The thought of something as genetic and scientific such as a birthmark, to be associated with a phenomenon that is considered to be somewhat paranormal, is intriguing in itself. The aforementioned case is one of more than 2,500 cases that have been studied by Dr. Jim B. Tucker who is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia and is continuing the research initiated by the Late Dr. Ian Stevenson on past lives, rebirths, and reincarnations. There have been overwhelming reports of children who claim to remember their past lives and also how they died. According to the research, these children start sharing their previous lives' memories when they start talking, at the age of 2 or 3. Also, a majority of these cases of rebirths (70%) claim to have suffered an unnatural and violent death at a young age during their previous life, the median age being 28. Dr. Jim B. Tucker's research has also come to conclude that the presence of unusual birthmarks on a child's body can also prove to be a link to their life in the past. Approximately 20 percent of the rebirth cases recorded, consisted of birthmarks or defects that were identical to the wounds on the body of their previous life's human form. Does that conclude that each and every birthmark means something? The occurrence of birthmarks in humans is quite common―the blackish-brownish moles that may be flat or raised, with or without hair; marks that look like burns, of shapes that are as odd or familiar as possible; marks that are known but uncommon, and some that have a genetic or scientific explanation for their emergence. However, in case of past lives, birthmarks that are particularly unusual in nature are likely to be taken into account. For instance, if your birthmark looks like a burn mark, or gives more of a scar-like appearance, or perhaps a wound-like look, then maybe, it is not just genetics, it is a mark on your very soul. There have been many real-life scenarios where the presence of unusual birthmarks have intrigued many of its bearers. While in some cases the owners of such birthmarks were successful in remembering their past life, in other cases, the help of a professional regressive hypnosis leads these people to recollect the secrets and mysteries of the past and understand the significance of a certain mark(s) on their bodies. Interestingly, it has also been claimed that in some cases, these marks tend to disappear on their own once the person has remembered their earlier existence, as if they were just there to remind one of his/her past life. The following are a few examples of the supposed association with certain kinds of birthmarks with a person's previous birth experience. It is said that the darker the mark is, the more recent is the trauma. The lighter it is, the more it is healed in terms of the karma; however, there are still certain lessons that the bearer needs to learn from this traumatic mark. It would be interesting for you to know that in certain tribes who believe in rebirths and past lives, it is customary for the family members of a deceased person to mark his/her body with a special substance, most often soot, to be able to recognize the person in his or her next life. It is usually assumed that the person would be born in the same family. This practice is usually seen in certain Asian cultures. According to a research article titled Experimental Birthmarks: New Cases of an Asian Practice by Dr. Jim B. Tucker and H. H. Jürgen Keil, "A field study was undertaken in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) to examine such cases. Eighteen cases were found in which a baby was born with a birthmark that corresponded to a marking made on the body of a deceased person; in six of these, the child also made statements that the family believed were related to the life of the deceased individual." The study done by Dr. Stevenson which is continued by Dr. Tucker after his death, has compelled even scientists and those with logical thinking to agree that it is illogical to avoid the findings done through their research, and that there is a high probability that life and death is perhaps an unending circle, and we tend to continue our karmic journey from one era to the other in the form of different avatars, experiencing our karmic exploration through living many lives. To conclude, we would just leave it at this note that not all birthmarks may mean a connection with a previous life. However, if yours is something unusual, and if you have additional reasons to support your belief of it being associated with a rebirth―phobias, memories, inherent talents, and the likes―then, if need be, you can unravel the mystery behind these cumulative past life signs through regressive therapy. However, experts also warn that sometimes, peeking into the past may make you more uncomfortable than you are at present. So, evaluate the need and decide accordingly.