DO DINOSAURS HAVE GODS?

To answer the question “do dinosaurs have Gods” means venturing into Deep Time (Note 1), beyond the time of humans. In terms of the age of the planet, humans are very young, having emerged about four million years ago (mya). Therefore, going into Deep Time means traveling to alien landscapes of little-known ages.

 

Humans carry the genes of the original mammals, who carry the genes of the original reptiles, back on in time. Hence, our Deep Ancestors are within us. We do receive glimmerings of Them from our subconscious. Moreover, inherited memories do surface from time to time in our dreams. Sometimes when doing very basic activities, such as berry picking, we receive flashes of a “before time” of early humans.

 

For those who believe in reincarnation, Alan Kardec (Note 2), the founder of Spiritism (Note 3) notes that the “souls” of extinct species will enter modern species that are biologically close. As these animals reincarnate, their consciousness increases. Therefore, Mammoths have become elephants, who have memories of prehistory as Mammoths. Hence, elephants will have the knowledge of the Gods of their Ancestors.

 

In his book, “Karma and Reincarnation in the Animal Kingdom,” David Barreto, metaphysicist, explains that each species has an energetic structure. The subtle body of each dying animal will merge with an embryo with a similar energy. These energetic threads connect each species through lifetimes reaching back in prehistory.

 

Exploring this idea further, Barreto says that every animal species has a particular frequency. This frequency of the animal spirit will correlate with the frequencies of Divine Spirits. He asserts that each species will vibrate and mesh with these Beings with similar affinities. Barreto believes that these “Divine Animals” will stabilize the liminal place between the Gods and humans. That is why Odin and the Morrigan have raven companions. Meanwhile, Ratatoskr, the Squirrel Spirit, lives among the Norse Gods.

 

In my meditative journeys into Deep Time, I have received glimpses of various animals and the Gods they worship. The first was Anomalocaris (“odd shrimp”) of the Cambrian Seas (500 mya). This exotic looking animal preyed on Trilobites, cracking their shells open. I sensed Herne the Hunter riding with Anomalocaris. I did see this animal leave offerings to the Hunter.

 

Diplocaulus, the Lepospondyl with the boomerang head, lived in the swamps of the Permian (290 mya). I felt that this amphibian-like animal liked to play, splashing her friends with her strange head. Dionysus, the Greek God of Play and Fertility, looked kindly on her and the other “amphibians.” Diplocaulus did leave offerings of fish to her Gods.

 

The piglike Lystrosaurus survived the Permian extinction (250 mya) to become the most abundant of the large mammals on the Earth at that time. This Therapsid (mammal-like reptile) was the link of continuing life from the Permian to the Triassic. Living like a pig, he rooted in the earth and browsed odd plants. Yahweh adopted Lystrosaurus, leading him and others to the Promised Lands, where they could survive.

 

Dinosaurs, as a rule, do not associate with humans. Therefore, to know their Gods is difficult. However, the Allosaurus, the “lion of the Jurassic,” a large theropod (Note 4) dinosaur and relative of the T.-rex, was willing to talk to me. Known for her scrappiness, Allosaurus had a rough life. As her God, Mars led her and her companions in war and defense.

 

Arsinoitherium (Note 5), a doubled-horned rhino lived in North Africa. Wallowing about, this rhino-like animal enjoyed the mangrove swamps. Living in the Eocene epoch (55 mya), Arsinoitherium regarded the Goddess of the Nile, Anuket as her God, since Anuket provided for her.

 

The Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus) is well-known to people. His coarse hair enabled him to thrive during the Ice Age. In close relations with people, he provided food and shelter for humans. Ullr, the ancient Norse Gods of the hunt, travels with the Woolly Mammoth.

 

What I have discovered is that humans know little of the lives of those who have gone on before. To delve into Deep Time takes patience and a sense of humility. Since these Spirits are the Deep Ancestors of life on earth, the Gods are a part of their lives.

 

Notes:

Note 1. “Deep Time,” introduced by geologist John McPhee in 1981, is geologic time which is a vast period of the ages of the Earth. Deep Time is divided into eons which are divided into eras, periods, epochs, and ages respectively. Humans live in the Cenozoic Era, 65 mya to present, while the Earth itself is believed to be 5,000 million years old.

 

Note 2. Alan Kardec (pen name of Hippolyte Leon Denizard Rivail) published “The Spirits Book” (“Le Livre des Espirits”) in 1857. This book became the foundation text of Spiritism.

 

Note 3. Spiritism is not to be confused with Spiritualism, a social religious movement of the 19th century. (Spiritism is also known as Kardecism, since Kardec founded the religion.) In Spiritism, people benefit from the teachings of the Spirits. However, they do not need to believe in the manifestations of these Spirits.