Many people who have had a near death experience have come back telling those around them that they were greeted by their family dog, or cat, or other animal that had been part of the family.  Many people believe that animals have souls.  There are those, however, that do not.

            I remember working with a young woman long ago, who was a self-proclaimed born again Christian and believed that animals do not have souls.  I asked her if she believed that God was all around her, in all things, as God created all things.  She agreed that God created all things, but wasn’t too sure about God being in all things.  What it came down to for her was that only people were God-like and the rest was put here for us to enjoy - that animals were here to serve us.  I felt badly for her, for she was not seeing God all around her, everywhere she cast her gaze, and to me, missing a great deal.

            She also said that is why she thought Native Americans were pagan because they prayed to everything, and therefore believed in more than one God.  I told her that Native Americans believe in one God, but saw God in all things, and therefore could pray to all things, but there is only one Wakan Tanka, or Great Spirit.  Having lived with and studied Native ceremonies and teachings for many years, I felt I had a bit more knowledge on this than she did. 

            I find it odd that some truly believe that the earth was created only for man.  What kind of privileged thinking does that belong to?  I believe, and also have been told by higher authority, that God (call that force what you will) is made manifest in all things (as the Native Americans believe).  And so, animals have souls.  I never doubted that for an instant.

            Animals treat their young as humans do, with touch, love, affection, and raising them just as thoughtfully, giving them the skills they need to survive.  They are mostly social creatures, and if treated kindly, the wildest beasts can become friends with man.  I have a book that I bring to read to the residents at the nursing home where I volunteer.  It is titled Unlikely Friendships, by Jennifer S. Holland.  The stories are two to three pages long with remarkable photos about oddball relationships between different species; how one will take another under their wing, sort to speak, and become best friends.  Birds with monkeys, lizards with cats, dogs and cats together with baby ducks and chicks, leopards with cows.  The list is striking.  It truly shows the need and willingness for love in all species, and how far animals are willing to go to give and receive love. 

            Animal love is unconditional.  Anyone who owns a dog certainly knows that.  What they are teaching us is how to also achieve that unconditional love.  They set an example for us in how to be more loving, no matter what.  Love comes from the heart and soul, not the brain.  Animals have put themselves at risk over and over again to save lives.  So how is it if they behave this way, willing to give their own lives for a human, they do not have a soul?  And these are not trained rescue animals I’m speaking of.  These are creatures who seem to have it in their DNA.  There are so many stories, especially of dogs and dolphins, who have gone out of their way to save a life.

            I believe the deeper meaning to all this is that Source is in all things, for Source is energy, and all things, especially souls, are manifested from this energy.  Therefore all things hold the energy of Source. 

            Those saying that animals are here to serve might be correct if they take that one step further and say, “Man is also here to serve - serve each other and all things on this planet for the highest good.”  Animals seem to know that when they are born.  They are here for a purpose, live that purpose and then go on.  Look deeply into the eyes of an animal and you will see more soul reflected there than in most people’s eyes.  They are born loving unconditionally, whether the family dog, or the gorilla in the wild.  They love their own as we do, and our domesticated animals love us as their own, (especially cats who do think they own us).

            I have received an email a few times about a very young boy’s thoughts on the death of the family dog.  He said people live longer than animals because it takes people longer to learn how to love.  Animals are born knowing, so they don’t have to be here so long.  How astute!

            Both Ariel and Sandalphon have come forth to bring some thoughts to this.

            “We see much interaction between souls in the form of man and souls in the form of animals; some so very loving, some so very harsh.  However, animals do choose and make contracts prior to being born as well.  As cruel as someone might treat an animal, that animal’s soul knows why it is here and how it is serving the very person that might abuse it.  We do not say abuse is therefore okay, for there needs to be only love.  What we are saying is there should be no judgment, for anyone judging does not understand or know the contract between the soul of the human and the soul of the animal.  And the animal, in taking on this task is serving its own soul, to perhaps rise to a higher or better level of being. 

            “Serving does not mean they are slaves, anymore than serving God makes slaves of mankind.  It is all done with love.  Even the animals that are slaughtered to be eaten know their path.  They have a survival instinct and will run if possible, but their souls know they were put here to serve in that way and choose to do so gladly, believe it or not.  Again, it helps their souls to grow.  But if you do eat of an animal, do so with respect, mindfulness, and gratitude.  This is how many of your tribes from early man, and still within many cultures, see it and act upon it.  They will slay a deer for food for their family, but do so with thanks, ceremony, and offerings.  This is the respectful way – being present with what the animal has gifted you with – it’s body.  But it, too, is just a body, as the soul has gone on.

            “Also know that animals know when you grieve them, as humans also do when they cross into another dimension.  None of them want you to grieve, for they, being in the other dimension, better understand what is illusion and what is reality.  Animals certainly do not want you to grieve them, as they are closer to Source in understanding this cycle than many humans are, for they do not have the ego to contend with.  They know they go on, return, etc.  They still watch over you, as any loved one would, for not all of their soul is in their form either.  So even if that soul is born back, there is a part of it that is still in the higher realm and will greet you when you arrive.  It is rather like when they greeted you when you came home from work.  No different, just in another place.

            “All is God – animals, trees, insects, air, water – ALL things.  Treat all things as you would treat God – with deep love and respect.  Know that for the survival of species there is sacrifice of the body, one to the other, but the soul goes on, and if that sacrifice is done with respect, there is no trauma whatsoever.  The soul has done what it came to do and is thankful.”

Love and blessings,

Magdrael