Past Lives or Dreams?

by Joyce Booth O'Brien

Reading with interest some time ago of the events that turned a well known medium towards thoughts of reincarnation, made me think of several experiences which took me back into what I call past scenes.

It was upon my return to Britain after spending several years abroad, that I found myself often taking leave of my body and returning to people, and places, I missed very much indeed! Actually, many and varied experiences came at this time, but two scenes in particular come to mind each differing widely from the other, yet earing a certain similarity which I feel had to do with conditions, and the intense depths of individual sufferings...........

I do not know how long I had lain in bed. But I found that I had been taken back in me with both compassion and horror.

I was watching a beautiful, blonde young woman who was tied to a stake with smoke from a newly lit fire already billowing around her. Many people had gathered around to watch the scene, but her attention was focused upon a lovely blonde girl of approximately eight, or ten, years of age who was sitting, securely bound, to her chair and obviously in great distress as she was made to watch the woman, whom I felt to be her mother, die in the fire.

Behind the girl's chair stood a man whom I strongly felt was trying to force information of some kind from the child. Feeling certain that the 'nightmare' before her eyes would force her to respond to his questioning.

The agony and suffering felt around the mother and child was un-endurable. And I felt an aura of innate goodness and 'purity' around them which separated them from the majority of those who persecuted them!

For some time after being shown, and watching, the scene I have felt tremendously saddened. Such a beautiful woman and child. Both having to suffer in this horrendous way. And for what purpose? Was there jealousy behind the woman's betrayal? The scene, because of the suffering involved, stayed with me for some time. I also felt an affinity with the mother and her daughter. Watching the scene, I must have been in tune with the mother as my attention became focused upon the child, and experienced...to a degree...her agony for her child.

The following scene from the past came very soon after the first. But this time I found myself looking down upon a courtyard, around which was built a very high stone wall, and all of which was connected to a Convent.

In the centre of the enclosure stood a girl whom I took to be a novice, of approximately fourteen, to sixteen, years of age and whom I felt to be completely alone in the world. Standing very close to the high walls were small groups of nuns, who were talking maliciously, and in laughter, in fact they were being very spiteful about, standing in the centre of the enclosure reverently turning, within her hand, a small string of pearls and silently offering up to God, fervent prayers for help and guidance in her intensely unhappy state of mind.

Around the girl was an aura of such exquisite sweetness and 'purity', that I found it very hard to bear! Her agony of mind because of the malice and spitefulness of the nuns, and their vindictive use of her, was also keenly felt.

Then, as I continued to watch the scene, the nuns disappeared and only the girl was left standing in the courtyard still fervently praying and turning within her hands the string of pearls. When I then witnessed Angels circled around her in a most wonderful vision.

Shortly after these events I visited Stansted Hall, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex (College of spiritual & psychic investigation) and, one morning as I lay in a half awake, half sleeping condition, I heard male voices (spirit) expressing opinions. One said, "The conditions around her have taken her back into a previous existence." Yet I did not associate the existence with that of the young novice. I thought her nature too beautiful for this world. Then, upon awakening another morning I heard a male voice say, "I do not know, she has been entirely consumed three times by fire". Which made me wonder if the young mother burned at the stake could possibly have been a past experience.

There are memories which have come very close indeed, bringing convictions of another time and about which I would not truly wish to know. But those two scenes remain a mystery perhaps, about which, I will never really know.

Evidence there is in abundance to prove reincarnation as fact. And there are many people who love this Earth, with it's physical existence. Yet I can but thrill to the words of a Prophet, who gave, "And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from it's restless tides, that it may rise, and expand, and seek GOD, unencumbered."

Or could it be possible that 'all' are chained to the wheel of re-birth? A little while...a moment of rest upon the wind... and another woman shall bear me!

©2000 by Joyce B O'Brien