Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Part 1: Blessings for Companion Animals
1 Blessings for Dogs 5
2 Blessings for Cats 19
3 Blessings for Other Companion Animals 35

Part 2: Blessings for Wild Animals
4 Animals of the Land 55
5 Animals of the Sky 69
6 Animals of the Stream and Sea 81

Part 3: Blessings from Animals
7 Blessings for Birth 97
8 Blessings for Life 109
9 Blessings in Death 135

Part 4: Rituals and Ceremonies
10 Animal Blessing Ceremonies 159
11 Partings 179
12 Benediction 211

About the Contributors 223
Credits 231
Acknowledgments 237
Editor's Note 237

About the Author

Lynn L. Caruso is an inspiring educator, writer, parent/child ad­vocate and mother of three children. A contributing writer to Mothering magazine, her work has been published in many other national journals and magazines. Caruso is also the editor of the first-of-its-kind Blessing the Animals: Prayers and Ceremonies to Celebrate God's Creatures, Wild and Tame and Honoring Motherhood: Prayers, Ceremonies & Blessings (both SkyLight Paths).

Reviews

"A jewel box of comfort and ecstasy, reverence and wisdom. Powerful testimony to the different ways that animals inspire us to worship our Creator."
—Sy Montgomery, author of The Wild Out Your Window



“A threshold to a deeper understanding of God…. Allows us to experience the relationships God has created between creatures in this Sacred Circle of life.”
—Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, Episcopal bishop of Alaska

“Delightful … lovely … timeless…. A book that pet lovers will treasure.”
—Diana L. Guerrero, author of What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality; founder of Ark Animals

“Gives voice to the unspoken yet eloquent expressions of prayer and praise offered daily in the Animal Kingdom. The sights and sounds of the poetic imagery linger long after we close this book.”
—Nancy Sohn Swartz, author of In Our Image: God's First Creatures and How Did the Animals Help God?