AboutStephen Sakellarios Expertise I can answer questions about reincarnation (from both Eastern and Western perspectives) and life after death, and how these topics relate to religion and spirituality.
Experience
I produced a documentary entitled "In Another Life: Reincarnation in America" which aired on PBS station KBDI in Denver, CO, Jan. 2003
I have a masters in counseling from FSU, and over thirty years' study of Eastern mysticism from carefully selected sources, plus eight years' study of contemporary Western reincarnation studies. I've published nine related articles online and in print. I offer an online class on the subject and maintain an extensive educational website at www.ial.goldthread.com, as well as giving talks and radio interviews (archived on the website).
First of all, I was wondering how best I could explore a past life of mine. The thing is, I've always felt like I don't belong - like, spiritually don't belong. And even people I've known from different parts of my life have said on occasions that I tend to talk differently - kind of too old for my age. For years I've had mini flashbacks, sometimes in the blink of an eye where I "remember" faces, snippets of conversations and even the layout for a flat that I've never been in (at least in this lifetime).
Secondly, how can you reconcile thoughts and feelings that seemingly bleed through from a past life? The only reason I ask is that since these apparent past life thoughts and feelings started entering my conscious mind I've felt a connection to a person who I feel is supposed to be a close relative but no-one matching his description exists in this lifetime. I even saw this guy once in a dream and recognised him in the capacity that the past life thoughts label him as. The connection to this person is really strong and quite emotive and I'm at a loss to reconcile these thoughts and feelings.
I appreciate that I must sound a few bricks short of a load but I really don't know who else to ask.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Matthew.
Answer Hi Matthew,
I think the state you're describing is a result of having dislodged the natural "amnesia wall" we all have, which prevents us from remembering past lives, *in a previous lifetime*. My prediction is that as past-life regression becomes more common, we will see more people incarnating who are reporting these effects. In short, if you crack open the door in this life, it will come ajar more readily of its own accord in the next.
So I think it's a good idea to look at how you opened your question--it was, "...how I could best explore a past life of mine." Notice you didn't ask, "WHETHER OR NOT I should explore a past life of mine."
My suggestion would be that before you think about opening the door further, you would do better to be sure you learn how to close it completely when you want to.
That being said, there may be a reason why these things are coming through for you. Maybe you are destined to meet this person; maybe you are supposed to learn something else through it.
Probably you are an old soul, and probably, also, you have studied (and perhaps actively investigated) these things in the past. As regards getting too identified with the heady brew of thinking oneself an old soul, I'll pass along what yogi Baba Hari Dass said: "Never think you are old, because to God, all are children, and children always play."
I don't think you're a few bricks short of a load, unless I am, also, because I relate to a lot of what you're saying about yourself! In which case someone a few bricks short of a load has written another person a few bricks short of a load for advice...
In any case, my advice is to pay attention to the issues surrounder *whether*, before you address the issue of *how*. "Whether" actually turns out to be a deeper question.
