Do Dogs Reincarnate? Exploring the Possibilities
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View 4 More +Religion is a big driver of the belief that dogs and other animals can be reincarnated. Spiritualists also tend to keep an open mind to the possibility. Certain animal communicators and psychics swear that they hear from reincarnated pets in one way or the other. Whether you believe in animal reincarnation or not, the topic can make for a lively and spirited conversation.
Do you think that dogs can reincarnate, or are you on the fence? Read on to gain more insight into this fascinating subject!
What Is Reincarnation?
The idea of reincarnation is a philosophical concept that was widely prevalent in certain religions and still is believed in by many worldwide. The idea is that the spirit of a person (or animal) leaves the body after death and moves into a new body to live a new life. Some believe that a person or animal is reincarnated to a specific body depending on their past experiences and the things that they must still accomplish to gain “enlightenment” or move onto a way of thought and being that does not require the limitations of a physical body.
Others believe that people and animals are simply reincarnated into other people or animals because that's what the soul or spirit needs to survive. Then there are those who believe that reincarnation is just a transition for life. Whatever the case, the basis of reincarnation is the same, which simply put, is the soul or spirit moving from one body to another.
Religions That Believe in Reincarnation
Four religions practiced in India and around the world teach about reincarnation: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. While most people who follow these religions do believe in heaven (in some form), more people believe in the concept of reincarnation than not, at least according to the Pew Research Center.1 Christians predominantly deny the concept of reincarnation, though many younger people who practice a more relaxed form of faith are open to the idea.
What Animal Communicators Say
Animal psychics and communicators claim to talk to animal spirits, including those of dogs, that tell them stories of reincarnation. Not all agree about why or how animals might reincarnate. An animal communicator named Teresa Whalen says that animals have told her that the decision to come back to earth in body form again is based on a sacred agreement.2 Souls can come back to earth on their terms: They choose their body form, the timing, and even the place.
Animal communicator Danielle Mackinnon has come to believe that animals can only reincarnate into other animal bodies, never human ones.3 As she puts it, cross-reincarnation is not a thing. She says that animals have told her that they would be going backward in terms of evolution if they were to reincarnate into the human form.
Then there is Madeline Walker, who believes that dogs were once humans in former lives, based on what she’s been told by the animals that she has come into contact with.4 Of course, no animal communicator has any physical proof of their claims, but I argue that there does not have to be physical evidence of something to make it real.
“A Dog’s Purpose”
A novel by W. Bruce Cameron that was turned into a movie, “A Dog’s Purpose,” is a story about a dog that experiences four different lives thanks to the wonders of reincarnation. The dog looks for their purpose in each phase of their different lives. The novel enjoyed a spot on the New York Times bestseller list for 49 weeks.
The movie was released in 2017 and captured the hearts of children and adults alike. The overall story offers perspective into the world of reincarnation and helps explain the idea as a whole. I personally think that the book is better than the movie because it goes into more detail and provides more food for thought.
However, the movie is outstanding in its own right. If you have never experienced either, I highly recommend that you consider doing so. You may walk away with more questions than you do now, but you will have a clearer understanding of what reincarnation means and whether you want to embrace the idea or not.
Why I Believe in Dog Reincarnation
The bottom line is that I don’t have any reason not to believe in dogs being reincarnated. As an animal lover and the proud caretaker of five amazing dogs, I simply want to believe it! I absolutely love the idea of having my dogs come back into my life in one way or another after they pass away. It can be exciting to interact with a dog that reminds me of one that I lost in the past and wonder if maybe it’s them reincarnated. Until it’s proven that reincarnation is not a reality, I choose to believe in it, even though I’m not particularly religious.
Final Thoughts
Some people say that dogs and other animals (including humans!), for that matter, can reincarnate either into animals again or humans at least one time. Others say that reincarnation is neither real nor possible. Since there is no tangible proof one way or the other, the reality of reincarnation comes down to what you believe. If you ask me, I say that there is no harm in believing!
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Featuured Image Credit: anyaberkut | Getty Images
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Rachael has been a freelance writer since 2000. In this time she has had an opportunity to research and write about many different topics while working to master the art of fusing high-quality content with effective content marketing strategies. She is an artist at heart and loves to read, paint, and make jewelry. As a vegan, Rachael is obsessed with helping animals in need, both in her community and anywhere in the world where she feels she can make a difference. Animals also happen to be her favorite topic to write about! She lives off the grid in Hawaii with her husband, her garden, and her rescue animals including 5 dogs, a cat, a goat, and flock of chickens.
