Esoteric Ramblings

[poliphilo]

My mother has better recall of things from her childhood than she has of anything that has happened since. Twice now, in reference to our newish black cat, she has talked about how her mother used to have white cats and they were deaf.

The oldest memories are the most persistent. Perhaps it's because we've had the longest time to think about them- and they've been petrified by the drip, drip, drip of repeated visitation- but no memory- near or far- ever seems old. When I think of things in the past the distance between then and now is obliterated and I experience them as part of my present reality- as things that happened to the person I still am.

The essential self continues- even though its physical circumstances, attachments and beliefs may have changed several times in the course of the life it's looking back on.

Ailz asked everybody at the dinner table what they thought happened after death. One person said death was the end, two others said said they didn't really know and I initially kept quiet but then- when Ailz drew me in- started talking about life on the astral- and how there are hospitals there for new arrivals and work for those who want it and how things get less physical the deeper one goes in. I made reference to the post-mortem experiences of T.E. Lawrence. For me this is all fact- and I'll talk about it as fact-- for as long as anyone shows or feigns interest- but I won't get into an argument. One knows what one knows and thinks what one thinks- and debating points never won anyone over who wasn't already halfway there.

Comments

[cmcmck]

His old aunt could always recall the stuff way back but nothing in the present.

[poliphilo]

It's common. My mother remembers childhood pets and expresses surprise when she sees the cats we have now because she forgets they exist.

[oakmouse]

I like the idea that death is juat a brief interruption in a long life. Can't recall off the top of my head who said it, but it fits in with the druid idea of reincarnation and the transmigration of souls --- like Taliesin's list of creatures and things that he had been.

[poliphilo]

Lots of people have said it- because it's the truth- but a truth our culture has mislaid. Reincarnation is also a universal truth- and the two doctrines fit together nicely.