Reincarnation and Simulation and Synchronicity? Oh My!
Empowered Exploration of Difficult Concepts in a Bigger Story
When I was a kid, our family had a polaroid camera. It was so enthralling, snapping shots and waiting what seemed like 10 minutes for the image to gradually appear. Re-membering or re-collecting yourself, and what you are here to do, is a lot like watching a polaroid develop. Only instead of 10 minutes, it takes years, decades, and perhaps lifetimes for layers of color and recognizable images to appear on the canvas of your Unique Soul’s story. Until then, most of us are merely guessing at shadowy hints of who we are and why we came into this murky realm.
It’s like the more you (un)learn, the more you realize that you haven’t got the foggiest idea what this realm or experience is really about.
Reincarnation
I recall several years ago, shortly after writing my book, Raising Hell: Christianity’s Most Controversial Doctrine Put Under Fire—barely getting my feet wet outside the confines of religious programming—some well-meaning person gave me a book on reincarnation. After reading about twenty pages I tossed it into the dark recesses of my bookshelf. Too soon! Growing up with cultural and religious indoctrinating concepts about reincarnation, I had acquired many false notions that prevented me from being able to entertain the concept at that time. However, I was humbled enough from being catastrophically wrong in my sincerely held religious beliefs for over four decades that I at least agreed to put the book (and notion) on the shelf for awhile, not outright rejecting it as untrue or declaring that I would never believe it. I told the Universe that if reincarnation is true, I would have to be given helpful perspectives and the ability to accept it somehow.
It took about a decade and many puzzle pieces coming into place for me to warm up to the idea of reincarnation as a plausible and even likely model for the human spiritual evolutionary process. What changed for me? Primarily listening to NDEs and different views on reincarnation. Despite the fire he came under from his own “medical and scientific” community, I loved Eben Alexander’s, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife. It described such a beautiful NDE experience with an incredible plot twist. Incidentally, the quotes are because I contest the trustworthiness of medical and/or scientific “professionals” who are so closed off to wonder and mystery that they have to discredit the spiritual experiences of their cohorts. How unscientific of them.
I also loved the extremely convincing and compelling scientific approach to NDEs and past life regression by psychotherapist, Dr. Brian Weiss, in his book, Many Lives, Many Masters.
Lastly, the Jewish viewpoints on reincarnation (and here) offer quite a different and more palatable outlook than the Eastern Hindu model that I had been taught throughout my youth as the only view. It was also pointed out to me that the Bible has many references to reincarnation (as well as many traditions of the early church support reincarnation and NDEs) that are not acknowledged by most conservative Christians today. We will probably explore the differences eventually, but it’s not the point of today’s blog.
One of the puzzle pieces fell into place shortly after I abandoned the Christian doctrine of a future heavy-handed external Judgement event, with the realization that true transformation only comes from within. The “white throne judgment,” I now suspect, takes place within one’s own heart when your consciousness awakens to the destructive pain you have inflicted on self and others. You are then ready for “judgment,” ascending the white, pure-intentioned throne of your own heart to judge your own actions with fairness and integrity. It usually results in some kind of restitution for your wrongs, where possible. If not to a specific victim of your actions, your newfound change of heart scatters seeds into the world, creating more universal kindness. The transformative feelings of remorse and desire to change finally take you deeper into knowing and believing in your Higher Self and Source (God).
So this is when I realized that reincarnation is the only option that makes sense! It’s obvious looking at one’s self and others that this job of transformation is probably going to take longer than one lifetime. Most humans appear to need a lot of time and different experiences to integrate the necessary lessons, gathering the lost, scattered parts of ourselves into an individuated (“un-dividable”) self that is powerfully whole and no longer at odds with Source.
It’s like the idea that we come into this story as a shattered mirror, and we need a few lifetimes to put all the pieces of our whole reflection back together again. Without going into too much detail, I think the number of lives is very limited, and that there is a “zero point” when we will arrive at our soul’s objective, remembering all of our lifetimes in our “becoming journey” and how they each contributed. But for now, forgetfulness is a vital part of this process of learning through a dualistic consciousness experience. If you don’t temporarily forget Who You Are, you can’t immerse yourself into an unforgettable journey (game?) of wonder and discovery!
It takes time to warm up to allowing the deep insecurities and cognitive dissonances of learning you are living in an unrestrained, expanding Story, with endless potential for variables and subplots, after you had been used to living in a well-defined mental construct bubble of certainty. Imagine being a character in a massive 20-volume book series and only being allowed to read (or write) the section where you make your appearance on page 675 in volume 16. What happened before you got on the stage of this particular page, in this chapter, of this entire book? What is coming afterward?
In her book, Tarot and the Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana, Isabel Radow Kliegman speaks of the importance of living in questions: “While answers are more gratifying than answers, questions are more valuable. Questions open lines of thought, discussion, and possibility, while answers close them off. Exploration depends on questions; answers spell the death of imagination, hypothesis, and wonder.”
It’s perfectly fine to shelve things that seem too difficult to consider when we are not ready. Someday, you and I will be ready to let the evidences of The Story guide us unhindered, unleashed on its own terms, without the need for blindfolds, earplugs and especially, substances!
Last week I referred to Plato’s Cave, an allegory written by Socrates nearly 2,500 years ago, about the extreme resistance people have to allowing themselves to see greater truths if those truths challenge their current comfortable paradigm—even if those truths are offering greater liberty and empowerment. Socrates writes:
“As the eye could not turn from darkness to light unless the whole body moved, so it is that the mind can only turn around from the world of becoming to that of Being by a movement of the whole soul. The soul must learn, by degrees, to endure the contemplation of Being and the luminous realms. …One who has his wits about him would remember that there are two things that pain the eyes: being brought from darkness to light, and transitioning back from light to darkness. Now, considering that the soul experiences the same discomfort, this man would not make light of another when he met with a confused soul.”
Simulation or Simulacrum?
There have been many such difficult concepts that took me years to be ready for. Another was the concept of our earth realm as some kind of simulation, or a virtual “game.” Initially, my imagination taunted me with visions of a legion of exploitive, masochistic demi-god species (reptilians?), cackling together from an earth observatory, while contriving difficult tests and experiences for we humans in our convoluted, dense reality—all for fun and entertainment. I envisioned it much like the little old man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, pulling levers and pushing buttons to control the scene. It was untenable for me to think that way, and I couldn’t go there. If this also feels unsettling and “too much” for you, keep reading because I will circle around to palatable ideas about a simulated universe that are much less fatalistic.
In his book, The Simulation Hypothesis, MIT computer scientist and gamer, Rizwan Virk, makes a compelling case for our reality bubble being a simulation. From an online summary:
“Drawing from cutting-edge computer science, ancient philosophical musings, and modern metaphysical theories, Virk takes the reader on an intellectual journey that challenges our conventional perceptions of reality. …At the heart of the Simulation Hypothesis is the idea that our perceived universe, including all its complex intricacies, might be a construct of an extraordinarily sophisticated computer program. This digital reality concept finds its roots in philosophical traditions dating back to ancient times. Philosophers like Plato wondered about the nature of the 'real world' with his allegory of “The Cave,” suggesting our perceptions could be shadows of a truer form of reality just out of reach. Similarly, René Descartes pondered the existence of a deceptive higher power in his meditations, questioning the reliability of our senses and the external world’s authenticity.”
Intriguing Youtuber and author of of 17 books, Jason Breshears, has read over 1,300 ancient and rare books regarding the plot line of earth’s history according to contemporary historical works, giving him the title as an expert in ancient chronological systems. He asserts that the ancient texts support the earth realm as a “simulacrum,” a word with origins back to Plato’s time, which sounds similar to simulation. What’s the difference?
According the University of Chicago’s “Theories of Media,” A simulation is the act or practice of simulating with intent to deceive (or alter perception), whereas a simulacrum is an inferior copy of a greater reality or resemblance of something else.
The Oxford Reference gives additional viewpoints on the simulacrum theory: “The two most important names that have come to be associated with this concept are Jean Baudrillard and Gilles Deleuze. For Baudrillard, the simulacrum is essentially the copy of a copy, that is to say, the copy of something that is not itself an original and is hence an utterly degraded form. At its limit…the simulacrum is used to deny the possibility of anything being the singular source or origin of either an idea or a thing… Anything deemed to be an original idea or object is in fact a mirage, an optical illusion, similar to back-projection in cinema. Another way of putting this would be to say that a simulacrum is only ever an effect and never a cause.”
If we are thinking of being thrown into a simulated reality at the mercy of the gods as playthings, no wonder we object vehemently. But what if that is completely backwards? What if we brought ourselves here and we are the ones who contrived our own experiences and lessons ahead of time? What if our higher consciousnesses (Higher Selves) planned out a story of continuity for our learning and experience, knowing it would feel so real, so visceral, so convincing, that we could trick ourselves into believing it? But also knowing that we are completely safe within the illusion, and all of the suffering, toil, and density of this realm is temporary and for a purpose. Perhaps that is the greater mystery we are here to wake ourselves up to! Perhaps when we wake up to the game, we find that we have all the power we need to escape the trap of forgetfulness, suffering, and enslavement in this scarcity-fear based system.
Aside from many ancient book sources, I believe there is supporting evidence for such an idea. I recently mentioned childhood programming in a previous blog entry. In case you missed it, there is a curious phenomenon with children ages 0-7, as detailed by cellular biologist, professor, researcher, and epigeneticist, Bruce Lipton. You and I plop down onto this earth at birth in a theta brainwave state. This is a very low amplitude brain wave that is effective (required?) for deep meditation, hypnosis, and mind programming techniques. This is when all observed and subtle information can go directly to the subconscious mind. So because children are often in this state up through age seven, they absorb everything around them subconsciously, living the rest of their lives based on beliefs that were instilled in them by their parents and culture during this time period.
Let that sink in. You innocently waltz into the role you will be “playing” in this realm in a pliable, programmable (game-induction?) state—very similar to a computer hard drive—ready to load and run all of the foundational programs you will need for your entire life, from your familial, cultural, religious, educational, and any authoritarian influences. Scientists say that about 95% of your behaviors and reactions to your environment throughout your life run off of these unconscious, formative programs that you developed as a seemingly non-consenting child. Only about 5% of your behaviors and choices throughout your life are performed consciously, or from a mindfully empowered state.
Add to that, the complex array of astral body alignments that you are born under may contribute significant influences on your personality and responses to this programming and your environment. I recently heard an astrologer comment that there are literally thousands of aspects and relationships to read in a birth chart! How silly a Sunday morning newspaper sun sign reading sounds when you realize how complex is one’s natal chart. Also, real astrology is so rich with meaning. Your natal birth chart is capable of telling you your soul’s purpose—why you came here, what you are supposed to accomplish, and what your wounds will be! Isn’t that fascinating? I first had a chart reading done in January when an astrologer stayed in our Airbnb. She had me in tears when she was able to accurately describe many specific events and wounds from my childhood. I was hooked and began exploring and learning more. I have had several opportunities to give very basic readings for friends and they have all said I was spot on! (In a couple months I will be trained and available for chart readings🤩😍).
Synchronicities
Another convincing phenomenon of a virtual reality for me are synchronicities, a term coined by Carl Jung. Jung defined synchronicities as “the coincidence in time of two or more causally unrelated events which have the same meaning.”
From an analytical psychology website, “A key signature concept in Jung’s vision of the world, synchronicity was defined by Jung as an acausal connecting principle, whereby internal, psychological events are linked to external world events by meaningful coincidences rather than causal chains.” Jung also noted that “synchronism is the prejudice of the East, while causality is the modern prejudice of the West.” He often experienced mystical synchronicities himself, like the time a patient was describing a dream she had about a golden scarab beetle, when suddenly Jung heard tapping on the window. He went over and saw that a scarab beetle was trying to enter, so he gave it to the patient and it had a profound effect on the patient’s therapy.
My life in recent years has been rife with impossible, impactful synchronicities and I have often searched for the possible source and reason for them (here, here, and here). A simulacrum makes the most sense to me—some kind of calculated algorithms that meet in space-time to make magic with our senses. A meeting of matter and spirit. Synchronicities are most abundant and profound the more one breaks out of the “program,” or expected rhythms of life. When you do something daring, or out of the complete ordinary that requires extreme trust or courage, you are likely to meet with profound synchronicities.
Victims or Co-Creators?
Deconstructing one’s nanoscopic, unfounded beliefs of certainty, handed down by culture and religion about the Greater Reality, can feel threatening, scary, and disorienting. Then add in ideas like reincarnation and simulation and we practically need to schedule a session with a psychotherapist (or an exorcist for extra conservative folks). Had we started with more expansive, open-ended worldview perspectives as children, perhaps contemplating such concepts wouldn’t be so destabilizing.
But think about it. If we are here at the mercy of “God” (or the gods), as many a religious programming presents, without creative power over the setting, choices, and outcome of our lives, we are, by definition, victims of someone else’s will and intent with no unique consciousness or spark of Divine. In this scenario, the role we are here to play in this experience appears to be largely dictated before we have a conscious thought. The only things we have any control over are our responses to life’s determinant design, and even then we can only “choose” to the degree we are conscious of those responses. Doesn’t that model feel fatalistic, sadistic, and powerless? What kind of a heavenly parent would do that to His or Her own offspring?
I don’t think it’s possible that we’ve been randomly assigned a place and role here on the earth, as our context and experiences feel too meaningful and “ordained.” As mentioned, I think we did it to (and for) ourselves. We came here, hopefully by our own choice and intention, to allow ourselves to be programmed, to perform a certain role, and to elicit a certain effect on other characters/players in this Story. Kind of like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” who discovers that if he hadn’t been born, his entire community would have radically suffered without his influence. Some people say we come here in soul families to help each other grow—families that we have reincarnated with before, and that is why prominent people who come in our lives can sometimes feel so familiar.
Assuming I brought myself here, it makes perfect sense that it was necessary for me to don forgetfulness of my higher consciousness, my God-Conscious Self, to come here as an actor to play a charade. With the age of AI and virtual reality ushering in, along with studies into the quantum field of consciousness, all of this becomes even more plausible and convincing. We now know that it is quite possible to stream your consciousness into other locations in order to have realistic experiences (remote viewing (and also here), out of body experiences, astral travel, etc.).
And here’s the clincher: When we become conscious of the God living in us, AS US, we begin to wake up to our power to choose outside the program! This is when things get interesting, and we begin to find our potential as co-creators with God to dream up new stories and realities for ourselves. We break out of the mould, so to speak, and find out way out of the labyrinth of reincarnation and forgetfulness cycles. (We will explore these exciting empowering concepts more thoroughly in later entries).
Throughout my arduous journey, I have always coaxed myself to start with the notions that Source/God is Good, it’s a safe universe, and everything is for my highest and best. Then I try to read far and wide to reconstruct what appears to be a Story with more continuity, love, and mental safety from all of the scattered puzzle pieces. I search for ideas that knit together and reconstruct a Story that make me feel empowered, participatory, and hopeful about my future.
Throughout this series, I will be sharing many of these puzzle pieces with you in an attempt to scatter more hope and belief in a Good Story where you also feel empowered and not victimized. Where you also feel strong enough to consider any opinion or hypothesis without going off the rails of despair.
I would love to hear your feedback about this topic! Does this scare you? Empower you? Intrigue you?