharing w Jeanne and then will share w the Intuitive group class, I have a lack of confidence in reading tarot. Feels somewhat odd to me bc I don’t feel this kind of “writer’s block” regarding meditation, empathic knowing, pop-ups words or visions, etc. Then just a little while ago I was prodded to inquire why I use the name Earthangel which I remember I was called by my spirit guide named John. Anyway, I checked my phone Notes and I found the passage is written actually after a profound visionary past-life meditation (and not a msg from John) I’d assumed the name came from this meditation but it doesn’t. Rereading this past life experience, I’m reminded that I am Spirit Eyes, daughter of a great NA leader and visionary wise man. Perhaps this is the impetus for me to push past these unwanted and unnecessary stumbling blocks and connect w the Tarot in the deepest levels. Thank you to my Native Father and to John and the guides who steered me towards this vivid empowering identity. I will not be afraid. I didn’t keep the original date of this lovely vision/experience that’s below, but I’ve decided it doesn’t matter. Wisdom and connection and intuitive knowing transcends time. Amen!
Spirit Eyes
Well this was a fascinating meditation I just had and have to share.
I started w heavy psychic dread yesterday afternoon out of the blue since I’ve resigned to lead w loving kindness in my life in all things. The dread returned this afternoon so I decided to meditate to water/bowls and it was magnificent!
I was on a hilltop of grass, no trees, high above everything and a city in the distance but then even that disappeared. I was saying aloud “help me” and “I need help” but I wasn’t exactly sure what for but it felt good to say it. I felt safe.
Then a wide stream appeared and a NA man came across the stream on a horse. He wore a headdress initially.
At first I thought he was an older man but as he sat next to me and took my hands in his, he looked younger.
I can’t remember all of his messages right now but I began to speak affirmations about fear and time and place being only allusions. Like he was speaking through me or helping me find these affirmations.
He’d told me to love unconditionally and express joy and gratitude always.
Then he called me Spirit Eyes and kept saying that name.
I knew instinctually towards the end that he was my father and called him father. It was so very peaceful.
We also smoked a long pipe together in the beginning and then again.
I continued to speak affirmations about releasing people from my life without fear—Paul, my father, and Oscar my cat.
It was so powerful and empowering and comforting. I feel at peace. And know he’s another spirit guide and a strong one bc he was my father in another life, though he didn’t call me daughter or say the word father. I naturally called him “father.” Spirit Eyes… I googled it. I like it.
@earthangel This experience you had is just so beautiful. I am glad you were were able to go to that higher ground and find comfort there. I want you to know that it comforted me as well. I've had those experiences where a guide calmed me and told me my fears were illusions, but then I forgot as I wandered back into the collective angst. And I become afraid again. So your experience, one of those heightened moments in which we discover that there is a more beautiful reallity if we just take the time to go there, helps us all!