metempsychosis

n. reincarnation, movement of a soul from one body to another

Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to the belief of transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death. It is a doctrine popular among a number of Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Jainism wherein an individual incarnates from one body to another, either human, animal, or plant. Generally the term is only used within the context of Greek Philosophy, but has also been used by modern philosophers such as Schopenhauer; otherwise the phrase transmigration is more appropriate. The word also plays a prominent role in James Joyce's Ulysses. Another term sometimes used synonymously is Palingenesia.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. after death the soul begins a new cycle of existence in another human body
(synonym) rebirth
(hypernym) phenomenon

(n.)
The passage of the soul, as an immortal essence, at the death of the animal body it had inhabited, into another living body, whether of a brute or a human being; transmigration of souls.
  

Metempsychosis Commonly used for the entry of the soul into a new body or reimbodiment; but etymologically it means the clothing of a monad with a new soul, while metensomatosis means the clothing of that ensouled monad with a new body. The new psychic vesture with which the monad is clothed -- its metempsychosis in this case -- is evolved from the monad itself. Metempsychosis is in one sense a transmigration, but transmigration is not necessarily metempsychosis; for transmigration merely means changing or passing over from one condition to another, and therefore may include metensomatosis. Metempsychosis also means that the soul "is an indivisible entity in its inmost essence, which is pursuing a course along its own particular evolutionary path as an individual monad, taking upon itself 'soul' after 'soul'; and it is the adventures which befall the soul, in its assumption of, or assuming, 'soul' after 'soul,' which in their aggregate are grouped together under this word Metempsychosis.
"In ordinary language metempsychosis is supposed to be a synonym for transmigration, reincarnation, pre-existence, and palingenesis, etc., but all these words in the Esoteric Philosophy have specific meanings of their own, and should not be confused" (OG 105).