Spirits of Animals
Monday, October 5, 2009 at 03:22AM Today was a special day. We decided a while ago to take a few days off after the shows in NZ so that we could enjoy the sights. We got an email from auckland zoo asking us if we would go and visit them.
The had lost Kashin, an Asian elephant who had been a historical figure in the NZ culture. Kids had grown up knowing Kashin for years and sadly she died earlier this year.
So today was the day that we went as a family to see them. We were met by Michelle who took us on a guided tour of the zoo… back behind the scenes. It was amazing, we fed the Lemas, who grabbed our hands when we fed them so that they could get the banana's, we fed the red pandas, who were SO cute, and then the tigers, who I have to say were cute and loveable but scary!!!
;)
Feeding the Tigers
;)
Mom and I feeding the Lema's
Then we went on to feed Snorkle the Hippo, who's table manners according to my mother, needed to be worked on, she opened her mouth wanting more food, when she still had food in there… and then there was Burma!
;)
Feeding Snorkle
Burma the elephant who was simply adorable and was Kashin's friend. She misses Kashin, but as I was walking to the elephant area, I asked Michelle if they ever walked Kashin around the zoo as I could feel her walking behind me. Now I see many animals coming through and I thought the most bizarre one was a Donkey but this was an elephant!!!
When we went in the pen, I felt Kashin all around and I relayed information to the team who you can clearly see, that they dearly miss her. However her energy is still around and she is not unhappy that she passed, she needed to go as she wasn't well and it was the best thing for her, but very sad… but she came through and was a fun energy and full of life.
;)
Our family with Burma
I think it helped the team to know this. We were then taken to feed the sea lions who performed tricks for us as long as they had fish as a reward, and then back to Burma, who decided that she was going to paint for us.
I have the video of this that I will post very soon and she painted a picture for this site, and I think when I get back next week we will auction off and all the proceeds will go to the zoo. We'll get it framed. It's at the zoo at the moment drying, as she squirted paint with her trunk… ha ha ha ha
;)
Burma Painting
So it just goes to show that even our animals who have passed, still want to come through and say hi and they will let is know that they are ok and well. Its always nice to know as they are our babies in many ways.
The staff at the zoo are amazing and really care for the animals and want the best thing for them, it's made me see zoo's in a totally different light… It's been a day that we all have thoroughly enjoyed!
Have a beautiful day
Lisa xx
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Reader Comments (43)
How beautiful Lisa, as a huge animal lover it is so comforting to know our animal friends are still around us. I lost a dog a few years bacj who was very dear to my heart as we had grown up together and i felt his energy around me for a long time after his passing. Looks like your enjoying your NZ trip and good to see you taking some time out to enjoy some sight seeing!
Much love Tamika xxxxx
Animals are awesome!!!
hi .. what a touching blog ... you brought tears to my eyes talking about pets coming thru and wanting to say 'Hi' ... I have lost 2 dags that i loved dearly and i still miss them ... one dog Ricky who had to be put down because he had a soirt of cancer (don't remember anymore what type it was) ... when he rose up for the last time and then fell down, I was like 20 meters away from him but he was looking for me and looking me in the eye ... i was only a teen ...
and the second one, Loucky, was being put down bymy grandparents without even telling me they had it done ... she really was my baby and i never had the chance to say goodbye ..; oh boy here i go again .. i often wonder what became of her ... is she missing me like i am still missing her ?
i love you both , dear friends!
thank you Lisa, for touching my heart, once again!
Sounds like such a wonderful time you had at the zoo, enjoying all the animals and the time with family.
I appreciate your reassurance that our animals who had to leave us are still around and pain free. Just wish I could see them.
Enjoy the rest of your trip, see you soon!
Sherry
God Blesses you Lisa. How appropriate that you were at the zoo - yesterday was World Animal Day, Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi. How very cool is that. Thank you for sharing such special memories and moments with us. Your reassurance helps many. Love and light, Linda Grainger BAST x x
OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDD LIKE IM SO JELOUS! I LOVE THE ZOO SO MUCH! LOOK HOW CLOSE AND PERSONAL YOU GOT! WOWWWWWWW.
THATS AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
I LOVE LIKE EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL!
THAT IS SO COOL!!!!!!!
You even get to speak to dead ones - as if im crying now. ha ha just kidding.
Im glad you could connect with Kashin and help out the Zoo!
What a beautiful experience
Enjoy your time left in NZ :)
xxxxx
Love the pictures and the article, and I'm looking forward to seeing the video when you post it. Thanks for sharing all of that with us. (BTW I think "lema" should be "lemur".)
Very WOW Lisa - Animals are a wonderful part of life!! They're just not here long enough! xx
Love this blog :)
I saw that on T.V. ( an elephant painting) it was pretty cool !!! They are such smart creatures. That is sad though about Kashin :(
It's good to hear how well that zoo is with their animals though, cause I painted a whole different picture all together about zoo's. Seriously didnt care to visit them as animals in my book should all be free !!!
YAYY for the pics :) Thanks for sharing them girl...
Hugs to you
Atmos
Hi Lisa,
I've finally arrived in US to share some special time with my daughter Cally. She loves the photo and words. You sound as if you've had an amazing day! We used to have 6 cats, Our special one was Spotty, who died from a snake bite suddenly. His litter mate - Spidey, was so upset that he mourned the loss of his friend, passing on 11 days later! A perfectly fit and healthy cat died of liver failure suddenly - we always felt Spotty had called him on, as his little brother just couldn't live without him!
Nature is so wonderful! Have a lovely few days break and safe trip back home. Thank you so much for the shows and for being such a generous and caring person.
Susanna
What timing! Your post couldn't have popped up at a better time. My beloved cat, Snickers, died the other evening, and I am so sad. I have always felt that our animal friends keep an eye on us after they pass on. Once again, Lisa, your message has reached me!
How timely this post is! Just last night, I was sitting on my front porch thinking about my beloved cat, Berzerk, who had to be put down last November (brain tumor). He used to come out on the porch with me and just sit & watch the yard. I guess because it is coming up on the 1 year anniversary of his passing that made me think of him, or perhaps he was with me in spirit which brought up the memories. I still talk to him & I know that my other 2 cats see and hear him walking around from time-to-time.
As always, thanks for a great post!
Hi my love, What a great blog. Its great knowing that our animals are still with us in spirit! Thanks for the pictures at the zoo, esp. of you guys feeding them. I always loved the zoo. In May after seeing you at the I Can Do It workshop, we went to the San Diego Zoo. It ws unbelievable ! My computer is going to close down on me so I am going to close for now. Again, thanks my love. Do enjoy the rest of your time over there before you head back home to Charlie! I will see you on the 16th!
Love you always,
Mary
Hey there Lisa,
OMG...Now that all sounds so amazing! It is so completely healing to be around our earth angels. Your pictures are priceless and I am wishing I was there to see those beautiful animals too. :) So glad you had this incredible down time to replenish your own supply.
Wishing all of you more magic and fun!
Love~n~Hugs,
DS
Nothing is more magical than being around animals <3 Awesome blog!
Oh Lisa thank you so much for these pictures, it is so nice ! I love animals and especially elephants... my "teddy bear" when I was a kid was actually a grey elephant, I had it when I was four and I still have it ;-)) Elephants have something special in their eyes, they look so kind and generous...
They all look marvellous and funny. Thank you for sharing it with us...
I'm really glad you could have time to visit the country with your family and all you said about the spirits of animals is really interesting. I have four cats but they are at my mother's so I just get to see them twice a month but I love them and even though I am allergic, I cuddle them and stroke them as much as I can. They all have their personality and I just love them ;-)
Have a great day Lisa and I hope you will go on descovering wonderful things ;-)
Lise
I have always had a difficult time with the idea of zoos, and appreciate your comments. Thank you for your insights Lisa.
Very Cool!!! Much Love <3 <3 <3
((((((((((Lisa)))))))) Although I am not fond of zoo's and keeping animals in captivity...training them to perfrom un'natural acts, etc...I totally enjoyed this blog as I adore elephants. My house if filled with elephant decor in memory of all the abuse and suffering they have endured. My dream has always been to volunteer at a elephant refuge.
I am deeply saddened for ((((((((((Kasha)))))) tho am relieved she is free from all her earthly pain. I am especially sad for Burma who willl grieve deeply for her friend.
I lost my beloved (((((((((((Cody'girl))))))))) on Sept 16th...and I am sad to say that I do not feel her around me...believe me, I try soooooooo hard to feel her presence. I talk to her and ask her to come to me and get nothing. Perhaps my grief is blocking this, I don't know but I am very open to wanting to feel her around me.
May this precious ele ((((((((((((Kasha)))))))))) now rest in peace and feel the love I am sending to her. And may ((((((((((Burma's))))))))) heart be healed from her grief.
I wish I was there to be able to cuddle these precious animals and take away their inner pain/grief.
XOXOXOXOX
I'm so glad you had a great experience on your NZ tour and that you got to see the Zoo in particular that Kashin came through to let the team know that she is fine. I was disappointed that there was no notice in our paper to say you were touring as I would have loved to have gone to your show with the hope that maybe my son would come through. Never mind as I'm sure you will come back again one day and maybe you could explore the smaller towns with some shows. Thanks for sharing your trip on here.
Hi Lisa!
It sounds like your family had a perfect day!
I had a dog named Fiona whom I titled, Princess Fiona, Dog embassador to the Humans. Everyone loved her so. She used to smile! She would smile at me and wag her tail like crazy especially, if She had got into mischief. Honestly, I could not have loved her more. When Fiona passed, It was heartbreaking because she was in such pain. However, a few weeks after she had passed, I was on the usual evening stroll with Buddy the puppy The walk we 3 used to share. When I got to the corner where the 3 of us used to turn and head back. I stopped and I saw my beautiful Fiona running full out towards me. She was SO HAPPY!!! She came bounding towards me So happy and full of love. And as she got towards the middle of the street she faded and disappeared! I felt she came back to show me that she was fine now and was not mad at me for getting the treatment for her which unfortuately, caused her death.
I tell you all, I will never forget that wonderful moment and look forward to seeing My Princess Fiona and all of my furry babies when I get to the other side!
Hi Lisa and family!! How AWESOME. I love animals and that would of been the best thing ever to be able to do and glad you and your family were able to experience that!! I bet they loved having you and knowing that you had seen Kashin come through. I would be thrilled to have my past pets come through like that so as Zookeepers I bet it meant a lot to them. Cool idea to auction off that picture, I would love to get in on that!! Love & Hugs, Judi
I was fortunate enough to experience my yellow lab visit me after I had to put her down due to cancer. She came into my room and plopped on the floor just like she did when she was alive.Never saw her, just heard the plop, and collar hit the hardwood floor. I haven't seen or heard her since but I know she's ok and no longer lame or in pain.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for sharing your magical day with everyone here. Oh...you are so lucky and the animals I know, were so happy to see and feel your presence. NIce photo's of you and your family.
I LOVE ANIMALS....too.
with hugsss...to you and all here.
oo
Dear Lisa, I have an Uncle who was childless. One day, a baby bird lay on his balcony. It was injured and unable to fly. My Uncle was so taken by the baby bird. He would make milk for the bird and hold the bird against him in a little blanket and he would feed it. The baby bird would look at him, make soft chirping sounds and drink the milk. Every morning its eyes would search for him. The baby bird only lived for seven days. My Uncle broke down and cried and cried when it died. For seven days, my Uncle felt like a parent feeding a baby. He even named the bird and he used to talk to it. It would recognise his voice and lift its head. After it died, he buried it among the plants in the balcony. Whenever he talks about that baby bird, his eyes fill up with tears. He had grown so attached to it and he loved it like a newborn baby. I was very moved by that incident. When he talks about that bird, there is so much love and pain within him. ((((Hugs))))