When first embracing the idea of reincarnation and explaining it to a friend, he replied, “That must be very comforting.”

Comforting? Not really, when I thought about it. And I wasn’t unhappy – it was an exciting period of growth. Until being questioned, I simply hadn’t thought of it in terms of comfort and doing so made me . . . uncomfortable.

Reincarnation is associated with “past” lives but if we lived before and now, why not again? Would I want to do this again?

Starting over as an infant in whatever time and place with unknown familial and environmental conditions is a uncomfortable thought to me. It’s a crap shoot. What if I end up in a country on earth that is in the middle of a war? What if I were born a slave?

Or maybe I’ll be born in a peaceful world living a happy beach life in a perfect climate. That would be nice. That would be nice in this live, right now.

Ask your friends and family and see the reaction to being born again. I’m surprised at the reactions I’ve heard from different people of all different faiths who are not unhappy – it’s an unpleasant thought. I can’t find any research on it to have a wider view.

In contrast the thought of dying and going to one place or being in one state forever – that can provide comfort. It’s like a nightcap at the end of day – a reward. Of course, punishment is also offered up in this scenario.

If we don’t want to be born again, do we want to be here now?

The Sun and Saturn

In the horoscope, the sun is the self and manifests as all planets do through the 12 signs of the zodiac. We are meant to express that sign and manifest the situations to help us with growth personal, material, mental and spiritual.

Also in the horoscope is Saturn which Indian astrologers refer to as Lord Karma. Saturn’s placement provides insight on what types of burdens or responsibilities or guilt we brought with us to this life. We all have Saturn in the horoscope, so it becomes a planet of boundaries, limitations or discipline as we work through those karmic issues.

While those not believing in reincarnation may not be interested in the concept of karma (cause and effect), it is interesting to see how much energy the personality devotes to Saturn – it’s like the parent we are eternally trying to please.

When surveying your family and friends on whether they’d want to do this – live on earth again – think about whether they are speaking from the sun (yes) or Saturn (no or yes, if).

Examine the Saturn in your horoscope for the reason you (might) feel you don’t want to be here and the sun for the reason you ARE here.

If we are born again, imagine the actions of today creating the Saturn of tomorrow. Imagine if tomorrow we are not sending “lethal aid” to others but are the recipients of it. Uncomfortable thoughts of reincarnation can be helpful in creating responsibility today, here and now.

Puppies

Thinking about what it means to be living on a planet with millions or even billons of people who maybe don’t want to be here – that’s an uncomfortable thought but may explain the state of the earth. If we are like travelers living in hotels – some of us at fancy hotels, some of us at dirty motels, some of us in between – how do we leave our hotel rooms?

Do we care about the hotel room? Do we get attached to it?

(Fancy hotels, yes for me, for your survey)

While thinking of this blog on my walk today I passed two puppies, one a labrador – my favorite kind of dog and puppy. Lab pups are very happy to be here, very happy to walk and smell and say hello and then do all of that some more.

Yet puppies, too, have a horoscope. Pet owners know animals have “personalities” of a sort but maybe not as nuanced as humans. If animals could talk or humans couldn’t, then maybe our personalities would be more similar.

If puppies have a Saturn in their horoscope, why are they always so happy to be here?

Maybe Saturn in a puppy’s horoscope is a human, or even a human who doesn’t want to be here.