I have a high affinity with animals. They are far more capable and present than many of us recognize.

Here is an observation for you:

Communication. Higher order animals, and us humans have abstractions, and we humans have them deeper and to higher orders than we see, or can understand and relate to, in animals.

Animals live their story. How they move, where they place themselves, and vocalizations all speak to their mind.

They are like us, just simpler.

When animals are in a harmonious environment with one another, and humans who grok them, it is robust. There is joy, wonder, pain, play, love, comfort, nature, and a sense of being present in this world.

They have souls. While they may not burn as brightly as we may understand human souls do, they are unique as we are, travellers as we are.

I strongly question whether we are unique as beings in all this.

We are more complex, and can build on our understanding of one another and the world around us in ways animals do not because of that complexity.

Otherwise, we are all beings here.

What we can do suggests precisely nothing about what, if anything comes after death.

So far, nobody reports back, and we have no definitive record from anyone but us, here alone but for our furry companions.

Please, do not take that as some bad or negative statement to your faith. I simply do not share it, despite seeking it at times.

Like the animals, we are here for a time and that is all.

Or, should this all be a cycle or transitory state, it is for them too.

It may all be one body conscious, for that matter and it concentrates, ebbs and flows through beings of all kinds.

Nobody knows. Maybe we can know, and I hope so one day we do.

Take what comfort you can fellow traveler!

It is all anyone who walks this world can do.

And by all means, enjoy the ride, maybe leave it better than you found it