Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules governing this sort of thing. What makes memories "flash" varies.
Sometimes a key date will trigger memories. A friend only has recollections one day a year, but they are like clockwork. Every year on her past-life aborted wedding date she relives the event. For the past several years she has taken this day off. She goes to a certain river near her
house and spends the day there alone. From these memories she has managed to piece together a fair amount of information about her past life. After a lot of work she has determined the location of the church where the wedding was held. The church is still there. She discovered the
pastors name from her memories and confirmed his existence and so on.
Sometimes a certain food, smell and so on will cause us to remember (many people speak of flower fragrances, of pine or wood rot...). Some people will use certain flowers, essential oils, etc. as triggers. It sounds like you are in a good place for having and remembering memories.
It might help to think about the memories you have had and place a mental key to some item or experience while pondering meditatively. For instance, find some unusual item, fragrance etc. Ponder that item with the understanding that it signifies the experience. When you encounter it
also stop and "Listen" and "See" for a few moments. When this key is triggered, you mind will take that as a regression suggestion and you may receive insights. Once you have this, you can include this trigger in your meditations and contemplations.
I normally suggest keeping a dream or "hit" diary and that sort of thing. Jot down anything possibly related. Other aids come through meditation with a focus to towards remembering. Upon retiring for the evening will yourself to remember through your dreams and then, upon awaking,
write out any dream you have had whether they seem related or not.
Going to the place of your previous life could do a few contradictory things, as you say. Seeing the place can interfere with memories by confusing the experiences of the previous lifetime with the current one. On the other hand,it could also produce more memories by contacting the past. There's really no way of knowing. In India I had lots of dejevu from a previous life. I have not had the opportunity to visit Eastern Europe as I'd like but I'm sure it would be a powerful experience as Bulgaria and the Third German Reich
feature prominently in my best remembered past life.
Although it could conceivable confuse your memories, personally I would go if your have the option.
In my opinion, other than professional regression and that sort of thing, many memories tend to come about on their own accord when we are ready to receive them, as long as we remain open to the idea.
I would also ponder what you recall of your previous life and look for lessons learned (or not learned). Try making sketches of faces or places. Try and fill out your memories, was it foggy? Clear? Were there smells? Sea water? Mountain breezes? Other people? Raining or dry? Day or night..." By fleshing out memories we communicate the desire to remember
to our subconsciouses. I would write the memories out. Save that copy for future consideration but maintain a second copy that you update as memories become clear. I've done this for years with my main memories:
http://allfaith.com/Mystory/dream.html
Again, by telling your Mind you want to know you will tend to know more fully.
One reason many people recall past lifetimes is because there was something that has been left undone. By pondering the lifetime we can often come to closure with these points or perceive new courses of beneficial action.
Our memories will also be effected, for good or ill, by our beliefs. You obviously accept the idea of rebirth, but what does that mean? Do we always return as humans or as other lifeforms? Does reincarnation ever end? If so, how? How is it possible to recall past lives? Why don't most people? If we have had an infinite numbers of past lives why do we only remember one or two of them.... Pondering such issues can ignite the Mind to reveal the questions and answers of the nature of the self (and the Self) and reveal ever more about the course of our existence, past present and future.
In this quest for knowledge, we are adventurers, we seek an inward Grail and we must chart our own course. So remain open and always listen to Voice of the Wind.
If I can be of assistance to you don't hesitate to write again.
Peace,
thanks very much for your answer and suggesions. they are much appreciated. Will try them out. MIght give myself say 3 more regressions and then just let it come to me if they fon't work. I'll confess my main dilemma here now. The memories, flashbacks and regression belong to that of a fmou person and I've been struggling with thsi for a long while.
I just can't take it all in it's so huge. ALso I feel that by accepting this as my memory I will be utterly crazy. I've read all about all these William Shakesperes and Cleopatras and it makes me shudder. I can't believe there are so many deluded poeple out there and I don't want to
be like them. This person whos memories I have is not up there with Shakespere and Cleopatra but he's pretty famous. I know what I saw however and I can't deny it. I didn't know anything about this person's life until I had these memories and teh detials were astonishing. I found out things that only this person would know. I could only conclude two things in that case...that I was chanelling this person's energies or that I was this person. I am gradually trying to come to the former conclusion as my life patterns, likes and ways coprrespond with this person but it's all rather too much sometimes. Still having toruble
accepting it but part of me feels that if I don't I won't ever accept myself.
Reply from John of AllFaith
Hi Lucy,
It does seem as though many people believe themselves to have been someone great or famous. There are great and famous people and they do, like everyone else, reincarnate, so "someone" is their present reincarnation.... It does nonetheless pose certain concerns.
One thing that is important to remember is that if a person was George Washington in the past (just grabbing a name at random) the person is not George Washington now. George is dead and gone.
What matters now is not who "I" have been but who "I" am now. To the degree that past life memories empower one to be the best person they can be now, to progress, to that degree the knowledge is beneficial. Now is what matters however, "Be Here Now" as Guru Ram Das noted so wonderfully in his book by that name.
In my case, I have fairly good info on two of my previous lives, they were no one important, just a couple of guys, but I am neither of "them" now. I am me. As I learn more about them I can certainly recognize ongoing issues that extend into this life, but the past is still past even
as "I," a guy living on a Northern California Butte, am not the kid who 50 years ago was born in the North Georgia mountains.
My suggestion is not to get too hung up about this. If you feel an inner prompting to explore this then it is probably a good thing to do, but what matters from that life, what you will take with you, you have within your consciousness already even as I hold my Georgia youth within my California heart. In my opinion, it is better to work on who you are now and what you wish to accomplish with this life. By being in tune with your Higher Self through contemplation, mediation and so on, you will go forward with your life harmoniously with you previous experiences and
become the person you will be in the future.
Just my thoughts ;-)
Write back any time,
