If there is ever a story about being lucky in love with how our beloved animals come into our live, it’s the story of how an amazingly, special Ebony has come into my life and our kitty family sent by our beloved, Bandit shortly after she transitioned into spirit. With eyes like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, and his fur is sleek and soft just like his movements about the house. He glides when he jumps and climbs trees like Tarzan. Sometimes we just stare into each other’s eyes just like Bandit and I did for 18 years.
Although he is nearly 2 years old, he is a very wise soul in the way he handles himself with my other kitties who are not as thrilled with his precocious way of slipping into Bandit’s role in the family. It’s definitely as if he is much wiser in the ways of the world than a kitty of his youth would typically display with them and me. As a healer, he uses his tail for healing by caressing me and shaking it. I usually feel soother within minutes. Sometimes, he wraps it around my wrist to hold my hand when I’m emotionally upset or nervous about something and reminds me that all is truly OK.
The way Ebony made his way into my heart was by climbing the tree in my front garden, getting onto the roof and coming to my bedroom window to get by my guard kitty Bear to be with me. He was so determined and dedicated to make me his mom and healing my heart. Apparently nothing, not even the very serious and scary attacks for almost a year by my very jealous Bear would keep Ebony from returning to be right by my side every evening. He took his place on my bed from the start where Bandit slept and with the same confidence and assurance that this was his place and position in the kitty family.
What’s even more incredible is that he is both the new love of my life and the forever love of many lifetimes, Bandit. They have both merged in one precious and miraculous kitty. Interestingly, just a month before, Sandra told me about a book that she had just started reading and recommended to me. We were discussing reincarnation and all the ways this is possible. How the spirit of an animal can even send a part of themselves to you through another animal already with you which she calls a ride-a-long.
The book she recommended is called, Shapeshfiting with our Animal Companions with the subtitle: Connecting with the spiritual awareness with all life. The author is Dawn Braumann Brunke. She has some other books which are great also.
She is not a professional animal communicator but like you and me, found herself meeting with and talking to people about this subject to write a story for her column as a reporter/writer. The rest is history as she has become one of the foremost animal translators in the field. If you are interested in what I am writing in these stories, you may wish to read this book.
It changed my entire understanding of the ways in which our beloved animal companions can speak to us , visit us, and reincarnate to be back with us. And, it explains through the words of the spirit of the authors recently transitioned angel dog what they are doing in the afterlife, their soul contracts with us and others, and their deep profound lessons for us on the soul level.
When Sandra and I got together via phone to talk with him and find out why he had come to me, he was clear and direct about his being sent to me and why. It was to heal my heart. From the first meeting, Sandra affectionately called him Mr Ebony and I still sometimes call him my little Mr. He told her she could call him anything …but late for dinner. And, interestingly he is never late for dinner even if he is outside when I open the can for my other kitties? The information Sandra translated to me in this session and in subsequent ones since with my oldest kitty Queen Sheba is still with me. They have been life-changing and have accelerated my ability to understand, hear and translate what my beloved animal companions are telling me as well as my ability to hear other animals. To connect with them and hopefully convey the deep profound lessons they have for us to help us grow as humans in every way.
I didn’t know his previous name but he told me to call him Ebony which seemed to be a perfect name for him.
I sing a song to him everyday in gratitude for his sharing himself with Bandit and me, which he purrs to and tells me he absolutely loves.
Sweet Ebony
I love you, you love me…sweet Ebony.
I hold you, you heal me….sweet Ebony.
I touch you, you teach me…sweet Ebony.
I sing many more of these sweet nothings in his ear until were both in bliss with each other.
How did he make his way into our home and my heart?
He serenaded me at my bedroom window. (Ok, it wasn’t that romantic and sounded more like a plaintiff meow). However, his bravery, dedication and adventuresome nature won me over instantly.
How did Bandit orchestrate this from spirit?
They first met inside the house and later talked outside as well I believe. Ebony was trapped by my male kitty while curiously coming in to visit just before Bandit transitioned. It was during her last month but I did not know this at the time. It appeared they began a conversation and connection then that would give Bandit an opportunity to set-up her future reincarnation and know that I would also be OK with Ebony’s love. It also provided to her the freedom to transition earlier than maybe she otherwise would have. She had an abrupt early departure and very painful for me as I was unprepared and couldn’t save her some last days of pain passing at home in my arms.
She tells me now that there is nothing to forgive because I internally let her go and told her it was Ok to go. This gave her the opportunity to let go and not stay longer for me. As well, she relieves me that it was not as long and painful for her as it was for me. She was glad to be at home with me and her family even if it wasn’t pain free and peaceful in her last days.
Bandit’s Beloved Gift
It was getting closer to the time when I knew I had to release Bandit to her next life after years of home and Vet care for a deteriorating illness. I was devastated at the thought of going on without her. Life after Bandit…I couldn’t imagine it or ever loving a kitty in the same way again.
I felt her illness was my fault which made it that much more painful to be what I felt to be losing my soulmate companion and love of my life for the last 18 yrs. Yes, I did have two other kitties that I loved dearly. One, her sister and life companion who needed much care and love. She became so ill she almost died at the same time in grief carrying me through it. However, at the time I felt that no kitty would ever be who or what Bandit was for me. And, of course, this is still true but a reincarnation miracle has made it possible for me to open my heart to another and love her even more.
In my desire to make everything perfect for my kitties even in this case, when I was not focused on her (she was resting and preparing herself for the afterlife), I was studying everything about animal communication, reincarnation, the afterlife, transition, grieving.
I was doing just about everything I could to prepare her for an amazing afterlife by talking to her about it while reading books and translating to her as she napped and rested by my side. Clearly she was already visiting the afterlife and didn’t need my assistance here. As I was preparing myself and making plans with her about our future afterlife communications , I expressed to her clearly and repeatedly that I hoped she’d come back to me/us when she was ready and I was in a more stable financial home situation to care for another beloved animal.
I spent much of our remaining time reminiscing with her about our past lives together. The most vivid one I have recalled in regression is one of her as an Orange Bengal Tiger by my side with me as a female barefoot doctor healer in some ancient time and land. We traveled from village to village healing people and animals that came to us from all over. Unfortunately, in that life she became ill and I couldn’t save her with what I had and knew right near us so I traveled across a dessert to get something that was needed and died on the way of dehydration. She then died waiting for me to get back. It is a heart-breaking memory and it seems it is very much like what happened in this life in some ways except that I stayed to hold her in my arms this time. I trusted that she would come back somehow again and I had done all I could and it was time to let her go.
Amazingly, I also believe that she was the reincarnation (at least in part or a “spark of her soul”) of my first orange tabby, peach who, had to be put down at a very young age. In my desire to put her first, I made the decision to have her put down a week later after I’d had time to say goodbye. I could not allow her to suffer for my sake with a painful inoperable tumor from feline leukemia. I was only 22 and she was nearly 2. She was the first animal that was my full responsibility. Peach literally saved my life when given to me by a friend shortly after graduating from college. At the time, I was lost as to what to do with my life at that point and nearly homeless. I barely had a home or food to care for this little gift. Somehow, I managed to put her first as she gave me a reason to live.
And, yet again, I feel Bandit has returned to do the same as she knew that it would be almost unbearable without her in some way and without the bond and love we shared.
This time, it has come in the most amazing of ways as it is when you have a soul contract with an animal or person. Our Loved ones will find a way to be with us if this is either planned by us before our birth or if the situation calls for it at the time for very important reasons. In my case, I’m not sure if I’ll ever know all the reasons but I’m certainly thankful that the creator, angels, guides and all the beings looking out for me in this lifetime are making sure that I stay on track with my commitment to learn to speak for the animals in my own way. Maybe I’m telling this story now to help another. Or, maybe it will be more stories in the future.
As far as the current reincarnation situation, the signs have been quite amazing and given to me in a way I would understand. First, days after her passing in a dream that Bandit just woke-up in her own body, young and free, running off into the distance and fading away. Then, next there were some leaves in the closet where she used to sleep and spent her last days. There was no way I could see for them to get in there, but an afterlife visit showed me she was out playing in the leaves as she always loved to do. I felt her presence with me and still do in the room she actually passed in. This is where I did a lot of healing work on her. It’s almost as if she never left us. She just changed form.
Yes, many of these signs could be mistaken for coincidence or general to all kitties. However, I’ve known a lot of cats over the years and most do not display her unique characteristics or behaviors. But, the real connection is in the feeling of her, of her spirit, and the closeness of heart and soul.
This shapeshifting body-sharing between Bandit and Ebony’s souls has been confirmed by a few animal communicator professionals that I have had the great honor to meet and get help with on my doubts about all of this. One of these and someone I respect very much is Sandra Larson. So you can be sure I’ve really given this thorough examination. Please know I am as doubtful about my own abilities in this area as any of you. I know that it was possible I could be making it all up to feel better in my grief and desire to be close to Bandit again.
So, through talking to Ebony directly, we confirmed that he feels Bandit “sharing time” with him and he has agreed to this. The body of a very loving and wise kitty body she sent to us for many reasons. He explained it to us like this. “He senses her desire to come into his body for an important reason, like to visit us and reassure us or just to experience life as Ebony. He begins to feel tired so as he relaxes his soul rests into the background and then allows Bandit’s soul to come to the fore front. Yet, he is still there. So, I will see his personality traits while Bandit’s soul qualities come through. And, when they merge spirits I see a mixture of the two.”
Our animal companions are more powerful than we will ever comprehend as humans. Their love is unconditional and they make sure to fulfill their soul contracts and are dedicated to us, even if that means they might become ill and leave us eventually in order to help us.
It’s taken me over a year to fully acknowledge that it is Bandit’s soul is visiting through Ebony in this amazing way. Sometimes I feel and see her emerge from within him and sometimes it’s as if she is merged with his spirit.
Interestingly, I did ask her to come back in any way she wished but that I hoped she might be even be close to me physically and do more kissing and snuggling. She was more independent and liked her space but to be closeby. I also asked if she might be more vocal even though she has the most amazing trill and purr. Well, Ebony not only is vocal, but he has a trill, purr and makes lots of other happy cute noises as he snuggles close to me. He even follows me like a puppy at times.
Ebony was more of himself at first when he came in to us almost two years ago and he spent much of his time working out his relationship with my older male Honey Bear and female, Queen of Sheba. They had never experienced such a thing and were still grieving over the loss of Bandit with me. It’s taken almost two years for those relations to smooth out.
I see Bandit in Ebony more and more every day. Sometimes Ebony is just his sweet self and that is more than enough. I have read many stories about this kind of situation otherwise I would have never put things together. As an avid reader of animal stories, I’ve read a lot about companion animals and how they heal us, teach us, save us, and reincarnate to continue their soul contract relationships with us.
What I’ve come to understand is that with this unusual situation, the animal’s soul can merge with the current one or they can even have an agreement to exchange places! In this case, it makes perfect sense that Bandit took some time in the afterlife to do some visiting and recovering. I’m sure she has had other lives without me to attend to in the afterlife. I feel she also needed some transition and healing time.
However, upon retrospect, she sent Ebony to us as soon as I could open my heart again and had grieved enough to be able to welcome him and love him fully even while I was still grieving for her.We are able to expand our hearts in our grief if we can use the grief to break our hearts open to the love our animal companions provide us and instead of closing down, opening up to more love.
It is possible that when she was ready she began to visit through Ebony more and more. I think she wanted to check on us and be close while getting a chance to be adventure boy as I call him affectionately. I felt she also wanted me to know she was OK and to show me without a doubt that her spirit is alive and well! She has been encouraging me to tell the story formally in many ways and now Sandra has provided me the opportunity and forum to do so.
I keep thanking her every day for Ebony and this most miraculous reincarnation reunion with her that I so hoped and wished for long before Bandit’s last physical days with me as Bandit. I never imagined in my deep grief of missing Bandit and her younger years before she was sick that she would be able to send the kitty to us that I already knew outside near our home. Amazingly, she had also met him before her passing in order to heal my broken heart and also come back to show me everything I was reading about in my reincarnation and shapeshifting with your animal companion books.
So, for almost two years now I’ve tried to downplay it and find ways to convince myself that all kitties are like Bandit or this can’t be her because they are different. I’ve only discussed this with my animal communicator friends and a few others who looked at me with much doubt in their faces and concern over my sanity.
I feel that I have the best of both these amazing souls in one beautiful kitty body. It’s possible that they are both from the same soul group and are able to make these kinds of agreements with each other for mutual benefit of everyone. Bandit gets an opportunity to test out being a male kitty this time.
A few months after her transition, I was told in a reading from Doreen Virtue a well-known medium that Bandit was right by my side soothing me during the reading. And, that she was in fact planning to reincarnate back to me as a make kitty but with a different description and method of getting to me. I also realized this would be a perfect situation for her this lifetime as she was very adventurous but had been shot by some type of BB gun at approx 5 years of age (I didn’t know for many years and it showed up on an x-ray when she became ill and less mobile early-on) which caused her fear of walking around outside as she loved to do as a young kitty.
This really lessoned my grief and allowed me to begin working on connecting with Bandit in the afterlife without my deep sadness putting a block in the way. So, after more animal communication studies and a lot of meditations to connect with my and other friend’s animal companions, I feel I may truly be hearing Bandit and receiving some information from all my kitties in a claircognizant way as well. For many years, I have spent a lot of quiet time with my kitties while doing healing work on them. I realized that my guidance, wherever it is coming from, has been nudging me in this direction more and more.
Taking some time away from telling this story play with Ebony (as I always did with Bandit) helped me release the remaining doubt I still had about how all this could truly happen for someone like me. Now, as Ebony rests by my side, I think about how sometimes the Universe has plans far greater than we could ever imagine ourselves if we just remain open to all the possibilities and trust that a higher power knows exactly what is best for us.
At these times, I wonder where Bandit is. I imagine she is somewhere in spirit doing what she is needs to do and guiding me to keep moving towards teaching, healing people and animals in various ways. One of those is to become an animal translator and join with our Beloved Sandra in helping bring more awareness to the truths and teachings they have come to bless us with.
In our last months, I did my best to let her that know is was OK to go and not hold on for me any longer even though I was scared to go on without her. I bravely told her that I’d get through the grief knowing she was free and out of pain which was most important to me. And, with the trust that she would be coming back again! I promised her I would focus on other things relating to the animals and healing until that time. I felt sure somehow that it would all be worth it if she could show me everything that I was studying about the afterlife signs and that she was alive and well, and that reincarnation was a possibility. Then, to come back in whatever way she wanted when she was ready and I could give her a good life and home again, so I could one day write this story.
Reincarnation and the afterlife is a bit of a mystery for all of us. It gives us a lot to consider with its infinite possibilities. The synchronicities and connections between animals and humans that we don’t take the time to look at more deeply and take for granted as random or chance.
Whether it’s all true or not, I have been blessed with the most beautiful special kitty with the help of others in the spirit realm knowing it would lead me forward in my path as an animal translator/story teller, teacher and healer. If even any of this is true (and Bandit has been an integral part of all of this,) she has really outdone herself this time!
Bandit, I love you forever and ever…….
Suzanne Shafritz
Animal Communication Blog