Could Stars Be Conscious?
Panpsychism is the theory that there is a pervasive consciousness throughout the universe down to molecular and subatomic levels.
If you told a Zen Buddhist or Hindu devotee that you’ve discovered evidence of the possibility that the universe is conscious, they might thank you for pointing out the obvious. But for scientists, whose intractable studies are grounded in materialism and who often refuse to entertain the ethereal or intangible, finding potential evidence of such a concept would be groundbreaking.
There are, however, a handful of physicists who have developed theories positing that there is an all-pervasive field of consciousness throughout the universe. Our level of consciousness is obviously different from that of a dog or other animal, but could all matter be conscious? Could plants and trees be conscious? What about stars? Panpsychism may be the answer to those questions.
The Hard Problem of Consciousness
Panpsychism is the idea that everything that is material has a certain level of consciousness. Everything down to subatomic particles has a relative level that is different from the consciousness that we experience, but nonetheless consciousness.
Traditional science might find an idea like this to be implausible, but philosophical proponents like David Chalmers, point out that typically science will tell you how something acts, not how something is. The intrinsic nature or characteristics of matter are not of concern if they can describe their behavior.
And it is from this existential curiosity that Chalmers has formulated his view. He sees consciousness existing at two levels of experience, macro, and micro. We only have macro experience but the micro level is a building block for our macro experience.
This led Chalmers to formulate his theory of the hard problem of consciousness which is proof negating materialism. He sees the qualia or subjective nature of experience as conflicting with the materialist view. Essentially, he says that if there is a microphysical world devoid of consciousness, then the world involving consciousness would demand a separate set of properties, different than the laws of physics.
Stellar Consciousness
Why do stars on the outskirts of the Milky Way sometimes move faster than those closer to the center? Because they’re consciously doing so, says Gregory Matloff, a former NASA rocket propulsion scientist. For some reason, there are multiple instances of stars moving faster than they should and defying the predictions of physics like Kepler’s orbit.
Much like the idea that a field of pervasive energy exists in the quantum vacuum, there could be an infinite, pervasive field of consciousness. That energy from the quantum vacuum, or zero-point energy, could be hypothetically accessed with a machine that utilizes the Casimir effect, which relies on vacuum fluctuations to transfer energy.
Much like the quantum vacuum, Matloff says that there could be a universal field that transfers consciousness to matter through the Casimir effect’s vacuum fluctuations.
He refers to this field of consciousness as proto-consciousness. Our level of consciousness comes from factors of proto-consciousness, which is much like the micro experience being the building blocks to macro experience. Inanimate objects and organisms that we don’t consider to be conscious, could have these lower level, proto-conscious building blocks from the molecules and particles that they are made of. These elements are basic systems compared to us. In humans’ complex systems, our level of consciousness can be considered a standard feature.
So, stars are extracting sentience through some sort of osmotic process with a quantum field of consciousness? As abstract as it might sound, there is evidence that potentially hints at just that.
Matloff uncovered research from a Russian scientist named Pavel Paranego, who discovered that cooler, less massive stars circled the galaxy faster than their larger counterparts. Oddly, those stars on the outer rim of the galaxy that move faster than they should, are smaller stars with less energy.
One theory of stellar consciousness states that consciousness would likely be found in the upper layers of a star. It is in the upper sheath, or photosphere, of smaller, cooler stars where molecules can be found. Scientists call this a molecular stellar signature or molecular spectra. Larger stars are too hot to have molecules in their outer layers.
Does this mean the cool stars have a molecular layer of consciousness giving them stellar volition? Matloff says he believes so. And didn’t Carl Sagan say something about us being made of star-stuff?
A more sci-fi explanation that Matloff entertains is that these stars could be moving faster due to an advanced civilization controlling it. On the Kardashev scale, a type II, stellar civilization or higher would inevitably build a Dyson sphere around a star to harness its energy. At this point that civilization would be able to move the star or influence its movement. Matloff thinks this is unlikely, though.
It’s hard to say whether a universal consciousness exists, or whether we’ll ever be able to tell, but those who have conceived of it provide compelling theoretical and philosophical evidence. Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon, had the realization that we live in a “universe of consciousness.”
And other astronauts, upon returning from space, have experienced similar epiphanies of a feeling of ubiquitous connectivity due to consciousness. Certainly, the subjective nature of our perception and awareness is distinct and something to be explored. If there is such a field, how might we tap into it and could it be used to achieve higher levels of consciousness?
About the Author
How to Remember Your Past Lives: 3 Ways to Access Past Life Memories
Sometimes life feels familiar in ways that are hard to explain. You meet someone and feel you’ve known them forever. Or you travel somewhere new and something deep inside stirs, like a memory you can’t quite place. Maybe these are traces of memories of past lives, or maybe they’re just intuition. Either way, they’re worth paying attention to.
Patterns often repeat themselves. Unexplained fears. Sudden talents. Relationships that circle back to the same lessons. These moments might be echoes from a previous life still influencing your present life.
Exploring past life experiences is not only about curiosity. It can be about understanding how your soul’s history continues to shape who you are. You might not find clear answers at first. Insights rarely arrive as complete stories. They show up in fragments, symbols, and emotions. Sometimes they make sense only later.
Table of Contents
- Can You Access Past Life Memories?
- How Past Lives Might Shape Your Present Life
- Signs You Might Have Lived Before
- Three Ways to Explore Past Life Memories
- Making Sense of What You Find
- The Story of Matías De Stefano
- Living With Past Life Insights
Can You Access Past Life Memories?
The idea of reincarnation suggests that human beings live more than one lifetime, each one leaving behind energetic and emotional imprints. Most people don’t consciously recall memories of previous lives, but certain practices can help open the door to them. Techniques like deep meditation, past life regression, or exploring the Akashic Records can reveal glimpses that feel older than this lifetime.
For some, these insights appear as flashbacks, vivid dreams, or waves of emotion. For others, it’s just a subtle pull toward a person, a place, or even a time period. In my experience, it’s unpredictable. You can’t force it, and that’s often what makes it meaningful.
The process takes patience. Sometimes fragments come together slowly, piece by piece. You might feel a sensation before you see an image, or recognize a lesson before you know its origin.
How Past Lives Might Shape Your Present Life
Emotional patterns often carry forward from former lives. Dr. Ian Stevenson, a psychiatrist who studied young children recalling memories of past lives, documented cases where birthmarks matched fatal injuries described in these memories. Whether you see this as scientific or spiritual, it’s hard to ignore the consistency of such reports.
These imprints may not prove anything, but they do suggest continuity between lives. A certain fear, gift, or attraction could reflect something unresolved or unfinished from a previous life. Recognizing these connections can bring clarity and healing in current life.
I once worked with someone who had a deep fear of the ocean. Through past life regression therapy, guided by a trained hypnotist, she recalled a drowning incident from what felt like another lifetime. The memory came in pieces, more feeling than image. Still, acknowledging that connection helped her let go of the fear over time. Experiences like this show how understanding past life experiences can release something held deep in the subconscious.
Signs You Might Have Lived Before
Even if you never access vivid memories, signs of former lives can appear in subtle ways:
- A powerful connection with someone you’ve just met
- Fascination with a specific era or culture
- Unexplained fears or emotional triggers
- Skills or talents that seem to come naturally
- Dreams or visions that feel oddly specific
Most people notice just one or two of these patterns. Others find the signs everywhere once they start paying attention. Sometimes a single clue opens a path toward remembering more.
In my experience, recognizing a familiar emotion or attraction can be just as revealing as a full flashback. It’s less about proving a past and more about noticing what the soul is trying to show you now.
Three Ways to Explore Past Life Memories
1. Deep Meditation
Deep meditation is one of the simplest ways to open the mind to memories of past lives. The key is to relax and observe whatever comes up without judgment. Images, sensations, or feelings may surface. Some might seem random. Others might carry a weight that feels ancient.
Before beginning, it can help to set a quiet intention, such as:
“I’m open to seeing what my soul wants me to understand.”
Then you simply allow the experience. Don’t chase it or analyze too soon. In my experience, the most authentic insights from former lives come gently, not dramatically. Even a fleeting moment of recognition can hold meaning.
2. Past Life Regression Therapy
Past life regression therapy uses relaxation and visualization to uncover memories of previous lives stored in the subconscious. A trained hypnotist guides you into a meditative state, helping you move beyond surface thoughts. Some people experience vivid scenes or sensations that feel like a flashback to another existence.
Whether these experiences are literal or symbolic, they often reveal emotional truths. They can explain patterns that don’t make sense in your present life or help resolve fears that seem to have no origin.
I once met someone who had always struggled to speak publicly. During past life regression, she recalled a lifetime where her voice had been silenced by strict authority. That realization gave her the courage to use her voice more freely in her current life. Even if symbolic, the experience carried emotional truth.
3. Exploring the Akashic Records
The Akashic Records are said to contain every thought, action, and experience the soul has ever had. Accessing them, either independently or through a reader, allows you to explore lessons across past lives and recurring patterns of growth.
When people tap into these records, they often describe sensations of recognition more than visual imagery. Insights come as feelings, intuitive words, or brief impressions. You might discover why certain people or challenges keep reappearing, or how your soul’s history is guiding your spiritual awakening.
Even a few minutes of connection can shift how you see your current life. These insights don’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful.
Integrating What You Discover
Exploring past life memories is not about getting lost in the past. It’s about using what you find to better understand your choices now. A glimpse into a previous life might explain an ongoing struggle or illuminate a hidden strength.
In some cases, the lesson might be an emotional release. In others, it could be creative inspiration or reconciliation. What matters most is how the experience influences your perspective in the present life.
It helps to write down what you recall after meditation or regression. Don’t try to label everything as fact or fiction. Treat it as information from your inner world, something your soul is offering for reflection.
The Story of Matías De Stefano
Spiritual teacher Matías De Stefano has captivated audiences with his extraordinary ability to recall multiple past lives since childhood. Unlike those who access memories through regression, Matías’ recollections emerged naturally and in vivid detail, spanning ancient civilizations, planetary histories, and metaphysical dimensions.
Through his Gaia podcast and original series The Journey of Remembering, Matías shares how his memories shaped his understanding of the universe and his role in the collective spiritual awakening. His story offers profound insight into how connecting with the memories of past lives can guide us toward purpose, unity, and a deeper remembrance of who we truly are.
Just as with Matías’s experience, remembering past lives invites us to explore the continuity of consciousness and to see life as an unfolding journey rather than a single chapter. Whether through meditation, past life regression, or the Akashic Records, these methods can open the door to self-discovery and healing.
Ultimately, the value of these experiences lies not in proving their accuracy but in how they help us grow, evolve, and live our present life with peace, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Living With Past Life Awareness
Understanding past life experiences and exploring the soul’s history is not about proof or persuasion. It’s about awareness. Insights from past lives can explain repeating patterns, clarify emotional attachments, or simply remind you that growth is continuous.
Whether through deep meditation, past life regression, or the Akashic Records, each method opens a doorway to reflection. Sometimes that reflection is subtle, almost imperceptible. Other times it feels profound, as if you’ve remembered something essential about who you are.
Ultimately, remembering past lives isn’t about living in the past. It’s about carrying forward what matters most into the present life. Each glimpse, each small understanding, becomes part of how you live more consciously now.
