As witches, mystics, pagans, and whatever else we choose to be called, we have a tendency to feel connected to the universe. We especially tend to feel connected to the past.
One of the big things that people use to learn about themselves and identify themselves is past life regression.
Past Life Regression comes in many forms but it basically boils down to entering a meditative, sometimes hypnotic state, to re-experience moments of various past lives. This is, of course, dependent on the idea of past lives being true, which is still a topic of debate. I, like most of our kind, believe in reincarnation and that the soul lives through many lives as many people. Since you are your soul, not your body, that would mean all of those lives that your soul lives… those were you.
Identifying and studying your past lives can be an extremely eye-opening tool for growing into your true self. I would highly recommend everyone look into trying Past Life Regression.
That being said, we are spiritual beings living in the physical world. Our body, with its genes and blood and brain and memories, is also a part of who we are. It may only be with us for one lifetime, but during that life it is a defining piece of what makes us us.
Science has proven that genetic memory is a thing. Science has proven that the events that we experience are intrinsically instilled into the instincts and subconscious of our descendants.
This means that part of knowing yourself means knowing where you came from, both your soul (through Past Life Regression) and your body through genealogy research. Put in the time and do the digging. Websites like Ancestry and FindAGrave can be extremely helpful and you will undoubtedly find partial trees already constructed by your distant cousins that you\’ve never met. You may find historical figures in your bloodline. If you do, read about them. Learn about their life. In a distant way you will be learning about your body\’s past. It will tell you about what\’s inside of you; a piece of your composition.
I say that we are our soul, not our body, and for the most part that is true, but it deserves some clarifying. We are our soul… but… who we are right now isn\’t exactly us… it is merely the current incarnation of us. Like the Avatar of a Deity, who you are right now is the fleshy, mortal, manifestation of the true you… and that manifestation is part soul part body. That manifestation for all intents and purposes is you… at least for this lifetime. That is why learning both sides of your history is so important… learn the essence that is your soul and learn the carbon that is your body. Just as your soul\’s past lives can show you who your soul (you) is, your genealogy can show you who your body and mind are. We are all unique, as our ancestors did not share our soul, but we are connected even in physical form because we share the same genetics and genetic memories.
It gets a little confusing and I have a habit of rambling but hopefully I got my point across. The past of your soul will show you who you are outside of this life and the past of your blood will show you how you are customized in this life.