Ever met someone and thought you knew them before? Our resident Wiccan reflects on lessons we learn from people from our past.
Have you ever felt, upon first meeting someone, that you just KNOW them? I have. Many times. Sometimes it’s a good, solid connection. But sometimes, all of the hair stands up to attention at the back of my neck.
One such occasion was at a coven’s full moon ritual. A new member was joining and I was looking forward to this new energy within our circle. Immediately upon meeting her, I felt as if I had been hit across the face with negativity. I tried to shake it off, but with each subsequent meeting, the negative impact increased. My energy was being drained away. I realized that this was the result of a past life encounter that was unfinished. I created an amulet for protection and gradually weaned myself from her presence.
On the positive side, is my Aunt Marilyn. I was named for her. To say that she and I are very close is a gross understatement. She took me in as a teenager, moving me from one side of Canada to the other. From her, I learned that my opinions had value. I learned a hard work ethic from her. Love and respect were given freely. But it wasn’t until I approached my forties that we began to discuss spiritual topics. I sent her a copy of Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein.
If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. Containing a little bit of everything, it’s a good introduction to Wiccan teachings. The chapter on reincarnation resonated with us both. We started remembering past connections. We were together in San Francisco during the earthquake. And many more lifetimes too.
When my granddaughter was very young, she would crawl around our house cooing and chatting in toddler talk. I began to notice that she would be particularly attentive to a photo of my grandparents that I had on a low shelf. She would giggle and chat for extended periods of time. A connection, I thought.
When she was about three years old, circumstances led to my not seeing her for a few months. A chance encounter at the grocery store was magick. I had just bought a new, double terminated crystal and was wearing it around my neck. She was instantly drawn to it. Holding it, she looked deep into my eyes and said, “I know you.” I replied, “Yes, my dear. I know you, too.” Shaking her head, she said, “No. Gran. I mean I really know you. It’s your eyes. I know your eyes.” My heart soared with love.
I am eternally (literally!) grateful for these connections in my life. When I encounter someone that I just know I KNOW, I pay attention. It is a sacred reminder that we are all connected, backward, forward and sideways through the webs of our lives, tangled up more deeply and with more complexity than we often realize. Maybe we meet someone briefly in this life who we wish we had more time with, or feel that we should have more time with, and in another lifetime we will. Isn’t that a comforting thought? Or maybe we bump into someone from our past. Just in case, though, you may want to keep a protective amulet somewhere safe, like your silk boxer (or lingerie) drawer.
The Crush Letter
The Crush Letter is a weekly newsletter curated by Dish Stanley on everything love & connection - friendship, romance, self-love, sex. If you’d like to take a look at some of our best stories go to Read Us. Want the Dish?
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