Past Lives Anyone?

I wanted to share an experience here, well two actually and get some outside perspective on them.  My four year old has been talking and below is the result of her tellings:

Moira (my four year old) saw me looking at pictures of County Galway, Ireland. She looks at me and says, “That is where I drowned mama. When are we going home?” We are planning to move to Ireland in five years but as of yet haven't said anything to the kids yet about it. I asked a bit more about it, and she told me, “I walked into the ocean. I didn't want to get burned for healing that baby.” She won't tell me anymore about it.

However, several weeks ago, she did have a lot to share. She and Caileigh (my five year old) were talking and she asked Caileigh, “Remember when I got in that car crash and caught on fire?” Caileigh: “No, that must have been that other time.” Moira: “Yeah, it must have.”

Well, I couldn't just keep quiet, I had to have more details, so I asked her. Here is how that went:

Moira: “I was driving in a car and it went over a cliff, and it rolled and rolled, then it went boom!”
Me:”What happened then?”
Moira:”You know how it feels when you burn your finger on the stove? Think of that all over your body and it won't stop.”
Me:”Then what happened?”
Moira:”I died, duh! That's okay, because then you had me.”

Then she smiled and walked away.

A couple weeks later she comes up to me and says, “I'm sorry I said duh!” to which I ask, “what?” and she replies, “When you asked what happened, I'm sorry I said duh, it could have been worse, I could have lived after being burned.”

Thanks for any input you may have.

Diane

Re: Past Lives Anyone?

Diane, without doubt this is her past life experience she is happily chatting about and it is excellent that you act so naturally about this. That is how it should be. However, as she grows up these memories will fade and that too is how it should be so that she can get on with this life.
This is a beautiful example of how easily children behave with the reality of multiple lives as well as “death” - as it is incorrectly called.
Moira's reluctance to talk more about her Irish experience is probably best left like that as long as you have left the door open for her to broach the subject if she chooses to do so.
If you can find a copy, read Dr. Stevenson's research book titled Twenty Cases Suggestive of  Reincarnation and there is an excellent book about the real life story about a young man who was killed in an horrific car accident in South Africa and returned to put his parents et al. at ease. You can obtain more information about these books from the appendix in The Milk Is White. Click here.

Re: Past Lives Anyone?

Thank you again for such a well thought reply.  I will definitely check out the books.  I figured it would be best to let it rest unless she brings it up and wants to talk more on it, especially since I really don't want the kids finding out yet about our move to Ireland, need a little more prep time and surity before we get involved with adding in their excitement and preparations.  Also, it is always nice to get a little reassurance that my approach is a healthy one on these things.

Diane

Re: Past Lives Anyone?

I didn’t believe in reincarnation until my experience taught me different. I regressed my first wife to process some old traumas and then ended up going back further than I had known was possible, to a past life . It was like spirit hit me on the side of the head with a 2 by 4 saying wake up and expand.

When my children were young they talked about past lives, but as they lived in family and religion that accepted such so they never stopped.

I have read and enjoyed and learned from all of these the following books
If you wish an interesting sort of intellectual book on reincarnation:

http://www.spiritualregression.org/journeyreview.html

http://www.eckankar.org/Books/hkbooks4.html#pldst

Re: Past Lives Anyone?

Children are such miracles, aren't they? I've had similar experiences with my two girls. I agree with the others who've replied - you are handling this just right.

It is possible that someday Moira's experience will be brought back to the surface for her, as a path toward healing or current-life problem-solving. In my late 30's, I went to a past-life regression hypnotherapist because I liked a presentation she held and I was curious. I told her I'd always wanted to know why I dislike diamond and other glittery precious/semi-precious jewelry. I always found them to be cheap-looking. The regression not only discovered the source of that, but also helped me realize I've been way too hard on myself over the years, and I learned how to be self-forgiving.

Turns out, I was a nobleperson's wife in ancient Singapore (long before it was called Singapore) and had twins. The culture wouldn't allow me to raise my own children, I had to give them to tutors and be a trophy wife. My husband couldn't understand my unhappiness, and was always rewarding me with beautiful, glittery jewelry. But nothing could substitute for my children, and I had to watch them grow up from afar. In the regression, the hypnotherapist asked me if there was anyone in that life that I needed to ask forgiveness from, and I said yes, my children. I asked them to forgive me for being such a bad mom. My children were surprised, and told me that I was a great mom, that all the other kids were envious that they had a beautiful, refined, gracious lady for a mom. From their perspective, that kind of distance was normal and something to be applauded. They were happy. In that life, I could have taken the energy around wanting to mother my own children and tried to make social change, but instead I internalized it as “I didn't deserve my children” with much self-recriminations. So, in the session I also thanked my former husband for being such a good man and for trying to help me with something he didn't understand, and my children told me that there was nothing to forgive, and hugged me.

It all seemed so real - I knew their names, I knew what I looked like, what I was wearing, the outdoor patio where I sat with my husband, the rainforest around us with the constant dripping and whistling birds - I could even feel the hugs of my twins. I pulled out of that session in tears and relief, and have liked sparkly jewelry ever since, and have had a good heart-to-heart with both my present life daughters. I talked with them about things I felt guilty about that occurred in their lives (in an age-appropriate way - one is 24, the other is 10), and they gave me their perspective on those situations, and I realized I was way harder on myself than was necessary. It's amazing what unknown burdens we can unconsciously carry with us from the past, whether from our childhood or beyond, and when the right time comes, we can experience healing from it.  Maybe later in life Moira will have a similar opportunity, if it's necessary, that is.

Re: Past Lives Anyone?

Excellent, Norreida! How beautiful the reality of life is!
:-)