Animals in Spirit: Our Faithful Companions' Transition to the Afterlife

by Penelope Smith

From a pioneer in the field of interspecies communication for more than forty years, Penelope Smith’s Animals in Spirit teaches you how to release the feelings of loss and separation that follow the death of a beloved pet and instead stay connected to your pet before, during, and after they cross over the rainbow bridge.

Losing an animal companion can be a painful experience, yet by examining their transition from a spiritual perspective, Animals in Spirit explores the process of dying from the viewpoints of both pets and their people. Learn how animals choose their paths in each life and the knowledge they leave behind for their human families. As animals make their way from the physical into the spiritual realm, Animals in Spirit can strengthen the union with our beloved friends by teaching us to accept and understand the full experience of the cycle of life.

Our dear pets and companions may be gone from this world, but there is comfort to be had in the knowledge that we can still commune with them and that this is not really goodbye. With true stories, insights from animals and their human friends, as well as meditations to ease the mourning process or help you to communicate with animals in the spirit realm, Animals in Spirit will help heal the feelings of grief and separation by connecting you to your faithful companion in spirit.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Death, Dogs

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2008

About the author

Communicating with animals telepathically throughout her life, Penelope Smith discovered in 1971 that animals could be relieved of emotional traumas and other problems through the same counseling techniques that helped humans. Author of the popular classic books in the field, Animal Talk (first edition-1978), When Animals Speak, Animals in Spirit, many audio recordings, and editor of Species Link magazine, Penelope has held the hub of the growing community of animal communicators worldwide for decades.
Penelope's visionary work has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles, numerous books, and on radio and television, in the United States and abroad. She has developed tried-and-true telepathic communication techniques, which complement current scientific knowledge and traditional methods. As the world's leading teacher of basic and advanced interspecies telepathic communication, she has helped launch the careers of numerous professional animal communicators. Penelope feels that the sacred connection we make through telepathic communication with other species is essential for human wholeness. She believes that everyone is born with the power to communicate with other species, and that, although it is long lost for most people, it can be regained for the benefit of all beings on Earth.

Reviews

[Michelle Beber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like "Animals and the Afterlife," this was another wonderful book that helped me deal with the loss of my beloved cat, Pookie. In addition to stories about people's connections with their animals in this life and the afterlife, the author shares many comforting words of her own.

As an "animal communicator" or medium, Penelope is able to communicate with animals. Because of that, she's able to provide insights on what the animals think about their illnesses and death. I like that the author talked about reincarnation. (I believe that all of us, either human or animal, keep coming back to Earth "school" over and over until their lessons are learned, purposes are fulfilled, and their souls have advanced as far as they can.) It was reassuring to learn that once you've established a deep bond with an animal, it's probable that you've spent many lifetimes together and will continue to do so.

After reading this book, I started researching animal communicators and was led to an amazing woman who gave me messages from Pookie that only Pookie would've been able to tell me. If you're open to it, an animal communicator can provide comfort like nothing else.

I highly recommend this book in preparation for your loss (as it covers euthanasia) and as a tool to work through your grief.

[J.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I selected this book because I thought it was a self-help guide to surviving the loss of a pet. Had I known it was written by a "pet psychic", I would have passed. Some of the metaphysical concepts are presented well and are fairly standard for the field, but in my opinion, the dialogue that she presents from the animal spirits she contacts is preposterous. I don't think that animals in spirit communicate like dime-store philosophers who love to talk, but I could be wrong. All in all, it was a fast read, but unsatisfying, and it didn't provide me with any help or ideas that I hadn't had before.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful. I wish I'd read it before my cat passed away instead of after. Whether you believe in all of the animal communication stories or not, it's still a very interesting book about how the spirits of our beloved animals look at death differently than we do. Without fear. As a necessary step to the next part of existence. This makes absolute sense and was a huge comfort.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. Information in the early part of the book did help me deal with the recent loss of a pet. However, I felt the book went way overboard in telling stories of specific pet communications. I am a spiritual person and believe animals are spirit. I became a bit skeptical after reading many of the accountings of pet interactions. I also can't accept her explanations for things like why animals "choose" to be in an animal shelter and why one dog chose to attack other animals and be aggressive with everyone except family to the point that it had to be put down. Supposedly the the dog communicated that it was acting like that because it wanted to be put down rather than behave more appropriatly.

[Cindy Howard]

I loved this book. I am an animal lover and hate to see them suffer. This book gives insight into what happens to animals at the time of death and afterwards. As much as it hurts to watch a beloved pet die, it happens and this book helps to ease some of that pain. Knowing our animals can be with us even after they pass on is a comfort. The author is able to communicate with animals psychically and gives us a glimpse into the thoughts and emotions of animals of all kinds including wild animals. I enjoyed the book but found myself crying at times as I remembered the furry friends I've had to say goodbye to. I would recommend this book to all animal lovers.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was written by an “animal telepath”.

I was expecting a book about grieving your animals using psychological tools and practices, not how to communicate with your pets after they pass. I don’t believe in psychics, but the “stories” still got me choked up.

I’m a sensitive animal lover and found the brief mentions of studies of animals experiencing grief and know when death is coming interesting.

This book was not for me.

[Katie Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much information about where our pets go and what they do when they cross. The stories are informative and uplifting. This really helped me gain a wider perspective and help me in my animal communication work. I am sure that someone who is grieving would find it valuable and comforting as well.

[Cathy Butera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and thought provoking.

[Rory Royce · Rating 1 out of 5]

Androcentric drivel. Absolves humans of the moral responsibility for welfare of companion animals. Very disappointing, one for the rubbish bin.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tales of animal communications.

[Kim Saltarelli]

One of the BEST books on animals on the other side that I have read.

[Ashley Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my whole life

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather silly

[Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, some of the writing was hard to get through and a lot of it was repetitive. A good portion was either borrowed from other books or interviews. It got better in the end though. Overall, I think the concept of animal communication/ inter-species communication is interesting and this book was thought-provoking. Some of what Smith said included that humans have trouble letting animals cross over because of emotional attachment and that some animals appear as different types of animals in different lives, which makes me wonder what animals I have been in past lives. Hopefully a cat, at least once.

[Shay Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me personally, this was a healing read. Depending upon your depth of spirituality (mine is pretty deep)it will prove to be very thought provoking and assuring at the same time. The book is filled with stories of animals who have crossed. The author is an animal communicator, so if you are closed to this possibility, this book is not for you. If you are open minded about the spirit world, believe animals enter there after their time here has ended, and have lost a pet, then this is the book for you. I will often revisit, just to remind myself that they never really leave us.

[Gwendoline Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animals in Spirit honors the powerful gift of love and compassion our animal companions teach us in life and as they transition to death. Smith allows for the tumult of grief all the while providing a framework within which to more completely understand and come to terms with the brevity of our animal loves' lives. This read soothes the grieving soul and reminds us of our interconnection and of the gifts we possess for ourselves and for each other. Truly, a heartfelt read for some of life's darker moments.

[Maureen Mullis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book. It was hard to read because of the emotions it evoked, but I'm so glad I did. Anyone who has lost an animal friend will learn a lot and be comforted by this book. It will give you insight and help you see the bigger picture, and the importance of animals in our lives.

[Mathilda Craft]

This looks like a tear jerker, but then again, I always get all mushy reading about the passing of a loved one- be they human or furry companion.

[Meg]

This shows us how wise animals are and how they are aware of so much on a far deeper level than we realise.

[Kelly Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel much better about animals I've known who've passed on. They are still with me, in spirit.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opened my mind about a sad time made me feel some hope that the life we shared together is not the end of the story.

[Kathrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. great read for when you have a animal pass away.

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not that it isn't well written, it's just as a staunch atheist, I can't buy into this worldview.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to be open-minded about spiritual things and animal communication for this book. For me, it was really helpful.

[Elijah Mesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t finish this because I gave it to my cousin who’s studying to be a vet, but it does in fact align perfectly with my worldview.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative, and comforting, book on communicating telepathically with our animal companions both in life, and after death. The only thing I did not agree with is her take on reincarnation. I do not believe that animals can reincarnate as humans, or vice versa. I only believe in same species reincarnation. Beyond that, which was not a large part of the text, I enjoyed the book very much. I definitely believe we can connect with animals using our minds, and feel I have done so with several over the years. I also believe in the connection continuing after death, as I have experienced that as well. Good book!