By Linda Wilken, Oregon
I’d been a cat person from the get-go. I just came into this life totally relating to and loving cats. It wasn’t that I didn’t like dogs; it was just that I felt deeply and totally comfortable in the world of cats. By contrast, dogs—while likable—just seemed to have come from a completely different planet.
Then I had an awakening.
At the end of a long workday, I was in the transportation area of an airport, waiting for my ride to a hotel. A van slowed in front of me, passing slowly to park at the curb a couple of car lengths away. It wasn’t my ride but caught my attention for some reason. As soon as it stopped, several people jumped out and gathered at the back of the vehicle. When they opened the back doors, a flurry of dogs, brimming with excitement, bounded to the concrete and paired up with the people from the van.
The distinctive vests on the dogs indicated they were service animals. I suspected that these dogs had just graduated from service training and were being hand-delivered to points across the country. I’d encountered service dogs before, but never in a large group. Strangely, it seemed time stood still and I was suddenly struck by their profound mission and purpose.
Without warning, my heart burst wide open, and tears streamed down my cheeks. I realized that these dogs—these precious Souls—were voluntarily giving their entire lives over in service to other Souls in need. To humans, no less. What compassion! Not quite knowing why, I quietly cried all the way to the hotel. Since then, every time I encounter a service dog in action, I inwardly send a silent thank-you to each one, an expression of gratitude and recognition for the selfless service they give.
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Contemplation Seed
You are invited to reflect on the spiritual messages in this story by contemplating on this passage from Animals Are Souls Too!, by Harold Klemp:
Cats and Dogs
Cats need a lot of freedom. They know it, and they demand it. Being self-centered and having a lot of opinions, cats enjoy things a certain way. They like to run the household. . . .
Spiritually if you want to have a role model and don’t want to look to other people or a Master, look to dogs. Dogs have a good relationship with life, generally.
Dogs are coworkers. They say, “What can I do for you? Bring your slippers? You don’t want the paper? I’ll get it anyway.”
Dogs are more like what we work toward in Eᴄᴋᴀɴᴋᴀʀ.
One day people will become Coworkers with God after they have had all the experience. Dogs are there already.
My account of the differences between cats and dogs is a bit tongue-in-cheek. But the point I am making is very simple: Animals are Souls too. Every variety of pet—cat, dog, or whatever—is an embodiment of Soul, just like you and me.
Each is individual and each can act as a channel or an instrument for divine love.
Thank you for your stories on this blog
Im taking the Animals are Soul cards to local animals shelters & groomers
& asking them to share with who is interested. Im sure they have great stories as I heard this day
As i dropped off the cards to this groomers shop
A female was picking up her dog She had recently adopted the dog it was from Iran. She joked the Dog didnt know English yet so she was working in it. I was glad to have gotten the cards from the recent seminar. Lots of animals rescue stories out there
Even animals from Iran are being helped by American families
What a wonderful loving service you are providing, Kelli. Thank you for all that you’re doing.
Thank you Linda! You inspired me to tell others of my “soul mate” cat, Talli. I haven’t been able to grieve as I feel somehow guilty. Thank you for your gift!
They you for this spiritual conscious opening! It made me réalise that if you move the letters of DOG around you can see GOD.
I didn’t grow up with dogs and have had some troubled relationships with a couple. But My son got a dog and it was an immediate love bond; he came up to me and greeted me whenever I visited. She would always want to snuggle and not feel left out. Also, when I met my sister-in-laws outdoor big dog we stared into each others eyes and we had an immediate connection. Once he got into trouble nosing around where he shouldn’t have. Just a few words about this behavior not being a good thing and one look told him what I was saying. He understood immediately, and ceased his unwanted behavior. He has also shown me much love and compassion when my Dad translated telling me everything would be okay. What blessings!
Blessings, indeed. Thanks for sharing, Susan.
It is so funny that I should read this today’
I am a ” cat person” also even though I love dogs equally. It is just simpler for me to care for cats under my circumstances.
I just recently lost my best friend Buddy who had been with me for sixteen years.
The grief has been almost overwhelming.
Last night I dreamt that I was working at this hospital in a very dark place and time.
A bunch of dogs had gotten out and I was sent to fetch them.
I found them wandering in the city street. The leader, a big back and white dog, followed me easily back as did his “troupe”.
I wondered if maybe what I need now is another dog.
Then here is this beautiful story waiting for me.
Thank you SO much!!
Thank you, Bernice. I’m holding you and Buddy in my heart – sixteen years together is such a gift of shared love. May the Blessings Be as you move forward.
Hello, Bernice
I have always loved dogs and cats. I lost my little dog at 18 after I administered Hospice care for him for about 3 years. The day I got his cremains returned, I learned that my “soul” cat was seriously ill with suspected liver cancer. We had known each other many lifetimes. My cat, Talli, was the one to remind me. My heart would ache when I couldn’t find her and I imagined her missing. This was new to me. A few years later, she took my face in her paw and I felt the command, “Remember”. A flood of past lives came to me and I saw (on the inner), a rusted chainmail disintegrate and fall off my heart. She nursed me when I was ill; wouldn’t leave me. Then I provided Hospice care for her and it took every thing I could muster. I have not been able to grieve as I feel I didn’t do all I could and blamed myself. I submit this now in the hopes it might help us and others. She almost made it to 18.
I loved your story and it brought tears of joy to my heart. I have learned the art of service myself from my very small dog who as it turns out is in service to God on my behalf. Because of her I have slowly learned how to better serve with unconditional love. She’s a small dog, but at a time when my heat needed to be opened further due to events in my life that kind of close that door, she was gifted to me and has become a Service Animal for me in turn.
Animals are incredible coworkers with God!!!
Thank you, LCA. What a gift your small dog has been and continues to be in your life! I’m so glad for you!
It’s a very beautiful store. I am very found of dogs and cats as well.
Thanks for compartir.
Thank you, Passet. It would seem that animals help so many of us to open our hearts.
Beautiful story Linda and favourite quote Sri Harold 🙂
I love the photo too – the Golden Retriever called my name and got my attention…..as a Golden Retriever will always do! 🙂
Thankyou.
Thanks, Suzanne! We have the wonderful team from the Animals Are Soul, Too blog to thank for the quote and the picture. It all fit together so perfectly.
Talk about a change in consciousness, Linda – Wow! Thanks for sharing! A beautiful story and I appreciate that silent gratitude touches other dogs that you meet. You know what dog spelled backwards is, right?
Thanks, Mary Jane. It would seem that no matter whether you spell it forwards, backwards, up, down, or sideways, a dog’s gift of love and service will shine through. (And this is a definition of palindrome from dictionary.com: Biochemistry. a region of DNA in which the sequence of nucleotides is identical with an inverted sequence in the complementary strand.) That definition takes “dog spelled backwards” to a whole different level! It makes you wonder . . .
All animals are a true blessing.
I agree, Michael. And we are so blessed that they share the planet with us.
“I realized that these dogs—these precious Souls—were voluntarily giving their entire lives over in service to other Souls in need. To humans, no less.” This insight was a gift to me. Thank you, Linda.
Thank you so much, Henry.
I am also a cat person and to me, cats is like the Mahanta. They will not interfere with your life (decisions) but will give you a nudge in the direction that you spiritually need. You need develop a deep bond with the cat to be able to understand what their nudge means. The bond is developed by unconditional love. May the blessings be
dear Linda ,I once helped a cat and since then all the cats behave like they know that. For examöle are they often telling me all their sorrows, at least it sounds like that. Dogs are different. They often let them touch from the person in the room who needs it most . So they give love by letting them give love. Thank you for the story
Hi Erika. Sometimes it seems that animals have an inner communication network. Your experience with cats (and with dogs) would seem to reflect that for you, personally. Thank you for your loving comments.
I love this story. Animals give so much love and service, and it’s a joy to see them in action.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Dana. It’s heartening to know how much you appreciate animals.
My husband’s service dog became ill with a quickly progressing condition and translated. He did, in fact, spend his entire life in service to my husband. We thanked him before he translated. The love bond between animals and humans is something really special. Pet your dog (or other species) in remembrance of Ben, not just a service dog, but a wonderful and beloved friend. We did see him with Prajapati (the ECK Master who works with animals) so we know he is ok on the inner, and we have seen him on the inner since.
How wonderful that you have seen Ben on the inner, Joy! It sounds as if he was such a gift to your family.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Dogs and cats go straight to my heart. When I see someone walking a dog, I inwardly say, May the blessings be. When I see a cat in its happy home, I am filled with gratitude and inwardly say thank you, may the blessings be, and when I see an ad where a dog went missing from its home, I inwardly say, may the blessings be.
Such love comes from your heart to the dogs and cats, Judy. Thank you!
Thank you for reading the article, Jan. It warms my heart that you enjoyed it.
What a beautiful gift Linda to see those service animal souls on their mission! A mission of love! Giving and receiving love that’s what it’s all about! Thanks for sharing!
It was a life-changing moment, Anna. Thank you for commenting!
Ces animaux sont disponibles pour servir toute vie. Quel bel exemple à imiter. Merci Mahanta.
Merci à vous de même, Andre.
What an amazing experience! I have a beautiful collie named Phinny and three lovely cats. All of them have their own personalities and are all Soul. Thank you for sharing for experience ❤️✨
Please say hello to Phinny and your three lovely cats, beautiful Souls that they are. Thank you, Kim.
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
I love service dogs, too. Once in a grocery shopping and minding my own business, a service dog passed behind me. I heard it in my inner ear say, “Hi Carol.” I was blown away!! Thanks for sharing this joyful animal story, Linda. Your experience must have been so awesome at that time… I think many of us can relate to your loving “tale.”
Thanks so much, Carol. That’s awesome that the service dog you encountered spoke to you inwardly. Dogs definitely have a special role on the planet!