Ancestor Knowledge

I am very interested in how we know what we know. I don't mean the knowledge, facts, stats etc we get out of books, or that we learn from the TV, radio or from talking to others. I mean the knowledge and information that is stored deep within our own souls and our minds, the intimate knowledge unique to each person.

The runes
The rune Othala relates to community, kin, family and ancestors and inheritance. Gundarsson (1990/3) writes that, "...this inheritance may include not only genetic material inherited from one's physical ancestors, but the spiritual legacy of one's previous lives." Paxson (2005) suggests that "...rather than physical inheritance, Othala may indicate connection with an ethnic group-soul."

The Druid Concept
IN her book (2004), Emma Restall Orr comments that, "...at any time, an ancestral soul may touch the cells that ignite the moment of conception. Created by the spark of the spirit, the soul establishes its link to the zygote, guiding its development from there. Thus our ancestors become our descendants... " She goes on to say that, "Listening to our ancestral songs, finding the notes of our genes, our history, blood and bones, the wash of continuity through evolution is exquisite, sometimes painful but always poignant."

Collective Unconscious
This is the one I struggle with. I am least able to understand psycho-babble....... Carl Jung coined the term "collective unconscious" to explain the idea that each of us share knowledge and experiences common to all humanity. Jensen et al (1997) comment that the collective unconscious is, "a reservoir of the experience of our species." This collective unconscious is separate to the personal subconscious, which is particular to each human being.