Just the other side of death's curtain are the Summerlands. All the pets who have died go through this curtain and though they can still watch us, we can't see them. Sometimes the curtain is thin in places and we catch a glimpse of our lost companion waiting on the other side. Sometimes the curtain twitches as they look through at us and we can feel them or feel a sudden draft as the curtain falls back into place.
The Summerlands exist in the long, lazy late afternoons of an eternal golden summer of remembered childhood; the time when everything seems most alive and sweetest smelling. Our animals are young again and turned to perfect health. There is always space and time to play and love, places to be with others and places to be alone together.
When our time comes, the curtain is lifted from our eyes and we can see the Summerlands ourselves. Waiting there for us are the animals and people we loved in life and we can see them clearly at last. The has come for us to move away from the curtain and renew these interrupted friendships. Sometimes we can't help but take a peek through the curtain just to see how our own loved ones are doing before they come to join us.
--"Summerlands" was written by Sarah Hartwell. She has released this into the public domain so that it may be freely distributed. I located this story on Moggy'sCat Pages on August 13, 2012.
The Rainbow Bridge is located somewhere in the Afterlife, just this side of Summerlands. When a animal companion dies that had a special connection to a human, that animal travels to lands around the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills, trees and bushes, for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm, comfortable.
All the animals who were ill or old, grow young again and restored to health and vigour. Any who were hurt or injured are made whole and strong again--much as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; occasionally they miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play, stalk and snooze, but sometimes one stops suddenly and turns into the distance. Eyes bright; ears up; nose quivers! The animal breaks from whatever activity that held attention. Dashing over the grass of the Plain of Joy, faster and faster towards a human in the distance.
They greet as old friends, very glad to see meet each other again.
Then, together, they cross the Rainbow Bridge.
--orginal author unknown; another version of this story can ber found at Moggy's Cat Pages, accessed August 13, 2012.
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"So you're the little Johnny that old Spot's been going on about for the last 50 years or so..." |
Myth's story and folklore discussion:
This folklore page in "Yet Another Wicca Site" has three "stories" that relate to the same subject.
The first one, Summerlands is a story written by Sarah Hartwell. I have put here unchanged.
The second one, The Rainbow Bridge, is modern folklore about the Afterlife involving humans and animals who developed a family connection.
I have heard and read other versions of this modern bit of folklore in several different sources. Some sources indicate a Judeao-Christian focus, using the words "Heaven" or "Paradise." I think I once read one that mentioned the of the "Pearly White Shinning Gates."
The version which I spied at Moggy's Cat Pages felt as though it had sort of a New Age touch to it. I seem to recall reading a version very similar to the one on Moggy's Cat Pages sometime in the 1980's at my vet's office. This contemporary folktale enjoys a wide circulation among animal lovers who consider their beloved pets to be family members.
Sciencfic data collected since the mid 20th century has clearly established that certain species of animals do possess intelligence and form genuine emotional bonds. The "higher" emotions of love and compassion are not what separates humans from the animals. Neither can all animals be described as unintelligent beasts, nor mindless brutes, as was once asserted in the industrial modernist mechanistic worldview.
Yet, no scientific data can prove or disprove that pets' emotions and their ability to relate to humans indicate that animals possess an immortal spirit that will survive after death.
Questions regarding the soul, spirit, afterlife, or reincarnation belong to the realm of religion and theology.
In the 21st century, religions are divided as to whether non-human life (animals/plants) have souls/spirits.
There are some religions--including those involving theology with reincarnation/animism/pantheism--that believe animals may also possess souls/spirits. For example, many Native American Indian tribes believed that animals possessed spirits.
To my knowledge, mainstream sects of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious theology does not claim that non-human life (animals/plants) have souls/spirits. For example, official Christian theology maintains that God created humans with an immortal soul. However, God, in his infinite wisdom, did not create animals or plants with soul/spirit.
Thus, this widely circulated Rainbow Bridge story represents a form of modern folk religion among late 20th century and 21st century animal lovers.
I have read versions with a more of a Neo-Pagan focus particularly in small Neo-Pagan periodicals, aka "photocopied 'zines." These versions might mention an "apple orchard" or "wide garden" with a "beauful lady" or "brown man." Admittedly I may be mixing up my memories from numerous sources.
I have retold this tale in my own manner. Somewhere out there I am certain that some Neo-Pagan Norse Reconstructionists may like the meaning of the tale, but dislike the Rainbow Bridge reference. This modern scrap of folk religion about a Rainbow Bridge shares few similarities the Norse Bifröst rainbow bridge which arches between Midgard (earth) and Asgard, the realm of the Gods.
My "Plain of Joy" allusion relates to the Irish "Mag Mell" or "Magh Meall" which is vaguely similiar to Elysium aka the Greek Elysian Fields.
The third one, Happy Reunion! is something I've seen before. I thought I'd share it here. St. Peter cheerfully greets an animal lover along with his pet dog named, Spot.
Over the Rainbow Bridge at Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22733, 540-854-0870.