Past lives.

paintdisorder · Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Midlands

I don't know if this is paranormal or not but I can't explain these feelings.

I've always been into history right from the age of about 12. I loved touring castles, and battlefields with my parents, but when I was 14, my parents joined the National trust.
For some unexplained reason, I started taking a big interest in the domestic side of the big country houses.

I'm now 30, and work as a volunteer for a National trust property.But I get this really big urge to keep visiting the domestic areas.
I did a day in the kitchen, and despite the dark , musty atmosphere of the domestic areas in this house, I get a very strange feeling of being at home, and feeling comfortable and when I'm not there I get a feeling of wanting to return home.
I almost have feelings of waiting for my work collegues to turn up. (and not my present day collegues either).
Everytime I visit a countryhouse, I'm very keen to get to the domestic areas.
Its strange really. It sort of feels like I'm rejoining some old friends, and old routines again when ever I visit domestic parts of these houses, and that old collegues are waiting at the top of the servants stairs.
What is weird is that when I get to the servants hall and stairs, I someimes feel a sense of real sadness when I see the rooms empty, and no-one in them.

It just makes me wonder where all this came from. I'm not a good cook, and I don't really enjoy it, I'm not very tidy, and I like my luxuries, so its not like I crave for domestic life or I want to live out a fantasy, and I'm also not a qualified domestic historian.
In my modern life, I enjoy the architecture and grand paintings of the country houses, so what subconciously pulls me towards these plain, dark parts of the house?

Now I walked through the servants corridors of this property, and around the servants staircases etc on my own the otherday, and I had this feeling of being in a hurry. For what? I was early for my volunteer work. When I got back home I had this really big feeling of being part of that side of the Countryhouse household, and that I wanted to return.

Whats really strange is that we've traced my family tree, and found out that members of my family were domestic staff in a manor house during the late Georgian and Victorian times, which is very odd, as this is the period of domestic service that I seem to be drawn too.
I never get these feelings in Medieval houses, of 17th century or Tudor kitchens etc, just in the Georgian and Victorian kitchens and areas.

So is it just an interest?, or is there a small subconscious corner of my mind thats tapping into a past life of someone from a domestic position.
Like I said, its strange that a 14 year old boy should suddenly become interested in the world of Butlers, servants, and domestic life, and its strange that I have a homely,comfortable and almost a sense of commitment when I venture into these areas.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, I hope you find this as curious as I do.

twinks · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 229 Location: rugby

paintdisorder,
seems to me you have answerd your question quite plainly with your family tree,and you being drawn to that sort of place and time and work. you was there. Very Happy

flossy · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject:

couldnt agree more twinks Wink

very interesting

paintdisorder · Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Midlands

I think the weirdest thing is the time period. The Georgian/Victorian connection.
Why that period in Domestic service? That was the thing that finally made me question as to what was happening considering I've never really read up on the subject, or had the desire to get lost in that world. I've always read books on the architecture, and the Art and landscaping in big countryhouses.

flossy · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject:

maybe you had a past life in that time
sounds very likely to me

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject:

Enjoyed reading your post Paint.
Do you have these feelings at all castles and manors you visit?

paintdisorder · Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Midlands

Not really. Tends to be in Georgian and Victorian houses.
I don't get it in Medieval manor houses or Tudor manor houses. But I don't know enough about domestic routines and methods between the periods, so its not like I favour that period out of interest. I don't alot about the history of domesticity.

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

andyw · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Caterham, Surrey

It may well be a past life still sitting in your unconscious mind. I have just read a superb book all about regressive hypnosis but with a difference. The hypnotist manages to get the patient/subject to talk about what they are doing 'in between' lives!! The book is called "Destiny of Souls' by Michael Newton

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b_4_5?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=destiny+of+souls&sprefix=desti

I have just ordered his 1st book 'Journey of Souls' which i should have bought 1st but hey ho! Mr. Green

paintdisorder · Joined: 20 Jul 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Midlands

Georgian from Victorian was roughly between the early 1700's to 1901.