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Strange but true

pawl007

pawl007

pawl007
After 62 years on the planet I would like to share a most unusual story. Some of it positive and some very strange, to me anyway.

As a ten year old boy I had no concept of reincarnation or past lives. One day a new boy, Jeff, was introduced to us in the classroom I was part of. Strange feelings surged through me; I knew him. Not thought I did, but really did. It was a very strong recollection and resonance. This same thing occurred another two times; the last at the age of 18!! All three of these men are still major figures in my life now. One relationship is like my brother.

When very young (before twelve I think) I had dreams and memories of wheat fields, old mechanic sheds, broken fences and a very distinct and powerful fear of Deep South USA. Something really bad or sinister happened to me in that time. In this life I have grown up with a strong phobia of evil and witchcraft to the point where it impacted very negatively for many years. I have had twenty years of therapy and a long history of fear. Fortunately it has now subsided. I never knew where this fear came from. About 15 years ago my daughter played a song in my car by a band called Calexico called the Crooked Road and the Briar. It was a song about a girl who was murdered by a vagrant in the Deep South of USA. I pulled the car off to the side of the road and started sobbing and saying that girl was me, that girl was me. My daughter was freaked out and has never played the song since. I still feel very strange if I play that song.

I was a teacher for many years and have been able to function well despite the fear and I am definitely not prone to crying or emotional outbursts. Before my daughter played the song we were laughing and playing games. I believe strongly in reincarnation and feel I have had at least a number of previous lives. I still get strange feelings when I see videos or movies about the Deep South. Bibles, hell fire preachers and white churches make me shudder. Any thoughts anyone?
 
Hi pawl.


Welcome to the forum.

I pulled the car off to the side of the road and started sobbing and saying that girl was me, that girl was me. My daughter was freaked out and has never played the song since. I still feel very strange if I play that song.
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I know what that's like!
 
Thanks


Thanks for your response. For weeks after the sobbing event I was blown away by what had occurred. I would play the song to friends but each time I would break down into tears. When it first happened with my daughter my mind also had strong images of a hard faced man driving an old truck and a lot of fear in me. Murder and then being discarded into the river. I also feel there was a strong fundamentalist religious context. I have never been to the USA but it feels very familiar.
 
pawl007 said:
When it first happened with my daughter my mind also had strong images of a hard faced man driving an old truck and a lot of fear in me. Murder and then being discarded into the river. I also feel there was a strong fundamentalist religious context. I have never been to the USA but it feels very familiar.
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Welcome to the forum. Do you think you may have been a black man in the past life? That would make sense in the Deep South.
 
It sounds like your memories are very near the surface.. And the fact you recognize souls who you have had contact with can become a great tool for further exploration. .


I find it is important to think how I am feeling after the memory.If I still am struggling with something or even if I am still enthused with past life phenomena I know I have more work to do . Growing and developing is a balance between going inward and being involved in life in the now . I have learned to do self regression and watch how strongly I am drawn to it to gauge the timing of being more active in regression therapy .> It is these times that I recieve more help with memories.


I am also seeking physical healing as the mind / body and emotions play on each other. The homeopathic protocal I am doing called Heilkunst actually unlayers my energies so as I can make good progress with my inward work .


Do you feel the need to know further things ?
 
good advice


I don't feel I was a black person; more a very young southern girl living in a very fundamentalist community. The painting called the Gothic makes me feel very strange and would freak me out when young.


I appreciate the advice re going deeper but I still have some fear about what it may bring up. After so many years of being in a bad head space I don't want to jeopardise my happiness now. I have tried past life regression and this one never arises. Interesting.
 
You know best about your life of course. But many people have had similar fears about uncovering painful past experiences. Most of the time it works out well. People might get a bit upset temporarily, but in the long run it usually means they gain greater insights, which can lead to good results in the long term and usually benefits them in working on present life dilemmas.


Follow your heart, but don't be overly afraid. The past is the past, but there is much to learn from studying history.

I was a teacher for many years and have been able to function well despite the fear and I am definitely not prone to crying or emotional outbursts. Before my daughter played the song we were laughing and playing games. I believe strongly in reincarnation and feel I have had at least a number of previous lives. I still get strange feelings when I see videos or movies about the Deep South. Bibles, hell fire preachers and white churches make me shudder. Any thoughts anyone?
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Strong emotional reactions like this are a sure-fire indication of a past life association. It is uncomfortable (of course) but often something in our past will resonate with our present life, adding to greater insights and often presenting important information on solving present life problems. Be sure to persevere with it. 'Something' is trying to tell you 'something'. Make no mistake. It's always a good idea to listen and try to work out what it means. Sometimes this is deeply personal, but important, stuff. Don't ignore it.


Starting to keep a journal, and write it all out is always recommended.
 
Good thoughts and another recollection


Thank you for your wisdom Tanguerra. I do appreciate it and am probably in a better place to try those strategies now than at any other time in my life. In the past I dissociated a lot due to terror but that is rare now. I know a woman who specialises in past life regression and was trained by Michael Newton. I've been to her before and she is very thorough. Another interesting recollection comes to mind. When I was 13 I went to a local footy game. As I was weaving my way through the crowd I saw two older boys who I recognised from that life. They were involved in something very bad and I'm not sure but may have had something to do with my demise. I looked at them in horror and they returned my look with an equal amount of the same emotion. More confusion for me back then.
 
Yes! I can imagine! This happens quite often, but people don't always understand why they have an 'instinctive' attraction or aversion to people. The memories are often just below the surface. I think a lot of what we call the 'subconscious' is actually past life memory by another name.
 
Hi Pawl,


Do you have a link that tells the story behind the song? As a Southerner, I can relate to a lot of the characters being alluded to here, but I'd like to get a clearer picture of what happened.


Cordially,


S&S
 
Gets muddy


Hi S&S


Thank you for your kind interest. I have read some of your other posts and they are often very impressive re awareness and knowledge of past life regressions.


I wrote to the band Calexico re origins of the song but they didn't respond. I didn't expect they would. However strangely enough just two days ago I came across an interview with them in 2003 and they made mention that an Australian wrote to them re identifying with girl in the song but they didn't know what to do.


From what I have read the song The Crooked Road and the Briar is adapted from The Knoxville Girl. Excerpt: Wikipedia


"The Knoxville Girl" is an Appalachian murder ballad. It is derived from the 19th-century Irish ballad The Wexford Girl, itself derived from the earlier English ballad "The Oxford Girl". Other versions are known as the "Waxweed Girl", "The Wexford Murder". These are in turn derived from Elizabethan era poem or broadside ballad, "The Cruel Miller".


So as you can see it gets muddy. I have been to a number of psychics over the years many of whom pick up on this previous life. I feel it is part of my learning experience in this life but a tough gig to get through it. There was enormous shame and in the 1970's and 1980's who do you discuss it with?


Here are the lyrics to the song. If you have some thoughts please let me know. By the way the Mississippi R; even the name of it makes me feel weird. I know it's huge so pinpointing a spot is nigh impossible.


CROOKED ROAD AND THE BRIAR


Down the crooked road a ways


A child's shadow hiding in the briar


Tending to a twisted heart that's bent and broken


Wounded and abandoned left amongst the rotted root to rot


Moon, crimson moon


Rose marie's walking down the crooked road a ways


All aglow, her fair white skin


Portrait of beauty, angel to many


Hears the hush crying from the briar


Reaches in her hand to see what's the matter


And is dragged through the darkness


Beneath the lonely cypress


The town's beloved daughter


Carried to her death in the turbid waters


And set afloat downstream


Whole town erupts, bursts into flame


Parties go a-searching down the crooked road a ways


Find old rufus there drunk and asleep


Fishing by the water must have killed our beloved daughter


Can't hold back these waves of anger


Tie a rope around his neck


See if he still hollers


Another innocent soul hangs over the briar
 
It is normal for folk songs to have numerous different versions and quite often different tunes as well. Waltzing Matilda for instance has two different tunes, although the words are more or less the same in the different versions. Most people could not read or write back in the day. Even musicians seldom read music, let alone afford to buy sheet music. Most songs and tunes were learned by ear and passed on the same way, so regional variations are very common. Songs like Barbara Ellen have different Irish, English and American versions, different words, different tunes, but more or less the same general story.


Your emotions are your best guide to what's going on. How 'exactly' does this song make you feel? You have already said it conjures up various images. Emotions are often the way into a past life memory. Have you read the thread 'the Heart Centre'? It's a very good technique for recovering past life memories via the emotions.


The Heart Center
 
Emotional guide


Yes that is exactly what Brian Weiss wrote to me when I explained this scenario in an email. How powerful is your emotional response? As a matter of fact I don't think I've ever experienced such a strong emotional reaction to anything. I like the idea of accessing my heart centre as a way of deepening my connection to this life.
 
Always follow your heart. Rule No. 1.


Although, I am well known for my dislike of rules. One Aussie to another, I'm sure you understand?


:)
 
What is it about this song that 'gets' you? Is it a word or a phrase... or...? You know best.


Music can be a very strong trigger to emotions and memories (feelings). Music is the language of our soul. I know very well from my own experiences that music can be a catalyst.


You don't have to share anything more than you want. But something to think about anyway?
 
Good question


Appreciate the probing questions. Thanks Tanguera. Didn't know you are an Aussie. West coast or east?


There are a couple of verses in the song that really affect me. Still does strongly!!


Moon, crimson moon


Rose Marie's walking down the crooked road a ways


All aglow, her fair white skin


Portrait of beauty, angel to many


and


The town's beloved daughter


Carried to her death in the turbid waters


Set afloat downstream


I am not sure why these lines bring up so much feeling. Particularly the description of Rose Marie and the line the: the town's beloved daughter.


When listening to this over and over, before the abduction and murder, I felt so strong and loved and powerful. This is unusual as I feel I was about 11 or 12. Most young people don't have that level of confidence. Also the name Sarah or Sara really resonates.
 
I'm from Melbourne. :)

I felt so strong and loved and powerful.
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It's a sad story alright! That's a lot of sadness to carry around with you.


Keep thinking about it. Try the meditation technique described above. Sometimes just placing your hands on your heart, while lying quietly before sleeping helps to focus the feelings for some reason. Just trust whatever comes first. It's usually right.
 
Michael Newton


There's a fellow in Perth trained by the Michael Newton Foundation who may help to access some deeper memories. I will also try the hand on the heart before sleep practice as well. Thanks a lot. By the way I love Melbourne, my fave city in Aust.
 
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