Losing a beloved animal companion is a heartbreaking experience, but if you lose your animal friend in a way that leaves you wondering why it happened and how life can be so unfair, then the pain of the loss can be even greater.
One such example is a puppy that dies tragically and suddenly only a few months old. It can be hard to see any sense, fairness, or meaning in that. You may wonder why innocent, pure souls die prematurely, suddenly or violently. It can seem like there is no higher compassionate benevolent presence in the universe when something like that happens.
I decided to ask my angel cat Kia for her insights and advice. Kia is my beloved cat who died in July 2012 suddenly and all alone in an animal hospital. The only thing that brought me and my family real comfort and helped us cope was when I decided to contact Kia and communicate with her directly. Her words of wisdom were truly healing, and she has ever since been a great source of wisdom and healing for myself and many others. I asked her how people can cope when something so tragic and unfair takes place as the sudden death of a four month old puppy run down by a car. The following is what happened:
I prepare for my connection with Kia by becoming present in my body, filling it out with my awareness. I take a deep breath and relax as I exhale. I focus on my feet, allowing them to send out their roots deep into the earth below – firmness, grounding, nurturing, stability, support. As I’m firmly grounded I then focus on the upper part of my body, allowing it to grow taller and taller, high up in the sky. Below me is water and land. The sun is rising, and the beauty and stillness gives me a feeling of deep peace. As I reach the peace I hear Kia’s voice:
“It is not about how you die, it is how you live”, she says. “Of course it is important and admirable to strive for a conscious, peaceful death and prepare so you will face death without fear, but most of the time we don’t know when it is our time to go, so your task is to live fully, allow yourself to love and be loved, and let go of fear and whatever else is preventing you from becoming who you truly are.
You humans can learn much from animals: Watch how we live fully in the present moment, how our joy is unrestricted and how we are able to love unconditionally. A young animal that has lived fully but dies before it is one year old, has lived more fully, openly, and completely than many humans [in their entire lifetime].
As we are all each others’ teachers, let your focus be not on the why, on how unfair it is, or on how painful, but on the celebration of the life that was. Celebrate that life and embrace what it was here to teach you.
What were some of the unique qualities they had that you can implement in your own life and thereby not only honor the one you lost but also grow and evolve as a human being?”
“Thanks Kia. Anything else?”
“No, that’s it for now. Go practice being in the present moment – no fear, no regrets, just being here now.”
With that the journey ends and I thank Kia again.
To me Kia’s advice to celebrate the life that was – the beloved animal companion now deceased – and learn from them was a wonderful insight and a perspective that brings hope, and even joy, to a situation that otherwise seems hopeless. How can you celebrate your animal friend, and what lessons were they here to teach you? I invite you to share your insights in the comments section below.
This article is from my forthcoming book: “Healing Pet Loss – Practical Steps For Coping & Comforting Messages From Animals And Spirit Guides“. If you wish to be notified when the book is published, then sign up with your email in the form below.
This really touched me. I’ve had two young dogs die in the last year. There was Laura, who died before 6 months of age, from an undetermined illness, and Ruthie, who died just days before her first birthday, from a rattlesnake bite. Their deaths left me angry and wondering at the “why” of it all. But looking back at the lives they lived, I can see that they did live in the moment and had wonderful fun doing it. That is what I will try to remember and emulate. Thanks, Marianne.
I’m so glad you found the article helpful, Rebecca. I can certainly understand that you felt anger and wondered why, when your two precious dogs died so young. Even though the why-question might come again sometimes, you will now have Kia’s words as a reminder to help you return to celebrating their lives and remember how they did live in the present moment. Peace and blessings, Marianne