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The Rainbow Bridge, Animals in Transition | Joan Ranquet | TEDxWilmingtonWomen


I remember this moment distinctly I was

I remember this moment distinctly I was walking from my barn to my house with my

walking from my barn to my house with my

walking from my barn to my house with my and cats and I took a moment to just

and cats and I took a moment to just

and cats and I took a moment to just glance over at my whole family my three

glance over at my whole family my three

glance over at my whole family my three beloved horses my three beloved dogs my

beloved horses my three beloved dogs my

beloved horses my three beloved dogs my four beloved cats and I noticed that I

four beloved cats and I noticed that I

four beloved cats and I noticed that I wasn’t actually in grief anymore I’d

wasn’t actually in grief anymore I’d

wasn’t actually in grief anymore I’d gone through about ten years of cancer

gone through about ten years of cancer

gone through about ten years of cancer between my two parents and my dad had

between my two parents and my dad had

between my two parents and my dad had been dead a couple of years and I felt

been dead a couple of years and I felt

been dead a couple of years and I felt this relief nobody was dying

this relief nobody was dying

this relief nobody was dying nobody was sick and then that relief

nobody was sick and then that relief

nobody was sick and then that relief door slammed shut when I realized yeah

door slammed shut when I realized yeah

door slammed shut when I realized yeah most of my family is dead and I have 10

most of my family is dead and I have 10

most of my family is dead and I have 10 animals and they’re all going to die so

animals and they’re all going to die so

animals and they’re all going to die so I started taking stock who was gonna go

I started taking stock who was gonna go

I started taking stock who was gonna go first would it be Olivia would it be one

first would it be Olivia would it be one

first would it be Olivia would it be one of the cats which one or would it be

of the cats which one or would it be

of the cats which one or would it be Gabrielle my 25 year old Arab I went

Gabrielle my 25 year old Arab I went

Gabrielle my 25 year old Arab I went through the whole thing couldn’t this go

through the whole thing couldn’t this go

through the whole thing couldn’t this go chronologically couldn’t there be some

chronologically couldn’t there be some

chronologically couldn’t there be some order to this it made me nuts right all

order to this it made me nuts right all

order to this it made me nuts right all of a sudden I’m going through everybody

of a sudden I’m going through everybody

of a sudden I’m going through everybody and we humans need to make some order

and we humans need to make some order

and we humans need to make some order out of this don’t we animals know better

out of this don’t we animals know better

out of this don’t we animals know better and I honestly believed that if I could

and I honestly believed that if I could

and I honestly believed that if I could be human if I could be God just for a

be human if I could be God just for a

be human if I could be God just for a moment I would expand the lifespan of

moment I would expand the lifespan of

moment I would expand the lifespan of dogs and cats

dogs and cats

dogs and cats I would I would improve the intestine of

I would I would improve the intestine of

I would I would improve the intestine of the horse and I would make smoking and

the horse and I would make smoking and

the horse and I would make smoking and drinking completely healthy

actually if I could be God I would end

actually if I could be God I would end this whole death thing altogether

this whole death thing altogether

this whole death thing altogether nobody’s going to the Rainbow Bridge not

nobody’s going to the Rainbow Bridge not

nobody’s going to the Rainbow Bridge not on my watch and you know that Rainbow

on my watch and you know that Rainbow

on my watch and you know that Rainbow Bridge right that meadow in front of

Bridge right that meadow in front of

Bridge right that meadow in front of heaven where when our animals die they

heaven where when our animals die they

heaven where when our animals die they go there and they wait for us and then

go there and they wait for us and then

go there and they wait for us and then when we die they take us into heaven

when we die they take us into heaven

when we die they take us into heaven with them

with them

with them I’ve been an animal communicator for

I’ve been an animal communicator for

I’ve been an animal communicator for about 20 years I communicate with

about 20 years I communicate with

about 20 years I communicate with animals telepathically which is the

animals telepathically which is the

animals telepathically which is the transference of pictures words and

transference of pictures words and

transference of pictures words and feelings I am an interpreter I am

feelings I am an interpreter I am

feelings I am an interpreter I am speaking on behalf of the animals so if

speaking on behalf of the animals so if

speaking on behalf of the animals so if someone’s having a problem then I am the

someone’s having a problem then I am the

someone’s having a problem then I am the voice for that animal often I’m the last

voice for that animal often I’m the last

voice for that animal often I’m the last stop for people in animals and I’ve even

stop for people in animals and I’ve even

stop for people in animals and I’ve even talked to animals in the afterlife I’m

talked to animals in the afterlife I’m

talked to animals in the afterlife I’m no stranger to death

no stranger to death

no stranger to death I’ve lost my sister both my parents I’ve

I’ve lost my sister both my parents I’ve

I’ve lost my sister both my parents I’ve lost a best friend to suicide a

lost a best friend to suicide a

lost a best friend to suicide a generation of friends to AIDS and it was

generation of friends to AIDS and it was

generation of friends to AIDS and it was two horses that I lost in the early 90s

two horses that I lost in the early 90s

two horses that I lost in the early 90s that brought me to animal communication

that brought me to animal communication

that brought me to animal communication you could say I’m an uber trained highly

you could say I’m an uber trained highly

you could say I’m an uber trained highly skilled Midwife for death I know it’s

skilled Midwife for death I know it’s

skilled Midwife for death I know it’s not in the college curriculum but one of

not in the college curriculum but one of

not in the college curriculum but one of the important things with animal

the important things with animal

the important things with animal communication is helping people make

communication is helping people make

communication is helping people make decisions when their animals are in this

decisions when their animals are in this

decisions when their animals are in this final transition and I train my students

final transition and I train my students

final transition and I train my students to walk their clients through the very

to walk their clients through the very

to walk their clients through the very same journey and often we get a lot of

same journey and often we get a lot of

same journey and often we get a lot of questions like does my cat want a

questions like does my cat want a

questions like does my cat want a surgery where do my dogs want their

surgery where do my dogs want their

surgery where do my dogs want their ashes spread does my horse want to be by

ashes spread does my horse want to be by

ashes spread does my horse want to be by himself or does he want his friends

himself or does he want his friends

himself or does he want his friends around does my bunny want to reincarnate

around does my bunny want to reincarnate

around does my bunny want to reincarnate and of course will my guinea pig mind

and of course will my guinea pig mind

and of course will my guinea pig mind being buried even though he was

being buried even though he was

being buried even though he was completely claustrophobic but actually

completely claustrophobic but actually

completely claustrophobic but actually one of the biggest things that comes

one of the biggest things that comes

one of the biggest things that comes with all of this is guilt right people

with all of this is guilt right people

with all of this is guilt right people really want to know should I have done

really want to know should I have done

really want to know should I have done it sooner did I wait too long

it sooner did I wait too long

it sooner did I wait too long and is he hanging on for me and I

and is he hanging on for me and I

and is he hanging on for me and I actually believe to my core that nobody

actually believe to my core that nobody

actually believe to my core that nobody can die a moment before or a moment

can die a moment before or a moment

can die a moment before or a moment after they’re supposed to they’re all in

after they’re supposed to they’re all in

after they’re supposed to they’re all in their little dog cat and horse suits

their little dog cat and horse suits

their little dog cat and horse suits containing a soul and that soul has a

containing a soul and that soul has a

containing a soul and that soul has a mission a purpose a trajectory a karma a

mission a purpose a trajectory a karma a

mission a purpose a trajectory a karma a wounding and a potential for healing in

wounding and a potential for healing in

wounding and a potential for healing in this lifetime animals offer us an

this lifetime animals offer us an

this lifetime animals offer us an opportunity to understand family in a

opportunity to understand family in a

opportunity to understand family in a way that we wish we could understand our

way that we wish we could understand our

way that we wish we could understand our own families and by being present for

own families and by being present for

own families and by being present for them in this final stage we’re getting

them in this final stage we’re getting

them in this final stage we’re getting to experience being of service we get to

to experience being of service we get to

to experience being of service we get to experience unconditional love we get to

experience unconditional love we get to

experience unconditional love we get to experience uncomplicated love and we’re

experience uncomplicated love and we’re

experience uncomplicated love and we’re not just receiving it we’re being it and

not just receiving it we’re being it and

not just receiving it we’re being it and by being present with our animals in

by being present with our animals in

by being present with our animals in this final stage even when they’re going

this final stage even when they’re going

this final stage even when they’re going to the Rainbow Bridge

to the Rainbow Bridge

to the Rainbow Bridge we’re actually gifting the entire

we’re actually gifting the entire

we’re actually gifting the entire universe is it painful yep

universe is it painful yep

universe is it painful yep is it beautiful yeah and it’s also

is it beautiful yeah and it’s also

is it beautiful yeah and it’s also really perfect when I had this epic

really perfect when I had this epic

really perfect when I had this epic realization that all of my family was

realization that all of my family was

realization that all of my family was going to die I thought what would it be

going to die I thought what would it be

going to die I thought what would it be like to have a really connected

like to have a really connected

like to have a really connected relationship with all of my animals in a

relationship with all of my animals in a

relationship with all of my animals in a way that when they were to cross over

way that when they were to cross over

way that when they were to cross over I wouldn’t feel guilty and so I thought

I wouldn’t feel guilty and so I thought

I wouldn’t feel guilty and so I thought about a few of my animals some of them

about a few of my animals some of them

about a few of my animals some of them had a specific reaction to my stress and

had a specific reaction to my stress and

had a specific reaction to my stress and often we think that animals are marrying

often we think that animals are marrying

often we think that animals are marrying us I think it’s much deeper than that I

us I think it’s much deeper than that I

us I think it’s much deeper than that I think they’re actually first responders

think they’re actually first responders

think they’re actually first responders to our energy so I thought I’m going to

to our energy so I thought I’m going to

to our energy so I thought I’m going to level out my stress and I’m going to

level out my stress and I’m going to

level out my stress and I’m going to replace it with harmony and soon after

replace it with harmony and soon after

replace it with harmony and soon after that moment that I was really engaged in

that moment that I was really engaged in

that moment that I was really engaged in that my horse Gabrielle was diagnosed

that my horse Gabrielle was diagnosed

that my horse Gabrielle was diagnosed with the bizarre little encapsulated

with the bizarre little encapsulated

with the bizarre little encapsulated cancer and once I had that removed I

cancer and once I had that removed I

cancer and once I had that removed I realized we really were on a time bomb

realized we really were on a time bomb

realized we really were on a time bomb sitting on a time bomb and so I took

sitting on a time bomb and so I took

sitting on a time bomb and so I took everything I knew

everything I knew

everything I knew and everything I’d ever learned and I

and everything I’d ever learned and I

and everything I’d ever learned and I downshifted into what I call precious

downshifted into what I call precious

downshifted into what I call precious Ville and in precious Ville we were

Ville and in precious Ville we were

Ville and in precious Ville we were slowing time down completely all of us

slowing time down completely all of us

slowing time down completely all of us we took care of each other in a way that

we took care of each other in a way that

we took care of each other in a way that we made up for each other’s weaknesses

we made up for each other’s weaknesses

we made up for each other’s weaknesses in our older age we laughed at cats

in our older age we laughed at cats

in our older age we laughed at cats chasing the dogs through the house we

chasing the dogs through the house we

chasing the dogs through the house we applauded every great dog trick and I

applauded every great dog trick and I

applauded every great dog trick and I eat they could have been bad and I

eat they could have been bad and I

eat they could have been bad and I somedays rode three horses even in the

somedays rode three horses even in the

somedays rode three horses even in the rain we were all for one and one for all

rain we were all for one and one for all

rain we were all for one and one for all because we knew it was never going to be

because we knew it was never going to be

because we knew it was never going to be this way again and so we were very happy

this way again and so we were very happy

this way again and so we were very happy sure there were dogs snarls there were

sure there were dogs snarls there were

sure there were dogs snarls there were cat screeches there was plenty of human

cat screeches there was plenty of human

cat screeches there was plenty of human cussing but it was just a momentary blip

cussing but it was just a momentary blip

cussing but it was just a momentary blip on the Harmony screen I’ve been with

on the Harmony screen I’ve been with

on the Harmony screen I’ve been with both my parents my sister several

both my parents my sister several

both my parents my sister several friends when they’ve crossed over

friends when they’ve crossed over

friends when they’ve crossed over I’ve actually faced my own death I’ve

I’ve actually faced my own death I’ve

I’ve actually faced my own death I’ve gone down in a small airplane

gone down in a small airplane

gone down in a small airplane I was nearly murdered in my sleep I’m

I was nearly murdered in my sleep I’m

I was nearly murdered in my sleep I’m not afraid to die I’m just sick of

not afraid to die I’m just sick of

not afraid to die I’m just sick of everyone else dying I hold space for

everyone else dying I hold space for

everyone else dying I hold space for people several days a week sometimes

people several days a week sometimes

people several days a week sometimes it’s just so that they can grieve they

it’s just so that they can grieve they

it’s just so that they can grieve they grieve about their animals in a way that

grieve about their animals in a way that

grieve about their animals in a way that isn’t safe for them with other people

isn’t safe for them with other people

isn’t safe for them with other people people say to them often it’s just a cat

people say to them often it’s just a cat

people say to them often it’s just a cat it’s just a dog you can get another

it’s just a dog you can get another

it’s just a dog you can get another parakeet not even recognizing that it’s

parakeet not even recognizing that it’s

parakeet not even recognizing that it’s a family member and that family member

a family member and that family member

a family member and that family member can offer so much more that family

can offer so much more that family

can offer so much more that family member that animal is never going to

member that animal is never going to

member that animal is never going to grow up and not talk to you that animal

grow up and not talk to you that animal

grow up and not talk to you that animal is never going to grow up with a

is never going to grow up with a

is never going to grow up with a different political belief than you that

different political belief than you that

different political belief than you that animal is never going to grow up and

animal is never going to grow up and

animal is never going to grow up and marry

marry

marry asshole

instead they love like a continuum and

instead they love like a continuum and when that much love goes away it’s like

when that much love goes away it’s like

when that much love goes away it’s like the Sun going down forever and our

the Sun going down forever and our

the Sun going down forever and our animals offer us an opportunity to be a

animals offer us an opportunity to be a

animals offer us an opportunity to be a better us and us that we don’t always

better us and us that we don’t always

better us and us that we don’t always get to be with other people I mean I

get to be with other people I mean I

get to be with other people I mean I swear people in animal relationships I

swear people in animal relationships I

swear people in animal relationships I know ninety percent of them are better

know ninety percent of them are better

know ninety percent of them are better than most of the people people

than most of the people people

than most of the people people relationships I know right and when you

relationships I know right and when you

relationships I know right and when you look into an animal’s eyes and you see

look into an animal’s eyes and you see

look into an animal’s eyes and you see that innocence you also see your own

that innocence you also see your own

that innocence you also see your own innocence being reflected back

innocence being reflected back

innocence being reflected back they really return us to wholeness so my

they really return us to wholeness so my

they really return us to wholeness so my precious Vil was shattered one rainy

precious Vil was shattered one rainy

precious Vil was shattered one rainy night I went down to feed my horses and

night I went down to feed my horses and

night I went down to feed my horses and I found my tall dark handsome sexy funny

I found my tall dark handsome sexy funny

I found my tall dark handsome sexy funny thoroughbred Rolly in the throes of

thoroughbred Rolly in the throes of

thoroughbred Rolly in the throes of colic and colic can either be gassy

colic and colic can either be gassy

colic and colic can either be gassy tummy or death and a whole lot in

tummy or death and a whole lot in

tummy or death and a whole lot in between and so I called the vet and

between and so I called the vet and

between and so I called the vet and Rolly was 22 at the time and just the

Rolly was 22 at the time and just the

Rolly was 22 at the time and just the week before I had ridden him and I’d had

week before I had ridden him and I’d had

week before I had ridden him and I’d had a sense of completion and I can’t

a sense of completion and I can’t

a sense of completion and I can’t explain it except that I knew it was

explain it except that I knew it was

explain it except that I knew it was going to be our last ride when the vet

going to be our last ride when the vet

going to be our last ride when the vet got there he examined him and said Rolly

got there he examined him and said Rolly

got there he examined him and said Rolly had a tumor in his intestine and all the

had a tumor in his intestine and all the

had a tumor in his intestine and all the blood drained from my head I knew I

blood drained from my head I knew I

blood drained from my head I knew I couldn’t put him through a surgery there

couldn’t put him through a surgery there

couldn’t put him through a surgery there was only one thing to do let him go to

was only one thing to do let him go to

was only one thing to do let him go to the Rainbow Bridge so I quickly brought

the Rainbow Bridge so I quickly brought

the Rainbow Bridge so I quickly brought over the other horses and the dogs and

over the other horses and the dogs and

over the other horses and the dogs and let everybody say goodbye and then as I

let everybody say goodbye and then as I

let everybody say goodbye and then as I went to walk Rolly out he balked in the

went to walk Rolly out he balked in the

went to walk Rolly out he balked in the doorway like he did every single day but

doorway like he did every single day but

doorway like he did every single day but this time I looked at him and I said

this time I looked at him and I said

this time I looked at him and I said Rolly be brave you’re leading this whole

Rolly be brave you’re leading this whole

Rolly be brave you’re leading this whole wacky family to the Rainbow Bridge and

wacky family to the Rainbow Bridge and

wacky family to the Rainbow Bridge and so he stepped out with me and he put his

so he stepped out with me and he put his

so he stepped out with me and he put his head on my chest and when the first

head on my chest and when the first

head on my chest and when the first injection came I felt him slipping away

injection came I felt him slipping away

injection came I felt him slipping away and when the second injection came I

and when the second injection came I

and when the second injection came I felt such a oneness I almost went

felt such a oneness I almost went

felt such a oneness I almost went through his third eye and out the top of

through his third eye and out the top of

through his third eye and out the top of his head

our lives are so busy our lives are

our lives are so busy our lives are always in transition and their lives

always in transition and their lives

always in transition and their lives depend on us and if you get a moment to

depend on us and if you get a moment to

depend on us and if you get a moment to be in between worlds with them like that

be in between worlds with them like that

be in between worlds with them like that take it it’s really a state of grace and

take it it’s really a state of grace and

take it it’s really a state of grace and find ways to laugh find ways to

find ways to laugh find ways to

find ways to laugh find ways to celebrate find ways to move into

celebrate find ways to move into

celebrate find ways to move into precious Ville people ask me all the

precious Ville people ask me all the

precious Ville people ask me all the time do I believe in the rainbow bridge

all I know is this is helping people and

all I know is this is helping people and animals through this transition is one

animals through this transition is one

animals through this transition is one of my greatest honors thank you

of my greatest honors thank you

of my greatest honors thank you [Applause]

”

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