Reincarnating Pets

Do animals retain memories of past lives?

Animals have past lives, as do humans. I don’t believe they are any more aware of them in a conscious way than we are. But I do believe they are influenced by them in this current lifetime, as we are. I have accessed past lives of animals which helped the person understand current life issues. I accessed one of my Weimaraner companions that helped me understand the basis for his health issues.

Regarding souls of humans and non-humans who have been here or elsewhere (this is a very large Universe!) over many lives, being an old soul doesn’t mean they don’t still have lessons to learn with every reincarnation. Before it incarnates, the soul chooses the environment, parents, situations, etc. which it wants to experience, and the lessons it wants to learn. The soul does this for each lifetime in its progression up the ladder of enlightenment. Eventually the soul reaches a stage of enlightenment where it no longer reincarnates in the physical world; instead, learning continues at another level (fifth dimension and higher).

From what I have heard, some animals seem very aware of their past lives while others don't, why is that? Is it that their soul is more evolved? I have found when working with animals that the degree to which their person is open to past lives, metaphysical and spiritual matters, etc. dictates to some extent the level and types of that kind of information coming through from the animal. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, of course. It also seems to be influenced by the animal’s persona (not their Higher Self, but their physical ego/personality). I’m an empath (I pick up the emotions, habits, mannerisms, and personalities of others), so oftentimes I have an intuitive feel for the personality of the person, and I sense what they’re able to handle. Sometimes I think the person might doubt the information that came through. It may not be what they were looking for or expecting, or they’re not ready or open to that type of information. I have to trust that the information came through for a reason, and I relay it as is, with the understanding that it is being offered by the animal for a reason. If I am working with a specific physical issue, such as an animal’s hip pain or heart condition, then the session tends to stay in a current, grounded mode, rather than opening up to a more metaphysical perspective. The tone of the session is also determined by the questions the person wants me to ask.

Remembering past lives is the same for them as for us �?they can be accessed through regression for many people, or in some cases spontaneous remembrances, knowings or visions. In a regression you’re working with the Higher Self/soul or subconsciousness directly and bypassing the ego/personality of this lifetime. That’s why sometimes the information coming through in a session doesn’t match the animal’s personality as the caretaker knows it. The Higher Self/soul is more without personality, it is pure consciousness/divine energy and wisdom, a part of the One Source and connected to all, although distinct and unique in itself. Most sessions are a blend of the Higher Self and the ego/personality working together to convey information to me for their person.

When they remember their past lives, is it because they are holding on to them for some reason, good or bad? Animals, like us, don't walk around thinking about past lives -- being in the present moment is their biggest focus. Remembering doesn’t mean it’s for a good/bad reason �?it simply is. I remember past lives �?I don’t dwell on them, but I do understand how some of them have had an impact on my current life. Learning about them has helped me make sense of some things that I could not otherwise explain/resolve/understand. If I were to work strictly with the animal’s personality vs. Higher Self, then I think it would be difficult to access information that comes from another lifetime or existence.

Do you think animals operate simultaneously on different levels, like our subconscious, conscious and superconscious states, and in different dimensions? Watch how cats will stare around them, look up at the wall, the ceiling, then suddenly their eyes and head will zip to the left, dart back up . . . dogs and other animals do this too. I have no doubt they see into dimensions we do not because we are taught at a young age to shut that down. It is possible to see auras around living things (people, plants, trees, even rocks) �?so I can definitely believe animals see things we don’t with our physical eyes. Therefore I believe they can function in other realms and levels, as well as perform healing work on other levels �?much as we use Reiki and other energy work here.

I've had enough personal experiences with investigating this area that it absolutely resonates as true for me.

Kathleen A. ("Kat") Berard
Animal Communicator (Pet Psychic), Bach Flower Essences Practitioner, Wild Earth Animal Essences Practitioner, and Holistic Care Consultant
www.katberard.com/Default.htm

It is always sad when a beloved animal family member leaves their body and goes into spirit. We call this death, but truly, no one dies. The physical body drops away as the spirit separates from it and goes into another dimension. The spirit is the being that we truly love, although we may be attached to the physical aspect that we associated with that being. Since we are still in physical, we often miss the sight, touch and smell of our friend and we grieve this loss, which is appropriate.

As an Animal Communicator, I frequently speak with clients and their animals who have passed into spirit. When the animal tells me they want to return it leads to discussions about what form they plan to take and when they might come. Sometimes animals tell me that they "try out" different forms while still in spirit. At other times, they already have decided or know exactly what form they want, down to sex, size and color of the body.

Humans always want to know how they will recognize their beloved friend upon their return and how they will be able to find them. The replies are fairly consistent. "You will recognize my energy." "Look into my eyes and you will know me." "This is a time for you to learn to trust your intuition."

One of my clients, who had two dogs, was sad to realize that the older dog, Chanel, a white German Shepard female, was getting ready to pass into spirit. I spoke telepathically with Chanel prior to her leaving, and again, after she had completed her spiritual transition work. In a series of conversations with Chanel in spirit, she explained that she wanted to return to her family. She was very specific, saying she wanted to be a white German Shepard female once more, perhaps a bit smaller in size. She said she would return in the New England area, where her family lived, and would be born around April 1, 2002.

Her person wrote, "White German Shepherds are fairly rare. However, that June, after much searching and networking, a friend of a friend told us of a white, female German Shepherd in Manchester, Connecticut, born on April 1. She warned us that this dog wasn't very friendly or social with anyone. We immediately visited the puppy. Everyone was amazed how she came right to us, sat down and gave me her paw!"

My client e-mailed some photos of the puppy to me, and in a telepathic session, she claimed to be Chanel. It certainly sounded and felt like Chanel to me, and my client also sensed it was her friend. She named the dog Lily, and brought her home on June 10, 2002. My client wrote, "It was amazing how she knew where everything was and, although we were told that she was not housetrained, we did not have to do anything in that regard. Lily had only one accident and was instantly going to the door to ask to go out--the same door Chanel used to go to! Finding Lily and knowing she is also Chanel has been a wonderful experience for our family. We feel blessed to have gotten our Chanel back in the form of another loving and beautiful canine."

Not every return to the physical plane takes places so quickly. Animals from our childhood may return when we are adults. Sometimes they come many times in our same lifetime, and other times they come once and then not again until we experience a different life. One of my cats, Violet, has been with me three previous times in my current lifetime, each time as a cat. You can read the story of Violet's most recent return at www.raysofhealinglight.com (click on Nedda Wittels, and then click on Violet Returns).

The important thing to remember is that we are never truly separated from the ones we love. We can speak to them while they are in spirit. Many of them visit us after they pass over. At other times, they may choose to return to us in physical.

One cat already in spirit was clear that she planned to return soon. "I want to be a dog this time," she told her family. The cat wanted to be a small, white, and lap size. The family was more interested in a larger type of dog. They compromised, agreeing on a nearly white Golden Retriever. When the family found her, they were so certain it was she that they never even asked me to speak with her to be sure.

Compromises of this type are not always possible. Types of bodies, sex, and colors, and possibly other details of appearance and genetics have different vibrations. The being who is returning has specific life experiences and lessons they may be planning to incorporate into their next lifetime. Sometimes they simply prefer a particular form or color. It is up to spirit to make these determinations. It is not up to us to try to control the process and the form the animal is choosing.

Another cat I spoke with didn't ever purr, according to her family. They wanted to know why she would make growling sounds whenever they stroked her, yet didn't move away or try to scratch or bite them. The cat explained that she had never been a cat before and was very experienced at being a dog. She said she didn't know how to purr, and was trying to imitate the sound. What came out sounded like a growl.

Experience has taught me that our job is to allow the returning being into our lives with love and acceptance. It is not our job to orchestrate all the details. Most returning spirits give us just enough information to get us to search for them. We are encouraged to strengthen our intuition and to learn to recognize them by their energy, their spirit. Then, when we welcome them with open arms and hearts, we experience the miracle of their return.

Rev. Nedda Wittels, M.A., M.S., is a telepathic Animal Communicator, Spiritual Counselor, and Shamballa Master/Teacher, offering private sessions in communication and healing for humans and animals. She teaches workshops in Animal Communication, Communication with Nature, and Shamballa Multidimensional Healing. She can be reached at 860.651.5771, [email protected], and www.raysofhealinglight.com