the rainbow bridge: a spiritual question

[Tiki]

It wouldn't be a heaven without my beloved birds who passed on there to greet me. Whether or not I make it there myself is beside the point! I think that animals have more soul than the majority of humans, you never see animals being mean or cruel to each other just for fun. I do see a soul in my birds' eyes, how could you not?

[Skyebirdsmom]

YES, YES YES YES YES....animals most definitely DO have souls...do you think God in His wisdom could make something like a bird, or a majestic horse without giving them souls? I like you was raised Catholic, was baptised Southern Baptist and now enjoy my own kind of 'religion' since none of the typical religions suited me. Anyway, there is no doubt in my mind that animals have souls...just look into those eyes and tell me you don't see a soul in there!
Now there is also a book I read called "The Souls of Animals" by Gary Kowalski, and it's wonderful. Will answer all of your questions. But follow your heart, you KNOW there are souls in those precious bodies! The body is only transitional, but souls are forever.
Hugs,
Linda & Skye~

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

This subject is a hard one on me. I lost my boy a bit more than 2.5 years ago, tho, it still hurts like yesterday. Many things I have read have helped me with his passing . I even went to see a psychic (which I dont really believe in, but my friend took me) because I was confused on things that were happening around me. I wrote notes about wheat the psychic said, but never really shared them for the fear people would think I was completely nuts.
This "writing" helped me alot. It might also answer your Questions. ITs called "Untill we meet again".........I dont know who wrote it.


I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you cannot see me with your human eyes, cannot feel me with your hands or hold me in your arms, you think I am gone forever. You recall how I looked when I left this earth and you cannot remotely imagine that I am alive in another place. You are racked and torn by the pain of our separation and it blinds you to that which is right in front of you...me.
How many times since I left your immediate sight have you been told that I'm dead and you should "get over it"? How many times have you cried yourself to sleep because you feel like an outcast, believing you're supposed to get over me because that's what people say is normal but somehow you can't and no one seems to understand? How many times have you put yourself through such excruciating pain because you aren't willing to consider that I am not, by any means, dead?
I want you to do me a favor and go back in time with me. Remember the glorious day you brought me home - was I not the most intriguing creature you'd ever met? Did I not make you laugh and giggle? Did I not look at you with such adoration that you wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of your life with me? I wanted this too.
Remember the days when I was in my prime and we did many things together. You were so proud of me! I was a good friend and I took care of you when you cried, were angry or felt down and unhappy. When you didn't have a lot of time for me because of your obligations, I waited patiently for you. I was always there when you needed me. Did I not look at you with such acceptance and patience that perhaps at times you felt a bit unworthy? You were never unworthy in my eyes.
Remember when age crept up on me, my wings became stiff and my movements slower. Still I called to you when came home and followed you around. We'd been together for so long, I was your very best friend regardless of what you were doing, saying and thinking. Did I not look at you with such kindness and understanding that you felt overwhelmed? I couldn't get enough of you.
Remember the last time we saw each other with earthly eyes. You tried to be brave but I knew you were crying...I know you so well, better than anyone else in the world. Did I not look at you with such pure trust and love that you yearned only to hold me close and keep me with you always? Did you not promise that you would love me forever? I believed you.
If this is so then why have you let me go by thinking I no longer exist?
Remember the depth of love in my eyes when I looked at you. Who created this love? Would the Creator diminish the song of our laughter that grew and flourished in this love? I am no longer an earthly figure, this is true. My body was only part of who I really am and it would have been but a mere shell on earth if it were not filled to overflowing with my soul, my spirit and my loving light. When we met you thought I was cute, pretty and adorable. What kind of relationship would we have had if this were all that I'd been? How could you have loved me if I'd had no spiritual substance?
We are all made up of energy that resides far deep down inside of us, it is our core and our soul, spirit and loving light. It is the energy that is all of life...it has no beginning, it has no end. It simply is and always will be and without it there is no life. You can't see it with the naked eye nor can you hold it in your hand, it is simply a certain knowing that this energy does exist. It's a knowing just as you know that our love existed on earth - you couldn't see our love in a solid sense, you couldn't gather it all up and confine it to one place. But you *knew* it existed. There was no doubt in your mind.
There are those who demand you get over me, insisting that I'm dead and you'll never see me again because birds don't go to Heaven. Oh really? I'm here to tell you different. You were as worthy of my love and undying devotion on earth as I was of yours. Do you really believe this love would be snatched from us *forever* by a loving Creator simply because I wasn't human? Was I not a living, breathing creation with personality? How could I have been so if I didn't possess the energy of soul, spirit and loving light? And if this energy is and always will be, then how can it be that I am dead? If my core is not the energy that is all of life then I was never alive to begin with. But you know better.
You cry because you miss me, this I understand. I miss you too - I miss the tickles, hugs and kisses that we shared. But life does go on beyond these wonderful, fulfilling physical connections. I came to this place to continue on in a new life, not because I didn't love you anymore or because I wanted something better. I came here because it was time for me to go to the next phase of my existence, something all living creatures must do eventually. It is the normal progression of life. I was not taken away from you because you cannot take away that which was never owned. My presence in your life was and is a gift to be cherished and honored just as I cherish and honor you.
Life is not simply about being born into a body, living a certain number of years and then dying. Energy cannot die. We are blessed with time in a body so that we can learn, share and grow. It prepares us for the next phase of our eternal life. The body holds within it the true life force of our existence...our soul, spirit and loving light. Without these our bodies would be empty, blank, void of feeling and expression. Without our energy we would indeed be dead and could never have experienced our love for each other.
You say that all you have left are memories but this is not so. You see, when I took leave of my earthly body I left a little something behind for you. You can't touch it, hold it or examine it, for what I left behind is far too uninhibited for confinement. I left in your tender care a piece of my soul. I placed it right next to your own which is quite fitting as we were always side by side in our earthly life together. I love you too much to have left you with nothing but memories that tend to fade and grow cloudy as the years go by. I love you too much to have vanished without a trace. How selfish it would be of me to remove love and light from your life.
I understand your tears, each one you shed is testament to your love for me and I am honored and humbled. But don't forget the good things we shared - remember and smile. This is an honor for me as well. When you need me I will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep breaths and picture me in your mind. Shut off the world and your notions of what you think death is and give me a chance. Look for the subtle signs I send you. Don't stop being proud of me, I am a friend to be proud of, I am still your friend and part of your life. Don't memorialize the death of my body but instead honor and celebrate my never-ending life for it is eternal and forever as is my love for you.
Until we meet again...

That is beautiful and is exactly my philosophy on life, all life. It doesn't make it hurt less, but it's comforting to know they are still with us.
Hugs,
Linda & Skye~

[Beaks]

Yes animals have a soul.

How could anyone even think for one minute that they don't

If i died today and found out that my birds were not allowed into heaven or wherever your life force goes after death i would not go even if it meant spending eternity in hell or whatever.

If life after death means that you have to give up what/who you love then i don't want any part of it, i would just as well not continue living.

After all what would be the point?

John

[LMPego]

I think animals have a pure soul that is closer to what God intended. Animals do not envy or hate. I saw this quote the other day and I think it's totally true: "I found God in the steady gaze of my parrot."

[ammiyisrael]

I agree 100 % on this statement. I am a Torah follower as well. I guess the main question is: Do you believe in the "BIBLE"? Being raised Catholic tells me that you have been taught to believe in it. (On my personal note, I do not believe they teach the "Bible" in it's complete understanding... To do so, one must go back to it's original understanding.. Things have gotten so outta whack because people put opinions instead of fact into their belief.) If you believe the "Bible" to be true then you can rest assured that the answeres are in it. I " quote " the word Bible because it is the english version of the facts. (Torah) is the Hebrew word that was translated to "Bible" even though there is more to that as well and I am not writing to give you a study lesson. I guess what I am saying is that if you believe the "Bible" to be true, then the answeres are in it. And the quote from Yehudasf is correct. I also know that Hebrew words have been used so maybe you did not understand all the words that were used. However, They were all on a possitive not to the Almighty. I also agree with all the other people who have written here. Even non believers can see the spark of life in an animal. For them to say that they have no soul tells me that they do not know, or they choose not to accept what a "soul" is. Our Great Creator, created in LOVE. With Love He created the birds of the air. In the end, Sin will be destroyed.... What sin has a bird done? How you feel is not what matters (in the sense) that truth is truth even over feelings. I am trying to say all this without going into a lot of things that would take me forever to explain but am not going about it as well as I would of liked to, so I think I should stop before someone kicks me off of here. ((Pause)) Said a quick prayer I pray that you have peace in your heart from truth that all will be well.

Originally Posted by yehudasf

BS"D

Torah HaKodesh is very clear that all animal life (including we humans )is ensouled (en·soul (ĕn-sōl') pronunciation also in·soul (ĭn-)tr.v., -souled, -soul·ing, -souls. 1. To endow with a soul.2. To place, receive, or cherish in the soul.). Meaning, in the most basic sense, that all have an eternal, immortal essence that continues from the time of each individual's cherished creation by Hashem Ha Kodesh Baruchu, unto all eternity. It is this principle (among others that form the Theological basis for reincarnation found in the sacred texts of the Zohar & Qabballah. The nefesh, or "animal soul" is the perfect, natural being without guile, guilt, or shame. Only in we humans do our actions bring such weights unto it. In our creature companions in this creation, this soul is never smirched, nor in any way corrupted. They live their lives' in total obedience to Hashem who created them. None should doubt that they continue on even as we, who so often would aggreive Hashem Ha Kodesh Baruchu, do. On the day of full redemption & physical resurrection I fully expect to be joined by those creatures with whom I was priveleged to share my mortal sojourn, only then there will be no pain, nor loss, nor tears. All sorrows forgotten, all wounds bound up. Those called "dumb" animals will be so no longer & joy shall be the greater for it.

[kathleen]

I hope that I could be honest here because I don't believe in "GOD" per se but I do believe in spirituality. I also believe there is no truth. I believe in perception because someone may perceive that birds are ugly and annoying but I perceive that birds are beautiful fun creatures. What's true? Your beliefs are your beliefs such as your feelings are your feelings. No one can say you don't hurt when you do and they can't say you don't believe when you do. Therefore, if YOU believe in souls then, souls exist.

[lyoness]

Wow...
Where do I start?
First of all, Lisa, that was beautiful. I got misty-eyed. Thank you for sharing.
Secondly, I didn't mean to offend by asking if animals have a soul. Several of you seemed taken aback at the question, but you must understand that I was raised very strangely in my old catholic school. I remember a priest telling me animals didn't have souls even when my mom told me that her beloved deceased dog would be there in heaven with her. I also remember this same priest telling me that my father was going to hell because he was episcapalion. I don't doubt that this iron fist form of teaching children is the reason why I have so many philisophical questions today. Thank you all who replied, you really have given me a new perspective and helped clear the confusion. I always wanted to believe animals had souls but the voices of authority in my life told me different, which raised quite a bit of spiritual confusion: instincts vs. teachings, so to speak.
Thank you again. Each one of you has been a tremendous help.

-F. Lyon

[Doug W]

I am in tears over yehudasf's post. His words speak volumes.

Animals do have Souls (period).

[Zanzi's Mom]

That post choked me up so bad I am crying now. So beautiful, touching and true. Thank you.........