Do you think you're drawn here because of past life memories....

[Pompidou]

I don't really have any spiritual beliefs. This is my one and only life - probably briefer than I'm shooting for. I'm no more special in the grand scheme of the universe than a maggot. There's no old man in the sky reading my dirty thoughts waiting to hold me to account for them. My interest in anything, from vintage to video games, are purely a result of the random events that happened to me so far.

 

[Gregg Axley]

If I'm here to learn lessons from my previous life, I'll be immortal because I'm a slow learner.
Random events, yes to a point I agree with you Pompidou. But I'd also say for me it's based on decisions.
I decide to like things of old because they remind me of a simpler life for me, but also they represent a time where we had style, concern, and valued things more (as a people) IMHO of course...
So what draws me to this board is a nostalgic look at a period or periods of time I wasn't a part of, but enjoy reading and hearing about (on old time radio shows).

 

[Blackjack]

Well I'm sure this thread doesn't apply to either one of you two guys, but it seems to apply to some others of us...

 

[C-dot]

Right, so the question here is WHY do you prefer that era? Nobody yet has approached this answer. Why do some people know about places they've never been, or know how to do things there's no reason they should know how to do.

I know how to operate a record player or a rotary phone or to apply perfect 1950's make-up because I've seen it done, and then tried it myself. I may know about a place I've never been, like Normandie, because I've studied events that happened there in history books. That's how my whole interest in the past started, essentially, and how my new interests start all the time: I see something I like, and I build upon that interest by finding out more.

As far as to why it's like that, I couldn't tell you. But, I could just as easily have said this about myself:

Even though I enjoy some things from this life I'm living in (movies, etc.) I have always felt better connected to life during the mid 1800s to the early 1900s and the 1920s to the 1950s. When I read about those times, see pictures or watch footage of it I feel immediately nostalgic and frustratingly sad. Not because I wish it could be that way, but because I actually miss it, like I was there and someone snatched me up and threw me into a world that I don't understand. Every single person that has ever known me, even when I was a very small child, has said the same thing..... "You belong to a different time".

More than one of us share this sensation that Rue captured. This is less a reason than an explanation, of course, but it gives some insight. If you try to figure out why, you get into philosophical thinking, and that can involve some strong beliefs. Without going into these beliefs, I again say that I attach no spiritual meaning to my preference and probably never will. This isn't to say that I'm close-minded, it's just what I personally happen to believe on the subject.

Now that I've said this, I probably won't fit into the thread either, but you've got the benefit of my opinion now if you choose to take it.

 

[rue]

You can fit in anywhere you want C-dot

 

[C-dot]

You can fit in anywhere you want C-dot

Rue, I love ya

 

[LizzieMaine]

If there's such a thing as reincarnation, I think I must've died of aggravation ( damn those *beatniks*!) on August 27, 1962. Nine months later the fun started all over again -- and that means maybe next August the cycle starts anew. Bah. I was so hoping not to have to deal with the 22nd century.

In all seriousness, I don't see much of a spiritual component to it other than a sense of "rightness." Not necessary moral rightness but the sense of "OK, this is what's appropriate. This is what the world is supposed to look like. This is how things are supposed to go." If you've never experienced that, don't try to understand it because you never will. Either you is or either you ain't.

 

[C-dot]

In all seriousness, I don't see much of a spiritual component to it other than a sense of "rightness." Not necessary moral rightness but the sense of "OK, this is what's appropriate. This is what the world is supposed to look like. This is how things are supposed to go." If you've never experienced that, don't try to understand it because you never will. Either you is or either you ain't.

As usual Lizzie, you said it the best! This discussion may benefit from such a pragmatic approach.

 

[Blackjack]

Thats correct C-dot, that would mean you don't fit into this category either. Being that this is a theory, (albeit a theory that entire countries believe in, millions of people) it like any philosophical belief can neither be proved nor disproved at this point in time. Some people, as you've seen here have a incredible connection to a previous time, so strong that it makes them uncomfortable in present times. It has nothing to do with knowing how to dial a phone or put on makeup and unless you experience the "feeling" you wouldn't nor couldn't understand. So even though you could say about yourself the same thing Rue has said it sounds like would not be for the same reasons.

 

[sheeplady]

This is interesting to me, and I'm not sure if I know. I know I feel inexplicitly drawn to certain things. Certain things just appeal to me and I can't explain why. This is going to be a long explanation, but, here it goes.

When I was in college, my father and I had a long discussion. The one thing he was sure of is that he believed in reincarnation- specifically because of two things. One is that he knew my mother in a former life. The other thing he wouldn't tell me at the time, but I later came to learn that he believes that I am the reincarnation of his mother. His mother, my grandmother, died before I was born. I know extremely little about her.

Just about everytime I see him, he makes a comment about how much I am like her- my tastes are exactly the same, my viewpoints are the same, my values are the same. I even own a few things that I came to on my own that are extremely similar to things she owned or liked. If his mother was still alive today, he often says that she'd be doing the things I am doing and be passionate about the same things I am passionate about. The most recent thing is my eye glasses, which apparently are just like the ones my grandmother had when my father was young. He searched for a picture of her with them on to show me, but couldn't find one anyplace in the house. But I do know that these eye glasses are me- I feel like they are meant to be mine.

Personally, I don't know what to believe. I figure that I share 25% of my DNA with my grandmother, so this could be an influence. I was also raised by her son, so it is possible that I am a lot like her because of that. I have seen 2-3 pictures of her around my parents home, and perhaps I picked up my tastes and values from that those and growing up around some of her things. I don't know. My father is an extremely logical and scientific type of man- and the fact that he believes this so strongly makes me question if it could be true.

 

[Blackjack]

Of course it "could" be true, just as likely as it wouldn't be true...

 

[C-dot]

...and unless you experience the "feeling" you wouldn't nor couldn't understand...

But I do experience that feeling, and there is no reason behind feelings. I feel the connection and displacement as much as anyone else here does, and I understand it well. I just don't think it's because I had a past life. Isn't that what you asked?

 

[Blackjack]

There's ALWAYS a reason behind feelings......

 

[LoveMyHats2]

There's ALWAYS a reason behind feelings......

I think that is true to much of a degree...I always feel "uptight" when my Mother-in- Law stops over without calling first....and she may just be the example of someone that lived before...of course....she would get some vintage credits coming then...for knowing how to fly a vintage broom!!!

 

[C-dot]

I didn't mean "a reason" behind feelings, I mean that emotion and reason are two opposite ends of the spectrum, but I won't be a stick in the mud.

 

[rue]

I think that is true to much of a degree...I always feel "uptight" when my Mother-in- Law stops over without calling first....and she may just be the example of someone that lived before...of course....she would get some vintage credits coming then...for knowing how to fly a vintage broom!!!

:rofl:

 

[The Good]

I think I've seen a couple of other topics like this one come up, before. I still disagree with the topic, the notion that one can be reincarnated and have memories of a past life, but while we're talking about spirituality, I am religious (Protestant Christian). I'm mainly drawn here because of my interest in hats, leather jackets, suits, coats, and old movies and music.

 

[Blackjack]

I think that is true to much of a degree...I always feel "uptight" when my Mother-in- Law stops over without calling first....and she may just be the example of someone that lived before...of course....she would get some vintage credits coming then...for knowing how to fly a vintage broom!!!

There you go!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I've thought about this a lot!

Ever since I was a kid I've liked "old" things, but didn't really know why. I was obsessed with old buildings and movies in particular. I used to play "dress up" and I would look like a total early-20s flapper, unbeknownst to me at the time. I'd wear a drop-waist dress, pearls, a wig with spitcurls, I'd tie a turban-like thing on my head and my makeup was outlandish (tiny lips, slopey brows!)

I like to think about it, but not sure if I 100% believe it.

 

[PoohBang]

I think you're "drawn" here because of part of what's here. Fedoras and the like. Not because of some "past life memories."
That's a charming thought, but think about it. Because of a past memory of living in the 1930's America you're drawn here to a modern internet site?

Why not be drawn to the Roman Helmet Lounge, because if you believe in past lives, it's plural...

People stop by here because they can view or talk about things they like.