By Linda Anderson
As a columnist for Eᴄᴋᴀɴᴋᴀʀ’s Animals Are Souls blog, I had the opportunity to be interviewed for an “Animal Writes” podcast on the Pet Life Radio network. It was delightful to talk with the podcast’s host, Tim Link, and his animal-loving audience. To listen to the podcast, click on any of the links at the end of this article.
Tim is an author who has been interviewed for national and local television and radio shows as well as newspaper and magazine articles. He closed our interview by saying, “I encourage everyone to go to the Animals Are Souls blog. Take a look at it. Learn a lot. Share your stories. Find other stories that relate to you and your spiritual path. It’s a wonderful, wonderful blog.”
Spiritual Questions about Animals in Our Lives
At one point in the interview we discussed the value of the Animals Are Soul blog during trying times. Tim said, “There’s always something going on in the world or with us individually. And when you go to the blog and read these stories, its message is what the animals bring that can heal and open your heart and help you realize you’re not alone in the world.”
Tim’s questions and comments during the interview included, “Do animals have Souls? Do animals live on? Do they have an afterlife?” He said the Animals Are Soul blog gives stories that make readers feel it’s all right to ask questions about things humans have a hard time talking about. Tim offered his experiences with the afterlife and animals and ways he’s comforted people who are going through pet loss.
I shared a story from the Animals Are Soul blog, “The Cat with a Heart,” by Bob Lawton. In the story, Bob recounts an experience with his cat, Shadow, who had recently died. He watched as Shadow’s cat body transformed into a small sphere of light. Later, he told his wife, “I saw the cat in the bedroom.” Then he had a dream in which Shadow communicated, “I’m coming back.” Bob asked in the dream, “How am I going to find you?” Bob’s remarkable account tells how spiritual dreams and inner guidance helped reunite the Lawton family with reincarnated Shadow.
The podcast’s comforting discussion about animals and the afterlife reminded me of “Do Animals Go to Heaven?” an article written by Sri Harold Klemp, the spiritual leader of Eᴄᴋᴀɴᴋᴀʀ and featured columnist for the Animals Are Soul blog. In the article, excerpted from the book Animals Are Soul Too! he says,
Many people love their pets very much and feel a deep sense of loss when they pass over.
And they often worry, Is that the end? Does my dear friend simply cease to be?
Soul is eternal. Soul lives on in the next world, just as It did in this one.
And, if it is right for that Soul, It can come back to earth in another body, sometimes to the same family It was with before.
Is God’s love even sufficient for animals? Yes, it very clearly is—at least, it is clear to those who have the eyes to see and the spiritual awareness to recognize this eternal truth.
You’re invited to enjoy the conversation in this inspiring “Animal Writes” podcast and share a link to it. The thirty-minute show is available on Pet Life Radio, Feedburner, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
I believe God put animals on earth to help us with dealing with life and to make us appreciate all animals and to love a d look out for them!! I love animals very Much at times I wish I didn’t because it hurts so much to see them suffer, I always will help them when I can! Thank you God for all the animals you put on this earth, I love them So Much
Our cat Charlie
died while I was in college.
He was always
there with me.
.I loved him so much. I will do.
The very next day I herd him meowing and
scratching at the bathroom door. It was as if he was telling me that he was leaving. I felt him there. I felt his love. I still miss and love.him. He helped me to get through college. God bless you Charley
I joined your blog from hearing Tim Link’s podcast. Tim has provided lost animal tracking, Reiki, and communication for me and the animals I love since 2009.
What a wonderful interview! Thank you for including the link so we could listen. I have so many animal stories with many different forms- cat, bird, bee, ferret, turtles, Eagles, bats, (in fact the bat experience was to remind me to write) – your interview and this blog has inspired me to put my attention on writing these stories! Each has lessons others may also benefit from. Thank you so much, Linda and Eckankar!
Thank you, Linda, for this great article! There is so much good information here! I am very grateful for ALL animals and the love and help they bring us. I’m also grateful for the writers who take the time to tell their stories. These animal stories always open my heart!