Reincarnation and Past Lives

 It's been about five weeks since I left my most recent body. Now I am remembering who I AM, and I am still ME.  Now it is easy for me to SEE things - not with physical eyes, but with a "knowing" mind. That's the best way I can explain it to you as humans right now. I have been remembering about all the MEs I have been.......

(I know the subject of reincarnation is delicate among you humans. Everybody pretty much agrees that cats can have nine lives, but most of you don't realize that dogs (and all beings) have lived many lives as well! )


I loved being a dog. I chose to be a dog for many reasons. My spiritual development was accelerated when I was a dog. And I want to be a dog again. But not yet. For now, let me take you on a tour of my best canine incarnations. 

I call this "Famous Yellow Dogs in History".


Ever heard of human named "Mozart"? Yes, that's right, the famous composer of the world's most exquisite music! You may not know this, but Mozart was very fond of his little yellow dog Pimperl - ME! And with a first name like "Wolfgang", Mozart was a kindred spirit to dogs! I loved his music. Did you know Mozart's music increases brain activity in humans? Yes, it's true. And humans need to have more brain activity for sure. Listening to Mozart's music would certainly help. It's no coincidence that in my last incarnation the human known as "Mom" also loved the music of Mozart!

ME as Mozart's dog Pimperl -I'm sure I inspired some of his music!

And what about a famous artist by the name of Matisse? Ever heard of him? If you haven't, go to any big art museum to see his work. Matisse was a Frenchman who painted in bright colors and simple lines. He painted me several times - sometimes laying on a carpet, and sometimes laying under a table - my favorite places to sleep! See my pointy ears in this picture? That's ME! Matisse said his biggest challenge was to learn to paint like a child.  If more humans painted their world through the eyes of a child, the earth would be more loving and peaceful for sure.

I loved having my portrait painted by Matisse. I was good at this pose!

My life was made into a movie after I came back once again as Hachiko. Google this name and see what comes up. Yes, the most loyal dog in the world who waited over 9 years in one place for the human he loved! Watch the movie! The dog actor resembles me pretty closely. This was a difficult incarnation for me, but my mission was to show the world what true unconditional love and loyalty was really about. And of course, only a dog could teach this. It is something no human has ever been able to match. Well, except for a human named Jesus.

ME when I was Hachiko. Looks just like me!

There have been other famous yellow dogs in history such as Benjii and Ole Yeller. I was not those dogs. But I do respect their mission on earth. In Benjii's case, the use of overwhelming cuteness was properly utilized in order to teach humans a thing or two.( It's really quite interesting how a dog's overwhelming cuteness can affect humans.....)

An example of canine overwhelming cuteness. We easily control humans with this.

So why am I talking about all the MEs  I've been? Because now I know I must think about the next me I want to be! 


Wait! I HEAR someone. It's a human voice.....rather,  it is a human sending me thought pictures....and I can "see"/feel it is the human I know as "Mom". She has a friend with her.......

Losing a Dog, Losing a Friend

Yago at age 6, 2002.

It's been almost a month since my dog Yago passed away. He was a big part of my life for 16 years.
This "dumped-as-a-puppy" chow-mix dog was by my side through so many transitions in my life. In many ways, he was my stability and security through these transitions. He was more than family. He was, in the truest sense of the word, my closest and dearest friend.

Yago, 1998 at his horse farm home in Mena, Arkansas.

I knew his time was coming. He told me with his eyes and his ears. His ears, always big, pointy and upright, were more often laying down as his face showed signs of discomfort.

Yago, Mena, Arkansas, always keeping watch.

He passed away laying in the sun and "guarding" the entrance to our show horse barn as he had always done.
I held him in my arms assuring him he would be loved forever. I thanked him for enriching my life in so many ways - so many, in fact, that I am literally flooded with memories of our time together.

Yago laying in one of many big holes he dug during his lifetime.

Yago was the reason I started Appreciate Your Pet several years ago. He and I both hoped the web site and "pet honor" certificate would really take off and be very popular, and well, let's just say that it didn't quite happen like we thought. We decided to downsize the web site to a blog and start from the beginning with the hopes of building the Appreciate Your Pet brand while continuing to expand our mission of "honoring animals who enrich human lives". Perhaps with time, Yago's profile and the Appreciate Your Pet logo will become recognizable.

Yago (right), his daughter Yuka (left) and  my daughter Jennifer Holland.

It's interesting that human lives can be "enriched" by something other than money and material possessions.
Pets -and especially dogs - do just that with an innate precision and mission that can only be from a higher source. The love we have for our pets - and other animal friends - is a rather unique love when you stop and think about it. As humans, we easily and readily give our love and affection to beings who are totally different from us in so many ways. What is it about dogs that make them so easy to love? Why do we cherish these relationships? What does this really tell us about the nature of love?

The Appreciate Your Pet tag, featuring Yago's profile in yellow.

Today I ask you to honor the animals in your life. Take a few moments to think about the happiness and love they have brought into your life. In memory of my Yago, please thank them for enriching your life.


Something tells me Yago is still with us. He was always such a clever dog, and I believe his spirit will find a way to continue the journey he started.