At the beginning of Prince Ombra the author tells a story that goes roughly: Just before we are born the cavern angel puts his finger to our lips and says: Shhh, don’t tell what you know. This is why we don’t remember our past lives and why we have the little dimple on our upper lips.
Did the author make this up, or is this from an established mythology?
Not reincarnation. It says that while the fetus is still in the womb, an angel teaches it all of the Torah, then just before it’s born, the angel hushes it with the finger on the upper lip.