Soul Dog: A Journey into the Spiritual Life of Animals

Description

An exploration of animal spirituality and the ability of animals to communicate with humans even in the afterlife * 2019 Coalition of Visionary Resources Gold Award and Industry Choice and Peoples Choice Award * Chronicles the author's profound relationship with her dog, Brio, his ability to read her mind and emotions, and the messages she received from him after his death * Shares the author's research with animal communicators, psychics, and scientists specializing in animal intelligence such as Rupert Sheldrake * Explores animals' thoughts and feelings, interspecies communication and telepathy, animal souls and the afterlife, and animal reincarnation * Paper with French flaps Looking for companionship after a near-fatal car crash, Elena Mannes, an award-winning television journalist and producer, decided to get her first dog. But what she found with her dog Brio shook the foundations of her physical and spiritual worlds, sending her on a quest to discover the nature of his spiritual origins and to contemplate and seek out the possibility of interspecies communication--even after death. Soon after bringing her puppy home, Mannes realized that the master-companion relationship would not be possible with Brio, who quickly showed that he had a mind--and a spirit--of his own. A healer Mannes visited immediately focused on Brio, exclaiming that he was an old soul. Mannes's growing curiosity about the intelligence, emotions, and consciousness of Brio and other dogs led her to contact an animal psychic in California who described, with amazing accuracy, Brio's favorite walks and the author's apartment from the dog's point of view. Motivated by her experience, Mannes produced a filmed segment with Diane Sawyer featuring the same psychic, who described Sawyer's country house and her dog's favorite spots in the yard. Mannes's skeptical journalist background compelled her to investigate further. She delved into the world of animal communicators, psychics, and scientists studying animal intelligence, including Rupert Sheldrake, to find answers to her multiplying questions: Do animals have thoughts and feelings? Consciousness? Souls? Is interspecies communication possible? Can animals reincarnate? Spanning the entire life and afterlife of Brio, including his last days and his messages to the author after he passed on, this book also explores Mannes' investigations into the spiritual life of animals, offering a new understanding of the unbreakable bond between humans and animals. Mannes invites readers to move beyond the owner-pet relationship and shows us how to see animals as thinking, feeling, spiritual beings whose connections with us extend far beyond life and death.

Elena Mannes is an award-winning independent documentary director/writer/producer whose honors include six Emmy Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, two Directors Guild of America Awards, and nine Cine Golden Eagles. She has written, directed, and produced series and documentaries for CBS, PBS, ABC, and the Discovery Channel, including The Amazing Animal Mind and the PBS primetime special The Music Instinct, which led to the writing of her book, The Power of Music. She lives in New York City.

"This is a must-read, a spiritual journey into the life of the soul dog. This wonderful book teaches about the unconditional love and unbreakable bonds that exist between humans and animals." * Bash Dibra, coauthor of Dog Training by Bash and DogSpeak * "My former colleague Elena Mannes has always been on a quest to discover more about the animals she loves. Soul Dog takes her beyond science into mystical paths--the yearning for consolation and possibility. She writes that animals teach us to listen. Elena is their friend, ready to hear." * Diane Sawyer, American television journalist * "Enlightening! An important read for people who want to connect with their dog's soul after death." * Jennifer Skiff, bestselling author of The Divinity of Dogs * "Soul Dog is a very thought-provoking book. Steeped in science and heart, Ms. Mannes passionately shares her own experiences with Brio. This book opens the door for wide-ranging musings about what dogs can teach us if we open our minds and hearts." * Marc Bekoff, author of Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do * "Do you have a dog and wonder about your relationship? Then this is a must-read. A touching, insightful, and thought-provoking book that compels you to look at your animals in a new way. It is a wonderful example of just how deep and mutually enriching the dog-human relationship can be." * Diane Budd, animal communicator and healer and author of Energy Medicine for Animals * "Elena Mannes writes eloquently of her unfolding journey of awareness with soul dog Brio. With gentle nudges and congenial canine humor, Brio guides Mannes through the mysteries of animal communication and ultimately helps her awaken to the magic that occurs when we learn to trust and listen to the truth of our deeper self." * Dawn Baumann Brunke, author of Animal Voices, Animal Guides * "Elena and Brio's soul story showcases the precious trans-species adoration and communication in life and the afterlife between a woman and her dog. Discovering Brio's creative and original mind, Mannes's own testimony, both reflective and humorous, weaves science and personal experience into a kind of Tao of dog. She shows that sentient animal kin are teaching humans how to sit, walk, stay, and lie down in reciprocal respect, love, and joy. This book sparkles with delight." * Zohara M. Hieronimus, D.H.L., author of White Spirit Animals: Prophets of Change * "Hidden in the fabric of a curly coat, Elena Mannes discovers a real, in-the-flesh angel whom she comes to know as her soul dog, Brio. She teaches us that a soul dog connects us with our own all-knowing soul, the indestructible force of God that lives within us and within the animals that we may take for granted. This brave author beautifully balances incredibly precise messages from animal communicators and psychics with scientific studies all directed at the same discovery--we are more connected than we might think. May every reader be inspired to listen to the farreaching wisdom of a trusted pet and be blessed to have your heart blown open by the healing power of their unconditional, and forever, love." * Belinda J. Womack, author of Lessons from the Twelve Archangels * "What makes Soul Dog more than just another glimpse into this world is the manner in which Mannes takes nothing at face value. Bringing the author out of the isolation she experienced following the accident, Brio connected her not only to previously unknown aspects of animals, but to her own unacknowledged spiritual nature." * Best Friends Magazine March/April 2019 *