Reincarnation
I've always joked about reincarnation, saying that I must've been a bloke in a previous life. (My spouse would tell you, I frequently break wind and belch like one! Sorry for the scandalous and sexist stereotyping!) Also, I've joked that I want to be reincarnated in my next life as a pampurred house cat! (Who wouldn't? Sleep, eat, nap, play, nap, eat, sleep, repeat.)
I'm aware from my studies on the Bardic Course of the
New Order of Druids Circle College, that it's not known as reincarnation any longer. Instead, they now refer to the process as metempsychosis -- the transmigration of souls. There's a belief that souls departing this life reside in the other world until ready to return to this one. And vice versa.
For this blog post, however, I'll stick to the word reincarnation for two reasons: 1) I feel it's a term many people are familiar with, much more so than metempsychosis. And 2) 'transmigration of souls' doesn't actually entirely reflect what I believe. You'll hopefully see why if you keep reading. (And, if I've done a reasonable job of explaining my beliefs).
I'm drawn to the notion of reincarnation, partly, because I've a feeling that I may have lived past lives, in different periods of history. (Or, some part of me has.) I've been very drawn to certain periods of history since childhood. Some of it could be just romanticism. For example, feeling fascinated by the exoticness of ancient Egypt. Or feeling wistful for the days of chivalry of the medieval period.
But there are other periods which really resonate with me when I read or hear about them. More than can be accounted for by mere wistfulness. There's a feeling deep inside of real emotions being evoked, not just intellectual reflection. It's really difficult to articulate, unfortunately; but it's a strong sense that there's more to it than simply feeling an affinity with the age in question.
In my theory of reincarnation, everything's made up of energy. (Well, not just in my theory -- in plenty of physicist's too. I'm most certainly not trying to take credit for their work!) After this life, our energy is obviously released from our physical form. And it must necessarily re-join the repository of energy which makes up everything else.
So, we (in pure energy form) return after death to the great mass (haha!) of energy which is the universal life-force energy. You might have heard it called it chi, ki, prana, ka, or something else. I don't know what it's called exactly, I'm just certain it's there.
So, reincarnation would be a bit like having a cup of water and pouring it into the ocean. And then scooping another cup of water out of the ocean again. The chances of the 2nd cupful containing 100% the same water as the 1st are extremely slim (though perhaps not totally impossible?) But, it could potentially contain largely the same water. Or it could contain just a little. The cupful containing largely the same water would represent someone who remembers quite a lot of a previous incarnation. And the cup with just a little would be someone with a single memory or two of a past life (potentially very vague, as in my case). A 3rd cup containing none of the same water as the 1st would be someone with no memories of any past lives. And this is what's likely in the vast majority of cases, because the ocean is very large.
It explains why relatively few people remember past lives at all clearly.
And, why only a very few indeed are able to recount much of what went on in a previous life of which they were a part. (But, there have been some such individuals.)
Ghosts and spirits would likely be pretty unusual under this theory of reincarnation. The spirit would have to leave behind a bit of their energy on this plane for a ghost to manifest here. Under stone-tape theory, this left-behind energy could be trapped or otherwise remain in a particular place. It might be why we often think of hauntings as happening where someone died. Because that's the moment at which that bit of energy separates from the rest of the deceased's energy, and remains behind. This wouldn't happen automatically with every death, and again this may be why we think of violent or tragic endings making up the vast majority of hauntings.
Other spirits, those which can communicate directly with us, these may be able to do so through sheer force of will -- the individual perhaps wills it that they may remain here long enough to pass along an important message to a loved one, maybe. Perhaps they can even choose to coalesce enough of their energy just long enough to communicate with us at other times, too.
This might also be why we know that periods like Samhain are times when we can communicate with the departed. The veil is thin, so it takes the dead less energy to come to us at these times. And especially if we're already reaching out to them in whatever way (be it a dumb supper, or some other practice or ritual). Make it known that you want to commune, especially at these times, and you'll create the right conditions for it to happen.
Nevertheless, this is a less comforting belief than 'straight up' reincarnation, or should I say transmigration of souls. It may mean that your deceased relative is less likely to remain as a cohesive consciousness who'll visit you. Or even be automatically waiting for you on the other side, at least in the form you knew. (Because, now, their former energy has gone on to re-join the repository. Plus, parts of that energy may be elsewhere, making up the consciousness of someone else). But, I believe -as mere mortals- we don't entirely know how this works. We can't. So we'll find out when we pass on from this life. I know I don't believe that there's simply nothing after this life, and that's some comfort, anyway. (And then there's quantum, but I'm definitely not trying to talk about that, here!)
Although I've used animal pictures here (and made my customary joke about coming back as a house cat), I've not actually given any thought to whether or not humans can return as animals, or vice versa. But now that I think about it, since everything's made of energy, and my reincarnation theory is based on the travels of that energy... I guess it must be at least theoretically possible. Perhaps even trees and plants!
I'm not sure whether this aligns with -or at least has things in common with- other existing beliefs about reincarnation -- if you know, please let me know in the comments.
Also, let me know who or what you feel you might've been in a past life and/or who or what you'd like to be reincarnated as if you could have the choice!
