I haven’t blogged about anything spooky or odd lately, so I think it’s time.
I just read a fascinating article about young kids who can remember past lives and it blew my mind!
You might think I read this in a trashy supermarket rag like the National Enquirer, but no. Rather, it was an extensive article in the well-regarded Washington Post in which several credentialed scientists were quoted.
Apparently, an academic and scientific research group at the University of Virginia was founded in 1967 to rigorously study “empirical evidence for extraordinary human experiences and capacities.” The Division of Perceptual Studies is a research unit of the Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences department at UVA’s School of Medicine.
This outfit seems as legit as they come. And yes, this sounds exactly like the X-Files!
I didn’t have “start believing in reincarnation” on my 2024 bingo card, but after reading that article and perusing UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies website, I am finding that I may be open to the possibility.
And, as I’ve written about before, this is in line with our own experiences with our own daughter. Z didn’t remember being a different person or having a past life here on earth, but when she was small she used to clearly articulate and repeat stories about where she was before she came to earth to be our daughter.
This could be chalked up to an active imagination – she’s always been very creative and loves telling stories – but some similarities between our experiences and those of others make me wonder. All we did at the time was listen to her and ask clarifying questions. We didn’t overreact or show disbelief.
Z’s pre-birth stories were included in the book “Memories of Heaven: Children’s Astounding Recollections of the Time Before They Came to Earth” by Dr. Wayne Dyer. In the context of that book, her experiences were not all that unusual or unexpected, as countless kids around the world have reported similar experiences and memories.
Interestingly, Z no longer remembers those pre-birth memories or even telling us those stories when she was small. Like the kids studied by the Division of Perceptual Studies, Z gradually lost her pre-birth memories somewhere around the age of five or six. I’m certainly glad that I documented them at the time; I only wish I had a video of her describing her experiences!
There is so much to this world that we don’t understand or realize. It is pure hubris to think we know it all. It is exciting to me that there are legitimate scientific bodies dedicated to studying extraordinary human experiences and capacities.
If you have a child who spontaneously talks about past-life memories, here’s a page from UVA with information about what to do next. And if you’re up for reading about a documented, proven past-life case, check this out.
Do you believe in paranormal, magical or extraordinary things like ghosts, reincarnation or past lives? I’d love to chat with you about all things spooky and mystical in the comments below or over on Facebook or Instagram!
