Animal Angels

The Science of Prophecy

Animals Are Our Angels

I have always been an animal lover. As a kid, I had a cat that was closer to me than any human best friend. As an adult, I think I would own a dog and cat farm, if I could only afford such a thing! Since that is unpractical and unlikely in such a place as Houston, I have limited myself to four dogs and a cat. (The cat has been promised exclusivity.)

I’ve always been aware of the unconditional love, comfort, and limitless laughs that pets offer me and my human pals. However, it wasn’t until I got divorced that I truly realized that there was something more to these unique relationships than I ever imagined.

When I got married, I received my first dog from my husband. My husband was a dog person, and although my brothers had had a dog, I never had one of my own. I was, up to that point, a cat person. So my husband gave me this pretty little Border collie mix whom I named Chiara. (In those days, I favored Italian names for all my pets.) My husband trained her, much as he trained me, to be a quiet, obedient little thing.

Chiara and I were good students. For 17 years, Chiara and I were best friends, sharing all the ups and downs that went on in the household. About 10 years into the marriage, I got another dog—a puppy, whom I was allowed to train. He was a big boy named Brolin with a sunny disposition.

The dogs went everywhere with us—on road trips, to work, even to Europe where we lived for a time. They lived on boats with us both in the states and in France and the Netherlands. For dogs, they had pretty exciting lives. I had an exciting life too, except that my spouse couldn’t control his temper, so needless to say, the relationship finally ended after 17 years of trying.

That was when I really discovered the real reason for animal friends. I was living in Texas, but I had to drive to New England to finalize my divorce. I did so, and I drove back to Killeen afterwards, where I lived at the time. Chiara—plus the other 2 dogs and 2 cats I’d acquired (including Brolin) were waiting there. I got home late that night, greeted them, and then promptly went to bed, exhausted. When I woke up the next morning, I discovered that Chiara had passed away in her sleep. I remember, I sat down next to her on the floor and started crying and asked her angrily why she had left me. It suddenly struck me that my husband had acted the same way when I packed to leave, because the marriage was over. 17 years.

Chiara came and went with the marriage. I was no longer the obedient wife. And then I thought, Chiara was the obedient dog. When I stopped being the obedient wife, maybe she was no longer needed. She was my buddy through all those years of turmoil when I needed a shoulder to cry on. The "trouble-maker" dog, Brolin, remained with me.

In the last few years I also had a little Boston terrier that one of my amours gave me. The dog became very very ill, and when I took him to the emergency room, I discovered that he was carrying a number of illnesses similar to my own as well as a few (even more dire) related to my boyfriend’s health troubles.

Since then, I have discovered even stranger things. When my stomach gets upset, my dog Beauty gets an upset stomach too. She’s not eating anything different. She doesn’t share human meals. But if I am sick, she is too, never fail. Ariella, my Golden Retriever, has had tumors, and so have I. Diva gets ear problems when I get them.

Most people notice that their dogs have similar personalities to themselves, as well. I believe that if there are any unsaid words or emotions in your household, the animals will surely express them for you, they are not only creatures filled with unconditional love, but they are also willing to share your emotional illnesses, for better or for worse. If you’ve got a feisty one, you might want to take a look at yourself, and ask why you (and your pet) are expressing these emotions.

I have a sweet dog (Beauty), a happy dog (Diva), a dopey dog (Ariella), and then I most recently got myself a feisty old flood dog nicknamed Freddie. She’s a street wise, mangy old pup, whose coat fills out and looks beautiful only in winter. I am not sure what that says about me, especially since I seem to be moving from collecting beautiful blonde canines to crotchety, dark haired old ladies with attitude.

So, what about you? What kind of angels do you have?Aren’t they the best?

Andrea Foster is the astrologer for SingleFile Magazine and the Ruby Rabbit, located at 14520 Memorial. An astrologer for over 30 years, Andrea also teaches metaphysics to children and teenagers. Better known in Houston for her years in the book business (as The Book Lady), Andrea is bringing back her playshop for empowered women called The Ruby Tribe (Real Unconventional Babes of Yore.)