Topics Meme: January 3rd

[tsukino_akume]

January 03 - My thoughts and Beliefs About Reincarnation



It's more appropriate to say that I've never *not* believed in it, really. I can't even pick a defining moment in my life where I started to debate the concept. It's just something I've always felt in my heart to be true.

Part of that I think comes from my feelings and connections to various creatures in my life. I've always looked into an animal's eyes and found another soul looking back at me. How could reincarnation not be possible without that feeling of silent understanding? It's a bond that transcends words, in its own way. We make that instant connection, or reconnection, and re-learn to speak to one another through it.

I suppose the best way to explain how I see the bond between souls would be to cite the Lifestream concept from Final Fantasy VII.

(Yes, I'm a gamer nerd. But it's true.)

For those who've never played the game, the Lifestream is a constant flow of spiritual energy that moves in and around the planet. It makes up quite literally *everything*; it's the reason that things grow, live, and die. The Lifestream itself is made up of every soul that has ever lived, all brought together, where they remain until they return to the planet.

Do I have any concrete reason to believe this? Not really. Do I anyway? Very much so.

Well ... that's not entirely true.

I do have one very specific personal reason for believing in reincarnation: my 'nee-chan.

I met her in summer school before my sophomore year, when we ended up in drama class together. We were both pretty shy, hang-out-in-the-corner type people at the time, so while I came to vaguely recognize her as a member of the class, pretty much the only thing I knew about her was her name. (Which ironically was the same as mine, although we went by slightly different nicknames.)

The first time we actually spoke to one another was to read a script as part of a group activity. After our parts were over, for reasons neither of us remember anymore, we started fencing each other with rolled up scripts. By the time we went back to the classroom, I was bopping her over the head with her empty Mountain Dew bottle and we were bantering back and forth. We were best friends from that day on.

I have never, *ever* had that instant connection with *anyone* before or since. The closest I can explain the feeling is when I met starlit_purple face-to-face for the very first time. It's a feeling that you've known this person your whole life, and there's no awkwardness because you already know you love them.

starlit_purple and I had been talking online and over the phone for years before we met. 'nee-chan and I had never acknowledged one another before that day, but we both admitted later to that feeling that we'd been friends forever. It was the reason we decided we were sisters-of-heart, because we loved each other as something more deeply than simple friendship. It's why after years of lost contact, I don't feel at all awkward leaving her a snarky comment on Facebook. It's why I still call her my 'nee-can. Because in my heart, I know that I've known her forever.

There's an astrology book I own, that a friend from high school introduced me to once: it's called The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need.

At one point, the book mentions soul mates. Their description of soul mates is not about romance, but about spiritual connection and emotional intimacy. It explains that soul mates can be found of all forms, in all walks of life, and that a person may not be limited to just one. It was the truest definition of our connection I'd ever read, and 'nee-chan agreed with me when she saw it.

I don't know what life either of us may have led when we met before. I don't know what our relationship might have been. It doesn't matter what it was; just that it was. And that it is. It always, *always* is.