Animals and Reincarnation

[The Wizard]

What are everyone's thoughts/beliefs concerning the reincarnation of animal spirits?

I think that it may be possible for animals or pets to reincarnate--however I don't believe that human souls can reincarnate as animals and vice versa. I think that there is something more to some animals, like the pets you own that seem to transcend (when they want to ) their "animal nature" and be something more. Or perhaps can choose to stay discarnate and function as a spirit guide, etc. I've only been pondering this in the last few days so I don't have much of a defined idea yet--which is why I'm curious about everyone else's views and experiences.

[FireDancer]

This is a cool topic for discussion...

While I believe that humans reincarnate many times, I don't believe that animals reincarnate at all, and I'll tell you why.
I believe that animal spirits are perfect. They know everything they need to know before they incarnate here, during their incarnation, and then return to the Other Side to serve as animal guides, totems, familiars and for animals that lived as pets, serve as protectors, comforters and allies for their humans (as long as their human(s) showed them the love and respect that they deserve). Because they are perfect spirits, they have no need to reincarnate.

Thats just one person's opinion.
I'm curious to hear other's as well.

[aiyanna]

The belief in reincarnation dates back as far as the ancient Egyptians. The concept can also be found in the philosophies of ancient Greek, the Buddhist and Hindu religions, Jainism, and Taoism.

I would agree with the beliefs that people are reincarnated as animals and some animal souls are always reincarnated as animals but the purpose of these two kinds or reincarnation would be diffrent. Though I would think that animals that contiune to reincarnate as animals do it because they want to, not because they have to.

[The Wizard]

I agree with both of you to an extent, I think. Animals would have no need to learn new lessons and reincarnate for that purpose. However I do truly think my cat has been a pet in our family before--a dog my parents used to have shares a lot of similarities in temperment, behavior and intelligence. I also don't think that an animal would be forced to keep reincarnating--that'd be cruel anyway as animals lead such short lives sometime (like animals killed by cars and such). I think an animal would have a choice to return as another animal (any species), when they feel ready to return to the world, or to stay as some kind of spiritual animal (like what Firedancer mentioned).

[Angaridatha]

Interesting.

I fall somewhere between the two viewpoints.

Animals are very much perfect spirits, thus they don't need to incarnate, but I believe that they do reincarnate when it suits them. Katie's cat is a great example. Mostly, I think, animals reincarnate when they have agreed to help you out as a familiar.

I don't agree with the belief that we reincarnate as animals or vice versa. Stemming from the prior belief that animal souls are perfect, ours are not, and also that our souls are made of different stuff. Not better, just different, for a different purpose.

Of special note is that animals that don't reincarnate but have lived as your pet usually have a special connection to you, and when you finish this life they are there to greet you with the other souls who are close to you. Sometimes, they'll also wander around your domicile in ghost kitty/puppy form too, apparently lol. I think an old kitty of mine has inexplicably taken up residence in our new apartment.