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What about motivation?

deborah

Director Emerita
Staff member
Super Moderator
What is the motivating factor for you to research reincarnation? In other words - what brought you here and why do you continue to come here? Is this your first time being here? Are you shy to post - and share - or ask question, but reading about others experiences helps? What are you hoping to find?

Over the past ten years we have had parents whose children are expressing memories. We have had people whose loved ones have passed over, and many who are trying to understand current relationships. What is your motivating factor?
 
My motivation is knowing more about relationship between rational and mystic, conscious and unconscoius, scientific and the things beyond science.


As you surely remember, I first posted to the Jung-thread, who also emphasized this so called coniunctio oppositorum. (The mystic conjunction of the opposites.)


Not to speak about being interested how others see these questions.


Skarphedinn
 
I'm just simply trying to get the bigger picture - to understand the Universe, life in general, as well as my own life and growth. I think reincarnation is the core of all this, or at least realising it is essential to get to the core.


Karoliina
 
I agree with Karoliina. I believe my overall motivation is just the old search for an answer to the big 'why??'.


But actually I'm also driven by something I don't know. It's just an urge from deep within. I want to find out, I want to gain that knowledge. I guess you could say that my motivation - on a spiritual level - is to become a more whole human being.


On a non-spiritual level I have a deep fascination for the past. Being an archeologist by profession I also find great interest in reading about people's prehistoric and historic experiences. It can be very inspiring.


:)
 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. :D I have posted something similar to below elsewhere on the forum - but it seems fitting here:


**** There is a shattering reality that comes with remembering past lives; the reality that I will be, and you will be -- again a child. Although obvious, the implications are rarely talked about. I am a professional artist and an activist for children and children's rights. I believe in a personal and social responsibility. I do believe --Or I wouldn't still be here-- that this forum, in it’s multi-layered purposes aids in awareness for children and our future.


Reincarnation is a 'belief' that the soul returns, life time after life time, and although I have found many people who have experienced memories during regressions, dreams and or visions - it remains 'valid' only for the person with the experience.


I have spent ten years here, sharing with some wonderful people the possibilities regarding past lives. During this time, something has become very clear to me -- sharing helps others to grow and there are 'validations' happening within these shared experiences for myself and for others.


My motivating factor - is to help others cross that bridge; and embrace the possibilities that our life (lives) and the future has to offer.
 
What is the motivating factor for you to research reincarnation? In other words - what brought you here and why do you continue to come here?
I’ve had memories since childhood, but I never really had an outlet for discussion of my past life experiences. When I first came here, I was searching for a place where it was acceptable to discuss – and to remember.


I was very cautious in what I shared and in how much I felt comfortable sharing. The forum has helped me immensely – after a few months, I was willing to discuss many of my more profound experiences with several members. After becoming a moderator, I was willing to communicate even more. Then came the shared memories – and even better, the validations of shared lifetimes. Now I openly discuss my feelings, beliefs and experiences regarding reincarnation - with anyone who asks. ;)


As a Director of the forum, I am blessed to be able to help others learn and grow from their past life experiences as well as share knowledge.


On a more personal level, my motivation for continuing to do past life work – is simply to heal from the past and concentrate my energies on creating a better future.


Aili
 
Hi Deborah,


In my case, the shock and impact of my own "personal proof" that reincarnation is a reality. Although I had read Kardec's books many years before, the notion still remained a "well, maybe". After the impossible coincidence of the same thing being said to me 15 years apart in two entirely different places and by entirely different people startled the heck out of me. From that moment on, I researched, studied and got involved in spiritual practices, and was forever in awe that such a reality was not known by others, in particular by us westerners. The main reason that brought me here (guided by you, of course... ;) ) was a sincere desire to share what I came to learn and to learn from others... :thumbsup:
 
First I was curious, before I had any serious memories.


Then I was confused and troubled, when I discovered who I was and how I lived in my last life.


And now I'm merely healing past and present wounds.


Which I think is for me the most important part.


Somehow I'm making progress, but on the other hand I wonder: how long will this all take?


A healer told me: take all the time you need.


And if this takes a life time, I have at least a purpose in this life :D


Curious Girl.
 
I have had lots of spontaneous memories since childhood but I had never met anyone in real life who shared the same experience. Sometimes I would bring it up cautiously with someone I suspected might share my experience, but was always disappointed when they either looked at me blankly or with a certain amount of fear or suspicion or else rambled on about some rather obscure New Agey sort of mish-mash of ideas that just did not gell with the rather matter-of-fact way I experienced these memories. I did not see it as anything 'weird' or scary or magic or anything (to remember being a grown up when I was a 3 yo for instance) in fact I thought it was the norm, until I got a bit older and it gradually dawned on me that it was not usual at all! :)


Although all these memories and encounters with people I had met before, were a huge part of my life, I was never quite sure of myself and never really knew what to make of it - having nobody to really talk to about it. At the back of my mind I always wondered if perhaps I just had a 'very vivid imagination' (or something).


I wanted to find out if there was anyone out there who had the same sorts of experiences. I reasoned that either I was just crazy or there must be others out there somewhere. Then one day I thought "Doh! The internet! Of course! That is where you would be able to find others, if there are any in the world" and sure enough - I found all these marvellous people who had the same 'affliction'. It was a huge relief.


Since then I have stuck around because I find it interesting to talk about it all and I like hearing others' stories. I also have a sense of gratitude and a wish to help any others who may come stumbling into the forum a bit confused and possibly upset at what is going on either with themselves or their children. I think the more this whole area is discussed, stories compared, ideas shared, the better. There should be a lot less fear and confusion about it and more information available from people who really know what they are talking about.


Our past life experiences and learnings can be an extraordinary resource for our present life difficulties if we can learn how to see them as such and not be afraid or superstitious about it all.
 
What is the motivating factor for you to research reincarnation?
I was looking for a way out with my research. I was looking for some way of weaseling out of accepting my PL memories as my memories and not those of another person. I didn't want them to be mine.


I read a lot of books on the subject, but I didn't find a way out.

In other words - what brought you here and why do you continue to come here?
I didn't come here to research reincarnation. I'd been doing that on my own for a long time.


I came here looking for very specific people I knew from a past life, and found them.


I stuck around because it seemed like a good place to talk to other people about reincarnation. At the time, I was in the 'reincarnation closet'.


I'm no longer interested in doing any further reincarnation research-other topics have claimed my interest and attention. And, I'm not in the closet anymore. I just show up when I'm bored to see what's cooking on the forum.


Phoenix
 
What is your motivating factor?
The need to get to the bottom of so many things in my head which are distinct from the imaginary. Many things which I have carried with me for many years that I need to find answers to.


Since coming here, I have been really spurned on. Being here has had me discuss things in a way I have never done before, and I'm quite suprised at the revelations which have come to pass already from my short time of communicating here.


I have remembered two distinct and significant dreams, which I thought I had forgotten I'd had, and that it would make sense if these were to be associated with 'past lives'.


I seem to have made a strange (and unsettling) realisation as to why only one of my 'sets of notions', seems to have no visual imagery, and also as to why I had a phobia of the very idea of the mystery of how eyes function when I was a small child.


These things are motivating me to uncover the mystery of what these things represent.


I need to know why I am who I am, why I was born in the circumstances that I was, and why that is.
 
HI Draco,

I need to know why I am who I am, why I was born in the circumstances that I was, and why that is.
A very wise response. WHY is much more revealing than trying to find out who we once were. :D Draco - are you familiar with the Tibetan seminal text called the Dhammapada, which means ‘The Way of Truth’? There is one passage in particular that I have found most revealing when searching my own personal WHY.


“All that we are is a result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.”
 
i agree. My motivation seems to be bridging the gap in the difference when it comes to social things, or differences between relatives and helping everyone to see those differences are all part of the same whole.
 
I think reincarnation exists but I don't feel that it does. Almost everyday I think "I am going to die and there is nothing I can do about it". It scares the sh*t out of me. Not because "it's the fear of the unknown". I'm just very upset that death might be the end.
 
Hi Kirby,


I will do my best to explain it to you by telling you a couple of stories. Are you sitting comfortably? :)


We were talking in another thread about : "Who do you tell? (about your beliefs or experiences with reincarnation)" and I said I hardly talk to anyone about it (except you guys :) ) which is true, because I have found the conversations often end up the same way ... and that is talking about this very problem. But how do you know? For sure? But really? For sure? .


I could tell stories all night (and some of them would curl your hair, I assure you) but there is no way to really be convinced unless you have had one of these experiences (past life memories).


I used to sometimes do a 'pop quiz' at dinner parties and things if the conversation was getting boring (always searching for a kindred spirit with memories too, never finding one). Anyway, it is a sure fire conversation starter and I recommend it if your friends are talking about their teeth or real estate or something...particularly if you've already heard that story... :laugh:


I used to ask what do you think happens after death? The answers tended to fall into five main categories:


1. We go to heaven (or hell)


2. Nothing. When you're dead, you're dead, that's it.


3. I believe in reincarnation


4. I will live on (sort of) because my body will be reabsorbed into the earth.


5. Don't know, never thought about it.


I suspect the number 5s (a surprisingly large proportion of responses) might just not want to talk about it, because I find it hard to believe that someone has never thought about it at all. I think everyone ponders on this question, if only very occasionally.


Kirby, if there is one thing we can share with you in this forum, it is that, to quote Phoenix, 'reincarnation happens'. We don't know why (although many believe they do). We don't know how (exactly). We don't know what it 'means' (although there is no shortage of opinion on that and it is an interesting topic). But we pretty much have to come to the conclusion from sharing all these similar experiences, that there is 'something' going on.


This is a nice thread on this topic: Reincarnation Fact or Fantasy?


Above all, don't be afraid of death. It is only temporary. As far as I know, and I know quite a lot. :)
 
Kirby said:
I think reincarnation exists but I don't feel that it does. Almost everyday I think "I am going to die and there is nothing I can do about it". It scares the sh*t out of me. Not because "it's the fear of the unknown". I'm just very upset that death might be the end.
Hi Kirby,


I hope that by spending some time here you get a feeling that death is not the end. I notice that a few people have said that fear of death bought them here. I think if people can realise a sense of purpose or meaning to their lives than death becomes less scary. Do you think that reincarnation gives us the chance to work towards that meaning or purpose over several lifetimes?
 
tanguerra said:
We don't know why (although many believe they do). We don't know how (exactly). We don't know what it 'means' (although there is no shortage of opinion on that and it is an interesting topic).
That's what I think. It doesn't so much matter why it happens, but that it actually does.

\ said:
4. I will live on (sort of) because my body will be reabsorbed into the earth.
I hate that answer. What the crap is the point of metaphorical immortality?
 
Yes, I don't find that answer satisfying either.


If our bodies get 'recycled' why not the 'rest of us'? Depends if you believe we are just a body, or if there is something more I guess and there's the rub. :)
 
I've always been a 'truth seeker.' Being raised in the church always confused me in many ways. I'd hear what the Sunday School teachers would say, and my parents, about God and punishment, and hell, and then I would withdraw into my own world, and be so confused. I am the oldest of four, and did NOT want to get in trouble, so I just let my parents teach me what they believed. I secretly didn't believe it all, but brought that confusion with me for soo long. After having my son, (I was 23) it dawned on me that I can believe what I want to believe. ;) I wanted to search, and learn. I read, more like inhaled, everything about near-death experiences, mediums, etc. I read about peoples' experiences with angels and earthbounds, and all kinds of things that would've given my parents heart attacks. ;) But, it wasn't until the last few years (son will be 13 in November) that I was begging God for the "truth." I was led to the books 'Conversations with God' and was weeping. I felt like God him/herself gave me permission to believe what I knew in my heart and soul was truth for ME. So, I talked to my son about it, because he has had many past life memories throughout the years. He and I are very, very close and it's totally normal for us to talk about reincarnation and everything else under the sun. In the last year I've had 2 family members die, and I am wondering if they're going to be coming back soon to help earth out. It saddens me that other family members think their lives were a waste, since "what was it all for? They died anyway." For me, life has seemed much more magical and meaningful since I embraced what is the truth for me. I see people with disabilities and I think how courageous they are. I wonder what conversations they had pre-incarnation with the other souls in their group, to make them decide to choose a life with such physical challenges. I see my friends who have 2 "normal" children, and one with Down Syndrome and one with Autism, and I think their family is beautiful. What wonderful children, all four of them, and how great that they're choosing challenges that will teach all of us love and patience. Life is beautiful!! Just beautiful.
 
I come mainly for exploration and clarification of my own beliefs--where do I concur or differ with which concepts of reincarnation and how can I understand and articulate my views.


It's fair to say I'm trying to seek the best way of responding to a particular personal and ancestral experience --to find how to articulate both their gifts and their call for help.


I suppose at a gut level that perceiving the world as more receptive due to certain sociopolitical advances, and having some special spiritual experiences again like when I was a teen, has rekindled my interest.


A new interest is exploring how other traditions can be folded into Catholic Christianity, especially since I have a class of immigrant preteens for Sunday school.
 
Kirby said:
That's what I think. It doesn't so much matter why it happens, but that it actually does.
Good one, Kirby. 'Reincarnation happens' is my hypothesis.


I leave all the why's and wherefore's to the philosophers.


I've taken a vacation from reincarnation, due to rather seriously dangerous things going on in the world of the here and now, and my fear of coming out of the reincarnation closet.


Now, I"m back at it and still looking for hard, empirical, evidence that reincarnation happens. I may never find evidence that will conclusively prove that hypothesis, but I'm going to keep looking, and keep researching.


Phoenix
 
I remember very little about my present life as a child.There is a pervasive sadness that goes so deeply inside me it can't possibly be from just my present life.


I've just started to try and figure out what this feeling is and why I can't seem to let it go.
 
Hello all,


I came here trying to find some kind of guidance. Some issues which I firmly believe to be past life related have been bothering me... and it´s difficult to find others with whom you can openly share such thoughts without them thinking you are nuts.:eek:


At the moment I'm ruminating on how I should put things in order to make them acceptably clear to you all out there, and hopefully find the help I need..


Reading your posts has helped already anyway :thumbsup:


Love and light to you all!
 
I'm a newbie to this forum but have questioned reincarnation off and on for many years. I came here recently because I had a dream about myself as a young child and I knew without a doubt it was coming to me as a past life. I wanted to share the experience with like minded seekers.


I will tell you, I'm 61 and I have wondered why it has taken so long for these past memories to surface. I believe they come to us when we are ready to deal with them. When we know we have made some kind of difference....or will make some kind of difference...in this world. Until I know what that may be, I'll continue to come here to relay my thoughts and feelings and read what others like me are experiencing in their lives (past and present).


I am so grateful there is a place to land when it seems like these thoughts from the past are scary or unbelieveable.


Kirby, this will be better than any support group you've ever thought about going to. :)
 
What a good question Deborah!


First just want to say in that I agree with Karolina above in Post #3. She in my opinion really said it in a good and concise way as far as I think.


As for myself personally, have been interested in Reincarnation since I was little for it has always made so much perfect sense to me. And for quite sometime have deeply believed in reincarnation. In searching more on 'Life' itself which for myself is so much more then the life we have in our present body from our birth to our death. Also in searching on our past lifes and how that impacts and makes us who we are today. Then how this present life will impact and make us into who we are tomarrow in future lives. Yes for myself have always been interested in spirituality and philosophy and this so much helps me in trying to see the whole picture of Life and all.


But also have to say this that for myself it seems it is not easy in meeting and hanging out with people where one can talk of this in such an open manner it seems as here. This Reincarnation Forum has been soooo good to find, where one can be with others who are also so interested and willing to share on this topic. It is for myself good to read and see what others have to say on this, their memories and perspectives even though how many of us live in so many different places and from so many different walks of life. It helps me in knowing that I might not be as weird as I might think of myself to be at times. And will finish just with a Thankyou to everyone here and this forum for it is a big plus as far as I am concerned. :thumbsup:
 
indigobutterfly said:
I've always been a 'truth seeker.' Being raised in the church always confused me in many ways. I'd hear what the Sunday School teachers would say, and my parents, about God and punishment, and hell, and then I would withdraw into my own world, and be so confused. I secretly didn't believe it all, but brought that confusion with me for soo long.
it dawned on me that I can believe what I want to believe. ;) I wanted to search, and learn. I read, more like inhaled, everything about near-death experiences, mediums, etc. I read about peoples' experiences with angels and earthbounds, and all kinds of things that would've given my parents heart attacks. ;)
These words from indigobutterfly pretty much sum up my experience as well. She even describes herself as a 'truth seeker.' :thumbsup:


I've never been satisfied with what I've been taught. My mom said I'm rebelling against God. I said I'm just asking perfectly legitimate questions. I've been searching for the greatest truths about the universe and our existance. When I started learning about reincarnation, I jumped in with both feet. Finally everything was coming into focus. It all started to make sense.


The only problem was I was overcome with all these thoughts and emotions and had nowhere to share them. If my friends and family knew what I was doing they'd think I've gone crazy. One night I was thinking to myself, "There's an online community for everything these days. There has to be one for reincarnation." Sure enough, I found this forum. It's great having a place to share your experiences without fear of judgement. I love hearing about other peoples experiences as well.


When you think of the fact that every soul on the planet is on the same spiritual journey, it's a shame that so few are aware. Hopefully the awareness will increase in future generations.
 
Deborah asked a great question:

Deborah said:
What is the motivating factor for you to research reincarnation? In other words - what brought you here and why do you continue to come here? Is this your first time being here? Are you shy to post - and share - or ask question, but reading about others experiences helps? What are you hoping to find?
I'd love to hear from new members!
 
I've been interested in reincarnation since I was a kid. It made perfect sense to me and was a way to explain memories I had that were not from this lifetime. I knew I didn't just "make up" these memories - they were real and coming from somewhere.


As I got older and I realized my beliefs didn't mesh with my family or friends I pretty much kept quiet about it. It was a relief to find this forum and realize that I'm not crazy and that other people believe in reincarnation too.


Mostly I want to learn about why I am the way I am and why I'm here in this lifetime. Sometimes I get really excited when I discover details from past lives in dreams or meditations and try to research them to validate it but slowly I think I'm realizing "proving it" isn't the point. That's all well and good but I think what I really need to do is learn from the experiences of my past lives, the relationships, and lessons so I can better this lifetime (and my next :thumbsup:).
 
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