Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear friends,

I often get asked whether or not witches believe in reincarnation. This is a touchy subject because depending on who you ask, the answer can vary. I’m afraid that I don’t have a clear answer, or a clear opinion, but I do have some thoughts on the matter.

Some wiccans believe that reincarnation is integral to their beliefs and in fact is part of the wheel of life-that you are born, you live, you die, you’re reborn. Of course, it might not always be as simple as that.

There are logical problems to reincarnation that I have considered, the largest one being the population. In the beginning, there weren’t many people on this planet at all. Now, there are billions. So where did all of the extra people come from? I’ve heard it said that they might have come from other planets, trees, animals, and other living organisms that are not human. While I suppose that’s plausible, since we’re all made out of energy, I don’t always feel like that’s a complete answer.

I’ve also heard that we don’t always come back as one person, but that sometimes our spirits are divided into 2 or 3 entities and come back in several different bodies. I really struggle with this one because the thought of that makes me feel as though I am incomplete and I really don’t like the idea of splitting myself up.

Of course, there is always the Summerland. Summerland is a world that resembles the Christian idea of Heaven in that it’s paradise that can’t be found on Earth. Everyone gets to go to Summerland unless they have to stay behind because they are wandering or lost.

The interesting thing about Summerland is that it might be different for everyone who goes. (This always reminds me of the film and book “What Dreams May Come” in that the afterlife is a conglomerate f books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, fantasies you’ve had, and memories that you cling to.)

Once in Summerland, it’s possible to be reunited with people that have gone before you. It’s also a time of rest and a time for you to look over the people that you left behind to ensure that they are watched and taken care of.

As far as where we go from Summerland, that’s difficult to say. I rather like the idea of all of us starting out there and then gradually being reborn and making our way down to Earth. This would help explain the numbers problem.

So how long would we stay there? I think it would depend on the life we had before we went. If it was a considerably tough one, filled with hardships, then we might need time to rest and rejuvenate ourselves. Or perhaps we wish to spend more time with our loved ones there. On the other hand, if we feel as though we have a path that needs to be followed immediately then perhaps we don’t spend much time at all.

It’s difficult for me to deny the fact that there are people that I have met with whom I have an instant connection to. Could they be a kindred spirit, or someone that I knew and loved in a past life? These are things that I enjoy thinking about, although actually dissecting the thoughts and analyzing them almost takes the magic out of them.

So do we keep reincarnating forever? I don’t think so. I believe that there does come a point when one has reached a certain stage of “enlightenment” (for lack of a better word) and has learned everything that they can from living in the physical world.

There is a woman that I know and care about very deeply and she has been told many times that she is on her last go-round. She’s not an old woman by any means, nor is she on death’s door. I do have a sense of sadness when I am around her, however, and I constantly find myself mourning her even though she is still here. So I definitely feel as though when she does depart, it will be a long, long time before I see her again.

On the other hand, there are adults I know who have such a child-like innocence about them that I often wonder if they’re not in their first, or at least one of their first, incarnations.

Sometimes, I wonder what my Summerland will look like. I picture a place full of flowers, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, valleys, and sparkling lakes. I see castles off in the distance, wild horses galloping through the grass, and puppies frolicking at my feet. Of course, the temperature will always be a balmy 75 degrees.

Oh, and if there’s a picturesque Main Street with nice little shops, a good bookstore, and at least one bakery I wouldn’t mind, either.

I would want to see my children and my loved ones whenever I wanted to, but would also understand if their Summerland didn’t always overlap with mine.

So I ask you, dear friends, what type of Summerland do you imagine yourself in?

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”