In the Celtic tradition reincarnation rituals are a very
important thing, and there are different kinds of reincarnation:
THE PARTIAL REINCARNATION OF THE MIND
When somebody wants to make up his mind and change his
attitude to a certain aspect of his life, for example to a memory of a
traumatic experience or to a loss, then a reincarnation ritual can be useful
because he nevertheless might not get over the trauma or the loss because
of the old energies that still stick to him.
THE COMPLETE REINCARNATION OF THE MIND
This can be caused intentionally or happen by chance.
People who survive a plain crash or something like that always say that
their whole life has changed because they have gained a higher spirituality
and their attitudes have changed. They are much more sensitive and feel
cleaner somehow. This was the complete reincarnation of the mind, done
by the shock and the look into the eye of death.
In the Celtic tradition this kind of reincarnation was
caused intentionally by locking people in a house and putting it under
fire, for example. They have to face death, but if they succeed to get
out somehow their mind might have been reincarnated. Also putting people
into a cave in absolute darkness for a long time and other rituals like
that were used. The symbolic form of this intentional caused reincarnation
was always used on Alban Arthan, the holy day which marks the reincarnation
of the sun after the winter.
THE COMPLETE REINCARNATION OF BODY AND MIND
This is the death of the physical body and the reincarnation
into the next life. This also cleans the mind. In the druidic religion
committing suicide is accepted, but you have to face all problems before
your death because it is not for running away but for cleaning yourself
from old and unnecessary energy.