The Spirit Life of Animals
The Lives of Animals Continue
Animals are also there, as life, once created, never dies. (Spirit leader Imperator in Moses, MSTTT, n.p.)
Some Animals Live with Humans
Animals have a special sphere of their own, but we are free to have them with us if we will. (Ethel McLean in LFM, 75.)
The earthly bonds of affection pull the same animal towards us here. (Ethel McLean in LFM, 75.)
All the animals you have loved on earth and educated to understanding, will be with you here. Those other animals who belong to no one in particular are here too, but they are in their own places. (W.T. Stead, BI, 140.)
Animals Have Lost the Need to Prey on each Other
The two chief earthly factors are gone from all the animals in these lands – the need for food, which makes them prey upon others and fear of both their own creature-kind and of human-kind. Remove these two and there you have the result. They are a great joy to us – and to themselves. (Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, MALIWU, 47.)
There are no enemies here. (Radiant Wing of animals in Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, MALIWU, 48.)
When animals arrive here, it is wonderful to see them gamboling with one another … lions and tigers alongside tabby cats. (Mike Swain, FMW, 54.)
The woods and park lands are a dream of enchantment to wander in and many are the occasions when we have strolled through them or rested beneath the trees while the deer, friendly and unafraid, have come to us and made themselves acquainted. They are beautiful creatures, enjoying such freedom as only the spirit world can give them and they form an integral part of the superb landscape. (Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, HH, 57.)
A Child Talks about Animals
Yes, we have [animals] too – horses, dogs and birds. The wise old people here tell me they draw the animal that has died here and make it understand and live as it did. Only it isn’t frightened any more for nobody hurts an animal here. If someone tried it would mean that person would have to go for the time to the empty place where there is nothing but greyness. (1) It is awfully bad to be cruel.
But somehow here people don’t seem to want to be cruel. (Child Elizabeth B. to E.B. Gibbes in Geraldine Cummins, TS, 74.)
- (1) Specifically, the Grey World or Lower Summerlands.
Animals Sense Spirits
Animals are different [than humans]. Their senses are far more acute than those of humans. Often some domestic animals – dogs and cats or even others, chickens and some pet birds – will sense that a soul is near them, unseen and without a scent. The animals or birds seem to know that something is there. They will often act in a manner that is not normal for them. Birds, chickens will get very excited. Dogs will often howl or will run away and hide. Wild animals in a forest have a much keener set of senses than domesticated animals…. But strangely enough, wild animals will sense a soul that is near them and it does not seem to disturb them at all. I do not know why this is so, but that is my experience. (Thavis, TIH, 150.)
I think [Kirsty] sees me a lot in her sleep life. She lives much of her life in sleep like all dogs. (“Ross” to Alice Gilbert in ITE, 43.)
Do Animals Fear Death?
Q. Do plants and animals fear death?
A. No, you will find that is not a fear within them, though they have the natural survival instincts for their own good. (Unnamed spirit teacher through Betty Bethards, TIND, 6.)
Do Animals Remember Their Earth Life?
Yes, they sometimes show me what they remember. I have seen a horrid picture, a poor hungry pussy that can’t get home and is starving, creeping into a gutter to die.
I have seen that kind of remembrance. But the pussy has what they call the “spirit of life” here so it comes on and doesn’t die though the body is dead. We see some of these animals, the cleverest of them. They come to the place I have told you of and, or course, they go to others too. I believe after a time, they go back to earth because they know it is the best way to become complete. They may go into the bodies of animals or of babies. It just depends on themselves. (Child Elizabeth B. to E.B. Gibbes in Geraldine Cummins, TS, 74-5.)
Dogs – On Earth
Your pup has a very high form of dog soul.
Do dogs come over after death?
Some do. A dog can develop a real ‘soul’ if it lives in the right conditions, with people who treat it as if it were an intelligent being. The great bond of love which inspires it – really unselfish love in the end – cannot die. But the discarnate dog needs to attach itself to some discarnate person or it may stay round and live with its earthly owner. It suffers a bit at first through not being seen and spoken to, but people here who like dogs help it.
Very few dogs, says A.L. (1) evolve into the higher planes, and, if they do, it is probably by re-incarnating as people. The great majority of animals re-incarnate over and over again in a sort of group – that is the cause of ‘instinct,’ which so intrigues zoologists. (Philip to his mother, Alice Gilbert, in PTW, 134-5.)
- (1) The spirit control of Philip’s circle, Abdul Latif.
Now I’m going to tell you a queer thing about your dogs. The spirit of our dear wise West Highland Kirsty passed into Jean the Golden Retriever and that beautiful dog-soul has now re-incarnated in Jean II, the Spaniel – you feel that same almost human wisdom of an exceptional type in them. No, Honey did not come in that category – she stayed with Grandpa, and still floats round with him. But a dog here is at the mercy of its impulses, as it does not learn consciously to control its comings and goings. Only the strong love-bond gives it spiritual life and it has to be helped by its master; otherwise it may blend into a group of its kind and re-incarnate. (Philip to his mother, Alice Gilbert, in PTW, 144.)
[Jean II. Alice Gilbert’s third dog] ] is a very highly-developed dog-spirit. Hence you are right in not allowing too much excitement and racing with other dogs. A dog has to suffer like a human being if its soul is developing. It is constantly straining upwards to an owner who is sympathetic. Adapting itself, learning to understand language, living in communion with a more highly advanced being, it constantly has, like ourselves, to suppress animal instincts. … The dog is growing a spiritual ‘body.’ And a very noble soul it is at best, as you know. Your Jean is really trying to talk. I can read her doggy thoughts. The little noises she makes are a vague fumbling effort to imitate your speaking. (Philip to his mother, Alice Gilbert, in PTW, 170.)
Dogs – In Spirit
That is my dog [Frisker], my one faithful companion upon your earth. … He died while I was in France. I found him by accident soon after I came here. He recognized me and followed me. From that time all real loneliness has left me. (Private Thomas Dowding, PD, 66.)
Vicki and Molly are both together. They both are often in your garden and the both come into the house. They are still very close to the earth because you still think about them, talk about them, grieve over them, in a sense, and love them. This draws them back. They remain for quite some time in the identity that you knew them.
It is an interesting thing that dogs and cats here come to help their brethren who have been frightened, hurt, or tortured before death. Dogs, such as your Vicki or Molly, that have been secure, help the animals that are not. (A.D. Mattson, WOB, 84.)
Birds – In Spirit
The birds here are all very tame and friendly. There are no wild birds. The cats don’t prey on them, so they have no fear of anything. (Gordon Burdick in TR, 76.)
We hear birds singing wherever we go. If I happen to admire their song, they immediately respond to my thought; they will perch on my finger and show off their colors and their musical range! We never cease to marvel at the infinite variety of happiness on these planes, Dad. (Mike Swain to his father, Jasper, in FMW, 54.)
The Group Soul
It is perfectly true that all the dogs that we’ve had in our family I can find here – all of them. However, the dogs that I knew when I was a boy are no longer here. When I asked why, I was told that they have gone back to the group soul and have added their quota of affection, love, and devotion to be used again when other dogs come to earth. (A.D. Mattson, WOB, 84.)
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