Old Souls

[Ree]

This is the story of how my grandson came into my life and at the end, there is a question for which I would love to hear opinions and feedback from the folks in this forum. Thank you

At the first of June, 2002, I was three months post chemo and radiation treatment for cancer. My spiritual seeking had begun shortly before I was diagnosed. We had just moved into a new home and finished building a pool. Life was very very good. One night I had a very vivid dream that our dog chased our neighbor's cat up a certain tree in our backyard. I told my husband about it, because it's unusual in our neighborhood for animals to have confrontations, because animals aren't allowed to roam free. The following evening as we sat on the deck, our dog chased our neighbor's cat up that very tree, just as I had dreamed.

A few days later, I dreamed that I was searching for a baby. Just like my dog-chasing-cat dream, it was very vivid and it stuck with me all day. I was definitely through having children, my youngest being in high school, so I thought the dream was odd.

Before the end of that month, unknown by any of us, my oldest son and his live-in girlfriend had a baby which they had planned to put up for adoption. When the time came, they couldn't go through with it and they kept him. He was five weeks old before we knew he existed and we met him for the first time. He and I immediately became very attached. Now, I've never wanted to be a day-care-providing grandmother, so I have tried to keep a little distance there, but still we have always been very close. Sometimes he says or does things that I feel I KNEW beforehand he was going to say or do.

I've heard the term "old soul" before and this is how I always think of my grandson. He can be goofy and silly, but he has an air about him that is serious and wise and very poised. He's now five years old and has an amazing vocabulary and is very articulate. For the past year or so, each time he visits us he frequently asks the meanings of words. This weekend, those words were: offended, flattering, confused and perhaps. He'll be using those words in conversation very soon.

This past weekend we were all in or around the pool and my grandson announced to all of us, "Everybody in the world is made up." My son replied, "That's pretty philosophical of you." He repeated, "Everybody is made up. When I can't see you, you're not there."

He just made this declaration and went on playing in the water like a typical 5 year old little boy. I sat there with goosebumps!

Question: Do "old souls" exist and if so, do you believe, as I do, that I have one in my family?

[Akashic_Librarian]

Speaking as an old Soul, I would say yes, you do have an old soul in your family.

I know how the kid feels. Unfortunately he will probably be alienated from his pers because of his inherent understanding of the world most adults cannot comprehend.

But..if hes anything like me...he will turn out fine...

[Lallymac]

Hi Ree,
How special that he has you to recognise him. My youngest daughter's an old soul too and been able to hold her own in room full of adults from a young age. She was speaking full sentences by age one. Like AL she's been a bit of a misfit at school, relating more to her teachers than peers. Although she's come into conflict with a couple of teachers for pointing out their contradictions. She said to me last week, 'Mum I'm here to speak the truth, not win brownie points.' I often wonder who's parenting who.
Lally

[Andrew Brunelle]

I've been told that I am an old soul and it started young, so I'll have to assume from what you told me that your grandson is indeed an old soul. I do wonder what it takes to be qualified as an old soul and whether or not everyone could agree on the criteria. It is all about how you feel about your grandson and it does seem like he possesses the qualities as you and others perceive them. The main perks of being an old soul is that spiritual things come more easily to you and you understand complex topics "before your time." So it is indeed a great quality to have. Best of luck to your family.

[Ree]

Thanks so much for your replies. Akashic, from what I've seen of your posts, I'll have no worries if my grandson is anything like you Lallymac, it's great to hear from someone who knows what I'm talking about and identifies so well. Your description of your daughter sounds very familiar to me. Andrew, you ask an interesting question about what IS an old soul. My feeling is that an old soul is one which has incarnated many times and has accumulated extraordinary wisdom and experience and that wisdom and experience is just below the surface of that person's awareness. As a child, I'm sure he or she does not even know how or why he/she knows so much or is so comfortable with adults or is so insightful. Maybe he/she becomes more aware with time and maturity. Maybe this is remembering who we are.

Since before I met my grandson, I feel like he was in touch with me. I know that all I can do is love him just as he is. Somehow, I think that's all he needs and that he is going to be just fine.

[Old Soul]

hahahaha! I love it.. He will keep you guys busy :-)

Yep sure sounds like you have an old soul on your hands.....

My parents told me this little story one day about myself when I was young. Goes like this, one day my dad was giving my mom a hug and kiss in the kitchen... and I was sitting with my back to both of them on one of the kitchen tables drawing something or other, and apprently just as they finished their hug, my dad was going to come over and give me a kiss, I apperently said,with a red face, and grin

"don't think what you are thinking because I know what you are thinking"!

lol....

[Liara Covert]

It sounds to me like your grandson is wise beyond his years. Your thoughts about 'an old soul' appear very reasonable. I'm unsure of your beliefs, yet this experience might prompt you to think differently about reincarnation.

Your story prompts me to think about Tibetan history and culture. Its fascinating to realize that from a very young age, the current Dalai Lama was recognized as a previous Lama. What is even more astrounding to me is that his mother gave birth to a number of incarnate lamas which is almost unheard of for a single woman in that civilization. How people recognize previous souls is a challenge for Westerners to comprehend. Its seems like a myth but its certainly another person's reality. We aren't meant to understand everything. To open our eyes to new possibilities can be meaningful.

[Ree]

Originally Posted by Old Soul

"don't think what you are thinking because I know what you are thinking"!

lol....

That made me laugh out loud! Thanks for the words of encouragement, Old Soul. I really appreciate it!

[Ree]

Originally Posted by Liara Covert

I'm unsure of your beliefs, yet this experience might prompt you to think differently about reincarnation.

Your story prompts me to think about Tibetan history and culture. I

Liara, I'm still taking baby steps with my beliefs, but I have a wide open attitude. I'm shedding the traditional Christian beliefs I was brought up with and I'm on a real journey! Currently, I'm about halfway through the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

[Ijin Kaion]

i´m an old soul aswell, older then most others i can say without a doubt.
but if your child should get complications about past lives then sure your child can learn from them, but keep in mind not to linger in the past.
new life is new beginning.

although it can´t hurt to keep the knowledge.

[Ree]

Thank you, Ijin. You've expressed a wonderful thought that I know I could learn from. That we take with us the wisdom we have gained from our experiences, but leave the "baggage" behind.

[Liara Covert]

Hi Ree,
The Tibetan Book on Living & Dying is a wonderful book! I have read that and would be very interested in what you think when you're finished. Even though you admit you're traditionally not Buddhist, that doesn't mean you aren't open to learning and beginning to understand perceptions of other cultures and religions. Talking with other people has a funny way of enabling us to step back and actually better understand ourselves.

By the way, if you like that Tibetan Book on Living & Dying, and are seeking others, I may have some other great recommendations. Tibetan culture is a special interest of mine for precisely the reason you're investigating.