Reincarnation

[Jade]

As for why we might choose to incarnate in scary circumstances, I tend to see it being akin to going to a scary movie or playing a scary video game.  We deliberately put ourselves through a traumatic experience as a test of character, and to see how we react under very arduous circumstances.  And from a higher-dimensional perspective, the experience of being incarnated in bad circumstances is every bit as transient as the latest Paranormal Activity.  Earth is a thrill ride and at the end, we look at what we were before, vs what we are now, to see how it's changed us and what we've learned in the process.

To build on this, but not only as a test, but because there is beauty in sadness - or, at least, in our artistic expression of it. Songs and stories about war and loss and struggle can be profound and inspiring. Think of all the beautiful things that have risen from the ashes of despair. I think this is why we incarnate, to experience and participate in that.