Hi there!
I lurk regularly but hardly ever post. Work seems to take up all my energy and by the time I read everyone else's stuff I'm sooo sleepy, but that's a whole other issue:)
This thread has drawn me out, though. I've had this experience on a few occasions, and it's been huge for me...just unmistakable when it happens, so much different than mere daydreaming or thinking about yourself in the past, at least for me. It also seems hard to put into words, but here goes...
An example I can remember very clearly is one particularly miserable night about 12 years ago during a bleak,bleak period in my life. I'd basically hit the nadir point and was on my bed in the fetal position sobbing and just hatin' it. Mind you, there was nothing in the way of positive self talk on my internal tapeloop to speak of during that time, but out of nowhere came this pep talk of sorts. I got some clear guidance and perspective on my situation in a very loving form and a comforting vibration that in my mind I termed "older sisterly". I didn't really know what to think of it at the time. I felt like I was crazy anyway.
So flash forward to about this time last year. I'm scribbling away in my journal and start thinking about some of the stuff going on back then, how it affected me, how it would probably be good to deal with it now because surely I still have some gunk hanging around in my field from it, etc... I start to write a message of compassion and help to myself back then and then it hits me what I'm doing! I felt something shift and re-integrate profoundly while I had that connection, and a radical cleansing took place. I can't even really do it justice with language. It's probably the only time I have ever truly forgiven myself or anyone and there's a reason forgiveness is such a biggie in our development. The weight that leaves you is immense. It's just so hard to muster it most of the time!
Maybe I got through to myself enough to keep me on this particular timeline and off some other one?
Great topic!