Day Schildkret on Ritual and Pet Loss

Day Schildkret on Ritual and Pet Loss

Author: MindBodySpirit.fm September 14, 2026 Duration: 54:52
This week on the Animal Communication Podcast, we sat down with Day Schildkret, author of Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change and creator of Morning Altars, to explore why ritual matters so deeply, especially when we're grieving a pet. Day drew a clear line between routine and ritual: routine moves us from one point to the next, while ritual exists to make the unseen seen and to transform our relationship to what we're going through. We talked about grief as something we get under rather than get over, how our culture has grown "grief illiterate" in its rush back to normal after loss, and how ritual can hold us safely enough to let buried feelings finally surface.The conversation closed on relationships as the true heart of ritual, since ritual's deepest function is remembering, gathering our scattered attention back to what and who we cherish. Day reminded us that it's never too late to create a ritual for an old, unmarked loss, even one from decades ago, and that something as simple as a date on the calendar can become an annual doorway back to a beloved animal. We are so grateful to Day for this rich, moving conversation, and we've linked his book and his Morning Altars teacher training below for anyone wanting to go deeper.

RESOURCES:
https://www.dayschildkret.com/
https://www.morningaltars.com/
Teacher Training: https://www.morningaltars.com/teachertraining
Day’s book: Hello, Goodbye

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YOUR HOSTS

Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her and her monthly Pet Loss Grief Circles at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki...

Ever wondered what your pet is really thinking, or why a bird outside your window seems to pause just for you? The Animal Communication Podcast offers a rare window into those questions, guided by three experienced practitioners: Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith, and Meredith Tollison. This isn't about training tips, but about connection. Each episode is built on their work as Soul Level Animal Communicators®, where they share candid stories and conversations that bridge our human world with the inner lives of animals. You'll hear them explore everyday mysteries-from puzzling behaviors and health concerns to the pure joy of play-as recounted by the animals themselves, both those sharing our homes and those in spirit. It’s a gentle, often surprising journey that redefines our relationship with all creatures, making it a unique listen for families, pet lovers, and anyone curious about the spiritual bonds we share. Presented by Mind Body Spirit.fm, this podcast invites you to slow down and listen in a whole new way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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