Occasionally, someone adds a comment to a post from months ago and, while it gets recorded, it’s not likely to be widely read. So when Sansego added a comment about the Lincoln/Obama connection, we thought we’d bring it forward as a post with our own comment attached.
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“Walter Semkiw wrote a great book about reincarnation and his theories about certain famous people being reincarnated souls of other famous people. For example, he theorizes that actress Halle Berry is the reincarnation of actress Dorothy Dandridge. Google search him to get his website. According to Semkiw, Obama is not the reincarnation of Lincoln because their “facial architecture” does not match, but is the reincarnation of another Illinois Senator that was a friend of Lincoln. Very intriguing!
Semkiw’s theory about finding reincarnation matches between two people includes the number of coincidences between the two lives, carry-over talents, and similar “facial architecture.” Very worth reading more in depth!”
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Semkiw’s book is very interesting and certainly has expanded the reincarnation literature. But some of Semkiw’s conclusions strike us as too facile. The bottom line, though, is that none of us know for sure.
Possibly more intriguing than similarities in ‘facial architecture’ are birthmarks that directly relate to wounds of a past-life personality. Ian Stephenson, MD, wrote about such cases in Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect. Stephenson’s writing is somewhat dry and academic. A more accessible tome that includes material on such birthmarks is Carol Bowman’s Return from Heaven. In spite of the title, it’s not religious or theoretical, and delves into cases of reincarnation within the same family.
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In searching for photos, we came across two people named Lincoln Kennedy, one an actor, the other #72 on the Oakland Raiders.
Off to look @ your travel journal!
oh, and i've so had reincarnation on my mind since this post, i couldn't resist posting a few famous quotes over in my travel journal – enjoy!
i just watched an online video from good morning america on the leinenger boy – absolutely fascinating for sure! and another book to grab!
I agree about the first Weiss book, Many Lives, Many Masters. It's an excellent primer for folks who don't know what to think about past lives.
A lot of the resistance, I think, is religious. But when you look into the history of Christianity from a non-dogmatic point of view, there is strong evidence that reincarnation was originally in the New Testament but was removed in the middle of the 6th century A.D. at the Second Council of Constantinople when the 'heretical' ideas of Origen were removed, hence, emphasizing that only Jesus is reborn.
If I've got that wrong, please correct me. I don't care one way or another about reincarnation in the Bible. I don't need that kind of proof.
That said, another excellent book about a very rational investigation by a detective into his own past life is: Looking for Carroll Beckwith, by Robert L. Snow. A really stunning story.
Sansego, I think reincarnation scares some people. I don't know why, unless it's a religious bias. Probably the most convincing case in the western world is documented in Soul Survivor, a book that just came out in June. It's the story of a kid who, from a very young age, had a thing about airplanes. Fighter planes. His name is James Leinenger. 20/20 did a piece on him some years ago. At any rate, his father started researching things that young James said. The upshot? He met the men with whom he had flown in WW2, knew them by name. Even met his sister from that life. His name then was also James. It's a fascinating story.
hi trish – i literally know what you mean – there was a time when i had bookshelves from floor to ceiling in several rooms – and when we moved, my kids always pointed out that we had more boxes of books than anything else – at one time i even took photos of the filled shelves for posterity – but i grew up exposed to reading and the arts – we always always had books and more books – my mother and her mother were also prolific poets –
and on weiss' many lives many masters, yesterday, i picked it up and began re-reading his chronicle of his work with catherine – fascinating no less the second or now third time – as is his same soul many bodies which i've also read several times –
I wish I knew more people who are open minded enough to talk about reincarnation. Nearly everyone I've brought the subject up with have been kind of hostile or indifferent. Yet these same people ask "why me?" questions sometimes.
I try to tell people, just read it with an open mind. You don't have to believe it, but just see what people say about the topic and see if you can make some sense of it.
Why are some people so hostile to the idea of reincarnation? Even for things I don't believe in, I'll read about it out of curiosity (such as Mormon beliefs or Scientology beliefs). Reading something doesn't automatically make me a believer, but it does help me to better understand a person who does believe it.
Many Lifes , Many Masters by Weiss is a book that to me is the most convincing account documented of reincarnation..he writes without reservations from his heart ..I have given this book to many people who have lost a loved one and are trying to question the why? that we ask at that time..and they all loved it and felt a comfort in it..Funny story about this book..I was in a used bookstore 12 yrs ago and this book literally fell on me from a shelf…I bought it for $2. This quickly became my favorite book…I also frequent Garage sales and thrift stores often ..and I always find old copies of this book just when I need to give to someone..or I gave my copy and am ready to buy new…I have never had to buy this new ( 12yrs)and I don't believe this is a common book you find everywhere..just a coincidence maybe but non the less my friends are always kidding me about this…and I wonder sometimes…
We don't see many color photos of Lincoln. – R
Many Lives, Many Masters is one of my favorites. Since Weiss is an M.D., the book introduced a lot of people to the concept of reincarnation who might not have been open to it otherwise. Thanks for the reminder!
Dr. Brian Weiss has written several great books on reincarnation through past life regression. Many Lives, Many Masters is an excellent read.
Gypsy – we own so many books, that during our last move, which was only 15 miles, the entire living room was boxes of books, piled to the ceiling. It's the MacGregor lending library!
oh, trish, since i've been here [blog] i've decided i need TWO lifetimes just to read! i mean, i'm thinking of getting audio books for my car so that i can "read" and drive! and the more i read and learn, the more i realize how much more there is to read – to do – to learn – to be –
Genes have a way of staying recessive for a while, then up they go. We are all related in some ways.
Interesting connections here.
Carol's books are fascinating. She makes a powerful case for reincarnation within the same family and about birth marks corresponding with wounds and injuries that a previous family member had.
Sansego, thanks for the link. We'll check it out.
Personally, I've decided I need a lifetime just to read!
– Trish
Nancy — To answer your question, there's a theory that birthmarks are indicators of an injury in a past life. For example, Mikhail Gorbachev's famous birthmark on his forehead would indicate that he was possibly fatally injured in the head (gunshot wound?) in his previous life.
Walter Semkiw's theories about facial architecture is interesting. My favourite of his examples is the Halle Berry/Dorothy Dandridge one. If true, it would tell us a lot about reincarnation and the idea that the things we work for in this lifetime can continue in the next lifetime. If true, it would also make Halle Berry's Oscar win in 2002 all the more special (I believe that she won the Best Actress Award more for the history of it and an indication of her personal popularity rather than the role because it was not a good role or even a great film).
Thanks for posting this. While I like his theories, I find that the most annoying thing about his book is his constant reference to some non-person entity named Ahtun Re that he speaks to through medium Kevin Ryerson for "verification" of his conclusions. He could also use a good editor (as he repeats a lot of the same points in the book). I like some of the connections he makes between famous people, but don't agree with all of them (such as General Tommy Franks being the reincarnation of George Washington).
His ideas are worth reading about though and you don't even have to buy the book. Just go to http://www.johnadams.net to read about his theories.
I haven't been able to find Carol's book in the bookstore – will order it from Amazon. Thanks for the reminder.
Not sure how I feel about this. I have always felt reincarnation means a whole new body, why would facial features/body marks be the same?
ok, more books i have to have! i think you're right about the "facial architecture" issue – i've read several studies where, in fact, the occurrence of birthmarks, scars, etc, have come into play – much more definitive linkage, i believe – absolutely fascinating! thanks for taking the initiative to bring this comment forward –