By Michael Avery
A few days ago, when Oi and I began our daily walk along a path that meanders alongside a stream and some natural ponds, we came upon a disturbing scene: a motionless squirrel lying in some grass. His eyes were open, so I concluded that he had left his body through the doors of death.
But then Oi looked closer and saw that its stomach was moving in and out, faintly, but rapidly.
We sang the ancient mantra known as HU, a sacred repetition that connects one to the infinite stream of Light and Sound—Divine Love—flowing throughout the universe. From prior experience, we’ve learned that the calming influence of HU can make an animal’s transition from this life an easier one. We don’t sing HU to change an outer circumstance, only to be a vehicle for Divine Spirit.
On this present occasion, as Oi and I sang HU, an inner nudge prompted us to call an animal communicator friend of ours named Sharon. Fortunately, even though it was approaching 5:00 pm, Sharon picked up the phone.
She told us to take a seat on the grass a short distance away and to continue singing the love song of HU. The squirrel felt anxious having us towering over him according to Sharon.
After about 15 minutes, we continued our walk after asking the Inner Teacher, Divine Spirit, to help our tiny friend in the best way possible.
Later that evening, around 8:30 pm, Oi and I got a strong nudge to go back and check on the squirrel. To our surprise, the squirrel had found enough energy to crawl from its position on the grass into the middle of the parking area close to where we park.
With night approaching, we didn’t want to leave the squirrel where a car might hit him. The asphalt was getting cold as well.
In our car, we had a pair of old, ripped jeans and a shirt that we’d been carrying around for a couple of weeks. We gingerly rolled the squirrel over onto the jeans and transported him back to the grassy area. After covering him up with the shirt, we sang HU for several more minutes before driving home for the night.
Oi and I read from spiritual books every night. On this particular evening, Oi turned to me and said, “If we find the word ‘squirrel’ in our reading tonight, that will be a sign that our friend—as Soul—will make a peaceful transition to the other side. When we go back in the morning, we can dispose of his body.”
I smiled, knowing that The Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad, the holy book in Eckankar, probably wouldn’t mention anything about a squirrel. But, sure enough, as we turned to page 459 of The Shariyat, Books 1 & 2, Oi excitedly read the word “squirrel.”
I was a bit surprised to say the least! Oi looked over at me, waiting to hear her favorite words.
“You were right, Honey,” I told her. Oi beamed!
The next morning, when we pulled up near the grass where we had covered and comforted the squirrel, we did indeed find only a lifeless body. Soul had crossed over to the other side of life.
The following day was sunny and warm. We had our back patio door open with only the screen in place to keep insects at bey. Oi and I were startled when we heard an unusual sound coming from outside. A squirrel had climbed up the screen and, once at the top, turned upside down and looked in at us.
We took this as a waking dream telling us that our friend from the ponds who had translated, was now in squirrel heaven and was looking down appreciatively and thanking us for caring for him in his last days on earth!
Oi and I were honored to be of service to another Soul on this remarkable journey who was shifting from our reality to the next. Through us, the Inner Teacher was able to make the transition easier with some warm bedding and the comforting song of HU. What better way to serve all life than with a spirit of love and service!