Synchronicity or Animal Guardians?
Not long ago, I came across a post from a friend of mine which told me about an experience she had while hiking a trail in Ireland. The post read as follows:
I was rushing through the last 2 hours of my hike on the Atlantic Way Trail, getting nervous about the dying twilight and empty trails. The last person I passed had been hours ago, and I still had no glimpse of Doolin. I was experiencing fatigue in my leg stabilization muscles and needed to watch my feet closely, when I looked up again I was startled to see this black dog silently watching me. I called out to her, and she timidly snuck into the high grass. 5 minutes later I turned around and she was following me a ways behind. Although I was a little unnerved, I again crouched down and called to her. She never let me touch her, but eventually, she was accompanying me into town a couple of paces behind me. Then, at the trails end and roads beginning, as suddenly as she appeared, she disappeared. It was strangely comforting to have this shadow sharing a length of the dark trail with me, and I’m thankful to her for the company.
This story reminded me of another that I had heard countless times. It was a story from my dad’s childhood in Greece. He and his friend were climbing a rocky mountain in order to avoid taking the long road from a village to the monastery where they were staying. After climbing for some time, they realized that they had reached a point where they couldn’t climb any further, but it was also too high and too steep to go back down. As the sun started to set, their fear took hold and they began wondering how long it would take people to find them once they realized they were missing. Suddenly a mountain goat appeared before them and began to walk along a path that they hadn’t seen before. They followed the goat just long enough to feel they were safe again before it disappeared just as suddenly as it had appeared before.
These stories aren’t unique. There are endless accounts of people in far more dire situations who were rescued by animals that appeared at just the right moment to ensure their safety.
In 1974, the Philippine navy published an official account of an unusual rescue. On June 2nd an inter-islander passenger ship had sunk off of the coast of an island in the southern Philippines. Two days into the search and rescue effort a woman was spotted clinging to what appeared to be an oil drum. As soon as they started hauling her up, they realized it was actually a giant sea turtle that had been propping her up. It was witnessed by Lt. Cesario F. Mana along with practically everyone else aboard the ship. Mana was quoted in the Montreal Gazette saying “The Sea Creature even circled the area twice before disappearing into the depths of the sea as if to reassure itself that its former rider was already in good hands.”
In September of 2000, 19-year-old Kevin Hines had made the decision to end his life by jumping off of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. He immediately realized after launching himself past the guardrail that he had made a mistake and he didn’t really want to die. He managed to turn his body so that he was no longer falling head first, and miraculously survived the impact. However, he was in indescribable pain as he sank below the water since he had broken his back. He was struggling to keep his head above water when he felt a creature brush against his leg, he claims that the creature kept circling him and nudging him, keeping his head above water until he was rescued by the coast guard. He believes that the creature was a seal but one man on the bridge claimed that it was actually a sea lion that was circling Kevin and keeping him alive.
There’s no question that we have a special connection with animals, but are these stories just a case of being in the right place at the right time? In Kevin Hines case, he believed that the sea lion who came to his rescue was a guardian angel, and my dad claimed that the goat leading them to safety was divine intervention as well. In Kate’s case, she was just grateful to have companionship during a part of her journey where being alone could have been dangerous. Â
Is it possible that these people manifested their guardians in a time of need?
About the Author
What Is the Higher Self and How It Differs from the Soul
The higher self is a higher part of our consciousness, an inner guide that leads us with wisdom, calmness, and clarity. Its presence is revealed through intuition, conscious choices, and a deep sense of connection with who we truly are. In this article, we explore what the higher self is, its purpose, and how to connect with your higher self in a more conscious way.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Higher Self and What Is Its Purpose?
- Differences Between the Higher Self and the Soul
- How To Connect With Your Higher Self
- How To Distinguish the Voice of the Higher Self From the Ego
- What Blocks the Connection With Your Higher Self?
- Can You Connect With Someone Else’s Higher Self?
- Benefits of Living Guided by Your Higher Self
- How To Maintain a Constant Connection With Your Higher Self
What Is the Higher Self and What Is Its Purpose?
The higher self is the wisest and most conscious part of ourselves. It’s like an expanded version of our being, with a clearer perspective on our life purpose. It’s not influenced by ego, fear, or reactive emotions. That’s why, when we learn to listen to it, it guides us with greater clarity and coherence.
The purpose of the higher self is to help us live more aligned with who we truly are. Its guidance comes through intuition, inner calm, and a sense of certainty in decision-making. Connecting with the higher self allows us to experience more clarity, peace, and meaning in each step we take.
Differences Between the Higher Self and the Soul
Although sometimes used interchangeably, the higher self and the soul are different aspects of our spiritual being. The soul is our eternal essence— the part of us that has lived many lifetimes and holds the experiences, lessons, and emotions of each one. It’s the spiritual core that incarnates again and again to keep evolving, growing, and exploring new experiences across different planes.
In contrast, the higher self is a more elevated expression of consciousness, a part that is closer to the divine realm and acts as a bridge between the soul and the universal source. While the soul is involved in the incarnated process, the higher self remains on a subtler level, observing, guiding, and reminding us of the broader purpose. Understanding the difference between the soul and the higher self allows us to develop a clearer connection with each aspect of our being.
