Animal consciousness survival

Sure Enrique.

We lost Max in the November prior to this experience, and Georgia (his sister) about ten days before it happened. We had them from pups. Max had lymphoma and was 7, Georgia had just turned 8 and died of the same thing. 

I am not sure how much sense it will make to you but it had a profound impact on me. I had never experienced anything like it before and I haven't since. This are my notes written a short while after the event.

"15:53 Saturday16/08/2014 Lying on sofa. Mainly asleep more dozing but could hear snatches of TV.  

Sudden Strong impression of face being licked intensely. Kept my eyes closed, had sensation of touching head and ears of a dog, I could 'see' dog but knew my eyes were closed. It was a Dobermann. Odd state - part of me seemingly experiencing the phenomenon and another part, equally me, observing it.

Got impression it was more Max than Georgia but a lot younger. Licking like Max did. Standing between footstool and sofa pushing head to me, head slightly inclined which Max used to do to get a good lick . 

The other me (being licked) was calling <my partner> (who wasn't in the room) but I didn't want to open my eyes because I knew he would go. I could see, though I knew my eyes were closed. It was not seeing in the usual sense in that it lacked the crystal clear quality vision I have when I am awake, but nevertheless it was easily good enough to see the dog and what he was going.  Didn't feel like I was fully awake, but intense feeling of real presence and of my face actually being licked - even down to the texture of the dog’s tongue. The tongue was soft but no sensation of wetness or slobber . I could feel his his head, almost sure it was Max. Licking feeling was intense.felt like he was reaching to me between footstool and sofa but not completely obstructed by it. I could actually see part of the footstool through the dog though my eyes were closed. "

I got the impression the dog had entered from the far door in the room and had run to me, almost as though someone had let him into the room. 

When I say "I thought it was Max" it was because the dogs were very similar, from the same litter so I couldn't be absolutely certain by sight, but the behaviour was definitely more "Max-like"than Georgia. There was no doubt in my mind it was one of the dogs we had lost. The light in the room appeared yellowish (not like when I woke) and not like I have seen anywhere when awake but it was easily bright enough to see by,

Finally I have a recollection that he had a tail - which was odd as he had been docked by the breeder before we got him.

It is hard to convey the 'realness' of the experience. There were two "me"s. One in contact with the dog and the other, perhaps two or three inches behind, it watching but also experiencing the feelings. 

Almost as soon as I realised what was happening and my attention focused, the scene disappeared. 

Odd no?

That was amazing. Thank you so much. It makes all the sense in the world. I heard similar stories from people, and to me, they are very real and comforting.

Thanks for sharing that Obi. Just to make sure, this experienced happened 10 days after you lost the second dog, Georgia?

That’s right Ninshub.

That was amazing. Thank you so much. It makes all the sense in the world. I heard similar stories from people, and to me, they are very real and comforting.

You’re welcome Enrique.

That's an impressive experience, Obiwan ! Thanks for sharing it. I can't think of a sound normal explanation for it, only that you made it all up  but of course that would be absurd, you wouldn't do such a thing. So it seems to me your friend somehow returned.

That's an impressive experience, Obiwan ! Thanks for sharing it. I can't think of a sound normal explanation for it, only that you made it all up  but of course that would be absurd, you wouldn't do such a thing. So it seems to me your friend somehow returned.

Thanks Tim.  I don’t have the imagination even if I’d wanted to.
I’m inclined to agree with you. It was an amazing experience, whatever it was.

[Ninshub]

Obiwan's experience also seems to confirm that people most of the time get these experiences when they're in an altered state of consciousness. I've had bereaved parents relate to me that their deceased children visited them in the state, and hugged them for example, just before waking up, or in between being not awakened and awakened, with the experience very distinctly not-dream like, and the feeling lingering once they had woken up. When the experience faded somewhat in memory, and especially in sensation, and days and weeks went by, doubts returning and the grieving resumed, whereas for that moment they knew their loved one (and the bond) was still present somewhere.

Obiwan's experience also seems to confirm that people most of the time get these experiences when they're in an altered state of consciousness.

Yes, I tend to agree, Ian. More tuned in, maybe. The universe is much stranger than we think.

Obiwan's experience also seems to confirm that people most of the time get these experiences when they're in an altered state of consciousness. I've had bereaved parents relate to me that their deceased children visited them in the state, and hugged them for example, just before waking up, or in between being not awakened and awakened, with the experience very distinctly not-dream like, and the feeling lingering once they had woken up. When the experience faded somewhat in memory, and especially in sensation, and days and weeks went by, doubts returning and the grieving resumed, whereas for that moment they knew their loved one (and the bond) was still present somewhere.

I agree. My two singularly memorable experiences occurred when I was mentally in neutral. I was wide awake but unfocused when I had the auditory one, at a friend’s funeral. I’d describe both experiences as occurring in some sort of trance state.