Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
ANATOLE FRANCE
What is it about the unconditional love that we get from certain animals, that give us cause for our souls to awaken?
Is it the way that they look at you when you do something for them or when you are affectionate with them?
Is it the joy that they express when you are conscious of them and around them for them to delight in your presence?
Is it the bond that comes from being a caretaker for another living being?
The magic that arises from the loving connectivity with an animal is indescribable in words. It truly is one of those things that must be felt, first person, to be understood and appreciated. The tender look in their eyes, the wag of the tail, the rituals and dances they go through to express their delight in your attention. Each of these details paint an exquisite appreciation for a love that is for life and a bond that continues long past the life span.
Losing a relationship with such a being is devastating in ways that we would not imagine. Finding oneself at the point of being caretaker and knowing it is time to assist that being that you love with everything you’ve got, to pass on to the next dimension is about as excruciating as you can imagine. In that God-like moment, we are immersed in the absolute nature of life’s full spectrum. The knowledge that you are doing what is best for them, and at the same time, cleaving a portion of your own soul in the process.
The entire dynamic of love, responsibility, dependence, mutual desire and overall joy that comes with a connection to an animal, truly is a key portion of life’s E Ticket (ancient Disneyland reference) experiences. In this step of our personal evolution, in our first human/animal bond, we are jettisoned into new, unfamiliar terrain. The highs take us into fresh new territory, as do the moments of frustration and sadness.
I used to wonder how the first domestications of wild animals would have happened. But as social media and other resources have brought us continuous stories of unlikely friends, like one I saw the other day about a jaguar and a Rottweiler, or one of my favorites about a bear, lion and tiger, I have come to the conclusion that when two species are able to meet on a common turf of mutual love, the rest just sorts itself out.
Happy Saturday!
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