Transmigration

Transmigration, in it's strange sense, refers to the soul. Merriam-Webster defines transmigration of the soul as the "pass[ing] at death from one being or body to another." In some spiritual beliefs, the new vessel is not necessarily a human body but could also be an animal, plant, or other living creature. Also referred to as reincarnation, metempsychosis, or palingenesis. In some situations, this may also be considered a form of possession.

Transmigration, or reincarnation, is a major element of several religions and belief systems: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Druidism, and early Norse beliefs. The most famous set of transmigratory beliefs, perhaps, comes out of ancient Egypt -- renowned for myths and ideas of reincarnation

The concept of transmigration is an old one, dating as far back as the Iron Age. Transmigratory ideas existed among early Greeks and Celtic druids. Later, in the 6th century BCE, transmigration occurs in Indian beliefs.

The many versions of transmigration -- reincarnation and such -- should not be considered synonymous with one another. Different belief systems treat the broad concept of transmigration in several different ways. Much of past and present transmigratory beliefs focus on the reincarnation aspect, being reborn into a another body or life after one's death. There is an abundance of myths, stories, and novels featuring this aspect.

Some novels, the 1970's science fiction novel Transmigration by J.T. MacIntosh, focus on the more possession-like aspect of transmigration.  This book features a character with the involuntary ability of transmigration at the time of his own death -- as he dies, his soul passes into the nearest person and takes over their body.

In the Cassandra Palmer series, by Karen Chance, the main protagonist, Cassie, has the ability to see ghosts and is often accompanied by a ghost "familiar" that can enter her body and take control. By accident, Cassie discovers she, too, can transmigrate to other people. In the fourth book, Curse the Dawn, Cassie accidentally trades bodies with her partner, John Pritkin.

In P.C. Cast's series, Goddess Summoning, characters switch bodies with deities from Greek mythology. For instance, in Goddes of Spring, a modern-day woman exchanges bodies with the Greek goddess Persephone, reinventing the classic myth of how Persephone becomes wife of Hades and Queen of the Underworld.

Anna Windsor's Captive Spirit and Captive Soul, from her Dark Crescent Sisterhood series, features the character John Cole, who, at the time of his death, passes his soul into the mind and body of his best friend through means of a magical object. John does not take over the body entirely, rather exists as a secondary consciousness.

See Also: ghost, soul

Sources and More Information: Merriam-Webster Dictionary, New Advent, The Pagan's Path, Wikipedia

Related Books:
Captive Spirit by Anna Windsor
Captive Soul by Anna Windsor
Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance
Goddess Summoning series by P.C. Cast

Transmigration by J.T. MacIntosh