For those who believe in reincarnation

[LaurenG]

Have you ever been regressed or had spontaneous "memories" about a different lifetime.

Do you belive in being given grace or do you think you are made to pay for every deed you've ever done.

Do you believe that you can change the outcome of future lives by denying yourself or holding yourself back in this one?

If you could create or change one thing in your future (this lifetime or the next), what would that be.

[stellanoir]

1. LOL OB what a funny array of ???

yup both

for me it's a mixed bag

yup

I would wish to establish and maintain greater balance between my inner life and my outward experience.

Now I'm really curious. . .What sort of "moonday" are you having that would inspire you to ask these particular questions?

You don't have to answer that question.

[LaurenG]

2. Well

I just wondered what others thought of this particular subject and if anyone else believes that grace covers their behinds. I think Grace rolls "her" eyes a lot around me and says to "herself" ~ "not this one again".

My future would ensure that I never incarnated on a planet again with such low level politicians. I'm really kind of tired of the same old people doing the same sh** each time we come back.

And I'd want to be able to learn without having to be veiled or made to forget so that I understood that this isn't just unjustified punishment from the get go.

I also had a reading done by a wonderful person who contacted my deceased father and he's learning a bunch of new technology between lives to bring into his next incarnation. I jokingly said I wanted to be able to figure out who he was the next time and tell him that he was to do this wonderful thing and not let him forget, lol.

I just wondered what others thought of being on this particular planet at this particular moment and if anyone else would like to encode themselves for the next life, should they have one here.

[stellanoir]

3. Grace has definitely covered my butt on countless occasions

and undoubtedly rolls her eyes over my antics as well.

As to the low level politicians, many in the spiritual community believe them to be an endangered species on their way out and that's supposedly why their corruption has grown so utterly overt and blatant in recent years. They are allegedly desparate. Time will tell for sure.

So pleased you had contact with your Dad's spirit and didn't mean to pry. I was just hoping those questions weren't coming out of some major Monday morning coworker karmic car crash scenario.

I pray every day to fulfill my soul's purpose in this lifetime. Again, time will tell.

Thanks for opening this dialogue. It should be interesting.

[cassiepriam]

4. Answers

1. Yes
2. We aren't really made to pay, we just have to balance the energy so our vibrational patterns change to higher levels. Once the karma is released we are done with that lesson. And yes there may be other ways to release the karma and balance the energy. Especially now, karmic debts are being released easier and sooner than in the past.
3. Can you say more what you mean by this question, I don't think I understood it.
4. Big question, I have to think about that one.

Great thread OB.

[LaurenG]

6. #3

Well do you believe you can that you can change the outcome of future lives by denying yourself or holding yourself back in this one? By taking a vow of poverty or taking care of an elderly parent rather than have a life of your own. Do you believe that sacrifice will reward you in a future existence?

[cassiepriam]

9. The way you describe it, it may or may not be good karma.

Karmic theory says that what we sow, we will reap.
So of course what we do in this life affects our other lives.
(Actually future lives is out, we are supposed to call it other lives
they say since it is all happening at the same time, past, present, future.)

But we have to be careful about it. For example if we chose to be martyrs and victims and are miserable and angry about it, then that will be very bad
karma and come back to haunt us in a next life. Especially if our karmic
goals are to no longer allow ourselves to be victims.

You have to look at your natal chart and nn to make sure what you are
here to work on in this life. A so called sacrifice could just be same old
same old stuff that gets a person into trouble in each life.

Also intent is important and if a person is taking on the trappings on a
holy person, but the intent and goodness is not really there, then that is
not good karma.

And if a person was meant to use wealth to do good, to make a difference in this world, or to understand the purpose of money or money issues, then a vow of poverty is not good. Or if the vow of poverty is a way to avoid the real world then that is not good either. For example I have done the poverty priest role in many past lives. In this one I am supposed to earn a living, be normal and mingle in the population doing service. Not hide in a monastery. Which is of course what I would most love to do this life.

Actually I do not think choosing to be miserable is a way to get good karma, but that is my .02 about it.

I believe God wants us to be healthy, happy, have abundance, but be wise and sensible about all of it. And to not get a big ego. And of course to be of service. But not be a miserable martyr.

[LaurenG]

10. Ah, I actually knew you were going to say that

in fact I deliberately kept from typing the word martyr because I knew you would post something brilliant about that very word.

It is interesting how we are evolving and how our social mores have changed just in the last 30-50 years.

Healthy families with healthy boundaries give us the freedom we need to make healthy decisions.

:D

[cassiepriam]

20. And we can take care of others and ourselves at the same time.

It is not an either/or situation.

That is the real challenge, how to be of service,
but not of servitude.

[Chemical Bill]

45. I think of the movie "Marvin's Room"...

where Diane Keaton says something to Meryl Streep about there being so much love at her (parents?) house.

Meryl Streep says: "Yeah, they really love you"

Diane Keaton's reply: "No, I love them!"


Bill

[SeattleGirl]

5. Hey OB. Great topic.

I have been regressed several times, and have seen myself in other lifetimes. I've had spontaneous memories too, the biggest one being of me as a Native American when they were being slaughtered by the whites. The vision was so powerful that I lost all awareness of my physical surroundings in this life, and was fully engulfed by the vision. It was sparked by a book in a series of books I was reading by a particular author. When the vision was over, I grabbed my tablet and wrote the author a 7-page letter, the writing covering both sides. She wrote me back and said she recognized my Native American heart. The vision was horrifying, but the identification of that part of me was wonderful.

I do think we are given grace, and I don't think we are made to pay for every deed we've done. I do believe that we will continue to find ourselves in the same kinds of situations from life to life until we learn what those situations are trying to teach us, and then we move on. I believe that we are continually evolving beings; some people move faster than others.

Your third question is quite interesting. I think the biggest "change" that is made if we deny ourselves or hold ourselves back is that we just delay our growth as beings. As you know, OB, I am dealing with that very thing right now.

What would I create or change? I'd have to think about that a bit more, as I'm not sure right now. I think my mind is mostly focused on the here and now that I am dealing with.

[LaurenG]

7. I had a similar experience

on several occasions and one was as a Native American child. Watching it was quite painful as well.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

8. I was sobbing during and after that vision, it hurt so much.

I've always been fascinated with Native American culture, and after that vision and the author's response to my letter, I understood why.

:hug:

[Quakerfriend]

11. Hi OhioBlues! Love this topic!

I had one regression done when I was 26. I was told that she (the medium) "could not take me back". She spent ~ half an hour trying to and it was very interesting. As she tried to take me back and forth over hundreds of years it was as if we were fanning back and forth through a large phone book. From this experience I have come to understand just how irrelevant TIME, as we know it, really is.

Nonetheless, I did recall one particular lifetime. And, it has enormous baring on my present person. It has helped me greatly in this lifetime!

I have also had glimpses into some of my other prior lives. One as a young English boy who tended the family gardens, one as a Peruvian Indian, one as teenage girl living in Europe 1750-1800, and others.

Most interestingly, I have on many occasions met people in this lifetime who were acquaintances or family members of mine in other lifetimes. Sometimes I have a dream that tells me this or other times I simply know when I am with them.

Some of my memories have been very emotional, as SeatleGirl has described. Often times, my memories are of living conditions that were quite harsh. - Extreme poverty etc.

I certainly believe in grace and also that we can change the outcome at any time by our choosing.

If there were one thing that I would like to change it would be: I would like to go back to the person I was in my early 20s-30s. Totally confident and capable of achieving anything I wanted to achieve, all the while helping everyone else along the way. It all seemed so effortless, at the time. As I approach 50 I find myself feeling undecided and insecure. Having fears that prevent me from doing. (The big M is such a B....!!)

.

[LaurenG]

21. I'm finding it very interesting that we have all had similar experiences

and have similar views on the way to make it through each lifetime.

It's incredible to me that people from all over the country/world have the same experiences when none of us were (probably) ever regressed by the same person or were taught by the same teacher.



edit: error

[Why Syzygy]

25. As I read the OP and replies

One thing kept knocking on my door. I'm a fan of Jung and Joseph Campbell and the way of the Tarot.
Archetypes. I almost want to believe that none, not one of us, progress, until the whole universal unconsciousness progresses. What does it matter if "I" make a leap, or even a small step. Unless it makes a contribution to the the great UU?

If mankind is not progressed, Joan of Arc will go up in flames during every generation.
We need more than one soul progression. We need a leap of humanity.

[wickfordbard]

12. Being on the West Coast I feel behind the times? Maybe it's a past life thing?

Yes, I've done quite a few past life regressions. If you know astrology, I have my sun, mars, venus and mercury in the 12th house. Lots of past life - and genetic line - energy. My explanation to people about past lives is that we are part of the Earth's ecosystem - therefore, we get recycled just like the plants and trees and weather and moon and . . .

Grace is definitely part of Spirit's design for us. If we had to pay for every little things, Yikes! Too much sensation function there for me. I think it's how balanced you are by the end of your life that pays the bill, so to speak. Grace is like spontaneous transmission - you're at a balance point and you ride the winds of Grace and things heal.

You can never change the outcome through denial or holding back. But that doesn't mean that you can indulge in your desire nature to the exclusion of your soul. If you listen to spirit, there is no denyin' that it will bring you life. Spirit=Life. Lived fully, but not unconsciously. Choice is the best word I can think of. Let Spirit make your choices and it won't seem like denial. Was it Cassie that talked about being a martyr? What's good for you in one lifetime isn't necessarily good for you in another.

The one thing in my future is that I am leading a rebellion in the in-between-place and making sure we all get a vacation planet for our next few lifetimes. This becoming conscious and saving the world is hard work, and I think we all deserve to just go and have fun. I'm voting for a land of unicorns, dragons, adventures, noble ideals, gorgeous men who will adore me.

:9 :9 B-) :party: :party: :toast: :toast: :bounce: :bounce::applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[SeattleGirl]

13. I love your idea of a vacation planet.

I could use a few lifecycles of vacation before I head back to earth to continue the good fight.

[cassiepriam]

28. I am with you, some changes need to be made :)

Interesting, I have read that some of the vacation lives
take place here on earth.

Have you ever met a person and their entire life is so lucky and blessed? Or everything just falls into place with no effort?
It can be a rest life. We are supposed to get one about every 7th life.

(I think I must be due for a rest life real soon.)

[davsand]

14. Ok, I'll chime in...

Yes, I have had prior life memories "break thru" from time to time in this incarnation. Usually, it happens when I am searching for some type of answer about my own behaviors and odd attitudes, but not ALWAYS.

I think the thing that really freaked me out most about all of it is the realization that what we accept (or maybe take for granted?) as reality really is limited by what we "know" at this point in our human development. If I'm able to give a better illustration of what I'm talking about, I'll offer up the image of how our world view changed once we realized and ACCEPTED that the earth is not flat.

For me, realizing that my entity is not (and has not been) limited to this planet and this "reality" messed with me a whole lot initially.

I do not think it is a matter of grace or external forgiveness that allows us to progress. I honestly think it is self forgiveness along with acceptance and ownership of our mistakes and failures that allows us to move on to new levels. We judge ourselves, and we are ALWAYS our own worst critics ultimately.

We are all carrying the potential for divinity in ourselves, I think. All we have to do is allow and enable that to manifest. THAT seems to be the big sticking point, I think!

I do think that there is some truth to the idea that maybe some types of self restraint can help us move forward. I have to admit that there are days that I feel angry and I do not manifest that anger. In THAT way, I think self regulation benefits us. I don't mean to sound flip, but it is just BAD form to be beating the snot out of your fellow man...

I have no idea what is to come for me beyond the idea that I will most likely go to work tomorrow and to my Mom & Dad's for dinner tomorrow night. I will probably get my kid off to school and kiss her and her father on their way, and I will maybe be lucky enough to spend the day tomorrow trying hard NOT to be a pain in everyone's butt. That is about all I can predict with too much confidence (and even parts of THAT are pretty iffy, when I stop to think about it...)

We are put here to live and laugh and do the best we can to step lightly on both the planet and on each other. THAT is about all I can offer about my world philosophy and my expectations about what I need to accomplish.

Regards!


Laura

[Why Syzygy]

15. Some of those same thoughts

were coming to me as I read through the thread. We ARE our own worst Karmic masters. At least for me a goodly amount of people I know. Of course there is that large band that believes they never make a mistake and anything goes wrong proves that the Universe is hostile to their desires.

I believe there is much "grace". And I should be way better at applying it to myself. I have gotten caught up in this 'fringe' group of strong spiritual people who just love me and see me as being 'worthy' (both your and mine word, and I get it). I had to tell one of them a couple of days ago, I don't feel all that worthy. That is a struggle. But you know? The alternative is to pour yourself into someone else's reality zone and have them dump on you and maybe even call you 'crazy'. Those are the ones who came storming in with their own view of 'reality', and since I don't fit whatever their structures are, I'm the 'crazy' one.

Meanwhile, the gentle spirits, say, no you are just perfect the way you are! I protest. No. Surely I am not. This has been a very long coming shift for me. Because now I hang more with the ones who say, just fine. All is forgiven. You have much more worth and we are in this together. It feels like something foreign. So maybe that karma is shifting. Maybe I've given myself enough punishment. I don't think it came from anywhere but me. Other people may have been walking my karmic path, and maybe I their's. But if I have to own the karma, it is total responsibility.

My major restraint I have become aware of is, "shut the fuck up"! This is not an easy one for me. The past week has helped me with it. There is a very good benefit to come from this. And that is I get to reflect on what someone else is saying instead of jumping in with my mouth. Karma well learned.

[BlueIris]

16. Alrightee, here goes...

1. Yes, I've been regressed; recently, actually. I thought it wasn't working because the memory that came through was one I thought I recognized from this lifetime. In fact, I now believe it was a legitimate past-life memory of a cycle in which I owned a tavern, somewhere in what looked like the 1700s in Europe. Since then, I've had a couple of strange, random memories that don't seem to match up with actual experiences in this lifetime, and that don't have much context to them.

2. I think that whether or not grace will save us from having to repay karmic debts in the next cycle depends on how close we've come to repaying the debt by the end of this life.

3. I like cassie's answer to this question; if self-denial doesn't help you fulfill your soul's karmic purpose, then, no, you don't really gain anything karmically by self-imposed denial, deprivation or other voluntary sacrifice in this life cycle.

4. Uh, next time? I don't want to start off life in an abusive environment. Early childhood trauma really is the gift that keeps on giving. In fact, getting to a place in which my soul understands that fully so I won't have to repeat the lesson in the next cycle is the point of this life cycle for me, if I've interpreted others' comments about my astrology correctly. Hopefully, I'll have learned enough lessons by the end of this cycle that I will have made some kind of a dent in my "learn abuse is wrong" karmic debt pile so I will be born into, you know, a healthy family, in my future life.

[Why Syzygy]

17. a "healthy family"

might not be any better. I started out with a lot of 'abuse', which I finally see differently now.

I just don't think you have to wait for another incarnation to process some of this stuff.
It's a new 'lifetime'. Same incarnation. Just my fwiw.

[DemExpat]

18. Can't really say I believe, just think it is highly probable thru my learnings.

1. Have you ever been regressed or had spontaneous "memories" about a different lifetime.
Yes - in Primal therapy regression to birth sessions I had womb regressions and a couple of what might be past life memories, re-experiences.

2. Do you believe in being given grace or do you think you are made to pay for every deed you've ever done.
Oh, even though one memory I had was pre-incarnation and actually being forced "kicking and screaming" to incarnate this time, I do feel benevolence and grace even herein - one might compare it to a "tough love" type of sphere.....
Also, although I have been often guided, and feel sometimes punished for the load I have had to bear this time, I also have felt incredible grace, gratitude and joy from some of the difficult lessons I have learned.

3. Do you believe that you can change the outcome of future lives by denying yourself or holding yourself back in this one?
After I had certain regressions and was reading a lot of spiritual books on this subject I made it my mission to try to work it all out this life so that I would perhaps not have to return....:D.....but now I am pretty sure that even though I have learned a hell of a lot this time around, I am not clean or balanced as of now.
I do think that in general terms we are here to NOT hold ourselves back.

And when my Mom died in 1997 I felt that she had not done "enough" work in her life this time- this was more of an intuitive knowing than an opinion, while my father, I think, did face up to more truths and "own up" to some things that he did and influences that he had had on his children.

4. If you could create or change one thing in your future (this lifetime or the next), what would that be.

Next time around I want to be a total eccentric without any care for what others expect, demand, or desire from me......even though in most cultures I will of course then be burned as a witch - perhaps NOT for the first time! :D :evilgrin:

I want to have "total" faith and confidence in my Self on this earth. I developed this in quite a strong measure after having my 2 children - while raising and nurturing them I did feel very connected to my intuition and courage. I felt like such an Earth Momma, such a warrior for my family in a very calm and relaxed manner. I wish I could transpose this state of being onto my present life of just having to deal with myself.
A pity that I can't use this balance and strength that I experienced for those years for other, more broad (outside my family) causes in this world!

Great thread and questions!

:hi:
DemEx

[DemExpat]

23. Learning to discern between Ego and Self, or Spirit.....

is also something I feel I made good strides with this time around.

By holding my rampant ego (and very low self-esteem) in check I learned to "be" more of my Self - this is the primary lesson of Love that I learned through having my children.

DemEx

[yellowdawgdem]

19. great questions

Let's see, the closest to regression I've had is a psychic reading with a woman who claimed that she was from the Mt. Shasta Lemurian group. She mentioned a lifetime of mine in Atlantis as a male named Klan. And said only that I got alot accomplished during that lifetime. However, she also made some predictions that were way off, so.. well you know how that goes.
I don't have any great interest in being regressed, but might try it if an opportunity presents itself. I really feel that I have my hands full just dealing with the "now." But I've heard that actually regressions can help you deal with the "now." I just don't have a big interest in doing that.
I do believe in grace. I've had that happen sometimes, where you receive a lift for no apparent reason. Paying for every deed seems far too linear; I'm sure that just doing the best we can, and growing in self awareness are all that we need to do- to progress on this "hard knock" planet. Just that we have all been willing to come down here and hang out awhile, and share light with others- I'm sure that counts for alot spiritually.
Yes, I do feel that you can sometimes change a future outcome by holding yourself back in some way. Or in caring for a loved one, or making some sort of sacrifice. I think it depends on whether it is something that you contracted to do, and it matters how you feel about it. I think we know what we need to do, we get little nudges from the universe on the impt stuff.
Not sure what I'd change, except I'd want to do as much of the icky stuff now as I can, so that next time I can spend most of my time just surfing, or doing creative work, and not have too many difficult probs. Though I wouldn't want to be bored. It'd be fun to incarnate on Sirius or Pleades and just have lots of fun.

[hippiechick]

22. Great questions ... interesting subject!

The only 'incidence' I've had that suggest a past life is my almost uncanny ability to speak German -I breezed through 6 years of German in high school and college, barely cracking a book or a language tape. In fact I dream completely in German once in awhile (it's completely natural at the time, but when I wake up and realize the dream was auf Deutsch, it freaks me out a bit).

My great-grandparents on my mom's side were immigrants but they were long passed by the time I was born. My clairvoyant once told me that I'm the reincarnation of my great grandmother, and that because my grandmother had also already passed (1957) before I was born (1966), she and others on that side of the family helped 'decide' 'who' would occupy 'this life', if that makes any sense.

:hi:

[I Have A Dream]

24. My thoughts.

Interesting questions, OB!

Have you ever been regressed or had spontaneous "memories" about a different lifetime?

I was regressed once, but I felt as though I was making the entire thing up. I've never had a spontaneous memory about a different lifetime.

Do you believe in being given grace or do you think you are made to pay for every deed you've ever done?

I absolutely believe in grace. I don't know how the decision is made as to when grace is granted, but I do believe in it. Additionally, I believe that once we truly learn the lesson associated with any particular karma that is coming to us, it goes away by grace.

Do you believe that you can change the outcome of future lives by denying yourself or holding yourself back in this one?

I don't know that I believe that I can change the outcome of "future" lives by this method. However, I feel that one can earn merit points that we are able to use to have more say over setting up our future lives. I don't feel that this is specifically done by denying things from oneself or by holding oneself back just for the sake of doing this. Instead, I feel that it is all about intent and what we feel that the Universe is guiding us to do. If we're doing it specifically to earn these points, I don't feel that they will be granted. However, if we're doing it out of love for humanity or because we feel that this is our true path, then I feel that we definitely will be granted these merit points by going through self-imposed hardship.

If you could create or change one thing in your future (this lifetime or the next), what would that be.

I'm assuming that you mean for me specifically rather than something like world peace. If so, then I would say that I'd like to no longer incarnate, at least on Earth. Other than that, I would say that I'd like to more clearly see my path and have the courage to always follow it.

[lildreamer316]

26. Ok, Dream, you are

freaking me out.
I could have written those responses almost word for word.

EXCEPT
the last one.

I find in myself the energy to be here on this planet again; despite the crap we are dealing with. I think I'm in love with the earth; which is why I think I'm probably a young soul. Guess we'll see.

My regression was with someone not very exprienced. I feel I have been a recent inahbitant of Great Britan, but that's about it.

[I Have A Dream]

30. That's really interesting, lildreamer. I wouldn't have thought...

that our beliefs were so similar.

In reference to the incarnating again, I have very little fire and air in my astrological chart, and I think that I don't have anything to provide energy. Also, I wonder if maybe I didn't have enough time in between incarnations between my last life and this life. (My guides are probably saying "We told you so" right now. :))

In reference to you being a young soul, I wouldn't think so. You have such wisdom. I guess that it's not fair to think that young souls don't have wisdom, but I tend to think that experience is what allows us to gain wisdom.

[cassiepriam]

27. No 4

In the next life (if I have one, I am still mulling it over),
I want to hit the ground running spiritually, not take so long
for everything to gel.

And want to teach, write and minister in spiritual fields.

[LaurenG]

29. He**, why wait till your next life?

as the saying goes,just do it!
;)

[cassiepriam]

31. Gee that's an idea..... then I really won't have to come back...

will have already done my next life :)

[SheilaT]

32. I have never been regressed

but I do have two or three oddball memories that make no sense unless they are of previous lifetimes.
I've also had a series of dreams over the years that have convinced me that I died in the Holocaust, trying to protect the person who is my younger brother in this lifetime, and that part of my work this time around has been to protect him again.

I believe that what we do in each and every lifetime matters, and that what we do now will shape future lives. But I don't see it as necessarily a one-for-one trade-off. There are many ways to learn our lessons.

In a future lifetime I would love to be able to sing. I cannot carry a tune this time around, although I love music. I'd also love a lifetime in which I could be a ballet dancer. All my life I've had odd dreams of dancing, of being on point, which is rather odd since I've never taken ballet.

[Why Syzygy]

33. Last month

I spent precious cash for a 'regression'. It was very disappointing. There was . nothing there.

The only other life that made sense to me, came at a time I was not expecting it at all. Somehow, through an email list I cannot even recall, a man, who lived in the very small east Texas town where my son had earned a band scholarship for his first year of goofing off (college), got in touch with me and he wanted a Tarot reading, so we traded. He told me about what he saw. We never met in person. But the vision he gave me was exactly spot on.

My 'mother' was the one I have been charged to take care of. And it is not a cake walk. She has forEVER been my younger sibling. At that time, I had just been attuned to Reiki I and started working with the symbols and crystals. I had not spoken to my mother for almost four years. It just seemed best. But what he told me brought me up, because then I knew why she blamed me. I'm still not willing to play on her terms. Too gamey. Too enmeshed. I really prefer not to ever share another lifetime with her. But for now, at least I have learned how to be civil, allow her to feel okay about herself, and stop the battle. The scars are still there. You've no doubt read about children who are born with birthmarks that attest to another lifetime?

Basically I guess I feel that I have worked more on her karma than my own. So, I get to start now. Or soon. I hope.

edit ps: my old computer crashed right after that. I lost the man's email address and never knew how to get ahold of him otherwise.

[SheilaT]

34. Even though I realize

you've only told me a tiny fraction of what's been happening with you and your mother all these years, I suspect you have been working on your own karma all along the way. It's possible you have made progress and she hasn't, and that's why this lifetime has been so difficult for you.

I certainly do not claim to know all or understand all, so please accept these comments as my simply trying to be helpful, not that I have some special insight into your situation.

[Why Syzygy]

35. thank you

I don't like to rehash the details.

I took Modern Dance and have done some spinning as a spiritual art. You can do it.

You already know how to spot?

I have no singing ability. Except for myself. I have some dance talent, but am too short to live up to my childhood dream of being a dancer. But I dance. Hope you do too.

[onecent]

36. I have a question. I have always been interested in reincarnation

however, I have never heard the term "being given grace". Would someone please enlighten me regarding this? I have an idea from reading all your responses.

Thanks.

[I Have A Dream]

37. To me, it means being given something that you didn't earn. A gift. n/t

[Why Syzygy]

38. thank you for asking

"grace" has always been a term I find confusing. Being raised in the church, it meant, I'm a bad person so god was nice and had "grace" on me. Meaning, I was bad, but he was good, so that made it 'okay'. I have never gotten it. I'm still a 'sinner', wandering around.

I don't really believe in "grace". There is no free ride. Have not seen one. Everyone I know, even devout believers, expect something, a little self tingle, or something in return. There is no free ride. Some people are decent human beings, and you just want to spend time with them.

Let's take an example. What am I looking for? I look for fun and wit, and someone who will stimulate me to acheive .. and feel good about myself. So .. if there is "grace" . that means someone gets to feel all cozy and good about themselves, doesn't it? And then everyone else is supposed to go . oh grace, that set me free. When actually, nothing is free.

So I'm not the right one to answer the question. Because I'm a cynic. And do not believe in Grace. Or Santa.

I'm not very popular to have around this time of year.

I hope someone else has something uplifting to say.

[LaurenG]

39. To me it's like being given a free pass

For instance if my boss just blew off an error I made. He could say, no, errors are allowed and fire me or he could dock my pay but instead he says oops, try again!

Grace is sort of like that.

[Chemical Bill]

40. Well...

>Have you ever been regressed or had spontaneous "memories" about a different lifetime.

Yes. I got answers to questions about past lives during regressions. I felt like I was making it all up. I even got names and places, but never followed through to see if there were people with those names in those places around those dates. Ultimately, I decided it is less interesting and useful than the present.

>Do you believe in being given grace or do you think you are made to pay for every deed you've ever done.

I don't believe in the premise of your question. First off, nobody else makes me pay for anything. I keep acting and learning, and my actions have consequences, and my lessons may lead me to different actions in the future.

>Do you believe that you can change the outcome of future lives by denying yourself or holding yourself back in this one?

I only want to affect the present, the future will take care of itself. If I feel the need to deny myself or hold back, I do it as much as possible/practical.

>If you could create or change one thing in your future (this lifetime or the next), what would that be.

See previous answer.

Now, let me ask you two questions:
Do you meditate?
Have you seen "What The Bleep Do We Know?"?

Bill

[Why Syzygy]

41. I like your emphasis

on 'present'.

[LaurenG]

42. Yes and yes

:D

[Chemical Bill]

44. Meditating...

is what I do to hook up with the rest of the universe - past, present, and future. I figure I will only get glimpses and hints until I'm willing to leave this life behind. I think "What the Bleep" presents a pretty good explanation, don't you?

Bill

[LaurenG]

46. I really liked What the bleep

so I bought it.:D

And yes I too get glimpses from meditation. I had an old school mystic as a teacher and I learned so much from her, she made it all seem so simple.;)

[bianca2001]

43. I'm a

"dyed-in-the wool" Edgar Cayce follower from way, way back. I don't
believe there is such a thing as GRACE when it comes to Reincarnation.

The help one gets comes from 'good deeds' or actions in other life-
time(s). The most one can get is help from any spirit guides or friends
that one calls upon to overcome whatever. As someone said, there are
no 'free lunches' in reincarnation. One fails the test(s), one faces
them again in another lifetime, simple as that.

I have never been regressed, nor ever wanted to be. My Astrology teacher
helped a long, long time ago, I asked a psychic friend for her opinion
once and once an acqaintance 'threw' something at me that made me think
and I pursued psychically. It took many years but it all seemed to come
together for me eventually. The best I did was to 'let it flow' and pay
attention to within and without me.

Oh, about the 'martyr' thing. Cayce says that you may turn the other
cheek ONCE, after that you're a doormat (masochist).......

Oh, most importantly a LOT of LOVE for our fellow men/women really will
go a long way, regardeless.

I believe that people who think they are the reincarnation of Napoleon,
Cleopatra and such personages in History should be taken more seriously
(unless they are certified). I think a lot of times people think they
are 'such and such' really are given a model to study: most of History's
Notables did NOT possess exemplary characters, including the saints.
These people ought to thouroughly study the biographys of their indi-
vidual historic person and see how their mistakes, faults etc. apply to
themselves in this present incarnation, therefore greatly benefiting
from this.

Love, Light and Life,
Bianca