Aquarian Maverick said:
Lapis:
As one who's remembered portions of "past lives" since age 5, this would be interesting. Also how could karma work if no other incarnations past/future/concurrent exist in which to cause this cause and effect effect!
Alex:
Karma is a word that may or may not refer to actual past lives. It can be interpreted without reference to those lives...
...this can also be an area for friendly discussion
Aquarian Maverick
I enter this discussion with some trepidation since most of my certainty that there is only one physical life on earth comes from various faith-based proofs. That's not to say I have no rational reasons for my beliefs.
I, too, have had "past life" memories. Back in the 70s, I used my Aries Sun and Mars in Cancer to plunge into the very popular Past Life Regression techniques. To this day I have
vivid memories of two lives that spanned over 100 years and two continents. The amazing thing about these vivid, long-term recollections is that my "waking" life has no parallel. My "normal" memory is fluid and emotional and certainly not visual to much degree at all...
Still, my studies in astrology and psychology have led me to see these as deep occurrences in my unconscious mind. I have no scholarly, straight-forward proofs for my beliefs. They consist of many coherent yet seemingly independent factors:
* One is my experience in Active Visualization. This is a technique similar to past life regression in its preparations but different in goal. The task is to stay very aware in the Now but let your mind "go where it wants". I have a rich and royal history of using this technique to get to know and explore with my Anima (Muse). Since the effect of these "memories" is the same as the "past lives", I'm able, in my mind, to attribute them to a similar source...
* Faith enters its unruly head... Long after my experience with my Anima began, I converted to a Faith that didn't believe in reincarnation. I didn't have to accept that as dogma (it wasn't presented that way either) since I'd already found my own "other explanation". Basically, one rationale in this arena goes like this: Why would a loving God make us come back here so many times when it's such a huge struggle. I realize some will say that reincarnation is in the Hindu scriptures but then we're into the muddy waters of scriptural interpretation, where I will not go in public
* Now, of what use is the concept of Karma if there is no physical reincarnation?
Well...
I do believe that we "re-incarnate" ourselves within this One life on earth. Just look to the TransPersonal transit aspects in your chart...
From what I've gathered in my studies, Karma means, basically, "unfinished business" and Dharma means "spiritual Right". Some have given these concepts to the South and North Nodes (still, more is needed in the chart to fully cover the concepts).
* And, on a very personal note, I firmly believe in Karma since I've named my own company,
Benevolence In Dharmic Exploration, and without the fertilizer of Karma, Dharma could never grow...
I don't have the intention of convincing you that you are 'wrong' and that i am 'right'.
