I don't know if my feelings on this stem from some sort of folklore from my family, but I have always noticed odd encounters with animals near the time of a friend/acquaintance/loved one's passing.

Let me give a few examples -- I'm curious if others have had similar experiences.

1. Several years ago, hubby and I had a dear friend we were very fond of, in fact, he and his wife introduced us. Our friend, "Charlie", had a big interest in the paranormal and was one of the most fascinating people I had ever encountered. Charlie passed away suddenly of a brain anheurism (sp?) that had never been diagnosed. Shortly after his funeral, we stopped by his house to check on his wife and visit with her. After our visit, we were saying our goodbye's and opened the door to leave. A raven (how's that for a good stereotype!) flew into the house and very purposefully flew up the stairs into the bedroom. James struggled for almost an hour trying to get the bird out of the house, and I could tell the incident had really unnerved our friend's wife. I couldn't help but think that Charlie had something to do with it.

2. Earlier this year, we lost the gentleman who founded the adoption agency we used for Brianna. Words cannot say what a profound effect this man had on the lives of so many people. I was not able to attend his memorial service, but the one thing that really struck me was a story I had heard from others. The service was held in a heavily populated suburban area. Several people witnessed a large deer standing at the edge of the woods, watching the ceremony with interest. Nothing seemed to scare it off. After the service, it just disappeared into the wooded lot adjoining the cemetary. Several people commented they felt it was the gentleman's spirit saying a final goodbye.

3. On more than one occasion, my husband and I have driven by a rural cemetary where several members of his family are buried. Several times, we have witnessed a wolf standing rigidly still near their graves.

4. Shortly before my mother passed away last year, I was outside after dark one evening. It isn't uncommon to hear an owl at night, but this particular evening, hubby and I heard three. I have to admit, the superstitious part of me wondered if the spirits of Mom's loved ones were calling her to them, or at least alerting me they were doing so.

Now, I don't believe the spirits of these people were reincarnated as animals. However, I have always felt that perhaps somehow the spirits of people were able to directly effect the behavior of animals in order to send a message to the living.

Anyone else ever experience anything odd like this? Is it only coincidence? Any other theories?

Hi Carrie,

I don't think your experiences were coincidences at all. I do believe that animals often represent signs or serve as messengers. I also feel that spirit will use animals to garner our attention and it may well be that they are standing next to the animal when we take notice of it. It would be frightening or overwhelming for many to see the spirit of a loved one, in particular during a time of grieving. We all have totem animals and it may be we utilize the animal that is our totem at times like you mentioned. Although not everyone has a totem animal that is common to most areas like a deer, dog, cat etc. so that may not fit with that thought. Some may have a lion or hippo or zebra for example and it would be quite difficult to have totem animal like those appear in most locales. lol

Experiences that come to mind for me that would be similar to what you have experienced would be times when a bird has hit the window. I never like it when a bird hits my window, not only because the poor little things are often badly hurt but when one dies I know bad news will follow. It does not normaly mean that I will learn of someone passing but it has most every time meant that something sad, unfortunate or upsetting will happen to either someone close to me or myself directly. I always run to see if the bird is laying on the ground outside when I hear one hit the window. As I dart outside I pray it was only shaken and will survive. The last time this happened was this past summer, we brought the little bird inside and as hard as we tried to save it the little thing gasped it's last breathe in front of us. Within minutes of that happening our phone rang, it was our youngest son who was in immediate need of our help as he and some friends were in a threatening situation. It did not end there as before the weekend was up two more calls with bad news came including one the very next morning from the hospital, my older son was in a bad car accident. That is but one time of many that a bird hitting the window served as a warning of bad news to come. The bad news is not always dire but but it is always unsettling in some way. I know loved ones that have passed are always with us, watching over us, could it be this common occurence is used as a sign to let me know something has happened or is going to happen? I believe so. It may not hold the same meaning for all just as some of the animal signs you have seen may hold different meanings for others but I do believe animals, who are perfect spirits, play a bigger role then we realize in connecting us with the other side. I also imagine more often then not these messages do go unnoticed or at least at the time they are not viewed as a message or a sign.

Thanks for sharing those experiences Carrie and giving light to this interesting topic. =)

Cat, it is interesting you included your story about the bird hitting the window. I remember you posting about that.

The night I heard the three owls happened to be Halloween of last year. With my mother being in the hospital and us knowing it was just a matter of time, I wasn't in much of a mood to be out, but we wanted to take Brianna trick-or-treating for her first Halloween. Just after we heard the owls, we were in our vehicle driving home, when a bat flew directly into our windshield. It was pretty odd. Anyway, it reminded me of the bird and the window story.

I've never really felt these things could be coincidental either. The story about my friend's passing and the bird in his house was probably the most dramatic. The bird was definitely purposeful in what it was doing. We had always enjoyed sharing ghost stories and it was like this was his way of telling me that he was still around and enjoying a good practical joke, even if it was a bit unnerving.

That is interesting as well Carrie, having the bat fly into your windshield after hearing the owls. I read through your original post one more time as a thought occured to me after reading your most recent comments. There are many symbols in dreams, some that seem to be common in that they represent the same meaning for most while others are unique to the dreamer and once understood the true meaning behind a dream is unveiled. This seems much like that.

If a bird or bat, as was with you, hitting a window was to serve as a symbol to me that would be impact - a sign or warning of sorts that something will occur that will have impact on ones life. I know not every bird hitting a window will hold that meaning for many birds fly into windows due to reflections they see but, like dreams sometimes there is no meaning to any symbols noted as it's only a reflection of something we experienced be it life occurence or a movie watched etc. For me that bird becomes that symbol when it dies and I am witness to it.

Hearing the owls three times, the number three is symbolic of the holy trinity.

The raven flying through the house. This happened after your friends passing. You mentioned Charlie was a fascinating man who was into the paranormal, seems your comment on the stereotype was right on the mark. Ravens are often considered symbolic to the paranormal and are most fascinating intelligent creatures, what a fitting symbol for Charlie to use to let you know he now flies freely. Somehow a sparrow would not hold the same symbolic meaning in the description you gave of Charlie.

The deer at the memorial. To me a deer is a symbol of gentleness and grace. They are also one of the more vulnerable animals of the woods. I recall you telling us about the gentelman that founded the agency and gentelness and grace seem most fitting. As does vulnerable as it would serve as reminder not to forget the children who need our protection and love.

Does what the wolf symbolizes to you bring meaning to why you may have witnessed it several times at the cemetary where your loved ones are buried? I often think of spirit when I see the picture of a wolf or watch this beautiful animal in film. For me a wolf is a free spirit a symbol of strength, honor, courage and mystery.

Perhaps then animals sometimes not only serve as a sign or message to us, but are also symbols carefully chosen by spirit for the meaning they may hold to the ones whom will see it?

I know I posted this before, but when my friend died, I had the big black cat come lay on my sidewalk. Later, I realized it had happened around the same time that she had passed away. I believe it was my totem, since it was more shadowy than real... and whooooshed away as fast as it appeared. It came and laid right in the middle of my sidewalk, and being dark outside, and it being black... I wasn't sure what I was seeing at first. Then I approached it and it was almost like a vaporous action, as it rose up and in a blink was gone. I had been playing in the pool league and watching Reagan's funeral, and went outside for a breath of air. I came back and remarked to a friend in pool, "something bad has happened and it's going to effect me." My friend dismissed it, but sure enough... I got the news of her death on Sunday. It was either my totem, or some spirit which came to bring me the warning that bad news was to follow.

That is interesting Pate! It kinda makes me wonder if that was indeed a flesh and blood animal, or one in spirit form that was sent to warn you.

Cat, I really hadn't thought of all of the symbolism, but it really is right on target. It does make me think that these specific animals are chosen to appear for a purpose. Pretty amazing to think about!