Old soul?

[j.U.d.E.]

A question -

Someone here once qualified Jake as being an 'old soul'. Although I have some kind of idea what it means, I'd like to hear it from you. I thought I'd find tons of stuff on the internet, but that wasn't really the case.. What I found was this:

"There are a number of factors to take into consideration when calling one an old soul. First of all it has nothing to do with ones age in this incarnation. For example, a four year old child may be an old soul, yet an eighty year old person may be a young soul. One thing for sure is that an old soul seems to have had many reincarnations on Earth or other places for that matter. But most important they have brought with them a sense of spiritual wisdom through the learning processes of previous incarnations. Old souls are also people of strong emotional stability."

But how can you say this about Jake (or others), without knowing them. I mean it's not like he told you he as been re-incarnated 23 times. Is it the eyes? Is it what that person says? The way they talk? Is it an attitude? Again, how would you be able to say that about someone you only know through your tv screen? Yesterday on E! they talked about Dakota Fanning (she's about 12) as having a 115 year old soul.

I also found this - http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofsoulareyouquiz/

Apparently I am a 'Prophet Soul' - "You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul" 

Which I agree with only in parts! True is the 'life long learner bit'.. less true the 'great thinker and communicator'..  But I'd consider myself a 'doer'. So, who's a Bright Star or Deaming Soul amongst you? 

And this -

Q: What is an 'old soul'? The context in which I hear it indicates that it means "simpleton".
A1: I thought that if someone has an 'old soul', they are wise beyond their years. Obviously, a conflict here.
A2: I think it has to do with the religious belief of reincarnation. A person "comes back" and gains new understanding with each lifetime. So an 'old soul' would be one that has experienced many lives and appears wise beyond his or her years. The person may be young but this "ain't his first time at the rodeo."

The last part of the 2nd answer I thought was quite interesting, if you know what I mean.. 

What other actors or celebrities would you qualify as being an 'old soul'? Who qualifies? And - are you an 'old soul' or do you have an old 'soul'?

~ j U d E

[ednbarby]

That's a term I use when I see a certain knowingness in a person's eyes.  When my son was born, the moment he looked at me, he was utterly connected.  But not just to me - to everything - he focused intently on everything he looked at.  He didn't have those kind of swimming eyes newborns usually have because they of course can barely see.  It's as if he could, and very clearly.  From the beginning.  I guess it's the sense you get looking in someone's eyes that they've been around this life a whole lot longer than their age would imply.  There's a sort of laughter in their eyes all the time that seemingly only comes from vast experience.  Does that make any sense?  And yes, I'd call Jake an old soul given those qualifications.

[RouxB]

I don't see Jack as an "old soul". I love him but I don't see him as having wisdom beyond his years or any particular insight into life. I do see him, in the movie, as a man with an open heart and a willingless to give everything of himself.

[YaadPyar]

I don't see Jack as an "old soul". I love him but I don't see him as having wisdom beyond his years or any particular insight into life. I do see him, in the movie, as a man with an open heart and a willingless to give everything of himself.

We're talking about Jake Gyllenhall, not Jack Twist, right?  The last  definition is the one I understand (A2: I think it has to do with the religious belief of reincarnation. A person "comes back" and gains new understanding with each lifetime. So an 'old soul' would be one that has experienced many lives and appears wise beyond his or her years. The person may be young but this "ain't his first time at the rodeo."). 

I think Jake always being so thoughtful in his approach to life, his career, the social impact of what he's doing...is what makes folks say that about him.  He's not partying his young life away, getting caught at clubs and appearing in tabloids.  He seems to be very thoughtful (can't think of another word) and interested in the meaning behind what he's doing.

[delalluvia]

I read this expression all the time, and I usually take it rather literally.  So that means that usually the person the moniker is attached to fails to live up to it.  These 'old souls' in young bodies make the same mistakes in life that 'young souls' in young bodies make.

If someone wants to believe that about themselves, then sure, but I find it hard to think that about anyone who doesn't show some sort of evidence of it.

Jake has goofed up before, but what he does is learn quickly from his mistakes.  He reminds me of a young JFK, Jr.  That guy knew the meaning of the word discretion.

[David]

I don't think of Jack or Ennis as "Old Souls".  To me, they are both "Lost Souls". 

[Flashframe777]

I subscribe to the belief that all souls were created at the same time, making every soul the same age. Wisdom comes from life experience.  I believe Jake is definitely a wise soul.

[RouxB]

Oh Jake?

Nope, not even remotely.

[Ellemeno]

Hi Jude, thanks, I liked taking the quizlet about what kind of soul I am.  Here's what I got:

You Are a Visionary Soul
You are a curious person, always in a state of awareness.
Connected to all things spiritual, you are very connected to your soul.
You are wise and bright: able to reason and be reasonable.
Occasionally, you get quite depressed and have dark feelings.

You have great vision and can be very insightful.
In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself.
Visionary souls like you can be the best type of friend.
You are intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and a good healer.

Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

[vkm91941]

Hey Jude, that was fun...I took it too and this is what it said:

***You Are a Peacemaker Soul***


You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can.
War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace.
You are a good mediator and a true negotiator.
Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy.

While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental.
You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take.
On the flip side, you've got a graet sense of humor and wit.
You're always dimplomatic and able to give good advice.

Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul

[reannawrites]

Thank you for the link Jude....When I think of old souls I think of people who have an inherent wisdom in their eyes, and who seem to intuitively understand the essence of  everything instantly. I don't think I am one. ..

Lots of love,
reanna

 This is the answer I got from the quiz.



***You Are a Dreaming Soul***


Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world
So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time
You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all...
But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult

You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you.
Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses.
Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others.
Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life.

Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

[Sheyne]

Well this is me...

You Are a Seeker Soul 
 
You are on a quest for knowledge and life challenges.
You love to be curious and ask a ton of questions.
Since you know so much, you make for an interesting conversationalist.
Mentally alert, you can outwit almost anyone (and have fun doing it!).

Very introspective, you can be silently critical of others.
And your quiet nature makes it difficult for people to get to know you.
You see yourself as a philosopher, and you take everything philosophically.
Your main talent is expressing and communicating ideas.

Souls you are most compatible with: Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul 

Hmm... I guess this is very true of me.. except the "silently critical"... I tend to be "loudly critical" 

As for Jake, look I have no doubt that he is a very evolved human being; and I make this judgment based on the fact that in his very young life he has achieved a lot and he seems to have his feet well and truly on the ground. He doesn't seem to make the same screw-ups that a lot of young actors can make, but I don't know how much of this is to do with his spirituality and how much of it is to do with his upbringing.  This comes down to the whole "nature vs nurture" debate, doesn't it??  We all know that Jake is basically a child of Hollywood and we could certainly attribute his level-headedness and maturity to the plethora of big name actors who he has starred with (not to mention those who are friends of his family) who would have given him advice about life in a "goldfish bowl" and how to survive it without smearing your name with booze, drugs and promiscuous sex.  Instead he's dealing with gay rumours.. *wry smile*..

Don't get me wrong, I make judgments about people having young and old souls (Barb, my boy is an old soul too, as is my younger sister), but I make sure I come to this conclusion based on all the information. Jake may BE an old soul, but then again, he might also simply be just a very-well-raised, wickedly intelligent, humble and talented young man that we are all extremely lucky to be so besotted with.. 

Just my $0.02...

[ednbarby]

He reminds me of a young JFK, Jr.  That guy knew the meaning of the word discretion.

Indeed.  And discretion truly is the better part of valor.  What a loss this country (and the world) suffered the night John-John died.  Still breaks my heart in two to think of it.

[j.U.d.E.]

Oh Jake?

Nope, not even remotely.

Why so categorical RouxB?

~ j U d E

[j.U.d.E.]

When I think of old souls I think of people who have an inherent wisdom in their eyes, and who seem to intuitively understand the essence of everything instantly.

I see. Reanna, beautifully said. Your soul (dreaming) and my soul (prophet) are compatible, apparently.. 

Vic, would you say that all of 'your soul' (peacemaker) applicable to you?

As for Jake, look I have no doubt that he is a very evolved human being; and I make this judgment based on the fact that in his very young life he has achieved a lot and he seems to have his feet well and truly on the ground. He doesn't seem to make the same screw-ups that a lot of young actors can make, but I don't know how much of this is to do with his spirituality and how much of it is to do with his upbringing.  This comes down to the whole "nature vs nurture" debate, doesn't it??

Yes, it does. And you are right about Jake seemingly being a balanced and leveled young man (I mean, none of us really know him - he might have been a totally mad kid.. though I doubt it). I'm still not totally sure on how to qualify someone as being an 'old soul' though. Especially as opposed to 'young soul'..

(Barb, my boy is an old soul too, as is my younger sister)

Sheyne, what is it that makes you say that about your son? Can you be more specific (don't mean to pry though). Is this the one with Autism?

~ j U d E

[vkm91941]

Vic, would you say that all of 'your soul' (peacemaker) applicable to you?

Yes Jude I'd say it is VERY accurate in that it has describes my role within my family perfectly.  I bristle a bit at the secretly judgemental thing.  However, I suppose if I'm totally honest that can be true in some instances, as I do not always suffer fools gladly. 

[ednbarby]

This is me:

You Are a Prophet Soul



You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone.
Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people.
Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run.
No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way.

You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle.
Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings.
A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning.
You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer.

Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofsoulareyouquiz/

Hey, Jude, I'm one of your people.  I don't know about being a great thinker in my case, but it's true that I am more of a communicator than a doer.  For example, I could be very happy spending an entire weekend never changing out of my PJs and lying around like a slug on the coach, interrupted only by bathroom, food, and sleep breaks.  If I still had that luxury now that I'm the parent of a toddler.  Whereas my husband would come right out of his skin if he ever had to stay in bed due to an injury or illness, God forbid.  He's like a shark - he never stops moving, doing stuff, fixing things...  I wonder if he's a Bright Star Soul?

[RouxB]

"Why so categorical?"  Oooo, I hope the limb doesn't break...

 Because, as much as I admire the work done by both Jake and Heath in this movie, I can't even begin to think I "know" them-and I am not a "rabid fan" type of person. Having Heath Ledger as my avatar is so out of character for me but I admire his performance in BbM so much that I felt the need to express it.

The public persona may be miles from the private so I get, um, skeptical maybe, when the masses attribute certain qualities to people in the public eye. I've seen and read the interviews, seen the movies, visited the fan sites and, to me, Jake Gyllenhaal appears to be a talented, nice, young man and those are about the only qualities that I feel I can realistically commit to-sorry, but I don't see him as the second coming. For the same reasons I originally said Jack was not, IMO, an old-soul goes for Jake (or anyone else I don't know) as well.

Or maybe I just need a nap 


 
The Dreamer Soul

[henrypie]

I'm a seeker.

I miss the old emoticons.  I guess I'll just say

 

[delalluvia]

That was a strange questionnaire.  The most personally disappointing question was "If you are ever a great success, it will be because..." and a list of a dozen traits.  None I felt fit me. 

Me:

Retrospective Soul

The most misunderstood of all the soul signs.
Sometimes you even have difficulty seeing yourself as who you are.
You are intense and desire perfection in every facet of your life.
You're best described as extremely idealistic, hardworking, and a survivor.

Great moments of insight and sensitivity come to you easily.
But if you aren't careful, you'll ignore these moments and repeat past mistakes.
For you, it is difficult to seperate the past from the present.
You will suceed once you overcome the disappoinments in life.

Souls you are most compatible with: Traveler Soul and Prophet Soul

[monimm18]

Hmmm... The way I see Jake, I'd say he was raised in an environment that seems fairly intellectual and socially diverse, so he was exposed to enough experiences to make him a bit more profound in the way he looks at the world. I cannot presume to know anything about his life and the world he was raised and lives, but we know that people who enjoy reading tend to have a bit of a wiser outlook on life, and Jake seems to be a good reader - his choice of books, by what I learned, is above the average, intellectually. He doesn't seem to me the type of guy who grew up playing video games...

Jude, that quiz is wacky, LOL. I had fun with it. According to that one, I am a Seeker Soul. Here's the characteristics; the (*...*) phrases are my additions, obviously.

"You are on a quest for knowledge and life challenges.
You love to be curious and ask a ton of questions.
Since you know so much (*wha'!?*), you make for an interesting conversationalist. (*Right... if anyone can get a word in.*)
Mentally alert, you can outwit almost anyone (and have fun doing it!). (*then why do I get tongue tied every time I need a good comeback, damn it?*)

Very introspective, you can be silently critical of others. (*silently...?*)
And your quiet nature makes it difficult for people to get to know you. (*difficult, yes, quiet, well, ask the neighbors...*)
You see yourself as a philosopher, and you take everything philosophically. *Plato, Socrates... Moni*
Your main talent is expressing and communicating ideas. (*I agree. But I think "challenge" works better than "talent"*)
Souls you are most compatible with: Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul.

[Sheyne]

(Barb, my boy is an old soul too, as is my younger sister)

Sheyne, what is it that makes you say that about your son? Can you be more specific (don't mean to pry though). Is this the one with Autism?

~ j U d E


Yeah, I only have the one child and he's Autistic. The reasons I have for thinking this are firstly, his intuition. He seems to understand people better than I do. I have learnt my lesson, if my son avoids someone or takes a dislike to them, I pay very close attention. It has emerged that everybody he hasn't liked - even as a baby! - turned out to be lousy people, liars, cheats, black hearts etc.  And i have checked and doubly checked the occasions for co-incidence or other factors... nope, he's always been on the money.  He talks about people as though they are colours: if he talks about somebody as blue, pink, gold, green, orange, purple or yellow.. I'm usually safe.  If he describes them as red, I'm wary (they're usually just excited or anxious at the time) but he's talked about the aforementioned lousy people as being black, grey or no colour at all.

This is a child who cannot answer "are you hungry, William?" cause he doesn't know what that means!!

Other reasons are: apparent memory of places we've never been.  eg.. we took him to Canberra to visit a friend, he directed us to a place we'd never been before, as though he'd been there recently.   He also doesn't "get" kids of his own age, preferring the company of adults - in his words - they're more interesting.  In all fairness, the inability to relate to kids his own age COULD be partly due to his autism, but he just finds it easier to be around adults. Children bore him senseless (this makes me nervous, I gotta tell you)..

But like Barb said, its to do with his eyes.  As an adult or parent who's been around kids a lot, you can tell by looking through their eyes which ones of them are young at heart and which of them have been here before.  My boy has been here before, he gets far more than even I know.  I often feel like I learn more from my child than he does from me, which is a humbling thought actually.

Hope this answers your question..  it was a hard one to answer, I'll be honest.

[Kelda]

I would decribe Jake as an old soul.. he just seems so settled in his own skin doesn't he?

Sheyne I didn't know about William - he sounds like a clued up little kid!!!! Kudos to you, I know it must be hard work at times...


I am apparently a Dreaming Soul..accurate in some ways, not in others...
 
Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world
So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time
You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all...
But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult

You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you.
Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses.
Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others.
Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life.

Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul 

[reannawrites]

Thanks Jude...I see we're compatible    and Kelda and I are sister dreamer souls.

[Sheyne]

Sheyne I didn't know about William - he sounds like a clued up little kid!!!! Kudos to you, I know it must be hard work at times...

Hey Kelda,

Clued up?? You got NO idea.. he misses NOTHING.    As for hard work... tell you what.. I reckon raising ANY child - if you want to do it right - is damn hard work. I don't reckon I have it harder than parents of kids that DON'T have Autism. I mean, maybe I do. Who knows? I've never raised a child that didn't have it, so I don't know.  But I just like to think that my difficulties are a little different, that's all.  I got it good, really. He's a bright, happy, giggling, gorgeous child who understands things about people I'll never grasp and will grow up to be something truly incredible, I know it. Sometimes I feel like I'm just along for the ride!! 

[Kelda]

Hey Kelda,

Clued up?? You got NO idea.. he misses NOTHING. 

 

I'm hoping he can therefore quote: "I'm good with a canoe though" a la the Malaysian subtitles thread!!!

Hey Kelda,

As for hard work... tell you what.. I reckon raising ANY child - if you want to do it right - is damn hard work. I don't reckon I have it harder than parents of kids that DON'T have Autism. I mean, maybe I do. Who knows? I've never raised a child that didn't have it, so I don't know.  But I just like to think that my difficulties are a little different, that's all. 

Yes, of course you're right.. each parent have their own difficulties to deal with...

I got it good, really. He's a bright, happy, giggling, gorgeous child who understands things about people I'll never grasp and will grow up to be something truly incredible, I know it.

I know it too - how canny he go wrong with a cool Momma like you!?

Sometimes I feel like I'm just along for the ride!! 

And that's whats so cool about kids! I enjoy that part of my nieces and hopefully will some of my own one day to lead me astray!!

[Kelda]

hey reanna.. how are you doing? so sorry to hear about your friend..

I think its kinda cool to be a dreamer..I feel like singing that Abba song now!

[j.U.d.E.]

Sometimes I feel like I'm just along for the ride!! 

WOW!

Sheyne, I'm sending you a PM.

~ j U d E

[j.U.d.E.]

Vic, would you say that all of 'your soul' (peacemaker) applicable to you?

Yes Jude I'd say it is VERY accurate in that it has describes my role within my family perfectly.  I bristle a bit at the secretly judgemental thing.  However, I suppose if I'm totally honest that can be true in some instances, as I do not always suffer fools gladly. 

Ha! Vic, I like that expression about the 'fools'! I'm just a tad surprised that 'your soul' is compatible with the 'hunter soul' and 'warrior soul'.. being that you are a 'peacemaker soul'. Kind of odd, don't you think?

Jude, that quiz is wacky, LOL

Totally, monimm! But fun, still! 

~ j U d E

[YaadPyar]

"Why so categorical?"  Oooo, I hope the limb doesn't break...

The public persona may be miles from the private so I get, um, skeptical maybe, when the masses attribute certain qualities to people in the public eye.

OH yes - excellent points!  However - I took the test twice to ensure my answers were accurate, and can't really agree with much it says...


You Are a Hunter Soul 
 
You are driven and ambitious - totally self motiviated to succeed don't know anyone who would call me ambitious
Actively working to acheive what you want, you are skillful in many areas.
You are a natural predator with strong instincts ... and more than a little demanding. predator?!  strong and scary word
You are creative, energetic, and an extremely powerful force.  don't know, but at least it sounds more positve

An outdoors person, you like animals and relate to them better than people.  not particularly...
You tend to have an explosive personality, but also a good sense of humor. sense of humor maybe, but never explosive
People sometimes see you as arrogant or a know it all. 
You tend to be a bit of a loner, though you hate to be alone.  don't hate to be alone at all

Souls you are most compatible with: Seeker Soul and Peacemaker Soul 

[ednbarby]

(Barb, my boy is an old soul too, as is my younger sister)

Sheyne, what is it that makes you say that about your son? Can you be more specific (don't mean to pry though). Is this the one with Autism?

~ j U d E


Yeah, I only have the one child and he's Autistic. The reasons I have for thinking this are firstly, his intuition. He seems to understand people better than I do. I have learnt my lesson, if my son avoids someone or takes a dislike to them, I pay very close attention. It has emerged that everybody he hasn't liked - even as a baby! - turned out to be lousy people, liars, cheats, black hearts etc.  And i have checked and doubly checked the occasions for co-incidence or other factors... nope, he's always been on the money.  He talks about people as though they are colours: if he talks about somebody as blue, pink, gold, green, orange, purple or yellow.. I'm usually safe.  If he describes them as red, I'm wary (they're usually just excited or anxious at the time) but he's talked about the aforementioned lousy people as being black, grey or no colour at all.

This is a child who cannot answer "are you hungry, William?" cause he doesn't know what that means!!

Other reasons are: apparent memory of places we've never been.  eg.. we took him to Canberra to visit a friend, he directed us to a place we'd never been before, as though he'd been there recently.   He also doesn't "get" kids of his own age, preferring the company of adults - in his words - they're more interesting.  In all fairness, the inability to relate to kids his own age COULD be partly due to his autism, but he just finds it easier to be around adults. Children bore him senseless (this makes me nervous, I gotta tell you)..

But like Barb, its to do with his eyes.  As an adult or parent who's been around kids a lot, you can tell by looking through their eyes which ones of them are young at heart and which of them have been here before.  My boy has been here before, he gets far more than even I know.  I often feel like I learn more from my child than he does from me, which is a humbling thought actually.

Hope this answers your question..  it was a hard one to answer, I'll be honest.

Beautifully put, Sheyne.  And my son Will is autistic, too.  Albeit very mildly so.  He's been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, which is considered to be on the "autism spectrum."  He is gifted musically and symbolically.  But until he was four, he couldn't answer simple yes or no questions, either.  He didn't speak a word until he was almost 3 (and I can't tell you all how wonderful it was to finally hear his voice).  He can pick up and hold an adult's full-sized acoustic guitar at four like a veteran and pick the strings with a pick so that a melody comes out.  We bought him a Yamaha keyboard last year.  He sits at it and makes melodies on it.  It's a shame I can't read or write music, or I'd try to capture them.  I do have a few on videotape.

As Sheyne said, though, really - it's in the eyes.  As I said before, the second I looked at him in the hospital after he was born, his eyes locked onto mine.  He seemed to really look at me - to really see me and everything else he looked at.  Newborns aren't typically able to do that.  He seemed - connected.  So imagine my shock a couple years later when the experts were saying he was autistic.  But they said at the time, "He doesn't meet all the criteria.  For example, he's extremely social and connected to the outside world.  Usually in autism just the opposite is the case."  Will has always looked intently at everyone he meets - in the store, walking down the street, etc.  It's almost unnerving how direct his look is.  But his eyes have such a smiling look to them that he immediately disarms people.  I've never seen so many elderly people smile as when I would take him to the grocery store as a baby and he would look at everyone with those knowing eyes and smile so broadly.

Looking at Jake, even though I've only ever seen him in pictures (moving or otherwise), I swear I can see that same connectedness.  It's not a matter of knowing him.  Of course I don't.  But I believe I can read people just by looking in their eyes.  Not to sound like an asshole, but I've never been wrong.  Kind of like Sheyne's William, I'm an extremely good judge of character.  Yes, I've given people the benefit of the doubt longer than I should have in some cases in the past, but I always knew their potential for good or bad.  The author of Never Cry Wolf (can't think of his name right now) says on the first page that he believes one need only look directly and intently into the eyes of any dog or human being for five seconds to know exactly what they're about.  I believe that, too.  Of course that doesn't mean you can know all or even very much at all - but you can know basically whether they're a good witch or a bad witch.  You know?

And Sheyne, how fascinating that your son can apparently see auras!  I have a friend who claims to be able to see colors emanating from people, but I'm inclined to think she's full of shite.  However, when a child says he can - that's some pretty compelling proof that that ability does exist for some extremely gifted (or are they cursed?) individuals.

[Sheyne]

Sometimes I feel like I'm just along for the ride!! 

WOW!

Sheyne, I'm sending you a PM.

~ j U d E

Thanks Jude. Will reply tomorrow - got lots to tell you too!! 
Sheyne.

[Aussie Chris]

Apparently I'm a seeker soul too.  Actually the description appears reasonably true except for the "knowing so much" stuff (humility doesn't permit me to claim this one).

As for the use of the term "old soul", it's important to remember that this is about the higher (or spiritual) self.  It's got little to do with intellect or even life/emotional experience, since you can be an old soul and still young and naive.  It's more about your spiritual maturity.  Old souls need less time (or none) deciding how to navigate life's lessons that most spend the majority of their lives doing, or not doing as the case may be.  But that doesn't mean that they are necessarily able or willing to influence their circumstance.  It's interesting that there are parents of autistic kids here, my best friend is also, and there is definitely a "knowledge" there that has nothing to do with the time they've spent on the planet or the schooling they've had.  This concept may not be the most palatable one for those that do not like the idea of reincarnation or that humans exist "in lesson" for a greater purpose, but if there is any part of you that has had that feeling that you are here for a reason, or that there is more to life than just a sequence of random events, then maybe this idea is not entirely ludicrous to you.

As for Jake, I think it is certainly a possibility that he is an old soul, not because of the choices he's made (which may or may not be considered "wise"), but how he reacts to his environment and the interactions he has with others (as best as we can tell).  There is patience there, like a grandparent that knows that children make mistakes, in fact they understand that it's important that they make them, so they just smile and try not to let them hurt themselves or others too badly.  Jake seems to effortlessly deal with the attention from adoring fans, as well as interviewers with their typically moronic questions with equal ease, dignity, and respect.  That seems pretty "old" to me.

[ednbarby]

Apparently I'm a seeker soul too.  Actually the description appears reasonably true except for the "knowing so much" stuff (humility doesn't permit me to claim this one).

As for the use of the term "old soul", it's important to remember that this is about the higher (or spiritual) self.  It's got little to do with intellect or even life/emotional experience, since you can be an old soul and still young and naive.  It's more about your spiritual maturity.  Old souls need less time (or none) deciding how to navigate life's lessons that most spend the majority of their lives doing, or not doing as the case may be.  But that doesn't mean that they are necessarily able or willing to influence their circumstance.  It's interesting that there are parents of autistic kids here, my best friend is also, and there is definitely a "knowledge" there that has nothing to do with the time they've spent on the planet or the schooling they've had.  This concept may not be the most palatable one for those that do not like the idea of reincarnation or that humans exist "in lesson" for a greater purpose, but if there is any part of you that has had that feeling that you are here for a reason, or that there is more to life than just a sequence of random events, then maybe this idea is not entirely ludicrous to you.

As for Jake, I think it is certainly a possibility that he is an old soul, not because of the choices he's made (which may or may not be considered "wise"), but how he reacts to his environment and the interactions he has with others (as best as we can tell).  There is patience there, like a grandparent that knows that children make mistakes, in fact they understand that it's important that they make them, so they just smile and try not to let them hurt themselves or others too badly.  Jake seems to effortlessly deal with the attention from adoring fans, as well as interviewers with their typically moronic questions with equal ease, dignity, and respect.  That seems pretty "old" to me.

Very well-said, Chris.  As much as I know it's bad forum form, I agree wholeheartedly with all you've said here (especially the bolded part) and have nothing to add. 

[Front-Ranger]

Reanna and Kelda, I am a dreaming soul too. I was kind of surprised at this but I do have very vivid dreams sometimes.

[reannawrites]

Hi Kelda - I've been ok....grief is a strange thing, never know when it sneaks up on you... I've been spending a lot of time with friends and keeping myself as busy as possible.
How are things on your side of the world?

Dear Barb and Sheyne - I admire all mothers, I know it isn't easy to raise a child, especially in these times....My hat is off to both of you for being such wonderful and sensitive people and dedicated mothers...I admire both of you very much. God bless always. I wish I could meet your sons someday, I'm sure I would learn a lot from them.

Lots of love,
Reanna

[reannawrites]

Hi Lee, Welcome to the Dreamer Souls Club    I have very vivid dreams sometimes  (had a very nice one involving Jake some time ago...)  but not all of the description fits me....I can be very practical and earthy at times as well....It's not possible for me to have rose-colored glasses on at all times.

Lots of love,
Reanna

[ednbarby]

Dear Barb and Sheyne - I admire all mothers, I know it isn't easy to raise a child, especially in these times....My hat is off to both of you for being such wonderful and sensitive people and dedicated mothers...I admire both of you very much. God bless always. I wish I could meet your sons someday, I'm sure I would learn a lot from them.

What lovely things to say, Reanna.  Thanks for making my day.  So oftentimes I get down on myself that I should be much more patient with Will than I am - I often find myself literally counting to 10 and/or taking a deep breath before I react to some of his antics - he can be quite a pistol at times!  So it's nice to be reminded about what I'm doing right from time to time.

Love and peace to you, too.

[reannawrites]

My pleasure. I meant every word. Don't be hard on yourself Barb... I'm sure you are always doing your best. 

God Bless, lots of love and peace back.