Qotw-3/16- Genetic memory?
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| Wed, 03-15-2006 - 9:42pm |
Our friend "M" (nschoolagain) posed this question in another thread and it sounded like another great topic to post. Thanks, M!
Several years ago a bunch of us got into a discussion about such things like being *drawn* to particular things (certain cultures, places) and the "whys/what is it" behind such feelings. Also things like deja vu and such. And I'd mentioned the concept of "genetic memory." CAN we remember our forefathers memories???? We carry so many traits beyond just the usual hair color and such . . . like, mannerisms and speech rhythms, etc. IS it possible for memories/feelings to carry over??
I have a talent for language, and in my educational career have studied Latin, Spanish, French and Russian. Thirty-five years later, I can't remember much of any of them except French. I still can speak French like a native with a little practice. I also speak it with a slight German accent, though none of my teachers were German. When I was in Munich in Feb, 1969, several people on the street called me by name... not MY name, but the name of the person that I looked exactly like! They were confused that I didn't respond in German! I apparently have a twin.
I dream of places and people in other times. I attribute this more to past life memories than genetic memory, but I'm open to suggestion and look forward to your responses.
Bink


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Thank you, Bink!! {{{hug}}}
One of the things that really got me pondering the idea of genetic memory was something that happened to me several years ago. While I knew that I had Irish "blood" and even sort of knew where "our people" were from in Ireland, and I knew that there was Scottish "blood" as well ~ I'd not heard much about our Scottish ancestors and had NO idea where they were from. But I have always been drawn to things Irish and Scottish ~ even long before knowing much about my heritage.
I have to give a bit of background here ~ I'm a Tree Lover (Tree Hugger - literally ~ if I see a wonderful old tree I have to go touch it/hug it/feel its energy and frequently talk w/ it!!) I love forests and Big Old Fabulous Trees!! I beleive in Ents (*wink*!!)
So, a few years ago I had been doing some searching on the Net and was planning a trip (I knew I wouldn't take said trip, but at the time I just *needed* to plan "getting away", ya know?). Ok, so I kept coming back to Scotland, and moreso to a particular region of Scotland wwwaaaaaayyyyy the heck up in the northernmost regions just before crossing over to the Orkney Islands. The pictures of this *~*totally treeless*~*, nearly barren, windswept area moved something soooooo deep w/in me I can barely describe what I felt! And when I braught up pictures of the Orkneys it brought tears to my eyes (literally)!!!!!! Everything w/in me truly wanted to go there. I tried to tell people that I wanted to go there and several/most said, "Why there?? That's not where you want to go ~ go to Edinburgh or Inverness or, or any of the other 'more beautiful' areas . . . " How could I explain that *I* (who luv trees, thought this area to be incredibly beautiful??) Anyway long story short ~ I didn't go, life went on & some time later as I got in to studying about my heritage a bit more, guess where our clan is from??? Yup, the northernmost regions just before crossing over to the Orkney Islands!! Hey, I still get goosebumps. What is it that "pulled" at me so?? What was it I felt? I have no clue ~ but I love to wonder about it!!!
Oh btw I plan on going to Scotland as my present to my Self when I graduate!! *grin*
Luv 'n Blessings, "M"
I have a really similar tale to yours:
My heritage is 100% British, my parents immigrated here 3 years before I was born. Well, I went to England for the first time 5 years ago, and had a really great time, was able to meet tons of cousins/second cousins/uncles/ etc. that I had never met. We saw all the sites, and when I got to Stonehenge (which, unlike some people, I never thought was all that big a deal, thought it was of intellectual interest as to how they were able to drag/erect the stones, but that's about it.) anyways, when I got to Stonehenge, I felt really weird. I felt drugged, I felt this strong energy almost entering me from my head, I got very teary-eyed, got a lump in my throat, felt very nostalgic, and dizzy. I was trying to act normal, and my family kept asking me if I felt ok, and my daughter said my pupils were really dialated!
I've always wondered what all that was about, and can conjour the feeling just thinking about the place. My family was from Bristol, not very far away, and I wonder if there was some kind of genetic memory thing going on!! Maybe something really good or really bad happened to a family member aeons ago!!
Thanks for a great question!
Nikki
I usually consider past life memory or lessons learned, that stuck with me. Or that I chose to reincarnate with certain "gifts" as they would be needed in the lessons and evolution of my spirit, my tasks in other words, for this lifetime. I don't believe personalities carry over, as the body and particular "identity" in this physical realm is shed when we return to the doorway to the spiritual realm. When we reincarnate we can change genders, cultures, races, what have you, I believe, depending on the lessons we have chosen to learn in the upcoming life.
Gypsy
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
I've always felt a pull to certain regions (England and the Anasazi region of the American southwest) but it's always been a very vague general feeling.
Like a lot of folks here, my body sems to do weird things when I'm in different places - ther are 3 places here I've felt drawn to - Carver,MA, an area in the Adirondacks, and a place in north western PA. I've had *visons*, but they seemed more past life flashbacks.
I've always felt drawn to Germany and that is where most of my ancestors came from. I've seen pictures - not knowing specifically where they are, but *knew*.
I lean more toward past life experiences carrying over into this life more than the genetic coding I think. I haven't thought a whole lot about it - can someone point me toward some information?
While the concept is interesting, do I believe in it, I can't say as how I do. I am drawn to travelling, but then so is my DM (she calls them adventures) and my ILs (but I think that is a way to combat boredom).
I appreciate languages, I believe it is important to learn a second language (but I haven't mastered my 2nd language yet)...as it opens more doors than closes. My DGF knew 5-6 languages most of which were self taught - but then he didn't read fiction until he was in his 80's.
So this calls ups the argument of nature vs nuture. For this I believe my curiosity, ability, etc is nurture from my DM and DGM. When I went to Greece I experienced some feelings but I think it is because I love ancient history and had read so much about the place that it was great to see in reality.
I shall have to think more on this issue.
Up to about 6 years ago I didn't really believe in past lives, but I had an rather scary experience over two days that included a spontaneous past life regressions during a meditation that I was doing (whilst a friend of mine was doing some distance cleansing on me). Some things that had happened to me in this lifetime began to make sense after that, and I'd been told that it's one of my life purposes to work on these issues.
As for genetic memory, weren't there studies that showed that the burden and shame of family skeletons/secrets are transmitted from one generation to another, even if the younger generation isn't told about the secret.
How cool to have a doppelganger! People have said that I have one, but I've yet to meet her.
I've always been drawn to things Oriental, especially Japanese. I have no Eastern blood in me at all.
In college, I was reading a short story, by a Japanese author, I forget his name or the story name. It's about a young Japanese military man in the late 1800s who has to commit ritual suicide because of a shame that has come on his unit, his wife helps him. It's a very graphic description of the whole process of Hari Kari.
Anyway, while reading it, I suddenly broke into a cold sweat all over. My heart started racing and I almost began to go into shock, I almost passed out. I honestly think it was a reaction to having done this in a past life.
dablacksox
Cynic: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.---Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.
AS a trained biologist, I have to say I am a sceptic about genetic "memories".
I believe in genetics, and selection of the fittest, and all that, but I don't see how experiences can be incorporated into DNA.
Show me some experimental results and I might be convinced but...
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You are not alone! When I was a child, ages 6 through 13, I dreamt in Russian and yelled at people when I was angry in Russian (curses and such). We are not Russian... My heritage consists of Irish, Native American, German, and French. No one in my family speaks Russian or has ever been to Russia, and sad to say once I started learning German in school (they only offered Spanish and German) I lost my Russian-speaking ability. I also know a lot about Russian History (not something taught in school when I attended), and not just what you can find in books, but the odd facts that weren't available until recently--like how tall Stalin was, about Tsar Nicholas and the Romanov family, things like that. I have vivid memories of St Petersburg, though I have never been there.
So I guess, like you I am leaning toward Past Life memories more than anything.
tavi
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