Peeking in Closer to Home: Life in a Convict Settlement

I had this experience about a year ago, but I've thought of it often since.

I find myself mounted on a horse, giving advice to a group of fifteen to twenty convicts and colonists.  I’m telling the colonists how to keep the convicts in line (most convicts actually worked as servants, labourers and field hands, and were not kept in prisons), but the speech is also directed at the convicts.   I remember saying, “The only alternative is a Godless, criminal life outside the bounds of society, and I would not advise it”. 

On waking I was actually whispering the words, “I would not advise it”, although during the experience, I was saying them with great vehemence.  As I speak, I’m picturing the barren deserts of this vast continent, though I feel I’m in Port Macquarie.  Port Macquarie was a brutal convict settlement; often convicts were sent here because they were critical of the government.  Many of them were educated and literate. 

Here is St Thomas' Anglican church, Port Macquarie.  It was "...built by convict labour, under military supervision"  and still stands today (Port Macquarie-Hastings Council  May 2007).  The painting is by English artist Joseph Backler and dates from 1832-42 (Wikipedia May 2013).

In this life, I have radical political views.  In my life in convict Port Macquarie, I was extremely conservative and regimented.  I believed convicts deserved their fate and gave no consideration to the factors which drive people to crime, such as poverty and justifiable discontent with political regimes.  In other words, I was a harsh and cruel man, but I also understand I was very much a product of the social mores of the Victorian era.

On the other hand, this man (I’ve come to know him as “the Sergeant”) had a lot of good qualities: he had a strong work ethic, was extremely disciplined; had great physical energy, a zest for life and a love for the natural world - qualities I would love to nurture in myself.

Seth tells us that the knowledge and energy of our reincarnational selves (or aspects) is available to us at all times (you can read about this here: Seth on simultaneous incarnation but you will have to request membership as it's a closed group).  This may seem a strange idea to someone not familiar with the material, but a friend tells me she often uses her aspects' energy to help her through tasks she doesn’t enjoy, such as cooking.

I decided to give this a try when I was out walking last week.   I simply asked the Sergeant to give me his energy and enthusiasm for the outdoors.  Within moments, I found myself marching along, swinging my arms (not my usual mode, I can tell you) and enjoying the scenery, not thinking about my tired legs or aching back; in fact, I felt no pain at all. 

This result was really exciting and over the next few days, I started to expand on it.  What if, I wondered, somewhere there are aspects of me who have all the qualities I lack?  Not only that, but what if there are aspects of me who are better schooled in the areas where I already have talent?  And, what if there’s an aspect of me who isn’t sick? 

This idea evolved into: what if there’s a probable version of me who never got SLE?  OK, I admit, this last one may take some work, but I’ve been working with these ideas through the week, and the results are remarkable.   I definitely have less pain; I was able to finish my Christmas shopping by calling on the part of me who is excited by the hustle and bustle of crowds; I’m writing again (something I’ve neglected the past couple of weeks); I’m able to tap into energy when I need it and everywhere I go I meet smiling faces.

Returning to my story, on waking, I was aware of a presence in the room.  I could see something moving, and the shapes around me distorting.  There was a light coming from somewhere.  My cat was asleep on the bed but didn’t appear bothered.  I turned the light on, and she woke and seemed to be having a good look around, but soon settled back down to sleep.

I recently watched an interview with a member of Jane’s ESP class.  He’d had a similar experience (also concerning a military man).  Seth asked if he’d been aware of the soldier looking back at him.  I’m inclined to believe it was the Sergeant in my room when I awoke.  While I was peeking in on him, he was peeking in on me, considering my life and comparing it to his. 

There is a past life therapist who suggests we talk to the aspects of ourselves we’ve contacted, making suggestions and helping them grow.  I’ve experimented with this idea and I do believe the Sergeant is changing; softening his attitude towards the convicts and developing some understanding of their plight.  It seems only fair to give him something, since he’s giving so much to me.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the inner senses exercise with a good friend, although I had little expectation of a result (when I’ve shared in the past, the person has simply forgotten, or had no success).  A few days later, I asked her if she’d tried the exercise and to my surprise, she immediately replied, “Yes!  I think I was a convict”, in Port Macquarie.  

She spoke about the connection she’s always felt with this place – a sense we both share.  Of course, I wondered if we’d known each other in that life too.  We’ve been neighbours for years, and although we don’t have much in common, we’ve become good friends.  I’ve always known she’s a person of strong principles; someone I could trust.

I believe we knew each other in that other life and perhaps in other incarnations as well.   “Your lives are more intertwined than you know”, I was told recently (I’ll expand more on the source of this quote later).  The adventure continues!

As always, your comments are comments are welcome - I'm very much interested in other people's views and experiences.

Love Chanson.