Spooky said: When a soul would merge with another so that each one has the memories of the other, then there is no difference between past-life memories and memories of this other soul, because in both cases it's first-hand memory. Rather, those souls would be one, if they shared all their memories. 
  This is the basis from which I look at my own could-be-past-lives- experiences. I simply can't tell if this were past-lives, or if it is coming from another source which I share the memories with. Actually, there is no difference as I said, because as soon as you're in the shoes of the protagonist in those "movies", it is simply your own memory, your own experience, as it is a holistic memory, meaning not only a time snippet, but with all feelings, beliefs and knowledge which stems from all the time before. 
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you got me thinking about this retrieval I did once Spooky. I posted it up once but the things you are saying, I did not elaborate on before.
In this particular case I stood off to the side of a woman and guides were all around and helping me with this one. I saw them, but not close ups of their face, but I knew I was in good hands.

I entered the body of a woman and partook of her memories. For the duration of the retrieval, I was her, although I knew she and I were different people, but that the circumstances had happened. I was to demonstrate an alternate reality by doing this retrieval, and in this way remove the predator who had preyed on her, rather, I released the predator into the hands of the guide who appeared just at the appropriate moment. While I was in her body, I had her short term memory, not all the details of her life, just the memories of working, her apartment, her feelings and thoughts.
Somehow by changing the past, we changed the future during this retrieval.
Also for the duration of the retrieval, I became her and forgot it was a retrieval. I remembered it was a retrieval when the guide appeared, and I remembered then I was me, not her.

so hoooo hoooo!!  lol. you have my book though. this is the rapist story in there.

love, alysia