Talking to Heaven -
can you connect with your pet in the afterlife?
In a word - YES!
The reason I know this is because I’ve experienced it! Many of us have seen the dog door suddenly swing all by itself, or heard nails clicking on the floor, or felt a critter jump up on the bed even though our animal is no longer with us.
You might have seen a butterfly sitting quietly on the deck railing and somehow you knew – you just KNEW – the spirit of your departed animal was there, telling you all was well.
I think their spirits may stay especially close to us in the early weeks after their death, offering comfort from afar. For those of you who may not have experienced this, but would like to, you might want to find a quiet spot where you can be alone. Close your eyes, and gently talk to your animal friend. Tell them everything you want to say – maybe things you didn’t get a chance to say before they left you. Ask them, if at all possible, if they could find a way to let you know they are happy.
They may come to you in a dream. They may appear in a vision, like the one I had about Martha while driving home a few weeks after her passing. I looked up and saw an angel in the sky, holding Martha in her arms! She told me Martha was very happy – and that she still sings! Martha had been an accomplished singer - I was delighted to know she was serenading the angels now. I used some fabric and yarn to try and bring to life what I had seen. This picture shows what I created, which still sits on my piano. I didn’t know it at the time, but two years later that vision of the angel holding Martha would become the cover of my first book, For Every Dog An Angel.
A few days before Christmas 2007 I had a very comforting dream about my dog, Jake. In the dream I was calling his name, and he came running to me through fields of tall grass. I could see a golden glow all around him. He stood tall and proud, with a SOCCER ball in his mouth! He gave me the playful look he used to give when he wanted me to chase him. He looked so joyful, just like the younger dog I remembered when I found him in the animal shelter all those years ago. Then there was one last look, and off he ran, back into the grass. It was crystal clear he wanted me to know two things - he was very happy, and I could not come with him.
While it’s ok to ask your animal to let you know they are well, you can’t hold onto them forever. They are off to the next great adventure, and it’s not our place to hold them back. One day I believe we will join them…and in that thought I find peace.