Venus – I think the reason most aren’t as effected is a mix of all those things and more. My beliefs regarding life after death is that there are a ton of options. Many just haven’t experienced past lives. I tend to think what happens after death is far more complicated than anything we can dream up. We just have snippets of possibilities.

The part about words being connected to images for you is interesting. I used to have something similar happen. I would have random thoughts come at me out of nowhere – very strong ones too. Some were questions, others vivid images. I also get very strong flashbacks but I can’t remember most of those. Heh, given your way of going about things, I’d actually be kind of surprised if you weren’t being effected to some degree by past events.

Okami – Yeah, it would be easier to ‘pop a pill’ but I honestly don’t think it would make any of your stuff go away. Some things just don’t leave that easily. Unless you took something which erased personality and memory since, like you said, it is very fully ingrained in you. Heh, guess we also suffer from a very odd variety of the human condition. Perhaps a more spiritual one?

Pgrundy – Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. The others are used to my scattered posting but I’m not sure I’ve ever informed you about it. As for what you’ve said – it feels very much like what I go through. Remembering places I’ve never been. Feeling that there is a sense of urgency and importance attached, but not knowing what to do or how to go about it. I’m actually really amazed someone responded like this – I’ve never met anyone who felt the same way either. I also go into trance-like states and see and feel more than others, with some of it related to those past events. Does that ever happen with you?

My belief, regarding what these places are, is kind of a mix of your conclusions. Another plane of reality and past lives. I think very little of it is actually working in this life though. But I am going through a lot of very personal growth and gaining strength that I’ll be able to utilize after I leave here. I’ve been broken for a long time. I think, in this life, I’m healing in ways I never have before. It’s weird to look back while going forward. To want and lament while knowing you’re gaining something here. I just have to promise myself I’ll use whatever strength I gain to deal with that feeling of urgency after I die. Christ it’s hard not to fall into it and be swept away sometimes though.

I was actually very disappointed when I went to see my therapist. She could never get off of the ‘how’s your job?’ train of thought. Granted, I have issues with social anxiety and was battling agoraphobia, but it was really not my primary concern a lot of the time. We never got truly deep. I’ve found that’s always come better with spiritual people.