Have You Lived Before?

What is reincarnation?

Whether you imagine yourself reclining on a fluffy white cloud, reuniting with your loved ones, or simply existing in a state of bliss; what happens after death is a matter of belief. The idea of heaven and hell is common to the three Abrahamic religions of Christianity, mainstream Judaism and Islam. But many more faiths, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, esoteric Judaism, Taoism, Wicca, Shamanism and multiple strands of neo-Paganism, believe in the concept of reincarnation.

Reincarnation unraveled

Reincarnation refers to the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. It's the idea that your soul lives on after your body's death because it is born again (or incarnated) into another body to live another life. The theory surrounding the purpose of reincarnation varies. One idea is that your soul learns and evolves spiritually through many lifetimes until it can become enlightened. The goal is to break free of the cycle of birth and rebirth. You achieve this by living a spiritual life.
Although reincarnation might sound like a strange concept, it actually echoes the cycles of the natural world. The rising and setting of the Sun; the wheel of the seasons from Spring to Winter; or the life cycle of a flower from seed to bloom to seed - all these examples show how life is about constant change and regeneration.

How to live a more spiritual life:

Lose your ego
Ego keeps you tied to the Earth preventing you from freeing yourself from the cycle of reincarnation. Ego is not just about vanity; it encompasses the need for power, desire for material wealth and objects, all types of greed, envy and lust. You need to look beyond material desire to discover what's really important in life.

Live and let live
Stop trying to control other people: whether it's your children, your partner, or pushing your views of right and wrong onto society. By trying to chain up others, you simply keep yourself chained to the Earth, instead.

Be Moderate
Anything in excess will bind you to the Earth - drink, food, addictions, habits, or obsessions. Free yourself from the things that are blocking your path to spiritual growth.

Seize the opportunity to grow
Recognise that you are in a cycle, so even if you are suffering now, it will pass. Use every experience in your life, good or bad, as a chance to learn, grow and be a better, more caring and accepting person.
 
Past Life Regression
This is a spiritual technique that's said to be able to help you uncover memories from your past lives. It can be performed by a practitioner as a form of hypnosis or you can try it out yourself as a meditation. The purpose of having a past life regression is much more than just curiosity. It is a therapy that can help explain emotions and phobias that are bothering you in this life. It can also reveal karmic relationships between yourself and others. For example, if you clash with a particular person, perhaps you have unfinished business between you left over from a past life. The aim of past life regression is to help you understand where your phobias or difficult relationships with a certain person originate from and to heal them.

Try a past life meditation
*Sit or lie in a comfortable, safe place where you will not be disturbed. Play some soothing music. Spend a few moments relaxing and getting into a calm, meditative frame of mind.
*Close your eyes. Imagine a protective white light surrounding you. Nothing can harm you; the light is protecting you.
*Imagine a corridor in front of you. Visualise it. Down each side are closed doors. Walk down the hallway and choose a door - pick one you feel drawn to, open the door and step through.
*In your mind's eye, look down at your feet as you visualise stepping through the doorway. What shoes are you wearing? See them in your mind. Let your attention move upwards to discern what clothes you are wearing, what surface you are standing upon and what is around you. Let colours, scents, feelings, people float into your mind.
*Think about what is happening to the person you are in the meditation. How do you feel? Why? What are you doing?
*Don't think about your answers; just let them flow into your mind and experience them.
*If you get stuck and can't imagine anything solid or narrative, think about something or someone you have an especial affinity with - a place, a person, a pet, a skill - and ask yourself, 'why do I feel fondly about X?' 'Have I known them before?' See what flows into your mind.
*If you are uncomfortable with the emotions that arise, feel your protective white light glowing around you and walk back to the doorway and shut the door behind you. It may be worth consulting a regression specialist and/or a hypnotherapist if you find self regression throws up uncomfortable emotions. Always consult a medical professional if you are feeling unwell.
*Don't expect to have a full on past life recall on your first try. As with all spiritual practices, it takes time and perseverance to find the answers.