That has been around for a very long time, and was popularized during the spiritualist movement. I just recently read a book that was written in the 1930's that had a character gushing about how she had been Nefertiti in a former life. So I doubt it's going to die out soon. On a side note, I remember a character in another book say he was tired of meeting Egyptian queens and famous generals, and just once would like to meet someone who had been a scullery maid who died of typhoid in a former life.

For myself, I've never had done any sort of regressions, but I did have one dream when I was a teenager that was so clear and vivid that it makes me go, "Hmmm." I was wearing the sort of pillbox-hat-and-gloves outfit that was fashionable in the early 60's (which was when I was conceived and born), and I was in a sort of gift shop at an airfield or bus station. I remember the windows of the shop faced on to a large open outdoor area, so I'm leaning towards airfield.

I was a woman who was running from her husband, who was tied in with crime or corruption in some way. I just wanted to get away from him, but knew he'd be afraid I would go to the police. I had wandered into a quiet corner of the shop, and heard my name called (it was clear in the dream, but I couldn't remember it when I woke). I turned and saw my husband there, and as he shot me my last thought was astonishment that he had done it himself rather than send one of his goons.

I've told that story to friends, and they've joked that is probably why I wound up in law enforcement.