I have always believed that we choose our lives before we come to earth in order to learn what we need to learn. It's one of the ways I make sense of seemingly pointless acts of violence against people, and how I can understand why some people experience such hardship during their lifetimes. What I can't understand is why or how animals would choose to live on earth and be so cruelly treated at times. Do you believe that animals make the choice to incarnate as we do? What are your spiritual beliefs about the role of animals here on earth and in the afterlife? Thanks for your insights into this subject.
Mary
Dreamchaser:
As you may know, I am a huge believer in the wisdom and power of animals both on the physical plane and in spiritual realms. At times, I learn from animals more easily than I learn from other humans.
Each animal has a specific trait that we can learn and adopt by observing and studying the animal itself. We do not have to have an actual live animal in our presence to learn from that animal, however - we can also read about the animal in books or on the internet.
Animals are also here on earth to just be our companions. To learn about loyalty and unconditional love, for example, someone could adopt a stray dog. Befriending a dog is probably the best way on earth to learn about those particular traits.
To learn about planning and providing for the future, one can watch a squirrel. Observe, for example, how the squirrel puts his stash in all kinds of different places - he does not just put it in one place. My Daddy always told me that the way to wealth was through diversification of income, which is something the squirrel seems to understand instinctively.
Animals also provide us with food and clothing at times. I think this is where most of your question comes into play. I too have often wondered why some animals are born just to be killed in order to provide for our needs.
Every soul has a unique path and lessons that need learning. Each soul will pick its own best way to learn a particular lesson, then it will plan an incarnation by finding a family, location, time, etc., that will best suit its needs.
Animals usually have very short life spans compared to humans. It seems to me that by incarnating as an animal, one might be able to very quickly learn some lessons or repay some karma. (I personally think that every animal chosen as a pet by a kid is here for a big lesson, as they will be sorely neglected.)
I believe there are times that certain animals choose to be with certain people. I am sure that my little black cat chose my son. He happened to see her being born through a window, and they have been fast friends ever since. I am sure her soul chose to come into that little black cat body.
I also feel humans and animals often both learn from each other, so they can have mutually beneficial relationships. Other times I think animals will come to us in service, or purely as teachers.
When I channel people who have passed over, I often see them with a favorite pet. The pet is still in the same form it had when it was last alive in the physical, at least as I am shown it.
So I do believe that animal souls choose to come here just like human souls do, according to a divine, natural order.
I wish you many amazing animal encounters.
*****
Astrea:
I don't believe animals share our level of conscious awareness, even though some seem to THINK they do. Ink, my black witch's cat, maintains that she not only knew where she would live and the people she would be with, but she planned all of this with me before either of us incarnated. We have an extraordinary bond; it does feel like we've been together many times.
Mars, my huge orange Tabby, thinks this is a wild, goofball idea that only humans could think up. "What would I have to learn?" he asked. "I know EVERYTHING! I know there is a rat I'm going to get one of these days when it cools off upstairs. I know what time breakfast is served. I can find the litter box when I feel like using it instead of the wall or your shoes. I was able to survive being abandoned, and wound up here in my own private palace. Why would I need more than the nine lives I have right here?"
When I asked Cody, my friend's horse, he said, "What you have me? Apple? Carrot? Nothing? Go 'way then." Since Cody wasn't interested in talking about your question, I'm thinking he is a one-timer. The other horses weren't interested in talking about it, either. (I find horses aren't big talkers - at least, not to me.)
As for dogs, I don't have one at the moment, and the two next door were busy when I asked them. Daisy, (a Labrador retriever) had a brand new set of wicker furniture to tear up and eat. "Incarnations? Aren't those the flowers I ate last week? Oh, those were Crosanthimumums! I'm too busy to talk to you now, come back after I eat that chair."
Madison, aka Mad Dog, was too busy barking at me to listen intelligently to ANY question. Madison is alone a lot, so when she gets any attention at all, she's usually too excited for deep conversation.
My friend Sue's dog, Max, was an exceptional individual. He promised her he would return in another body so that they could complete this life journey together. That was almost eight years ago, and he hasn't reappeared yet. Either he's happy in Heaven and waiting for her there, or he's as picky as he was in life, and can't find a puppy about to be born that he feels is "good enough" for his spirit.
My big Great Dane wasn't much for talk, but he was deeply emotional. I look for him in the eyes of every puppy I meet. Nothing yet. But I know from him that just like every human is unique, so is every animal.
Comet, the Inscrutable and Mighty Gray One, says that dogs incarnate one time to love us, so we have to enjoy them while they are here. Once we cross over, we're reunited with all our loved ones, including pets. They wait for us, and there is such great joy when we see each other again that all sadness is driven from us forever.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.