By Bob Lawton, Connecticut
My wife, Luanne, and I got our all-black cat Shadow when he was a kitten. After only eight short years, he started having problems that led to his passing. Luanne was devastated over the loss. What made it even more difficult was that Shadow’s death happened while I was out of town. We weren’t able to all be together when the time came for Shadow to leave us.
Soon after Shadow was gone, I lay in bed one night, when all of a sudden, I saw an image of him walking across the floor and heading toward the bed.
Yes, I saw the cat who had just died walk into the room and change from his cat body into a small sphere of light and then back into the form of a cat. I realized Shadow was still with us in spirit.
I said to Luanne, “I saw the cat in the bedroom.”
“Why can’t I see him?” she asked.
I wondered if my wife’s deep sadness might be a wall between her and Shadow that was too strong for him to break through.
Snuggling with Shadow
On the night after I saw Shadow’s light body, I suddenly felt two taps on the bed. Whenever Shadow wanted to sleep with us, he had this habit of tapping his paw twice on the side of our bed covers. I would lift up the comforter, and the cat would jump onto the bed and snuggle cozily on the blankets, covered by the comforter.
Half asleep, feeling the two taps, as usual, I automatically lifted up the comforter to make room for the cat. His spirit body followed through with our nightly ritual, and he walked over me to sink into his cozy place. I could actually feel the pressure of his form.
That night, I saw Shadow in my dream state. He said to me, “I’m coming back.”
How am I going to find you? I wondered.
A few days later, while I worked on my laptop, the photo of a little black kitten floated across the screen. The caption above the picture read, “Rescue Me.”
You’ve got to be kidding me, I thought. How is this possible?
I’d never had ads of any kind cross my computer screen. The photo and caption made me wonder if Shadow might be coming back to us as the kitten I’d seen in the ad.
That night, I did a spiritual exercise and contemplation. Inwardly I saw Shadow. “How will I know it’s you?” I asked him.
“You’ll know me by my heart,” he answered.
The next morning when I woke up, I could hear Shadow’s words like an echo: “You’ll know me by my heart.”
Another Message
The next day, I stopped at a grocery store and did some shopping. Afterward I was taking the grocery bags out of the cart and putting them into my car when inwardly I heard my spiritual guide, the Mᴀʜᴀɴᴛᴀ, say, “Pick up the grocery-store flyer in the bottom of the cart.”
I thought, I already have a flyer. I don’t need another one.
Again the inner voice said, “Pick up the flyer.”
Nope, I have one in my pocket and one at home. I don’t need another.
Loud and clear, the Inner Master said, “PICK UP THE FLYER.”
When I picked up the flyer, I saw a magazine under it. A full-size picture of a black cat’s face seemed to be looking up at me from the cover. Amazingly, this cat looked exactly like Shadow.
I threw the magazine onto my car seat and brought it home with the groceries. After putting the groceries away, I placed the magazine on my desk next to the laptop and turned on the computer. Again I saw the picture of a kitten across the screen with the caption “Rescue Me.”
I picked up the magazine and thought, How amazing. It’s as if someone took a picture of Shadow and put it on this magazine. Now looking at the kitten on my laptop, I wondered, Is this my message that Shadow is now back as the kitten on my screen? Then I randomly opened the magazine. On the page I turned to, there was a photo of a little black kitten next to the words “It’s me.”
“You have got to be kidding,” I said out loud.
I have to go see this kitten who keeps popping up on my laptop screen, I thought.
I contacted the woman who had placed the ad I saw on my computer and found out she lived in New Jersey. I live in Connecticut. Who would drive all the way to New Jersey to get a cat?
Well, with all the traffic it turned out to be a three-hour drive. But I finally arrived at the kitten’s home. I picked him up and turned him onto his back, holding him under the lamp so I could look into his eyes.
Wow! I felt an immediate connection. My heart was touched by the feeling of divine love that reached through the eyes of this little being—this beautiful little black kitten. I could feel the consciousness, the essence of that Soul we had called Shadow, now in this new little form. I had no doubt. I needed no further confirmation.
I said to the woman, “I’ll take him.”
She said, “How’d you like to take his sister too? They play so well together. She’s always right at his side. It’s like they’re joined at the hip.” Then she handed me a little black kitten who looked exactly like the one I’d come to meet.
So I drove back to Connecticut with two kittens.
When my wife came home from work, she was so excited to see these two adorable little fur-faces. I watched and felt her sadness melt away as her heart opened to our new kitties.
Of course, we named him Shadow. Luanne named his sister Jersey Girl.
Later that day, I was working in my home office when Luanne called to me and said, “You know, Shadow isn’t totally black. He has a birthmark. You gotta come see this.”
I went out to see what she was talking about and stood there, awestruck. In the middle of the kitten’s chest was a perfectly shaped white heart. I felt goosebumps as I remembered Shadow’s echo from my dream: “You’ll know me by my heart.”
When there’s that bond of divine love, our pets do sometimes come back to be with us again.
Proof Positive
Old Shadow had a favorite spot in our guest bedroom where he liked to curl up under the desk. One day Luanne was trying to find New Shadow, and I said, “Did you look under the desk?” Sure enough, that’s where she found him. He had returned not only to us but also to his best hiding place in our home.
Old Shadow had a favorite toy he would carry around the house. It was a four-inch-long, oblong piece of stiff-but-flexible black fur that looked like a tail. He’d walk with it in his mouth everywhere. It was easy to spot when he played with the black toy on our white carpet. After Shadow died, it was too painful to come across his special toy. So I gathered up all the cat toys, put them in a basket in the basement, and buried Shadow’s toy at the bottom of the basket.
When New Shadow was big enough to climb the stairs, he went down into the basement one day. After he came back up, Luanne said, “I don’t believe it.” I turned around to look. There sat Shadow at the top of the stairs with that favorite black fur toy in his mouth. He had dug through the entire basket to find it.
Now, every so often, while we’re getting ready for bed, we find a sweet present for us on one of our pillows. Just as he always used to do, Shadow has placed his favorite toy there. It’s as if once more he’s saying to us, “See, it’s really me.”
—Photos by Bob Lawton
A Contemplation Seed
By Harold Klemp, from Animals Are Souls Too!
Whether or not your philosophy or religion accepts Souls in forms other than the human is unimportant. If you can accept reincarnation and the fact that Soul takes on many different bodies—and some of these Souls are better vehicles for love than some people—you will find much joy and happiness in your own life. You’ll also find a greater understanding of God’s creation.
I am reading this again and love it more and more each time I read it. I love to share this article with friends who love their pets as family members.
Shadow the cat came back! Thank-You for this story. I recently lost a friendly community cat, and this story was healing.
I had a black cat (Smitty) and after he passed, I felt him walk on my bed, and heard him scratch the window screen.
My wife even saw his spirit body… She said he was now huge, like a black panther, on the other side!
Amazing story that gives hope to all of us who have lost a pet. I just put our beloved dog Summer down. It was so difficult, but I did the HU and asked Projapadi to help and It wasn’t as bad as I thought. Many people do not believe that animals have Souls??? I truly believe that Summer, as Soul was a high spiritual being considering the love that she gave to us. Hopefully we can see her again.
All sentient beings have souls – they feel pain just as we do & deserve respect, just as we do. I believe that any human who transgresses this & causes intentional pain will cause himself, or herself suffering in the afterlife. Sentient beings & Buddhism is a good start on the subject. I know that my long deceased furry friends are with me & feel their presence.
So I’m not the only one who went looking for the reincarnation of his cat and came home with two! I knew when I found my little Winnie again. He had his blue eyes right on me, and we have never looked back. The real surprise was not so much finding him (I promised him I would and I knew that if he wanted me to find him it would happen), but his sister Daisy. She is supervising me now as I write this comment, not wanting to be left out of such an important communication, I suppose. The smiles and expressions on my cats are enough to enliven any day. I have dropped cable television because who needs it with these characters? Winnie is my sidekick and follows me from room to room. Daisy is an explorer and a good student. I teach her things she needs to know, like not being able to jump through glass. And they are both filled with love. Thanks for this lovely story.
Bob and Luanne, I was so touched to read this story this morning… and it was so great to see photos of you both and your new Shadow with the Heart. I got goose bumps and misty eyed. A great read, Bob and a perfect quote from Sri Harold.
I love this wonderful amazing story Bob. So much love. You both deserve this love, you beautiful souls.
What a wonderful story. So well written. And yes they do come back
Love this story !!
Thank you for sharing. I have 2 older dogs and one that is so crippled he will be leaving soon. This gives me hope that I will see him again, for our love bond is strong.
After we our family cat translated after he became ill one night in the dream state I was in bed and he tried to jump up on the bed which I never allowed him to do. So not realizing I was seeing him again on the inner planes I told him to get off and stay on the floor. When I woke up I wished I had let him on the bed and cuddled him instead…. I did see that he is around us still and not truly far away.
Oh my goodness! I am in tears. How wonderful, awesome and beautiful! Thank you for sharing your story. My first time here and what a beautiful welcoming!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful testimony of Soul’s journey. My wife Lisa and I have experienced similar homecomings with our pets. We had the pleasure of having my childhood dog, Caset, return to me, as well as 2 of our Cats, Sally, and Cheetah.
How beautiful! It’s wonderful to know that the love bond between Souls keeps growing and expanding.
What a wonderful story, Bob. Our pets know when they are truly loved and you are a wise person to listen to your cat.
An amazing story of love finding a true resting place and a wise person who listened to his cat!
Bob you did it again! Awesome incredible story…never heard or saw anything like this. I am so happy that all 4 of you are together. This is truly the work of the Holy Spirit showing it’s beauty to help others understand that animals are Soul and reincarnate if they need to. My husband has passed and he said he would send hummingbirds to me to let me know of his presence. Yes they have appeared in special ways. In Shadow’s picture are the white lines that radiate from Shadow’s heart on his fur? Unbelievable!
Truly inspiring evidence that Soul never dies… thanks for sharing.
Home is where the heart is…or is it the other way around? How beautiful that Shadow knew where home is and showed you his heart! Shadow reminds me of our cat, Kiko, a gift of Love from our RESA Shirley. Kiko, too, showed us how Spirit works in our lives. Thank you for this beautiful love story,Bob and Luanne.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! It gives me hope. When the time comes for my dog “Doobie” to translate: I hope he’ll return too!
-Gigi
Thank you Bob for sharing your beautiful story. I like the part when you said, “Yes, I saw the cat who had just died walk into the room and change from his cat body into a small sphere of light and then back into the form of a cat. I realized Shadow was still with us in spirit.”
Seeing Shadow as “Soul” must’ve been a wonderful experience.
Astonishing story.. Thank you!!
Such a touching and beautiful story Bob! I love that you got many clues from Shadow, the hiding place, the white heart and all the rest. Beautiful!!
Thank you Bob, Luanne, New Shadow and Jersey Girl! And also to Terri O – those two passages jumped out in CAPs to me too.
WOW
I love when you can so clearly see the “tie in”.
Animals can have always been able to open my heart even when I thought my heart was permanently closed.
Thank you for sharing this heartwarming experience.
Beautiful story❣️ Thank you for sharing it.
The love I have for animals is the most blessed gift I have received I am so grateful , this love and caring is filled with pain and sadness , so much I have learned . Thank you Mahanta….
Encourages a rethink on What is Soul and What are the attributes of Soul? If animals are not Body and Soul then they are Body and What? If what owns and occupies the human body is Soul and if not true for animals then what owns and dwells in their own body?
Thanks for sharing. Yours is a teaching point.
Such a heartwarming, and beautifully reassuring story of Soul Love…thank you, dear Bob, Shadow, Luanne, and Jersey girl.
What a lovely story! I have an all black cat, too. We’ve had her from shortly after birth and she is so skittish. She has been shown only love and has never been mistreated by us. I wondered if she has negative Karma from a past life? I will love her all I can and hope it will help heal her.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. We should never question or doubt the miracles that the ECK and the Mahanta have in store for us.
Thanks for sharing this story and the pictures to go along with it. It made my day!
Sad and beautiful I like to think our fur baby s do send another little one to look out for us x
Thank you both for sharing this story. It is wonderful. I have had a wonderful rescue pup for a year now and I did the contemplation at the end of your story. I knew Oliver and I had a very special bond that I’ve wondered about but I was just given insight into one of our past lives together. The bond now has just strengthened and grown. Thank you. May the Blessings Be.
Thank you for sharing this Love knows no boundaries story.
Thank you so much BOB for this beautiful story you share with us all! I´ve had similar experiences. They taught me that love is stronger than anything else in the world. Have much joy with your lovely cats! Elizabeth, Germany
So beautiful to hear how our beloved pets return to us.
Really great story, thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful heartwarming story. In particular two statements stood out to me. First, “I wondered if my wife’s deep sadness might be a wall between her and Shadow that was too strong for him to break through.” This statement made me contemplate how deep sadness may keep us from gifts sent to heal our hearts. I will use this for further contemplation. And:
“You will know me by my heart.” I love this as a guidepost for recognizing new, true love.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience!
What a beautiful story, with so many fascinating details! Thank you for sharing it.
Bob and Luanne, Love always finds Its own 🙂
These stories are so wonderful… Bob, thank you for posting the pictures too!! What a great way to share the love of God in action
Thank you for sharing this heart-warming story, Bob. It’s so amazing how with ECKANKAR the wonders and surprises keep happening to open the heart more and more.
Thank you Bob for sharing your beautiful story. Animals are indeed Souls too. This blog is sure amazing!
I am crying because I know exactly what you went through. MTBB.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. Comet our dog is in our family for a third time. So grateful, Soul to Soul, all three times he was a rescue dog. The love we share is beautiful.
Such a lovely story! I could have love this cat too!
Thank you Bob! : – )
AMAZING!! THANKS so much!!
Truly amazing story! This made my day! After reading this story,my longing for a pet has increased manifolds. I just hope and trust that Mahanta will help me find the right pet for me to share and learn divine love. Thanks Bob for sharing this beautiful heart touching story!
This story gives me chills. A true example of the power of Divine Love in action. Yes, Animals are Soul, and, yes, they will return to us if permitted. Thank you!
Animals have such a wonderful talent for getting past our mental barriers and into our hearts.
What a beautiful story of love from our furry friends, Bob and Luanne. Heart to heart. The quote from Animals are Soul Too! is a perfect companion. Love the pics. Thanks so much for the new blog. I’m going to love this!
Lovely story. I have had several experiences much like this one with my cats as well. They really help with dealing with and understanding our pet’s loss. Thank you.