Past Lives and Souls

[Amethyst Rose]

I believe in past lives..... that my soul has lived many times before in order to achieve perfection so it may one day join with divinity.
I also believe that our souls are not bound by time, and therefore some of our past lives, may have taken place in the future..... but that's not the purpose of this post.....

Do you believe that you were always human in a past life? Do you feel that souls could very well have been animals, or insects, or plants? Or do the souls of those living things stay separate from the souls of humans?

I used to feel that all souls were different, and therefore stayed separate. However, I've come to feel that if we are all apart of the same divinity, then why would our souls be different?? Why *wouldn't* we share them with every living thing?

Thoughts?

[lucidfire]

Hmm, good question. Maybe there's certain animals or plants for different levels of spiritual evolution. I know many native americans believe in one animal spirit for all animals of that species (dog spirit, cat spirit, owl spirit..), but I've been hearing a lot of people talk like it's that with us too, and we are just animals when you get down to it, right?

You'd figure that the level of conciousness would be different though, but maybe not. I've never thought of that before, but my mom is always telling me that we're all the same stuff; she always told me something about the "rainbow bridge" which is a from a poem I think.

anyways, hrm, I always pictured myself as a human, but maybe that's the only one I recognize?

[Myst]

No I don't at all believe I was only human. Some spiritual lessons may have best been learned as different creatures, and I think I spoke to someone who really remembered a past life in which they were a cat. I don't know how you'd evolve at all, but since to me all creatures are equal and have souls (and really, what do you suppose your cat is dreaming about when he sleeps 16h a day even if he doesn't articulate it to you?). :)

[~**foxglove**~]

I believe that, as part of our experience in this world, it is possible that we exist at different levels, gradually moving up the ladder of life, if you like. Meaning that we experience life as different creatures before we become human and later move to a higher state of being. This way, we learn the basest lessons and gradually build on that knowledge until we become human. (It may explain our inate survival skills and sense of nature). You see, I've never fully agreed with the past lives concept in terms of being strictly human, as I feel that what we have is unique and it is also a once off lesson - one chance before the conveyor belt moves us further along to learn something new.

Just my take on things... :p

[treeworker]

Dealing with regression therapy on people I know, I was witness to several facades of a soul within many people. We tend to take on a character within a certain realm to gain the knowledge we seek at the time we are here encased within this body. We are not unlike a computer in that our history is stored within the deep recesses of our minds. That is why if you ever went on vacation somewhere, never been there in this life, but have knowledge of the area as if you lived there all your life. Well you had just not this one.
Life and souls was explained to me like this;

Life is like a game. The object of this game is to first our souls to find the tools God has left you to do your work while you are here. This is part of the game and education is finding those tools. The gift of gab is a tool , and so on. WE are to use those tools to the best of our ability. IF we do not find all of our tools by the time or game(life) is over, then we have the option to return to try again or to go on to another lesson. Just the lesson we did not learn may bwe stacked on your future life.
Upon seeing and giving my father the rite of passage in his last minutes hear in his present body, I felt his soul take leave. Then one month later he wakes me up 600 miles away from where he is buried to say goodbye(physically) and to say he was doing fine and happy. Seeing him in a wakened state, as a soul would reveal itself as perfect health.
We are a spirit that can take on any form we choose while looking for a lesson in the astral planes.
So to stop this rambling, yes we do have past lives and those around us if proded, will find that it is not the first time you have met. To this I have been a witness to many times.
In seeing this it gives one a whole new perspective on death. It is only a door we must walk through. That is all it is. How we get to that door is a whole other matter.

[Sequoia]

hmm. . . while I think it's possible that I could've very well been an animal in a past life. . . . I actually think that I've only been human so far. I feel like I have a purpose I'm working through, that I can only accomplish as a human being (man it sucks to be human LOL)

^^; hai, I belive in past lives. Heck, I LIVE past lives! ^^; don't ask what I mean by that, I'm not sure myself LOL

[MistOfTheSea86]

Originally posted by Puma Hime
hmm. . . while I think it's possible that I could've very well been an animal in a past life. . . . I actually think that I've only been human so far. I feel like I have a purpose I'm working through, that I can only accomplish as a human being (man it sucks to be human LOL)

^^; hai, I belive in past lives. Heck, I LIVE past lives! ^^; don't ask what I mean by that, I'm not sure myself LOL

Preach it sister;)

[Radocs]

I'm gonna be different and admit that I don't believe in past lives. *ducks for cover*

[MistOfTheSea86]

Originally posted by Radocs
I'm gonna be different and admit that I don't believe in past lives. *ducks for cover*

Why not If you dont mind me asking?:)

[Sequoia]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Puma Hime
hmm. . . while I think it's possible that I could've very well been an animal in a past life. . . . I actually think that I've only been human so far. I feel like I have a purpose I'm working through, that I can only accomplish as a human being (man it sucks to be human LOL)

^^; hai, I belive in past lives. Heck, I LIVE past lives! ^^; don't ask what I mean by that, I'm not sure myself LOL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Preach it sister ;)

LOL!!!!



I'm gonna be different and admit that I don't believe in past lives. *ducks for cover*

^_^ hehe what's wrong with that? It must be quite amusing hehe to see people running around babbling about things they thought happened before. Who's to say you're wrong? ^_^ It could just be mass delusion among my friends. I wouldn't put it past us! :)

What's your theory on death, then? Do people just cease existing or go to another world or what? I'm curious.

:) fuzzy light faeries!
~Puma Hime

[Radocs]

My theory is that we just cease to exist... so to speak. All those atoms and molecules that make up us just rearrange themselves again. Personally I find quite a bit of comfort in knowing that what I'm made of now is still gonna be around in some form or another for a very long time. I as an individual may be gone after death but what I'm physically made of just returns to nature. Like I said, for me that is very comforting. As for the loss of consiousness that I believe death brings.. well.. if I'm dead and not me anymore I'm not likely to care am I? :)

That's the best I can explain it at 1:15 in the morning. ^_^ *yawn*

[Myst]

Interesting theory Radocs. I've been playing with the idea that the energy that makes up our brain patterns is redistributed among the universe. Physically yes we just decay, but what about the energy that animated our atoms and cells? If our energy is redistributed then as a whole we cease to exist - but as energy is not destroyed nor created the electricity that makes our brain patterns, along with the other energies that make us who we are, must be redistributed in some way. So in essence, to me, we cease to exist as "us" but continue to reborn in other forms. So maybe what we remember as "past lives" is actually lives where part of our energy once existed within some creature.

[Radocs]

Interesting theory Radocs. I've been playing with the idea that the energy that makes up our brain patterns is redistributed among the universe. Physically yes we just decay, but what about the energy that animated our atoms and cells? If our energy is redistributed then as a whole we cease to exist - but as energy is not destroyed nor created the electricity that makes our brain patterns, along with the other energies that make us who we are, must be redistributed in some way. So in essence, to me, we cease to exist as "us" but continue to reborn in other forms. So maybe what we remember as "past lives" is actually lives where part of our energy once existed within some creature.

I did consider that and to some degree I believe it's true, however, that theory makes for a pretty broad definition of past lives. By that definition it would be possible for the energy that makes up me to have been part of several different living beings at the same time... or possibly not. At any rate I think what some people mean when they say "past lives" is that their "mind" is reincarnated as a whole rather than a combination of reassembled energies. That I don't believe in.

If you define past lives how you stated above then I do believe in them but that includes the possibility of life but not sentience. My energies may have been part of a living being (or a bolt of lighting, who's to say?) but they may not have achieved consiousness in that time. It was a past "life" but I but in terms of what living means today (enjoying life, etc) I would hardly place any significance on that.

Something I just thought of (and that I kind of alluded to earlier) is that while the energy that makes up our brain patterns will be redistributed it may not be distributed to a living being. Think lightning bolt or even a star.

Ugh, I hope that mess made sense. ^_^

[Myst]

Depends on your definition of life.

If you consider life without obvious consciousness or sentience that is detectable by humans insignificant that's your prerogative, but I disagree. Plants come to mind. :)

[Sequoia]

you know what radocs???????
































that's really kewl. ^__^ It's not my personal belief. . . but tis a really kewl one!! I like it. What an amazing idea. . . ^__^ my molecules could've been part of Sirus at one time!!! Kick@ss!

[Haedis]

I'm not too clear on my thoughts about the after life but I do believe in reincarnation, and I think I could have very well been something other than human in previous lives. I agree with Myst in some respects. I believe that our molecules just spread apart through out the world or perhaps the Universe, and re-organize as something else completely, it doesnt necessarily have to be living either. This ties in with the theory of conservation of energy. If i remember correctly from science class the theory is "energy can neither be created or destroyed". And that energy exisists in a variety of forms and can change forms and transfer from one object to the next. I think when we die we just transfer our molecules to something else, but our the energy that comprises our conciousness or "soul" remains intact. It may just be wishful thinking...but I'm still mulling all this over.

[freak]

I dunno how to do the quote thingie, but Haedis, that is gorgeous!! I adapted that to my beliefs, I hope ya don't mind! Ohmigosh, I'm just tickled pink with that explanation!!
**freak**

[SilverOceanFire]

I'm thrilled that people are actually thinking through their opinions on the matter, and that most of us admit that it's all theory and that we don't really know for certain.

So, here I am throwing my opinion in the pot.

I totally believe in reincarnation - and that we reincarnate in different forms. I do not believe we reincarnate "up". I think that suggest that we have learned everything from that part of nature, and I don't think anyone one can ever stop learning. I also think it's part of karma. i.e. those that hunt and kills bears for sport only (which in my opinion goes against the laws of nature) will become a bear in their next life, to understand the beauty and place of bears in nature. I also think that only as living life in many forms can you have total appreciation for Mother Nature as a whole.

Of course the one place my thoughts stop is when it comes to bugs - the thought of living a previous life as a roach, really disturbes me. So obviously my theory has some (excuse the pun) bugs to work out.

Thanks again for all the opinions - the melting of different opinions together can only bring us closer to our own person truths.

[Epona44]

:wave:

I've already said in other forums that I believe in reincarnation. I think we can all have strong links with animals, but I think they are, for lack of a better word, evolving spirits as we are.

My significant other believes strongly that he has been and animal in a previous life.

I think differently. It would be enormous fun to think about a life as an animal, but if the soul must learn, what interactions are possible in an animal body that would lead to that?

I think we have a duty to care for and protect not only each other, but animals and environments.

But, I think we return as humans, or some other self-aware being.

[Myst]

Are you suggesting animals don't learn?

[Epona44]

Absolutely not.

Animals do learn and they have souls, and they evolve within their species, then they move into another species.


What is the Native American for this? They are other nations?

[Myst]

Originally posted by Epona44
I think differently. It would be enormous fun to think about a life as an animal, but if the soul must learn, what interactions are possible in an animal body that would lead to that?

That's what I mean.

Why can't a spirit learn to be born, to hunt, to be predator and prey, etc., as an animal? Some people believe we are animal first, then perhaps human?

I'm just confused, not trying to tell you you're wrong. :)

[Kian]

this is making me start thinking about selkies....

[Xander67]

:rolleyes: ok, what's a selkie?

[Kian]

Selkies are seals that can become human. If you'll notice seals have very human eyes and some humans have very doleful, seal like eyes (generally those of us with the deep brown eyes). The legends are that they you can trap a selkie by taking it's seal skin when they come out of the water to play in their human form. However if they ever get their skin back they make for the water, never to return.

If I was ever an animal then I was a selkie though I think I had a bad experience because while I enjoy being near the sea and on the sea I can't swim and don't want to be *in* the sea.

The general description of selkies turned human are large deep brown or sometimes grey eyes, dark hair and pale luminious skin btw in case you're wondering :)

[Xander67]

:eek: woah, that is very interesting,

Mermaids, Selkies, i will have to do some digging online this is neat :)

sorry for being OT:)

[Epona44]

I'm sorry if I'm being confusing. I had to do a little meditating before clarifying what I meant about animals and souls.

I think animals and humans have a souls, but I think the nature of an animal soul may be different than that of a human, or an ape, or even a creature like a cetacean.

I don't like using terms like "primitive" or less evolved when discussing animals, but I think there is a spirit that is particular to say a horse, and that all horses are part of that spirit.

I think animals that live with humans in a sympathetic or compassionate relationship may also grow in spirit and assist the human in some way.

There are people who believe we evolve in a linear fashion, as a "lower" -- and I don't like the word -- spirit to a higher one.

I've met dogs with more compassion than many people, which is why I hesitate with a linear idea of soul growth.

And I'm not sure I answered the question. I guess, I don't think we are born human and ever return to animal.

[Myst]

Oh I see.

Interesting :)