More than love behind those eyes: Do animals have spirits?
Sharon K. West
July 14, 2009
Defining "soul" as encompassing the intellect, emotions and will, we know that a pet dog or cat has a soul. We can teach them tricks, experience their strong wills, and feel the love behind their eyes. But does an animal have a spirit?
A spirit provides humans with self-awareness as well as the possibility for varying degrees of consciousness in the spiritual dimension. Humans are very spiritual creatures. Although the spiritual dimension takes up no space, I believe we can use the illustration that a spirit does for the human consciousness what the third dimension does for two dimensional "flatlanders." We dwell in the realm of the physical and the spiritual at the same time because we have a spirit and a body with the added element of a soul which interacts with both the spirit and body. Humans are actually spirits having a physical experience, our bodies functioning much like space suits in the physical dimension. We can perceive what is "soulish," when the soul is in control of the body and what is "spiritual," when the spirit is in control. Soul has a lot to do with brain cell capabilities; whereas, spirit goes deeper than that.
Let's explore the subject of spirit in regard to animals in hauntings, spirit possession, DNA experimentation, and alien interest.
Animals operate on a "flatlander" level of the soul with their intellect, emotions and will. Much, if not all, of what they do is instinctive. Depending upon each species' intellectual capacity, they may be able to learn new behaviors, but they are not self-aware nor aware of the spiritual dimension like humans are. Indian beliefs include totem animals which have various desirable characteristics to emulate or base human actions upon, such as the eagle, crow or bear. However, even though those characteristics are attributed to the "spirit" of the animal, they still are well within what can be manifested from the soul.
Throughout history and up into the present, reports have been made of the appearance of animal phantoms or ghosts. These apparitions are sometimes used as proof that an animal has a spirit, yet often a haunting is a residual memory stored in the fabric of certain physical surroundings which replays over and over like a sporting event's instant replay. The apparition appears when conditions are right to cause the memory to start again. Other spiritual entities may masquerade as animal apparitions as well. Still no proof that an animal has a spirit.
What about spirit possessions of an animal? We know that a familiar spirit is one who possesses and inhabits an animal such as a cat which does the bidding of the one in control of the animal. There are many reports of animals seemingly being temporarily possessed by benevolent entities as well whereupon they are directed to perform amazingly courageous feats of rescue or even speak through the animal.
I believe that the large percentage of water that makes up a physical body is what makes it an ideal habitation for a spirit. Of course, the body is ideal for our own spirit. The body is the perfect tool for manifestation of our soul and spirit into the physical realm. However, other spirits desire that manifestation as well. Therefore, a great spiritual battle wages in which spirits vie for control of bodies. This includes animals, although as indicated in the reaction of the pigs in the story of the possession of the demoniac by a legion of spirits in the Bible, an animal is not the optimum expression for a spirit. When Jesus cast the legion out of the demoniac in Mark 5:1-13, they immediately entered the pigs and drove the animals over the cliff and into the sea. The pigs' bodies were not quite what they sought, not quite able to contain them as well as their previous host. I believe that those particular types of demons used the pigs as a vehicle to get to the sea (water) to travel further and expand their possibilities from the limited life in a pig without having to traverse through dry places. For a demon to be cast out of a body means going into a "dry" place, a place of no expression, no viable energy, which is tantamount to torture for them. We might use the illustration of how a plant wilts without the energy of water although this doesn't explain it adequately. Indeed, our bodies "hydrate" spirits, giving power and life in some strange way to their input into this world.
What about the difference in animal and human bodies? This brings me to the subject of DNA experimentation. Nowhere in human history has mankind NOT done something if they have the ability to do it. We now have the ability to combine different DNAs to produce what is called a chimera. No question in my mind that somewhere, someplace a mad scientist has mixed animal DNA and human DNA and an animal/human chimera is growing up there or will be sooner than we think. Therefore, this chimera will have animal parts and human parts and not only a soul but a spirit. Could this mad scientist go even further in DNA experimentation and produce a human with a body that is completely animal? How would the spirit of a human cope within the body of an animal?
In the reports of alien abductions and DNA experimentation, it would seem that at least one of their goals may be to produce hybrids. By all accounts, they seem to have human and animal DNA high on their list of things to do. Could they actually be going after the human spirit as an addition to their makeup? The mind boggles at the thought of alien/human hybrids which would have a soul and human spirit. On the other hand, could this even be for the purpose of developing a suitable (or stronger) body for the habitation of a spirit that is not human?
When we stop and think about the ramifications of what could be taking place, it opens a Pandora's box of possibilities. However, the next time your dog or cat looks at you and its eyes melt into pure love, just think about what else might lie behind those eyes. Are they spirits having a physical experience as well? How we regard animals is an indication of whether we are normal because normal in this case means to care for them, treat them with respect, and nurture all, no matter what the species. I sincerely hope that animals do have an entrance into the spiritual realm--if not through their own immortal spirits, through some other way--for there are several animals that I would dearly love to see again.
For further reading, take a look at my article entitled, The Role of Animals in History, which includes fascinating information about how animals have helped shape our lives into what we are today.
A spirit provides humans with self-awareness as well as the possibility for varying degrees of consciousness in the spiritual dimension. Humans are very spiritual creatures. Although the spiritual dimension takes up no space, I believe we can use the illustration that a spirit does for the human consciousness what the third dimension does for two dimensional "flatlanders." We dwell in the realm of the physical and the spiritual at the same time because we have a spirit and a body with the added element of a soul which interacts with both the spirit and body. Humans are actually spirits having a physical experience, our bodies functioning much like space suits in the physical dimension. We can perceive what is "soulish," when the soul is in control of the body and what is "spiritual," when the spirit is in control. Soul has a lot to do with brain cell capabilities; whereas, spirit goes deeper than that.
Let's explore the subject of spirit in regard to animals in hauntings, spirit possession, DNA experimentation, and alien interest.
Animals operate on a "flatlander" level of the soul with their intellect, emotions and will. Much, if not all, of what they do is instinctive. Depending upon each species' intellectual capacity, they may be able to learn new behaviors, but they are not self-aware nor aware of the spiritual dimension like humans are. Indian beliefs include totem animals which have various desirable characteristics to emulate or base human actions upon, such as the eagle, crow or bear. However, even though those characteristics are attributed to the "spirit" of the animal, they still are well within what can be manifested from the soul.
Throughout history and up into the present, reports have been made of the appearance of animal phantoms or ghosts. These apparitions are sometimes used as proof that an animal has a spirit, yet often a haunting is a residual memory stored in the fabric of certain physical surroundings which replays over and over like a sporting event's instant replay. The apparition appears when conditions are right to cause the memory to start again. Other spiritual entities may masquerade as animal apparitions as well. Still no proof that an animal has a spirit.
What about spirit possessions of an animal? We know that a familiar spirit is one who possesses and inhabits an animal such as a cat which does the bidding of the one in control of the animal. There are many reports of animals seemingly being temporarily possessed by benevolent entities as well whereupon they are directed to perform amazingly courageous feats of rescue or even speak through the animal.
I believe that the large percentage of water that makes up a physical body is what makes it an ideal habitation for a spirit. Of course, the body is ideal for our own spirit. The body is the perfect tool for manifestation of our soul and spirit into the physical realm. However, other spirits desire that manifestation as well. Therefore, a great spiritual battle wages in which spirits vie for control of bodies. This includes animals, although as indicated in the reaction of the pigs in the story of the possession of the demoniac by a legion of spirits in the Bible, an animal is not the optimum expression for a spirit. When Jesus cast the legion out of the demoniac in Mark 5:1-13, they immediately entered the pigs and drove the animals over the cliff and into the sea. The pigs' bodies were not quite what they sought, not quite able to contain them as well as their previous host. I believe that those particular types of demons used the pigs as a vehicle to get to the sea (water) to travel further and expand their possibilities from the limited life in a pig without having to traverse through dry places. For a demon to be cast out of a body means going into a "dry" place, a place of no expression, no viable energy, which is tantamount to torture for them. We might use the illustration of how a plant wilts without the energy of water although this doesn't explain it adequately. Indeed, our bodies "hydrate" spirits, giving power and life in some strange way to their input into this world.
What about the difference in animal and human bodies? This brings me to the subject of DNA experimentation. Nowhere in human history has mankind NOT done something if they have the ability to do it. We now have the ability to combine different DNAs to produce what is called a chimera. No question in my mind that somewhere, someplace a mad scientist has mixed animal DNA and human DNA and an animal/human chimera is growing up there or will be sooner than we think. Therefore, this chimera will have animal parts and human parts and not only a soul but a spirit. Could this mad scientist go even further in DNA experimentation and produce a human with a body that is completely animal? How would the spirit of a human cope within the body of an animal?
In the reports of alien abductions and DNA experimentation, it would seem that at least one of their goals may be to produce hybrids. By all accounts, they seem to have human and animal DNA high on their list of things to do. Could they actually be going after the human spirit as an addition to their makeup? The mind boggles at the thought of alien/human hybrids which would have a soul and human spirit. On the other hand, could this even be for the purpose of developing a suitable (or stronger) body for the habitation of a spirit that is not human?
When we stop and think about the ramifications of what could be taking place, it opens a Pandora's box of possibilities. However, the next time your dog or cat looks at you and its eyes melt into pure love, just think about what else might lie behind those eyes. Are they spirits having a physical experience as well? How we regard animals is an indication of whether we are normal because normal in this case means to care for them, treat them with respect, and nurture all, no matter what the species. I sincerely hope that animals do have an entrance into the spiritual realm--if not through their own immortal spirits, through some other way--for there are several animals that I would dearly love to see again.
For further reading, take a look at my article entitled, The Role of Animals in History, which includes fascinating information about how animals have helped shape our lives into what we are today.
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