The Soul of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human
Vint Virga, DVM
The Soul of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human
2013, Crown Publisher, New York, NY
Ancient scholars maintained that anima — or soul — is the essence of all creatures, human and nonhuman. In The Soul of All Living Creatures veterinarian Vint Virga concurs, and this collection of stories from his years of practice reveals that each animal is a unique soul, with his or her own individual identity, emotions and spirit. Understanding how animal companions express themselves and perceive the world is an opportunity to reflect on our own daily perceptions. Your dog snuggled up with you watching television sees the screen like an old time movie, a series of flashing pictures. Your cat in the window gazes at a post-storm rainbow devoid of greens and reds. Like us, animals grow in ways experienced by all of creation including connection, mindfulness, integrity and forgiveness. Sensitivity and compassion go hand and hand, as displayed by adopted cat sisters Rosalind and Sabrina. At the approach of their exuberant toddler housemate, terrified Sabrina runs, while Rosalind selflessly takes center stage, deflecting attention from her sister kitty. Happily, the toddler loved learning the game of “whisper kitty,” so now both Sabrina and Rosalind enjoy a gentler touch and softer voice.
Gail Lord is a freelance writer living in Massachusetts. Please send book review copies to 51 North Street, Grafton, MA 01519 or email socbookreviewer@gmail.com.
