THE OCTOPUS WHO THANKED HIS RESCUER: You might remember the story I shared not long ago about the cows who “sang” to me. It was a connection I felt, impossible to describe in words, but a knowing that the cows were sending love to my spirit from their spirits. I recently read an article in “The Ark: The Magazine of Catholic Concern for Animals,” by Sally Brown. In it she tells of a very large octopus she found stranded on a South Carolina beach. She had to hold him high above her head to avoid stepping on his long tentacles as she carried him back to the ocean. She waded out into deeper water and laid him on the bottom. Within a few seconds, he swam away. After saying a prayer for his safety, she began to wade back to shore. But she stopped when she saw that he had returned. Fearing that he was still disoriented, she thought he might wash up on shore again. Instead he stopped purposefully about 5 feet from her. As Sally explained, he spread himself out “like a flower. I bent down for a closer look and found it [him] gazing up at me. I remember being struck by the intelligence in that eye, and, as we stared at each other, I felt a sort of link run between us…” We have all heard stories about whales being freed from drift nets and then showing their gratitude to their rescuers. Many other animals have changed people’s hearts with that intelligent gaze.

PRAYERS FOR ALL PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO THE INTELLIGENT EYES OF ANIMALS AND FEEL THE DEEP SOUL CONNECTION: So many stories are being shared about the mysterious connection we human beings have with animals. We give profound and joyous thanks for these stories. Each one helps to awaken human beings to who animals truly are. The book Guardians of Being, illustrated by Patrick McDonnell, with words by Eckhart Tolle, is referring to animals as guardians of our being, especially dogs and cats. Tolle writes, “Love is a deep empathy with the other’s ‘Beingness.’ You recognize yourself, your essence, in the other. And so you can no longer inflict suffering on the other.” This week as we practice mindfulness, let us feel the very real energy field of love that we share with all beings; let us hold a vision of a world in which all people rediscover their soul connection to all animals. May more stories be shared; may more animals gaze with their intelligent eyes into the souls of the people around them. May the animals know that the connections they are making with people are helping to bring this revolution of love to earth. May they know without doubt that we are working to do the same and that we will work with them until all people “can no longer inflict suffering” on any being anywhere. May Divine Wisdom, the animals’ grace, and our true hearts guide us toward ahimsa, peace, liberation, and lovingkindness for all.

As always, I send my thanks to each of you, dear Prayer Circle members, for joining this circle of compassion and shining the Light of Truth for all to see, so that one day soon, all beings will live in peace together. Our prayers for all animals continue to circle the earth, to uplift humanity’s consciousness, and to bless the animals themselves. Thank you for joining people around the world who are praying these weekly prayers as well as the Noon Prayer.

With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy Carman, and greetings from Will, Madeleine, Tara and the Circle of Compassion team

PLEASE SHARE THIS WEEKLY PRAYER BY GOING TO Prayer Circle for Animals Facebook page. www.facebook.com/groups/prayercircleforanimals. You can also share ideas and prayer requests there.

To support our work and help us expand this ministry, please go to circleofcompassion.org/donations.html

Please visit the website www.circleofcompassion.org often to sign up to receive these weekly prayers, to join in our “A prayer a day for animals” which features a prayer for a different group of animals each day of the week, and to join us in the Daily Noon Prayer.