Reincarnation is one of many afterlife beliefs people embrace, but is it real? Find out what people say about reincarnation and decide whether you believe in it or not.
People have different views about where people go when they die. Some people believe there is no afterlife, but other people believe in a heaven or hell. Some people think there is a place where everybody goes, and other people believe souls are sorted into one of multiple afterlives that are not based on punishments or rewards. Then there are the people who believe the soul never dies, or goes to an afterlife, but it migrates into another body and reincarnates to live again. Is reincarnation real? Join SpiritualBlossom to find out. Find out what reincarnation is and how people say it happens. Find out who they say reincarnates and how to remember any past lives you may have had. Finally decide once and for all- is reincarnation real or not. Read on to find out.
What is Reincarnation?
“ Reincarnation is but a lifetime away.”- Anthony T. Hincks
Most simply stated, reincarnation means the soul migrates from one body into another again instead of going to a place that is exclusively for souls forever. The belief is not new. We may never know the first time someone believed in reincarnation, but the belief goes back at least the first millennium BCE. The Bhagavad Gita says the soul never changes and lives forever. In Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells us the soul moves to another body, like changing clothes, and the state of mind and life deeds influence how we will be born next. It is taught that the highest goal is to be liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth and that can be done by self-realization and unifying with the supreme reality.
The ancient Celts, too, believed in reincarnation. In the Tochmarc Étaíne, Étaín is changed into a butterfly. Fourteen years later, she alights in a cup of wine, and is thus drunk by the wife of Etar, a warrior. Etar’s wife swallows the butterfly and this impregnates her. In this way, Etain is reborn in human form from her butterfly form. In ‘De Bello Gallico’ , Julius Caesar wrote about the Celts that “the principal point of their doctrine is that the soul does not die and that after death it passes from one body into another ... a firm belief in the indestructibility of the human soul, which, merely passes at death from one tenement to another; for by such doctrine alone, they say, which robs death of all its terrors, can the highest form of human courage be developed.” Is there an afterlife? Find out here: Is There Proof of the Afterlife?
The ancient Germanic Pagans seem to have also embraced the concept of reincarnations. Some old stories tell tales of children born with birthmarks that resemble old scars that others took to their graves and as evidence they have been reborn. In the Poetic Edda, Helgi and a lover were said to be reborn after death. The god Thor is said to have two goats he can slaughter and cook, and bring back to life with his hammer, Mjolnir. The Sami people of Lapland believe that we are reincarnated into the same family we belonged to before death.
How Do Reincarnations Happen?
“ Reincarnation is the evolution of spirit through matter. Over thousands and millions of lifetimes, the soul evolves. It comes into the light. The growth is slow.”- Frederick Lenz
Reincarnation happens when the soul leaves the body- and that happens when we die. Some people think we go straight from one life to the next, but not everybody thinks so. Some modern Neo Pagans, for example, believe in a place called the Summerland also called the Summerlands. The Summerlands is a place of rest before returning to earth in a new life. It is said souls commune there with deities, spirit guides, and some kindred souls they can choose to return to earth and experience another life with.
Hindus say we decide how we are reborn. Karma is explained by Rudra Center. They write,”Hindu philosophy identifies 3 main types of karma. Sanchita karma is the total accumulation of actions from all past lives, forming a reservoir of potential outcomes. Prarabdha karma is the portion of this accumulated karma that is currently being experienced, shaping the circumstances and events of the present life. Agmi karma is newly created through current actions and will influence future incarnations.” They say what we do decides when and how we reincarnate. Read more here: Reincarnation in Hinduism: 84 Lakh Yonis and the Soul’s Journey
Who Reincarnates?
“ The doctrine of Reincarnation says that each individual soul is potentially perfect and is gradually unfolding its powers and making them actual through the process of Evolution.”- Swami Abhedananda
According to ancient writings, everyone who has not attained a state called moksha reincarnates. What moksha means is to be liberated from the constant cycling of birth, death, and rebirth. When moksha is attained, your soul will stop being reborn on earth and instead join with the supreme reality. Your soul will also return to its original nature.
Some people would say only certain people reincarnate because plenty of people go to other afterlives. So, for example, if you are a devotee of Jesus, you will either go to heaven with him or hell. If you are a devotee of the god Odin, you will go to Valhalla with him- unless the goddess Freyja wants to take you with her. Then again, if you die of sickness or old age, you will go to a place called Helenheim with the goddess Hela. In Shintoism, it is believed souls become a venerated ancestor, and watch over the living, or else go to a place called Yomi. However, Shinto devotees also believe in the possibility of reincarnation. Read about the Hindu goddess, Kali Ma here: Kali Ma Goddess of Creation and Destruction
How Can I Remember Past Lives?
“ Remembering the past gives power to the present.”- Fea Myenne Ng
Some people just naturally remember past lives and know that is what they're remembering, but not everybody is so aware. What are some ways that past lives are remembered? You can have dreams about past lives or intuitive messages that appear from nowhere. You can consult a psychic, or you can recognize people who you knew in a past life. You can also review the lessons that you're learning and things that you have mastered and that will give you a portrait to what your past lives were.
In Dreams
Dreams can show you what your past lives were. When your mind is sleeping, your psychic awareness is more open. You are not distracted by everyday life or the world in general. Dreams about past lives may seem surreal or strange. They might frighten you at first because they feel like so much a part of you. They will feel different from regular dreams because it will be almost like watching yourself outside of your body, but you will feel like you're actually home in the dream, because you're dreaming about what your home used to be. You will dream about people you loved, victories, and hopes and dreams that you had in past lives.
Intuitive Messages
The author had her first past life memory at the age of nineteen when she saw a photograph of the historic site of Stonehenge for the first time. She was riveted on the spot looking at the picture and could not tear her gaze away. She knew she had been there. That was an intuitive message, drawing her to a part of her past lives. These intuitive messages come naturally and unexpectedly. Anytime you feel that something is a part of who you are, that's probably something from your past life making itself known. Pay attention to those intuitive messages that you get. If you have not developed your psychic abilities yet, there is help. Find out some techniques for developing them here: Developing Your Psychic Powers
Psychic Sessions
Something called past life regression has been done for years. It entails a session with a psychic to help you go back and remember things from past lives. You can remember what century you lived in, whether you were male or female, and what kind of a life you had. During these past life regression sessions, some people remember trauma and wounds that they've carried over with them and to current lives, and the session helps them to heal. Some people develop phobias like fear of bridges because of falling off bridges to their death in past lives, and regression can help them overcome that fear.
Soul Kin Groups
Some people believe that in a land like the Summerlands, we regroup with our soul kin. These are the people who we have been with for many lives and who we will be with until the end. These are the people who agree to come with us no matter how many times we're reborn until they reach the supreme power and stop reincarnating. The Sami believe we reincarnate within our families from life to life. Some people believe that our soul kin are not necessarily blood relatives, but can take any role in our lives. In one life we may be lovers, in others we may be brothers, and in the next we may just be friends. We remember the love that we share from life to life with our soul kin groups. Read about the love of friends here: All About the Love of Friends
Lessons
Some people believe very strongly in karma. They believe that the more we learn, the closer we become to the Creator and the supreme power that animates all life. They believe that every lesson we learn gets carried over to the next life and improves us. What are your worst habits that you need to improve upon? What are your best habits that everyone admires you for and asks your advice about? The things that you have already mastered tell you a bit about your past lives. You have already learned those lessons before you were born. The things that you need to learn and improve are things that you need to work toward so you don't have to learn them in the next life.
Is This Life My Punishment?
"When the karma of a relationship is done, only love remains. It's safe. Let go."- Elizabeth Gilbert
One controversial belief that some people strongly disagree with is that our lives provide punishments and rewards based on things we've done in past lives. So, that means, If you are born into poverty, you did something to deserve it. If you are born disabled, you did something to deserve it. Some people believe that every bad thing that happens to you is because of sins from a past life. Other people believe that it's not necessarily punishment so much as it is things will happen to you so that you can learn from the experience. Read about ways to learn life’s most important lessons here: Learning All the Big Life’s Lessons
Other people say karma doesn't work that way. They say it's not a heaven and hell type of punishment and reward scenario. It's also not about learning from suffering. Tragedy, loss, and pain are things that everyone endures in life, no matter who they are. Death itself is painful, even if you're at peace with it. They say that you don't earn every painful thing that happens to you. Suffering and death are just a part of being human, and that's exactly why some people want to break that cycle and stop reincarnating.
Is Reincarnation Real?
“ Forgetfulness of your real nature is true death; remembrance of it is rebirth.”- Ramana Maharashi
To people who believe they have past lives, reincarnation is not only real, it is a reality for them. To other people, belief in reincarnation is wrong. Some people believe that only other afterlives exist and the thought of reincarnation is ridiculous to them. To some people, every afterlife is real, and each of us goes where we belong, regardless of what we believe. Other people say human beings can never fully understand the greatness of the ultimate reality that we will all return to, and we won't know what's real until it happens.
Let's be honest though. Maybe the people who say human beings cannot fathom the ultimate reality are onto something. Nobody has ever been able to prove whether reincarnation is real or not. Some people will try to explain away past lives memories as simply a figment of our imagination. We can't prove that they're wrong. Belief is not subject to proof. You either think something is right or you don't. Nobody can tell you what to believe.
So, the question is, do you personally believe in reincarnation? What mystical experiences that prove or disprove it have you had? Have you had any at all? What deep down in the bottom of your heart do you feel is the ultimate reality? Do you feel like the soul is eternal and will come back many times? Do you feel that we live one life, and then the soul goes to an eternal home, that this earth is only temporary for us? Maybe you don't have the answer to that today, but you will. Only you can decide whether you believe in reincarnation.
Reincarnation is something people have believed in since at least the first century BCE- and the belief is probably much older. From Hindus, and Celts, to Germanic Pagans, the belief that we don’t just live on earth once has been a big part of people’s belief systems. Reincarnation happens after death if we have not achieved union with the supreme reality, and anyone who hasn’t reincarnates. Your soul group, lessons you have learned and have to learn, and psychic sessions provide insight to past lives. Then again, nobody has ever been able to prove whether past lives exist or if we will all join a different afterlife. What do you think?
Would you like a reading to find out about past lives? Reach out to one of our psychics to get started!
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for PaganPages.Org emag and Green Egg Magazine.
