Animals as Guides for the Soul

by Susan Chernak McElroy

In her New York Times bestseller Animals as Teachers and Healers, Susan Chernak McElroy movingly explored the wide and enriching horizons of human relationships with animals. In this new volume of reflections and true animal stories, she invites us to broaden and deepen that relationship.

While living with her husband and animals on a farm in Oregon, McElroy pondered the ancient bonds that connect humans and animals: the healing gifts of animals, the genius of people who talk to them, and the power of animal messengers. She also asked herself the tough questions that engage every true animal lover. How can we soothe our anguish and guilt when a loved animal suffers or dies? How do we atone for our mistakes? When are animals prisoners and when are they fulfilled? Is it moral to eat other beings? And how can we go about transforming our relationship with animals?

Through daily experiences with the animals around her and those in her dreams--along with compelling true stories sent to her by readers--McElroy began to find answers. She discovered that animals are guides in the development of our souls. A frail llama teaches lessons of joy and unconditional love; a barn cat proves that service need not be imprisonment but fulfillment; a mortally injured hawk infuses a cancer patient with renewed strength and faith; an attentive rabbit awakens an abused child from a trance of sadness; and a skinny white horse does more for a damaged six-year-old boy in one hour than any human has done in six years.

In this deeply personal yet universal testament to the profound connection between animals and humans, there is wisdom and blessing. As the author reminds us, the fingerprint of God is often a pawprint.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Dogs

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 1998

About the author

Teacher, master storyteller, and author of the classic New York Times Bestseller, Animals as Teachers and Healers: True Stories and Reflections, Susan Chernak McElroy's writings are published in more than twenty languages worldwide. She is a nationally recognized, passionate, and original voice on the subject of our emotional, biological, and sacred relationships with animals and wild nature.

Susan is a dynamic and gifted presenter, and a powerful catalyst for personal growth and change. A long term-survivor of advanced cancer, she speaks from a rich body of experience, reminding us that our evolutionary journey toward becoming more fully human beings has included thousands of years of intimate connection with animals and the living Earth.

Reviews

[Bibliovoracious · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 An “Ok, what’s readable on this shelf?” pick, in lieu of what I was waiting to read, and therefore I was surprised (it was excellent) and thrilled (that I didn’t have access to my waiting stack so I read this).

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

The experience of my childhood cat’s natural ascension to Heaven, 17 years ago, confirmed my faith in her sentience and two-way dialogue. A young family cat and new kitten became ours the following year. I shelved spiritual books I had stockpiled, until that kitten ascended from cancer 16½ years later, this January. Esoteric education comforts me. I read the first Susan Chernak McElroy book in 2017, when a different cat vanished. We await him. I mistook Susan for an animal communicator, whose concept of it and others things were surprisingly uninformed and still were, as of this 1998 book.

“Animals As Guides For The Soul: Stories Of Life-Changing Encounters” got three stars, like “Animals As Teachers And Healers”. I liked some aspects better. There were fewer euthanasia tales, which we against it shudder to read but there were fewer story contributors. I enjoyed meeting the animals of Susan’s first rescue home in Oregon, which she related beautifully. It was when she expounded on her opinions that I wearied of one person’s perspective. Reviewers agree that animal sentience and vegetarianism should be second nature to her. I abhorred her notion that killing kittens is ever acceptable. It doesn’t matter that it takes work to nurse them. I was baffled that she hesitated to rescue her adored llama, Phaedra, in an earlier state when her health could be restored.

At times, it felt as if the wrong person wrote these books, while she had boundless love for the animals she brought into hers and her husband’s fold. There were monologues about her outlook on life and treating everyone kindly, which were warm-hearted but dry, due to their length. More stories from other people would have balanced this book. I have her 2002 book and will see how Susan’s animal outlook has progressed.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: In every dream I’ve ever conjured for myself; in every vision of my future life, I’ve been surrounded by animals, soul-deep in my relationship with Nature. Come to think of it, I’ve never lived a single day in my entire existence without the beautiful company of some kind of furry, scaled, or feathered creature- no wonder I can’t envision a world without animals.

I love reading Susan Chernak McElroy’s books simply because her experiences with animals and the natural world seem exquisitely similar to my own. There is a familiarity in her writing that speaks to the deepest levels of my inner self and, with that, a sense of encouragement and inspiration to pursue a life that is congruent with my soul’s calling. I have often felt childish and, at times, ridiculed for my love of Nature- especially as our society has distanced itself further than ever from the natural world. Through her stories, however, McElroy always leave me feeling as though I am part of a larger community; refueled and 100% justified in my love of Nature.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sad to read that the author, after writing this book (and several others) about her total love of all animals and her belief in their healing powers, etc, was not a vegetarian! And could justify it in her mind. That almost made me put the book down and just stop reading it. Its also the reason I only "liked" the book. I found a lot of it very touching and some of it made me cry.
This book is over 10 years old, tho, and she said she was trying, so hopefully she has been a vegetarian (or even a vegan!) for years now, and has stopped adding to the suffering she admitted to. Hope so.

[Lynn Fast · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been many years since I read this, but I think of it often. The raccoon named Ever Vigilant, the chicken that loitered around the back door after surviving a trauma, even the way she visualized wolves running along her spine, devouring cancer cells when she was receiving chemo. The author's insight and sensitivity was, and remains, influential to me.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Animals as Guides for the Soul by Susan Chernak McElroy

This book was a little hard to rate as some parts I loved and others were rather strange. After the author had cancer and learned she could not have children, she and her husband bought a run down old farm in Oregon, where they spent endless hours cleaning and patching the place up. She named the farm Brightstar and began to fill it with animals. At first they planned to make it a working farm and only raise donkeys to sell. She soon added more and more animals of every kind and fell in love with them all.

Besides her own stories of the farm and numerous other animal care places she worked for, she added many stories her animal loving readers sent in. Some of these contributors added their ideas that make one think, such as when animals sicken, should you put them out of their misery or tend them to the end. Some tell stories of how their departed pets still visit them from the other side. (I myself have a dear friend who truly believes this.)

But some are pretty far out there, like the woman who wrote in a long passage the exact words an elephant spoke to her when she asked it why he/she was so sad. There’s a lot of grief in this book from the pain we feel when we lose our beloved animal companions to the way so many animals are abused by humans. It’s a lot to take in. Like I said, this book was hard to rate.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very touching. This book made me feel even more connected to my animals.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very touching. This book made me feel even more connected to my animals.

[Gail Kennon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 good to read a little each day to think about our animal companions.

[Luminea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an authentic and touching book. The author looks at the many ways we relate to animals---as friends, as messengers, as teachers. She talks about the may gifts and blessings we receive from them but isn't afraid to go to the dark side and discuss animal abuse, and the feelings of guilt that even the most loving pet owners can experience when euthanizing an animal etc. I wrote down quite a few quotes from the book that inspired me and found a few books in the resources section that I want to explore. I look forward to reading more of her books! :)

[John Orman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book certainly made me think of animals in a new way!

Creating an animal mythology from her stories, McElroy displays the evidence for a universal language of wisdom among all God's creatures. Based on the creatures living at her Oregon farm, BrightStar, she gleans many universal truths from her animal adventures.

Many of the stories involve dogs, and I really felt empathy for some of the sad endings to their special lives.