This past weekend I saw a screening of Walk with Me, a documentary about Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh. In the film, the master is referred to as a sort of Yoda, which speaks straight to my Star Wars-obsessed heart. I’ve never wanted Yoda’s wisdom more, though, than when in one scene a little girl says to the master, “I have a doggie. This doggie died. So I don’t know how to be not so sad.” I know, right?? (Bear with me—this post lightens up, I promise!)
In his reply to the little girl, Thich Nhat Hanh describes seeing a beautiful cloud in the sky, but then it rains, and you realize the cloud has become the rain. Then you see a cloud reflected in your tea, and you realize that cloud can turn up anywhere, that it’s always with you. (I’m paraphrasing, but you get the gist.)
We as humans are so attached to the physical world that it’s hard for us to imagine our animal is still with us after he’s passed. But in my experience as an animal communicator, I see this truth all the time. I remember my first clue came years ago, when I did a meditation that asked for a sign from a loved one on the other side. After I waited a whole minute for that sign, I decided I was bored and went to focus on something else (probably TV related). But just then I heard a strange noise in the kitchen…and discovered that the framed picture of my cat Coco, who had passed a few years before, had separated itself from its magnet and had dropped to the floor from my fridge. Whoa, I thought. Instant reply!
Right after my brother’s dog Edward passed, a small cat showed up on his porch. After a thorough search where no one claimed her, Midnight became a member of my brother’s family…and was actually exactly what they needed at the time. Did Edward send Midnight to that porch? You know I’m going to say yes—he at least gave her directions and the lowdown on what cool people they were.
It’s true, the loss of an animal is tremendously heart-breaking—we yearn for the padding of paws and licks on our faces. But the magic that happens after our animals are on the other side cannot be denied either. A cloud becomes rain, a cat tosses a picture, a dog sends a cat to your house.
It’s all about the magic. 🙌