Black dog

[Phobos]

I was walking through the woods alone on a trail coming back from a friends house on Wednesday night and I turned and saw a large black dog staring at me. I was on the phone with my friend at the time when I saw it as well. It had glowing red eyes, sort of like when you shine a light at an animal's eyes, except blood red instead of green. It just kind of stood there, about 20 or 30 feet away from me a little of to the side, in an almost nonchalant stance (more or less). We sat there staring at each other for maybe a minute and then my friend told me to keep moving, and I broke eye contact with the dog. When I looked back at it, after about half a second, it seemed to disappear like the turning off of a light.

I kept walking for about a minute and then looked behind me, it was sitting on the trail maybe 5 feet closer than it was before. I stared at it for 30 seconds and then it was gone like a light switch again.

I kept walking again, a little more than creeped out, and after a few minutes, I saw it further ahead of me on the trail. I stopped in my tracks, looked behind me, and looked back, and it was gone again.

I made it out of the woods and when I got to the street I thought I saw it at the park and under a streetlight, but I think that COULD have been my imagination. I was pretty scared by then, so I don't know how reliable that part is.

I turned on my street and saw it in the middle the street, I think in front of my house, when I made it to the door, I looked at it once more then stepped inside. Then my friend (of whom I was still on the phone with) told me to thank it. I stepped back out and said "Thank you, I don't know what else to say, so thanks." It thumped it's tail twice on either side of it, almost as it say, I hear you.

And that's it. I stayed inside the rest of the night, not going out once more.

What does this mean? Can someone give me some insight, similar stories, tips? Please.

[CelestialWolf]

Hmmm. I haven't had any experience with this sort of thing, so I don't know how much help I would be to you. What kind of feeling do you have about the dog now? Are you still afraid of it, or do you feel at ease with him being around? He could be a guardian spirit for you, in which case I find you to be extreamly lucky. Only one other person I have ever met has mentioned seeing something watching over her. My friend told me she felt comforted by the presence...safer. Is it the same with you and the dog?

[Phobos]

Well, the first time I saw it, I was a little freaked out. The next day, however, when I saw it again on my way home from her house, its eyes were actually glowing red all around; it looked like two red balls floating around. It also would walk near me; to the side and back a little bit, or just straight behind me, with what I can only describe as like a strobe motion; it was missing 'frames' in its steps, like when you shine a strobe at something.
That disturbed my friend a LOT; she's afraid it's getting more daring, and I'm just wondering what in the world this is.

[Silverm00n]

What's the vibe you get?

[Phobos]

I get one of those vibes where your subconcious is telling you, 'I don't know, man. I got a bad feeling about this, but I'm not sure.'
Like my own intuition is unsure of itself.

[Squiver]

Sounds like "The Omen" lol.

Have you ever seen it during the day? Perhaps your attitude about the dog would change when it doesn't seem as though it's eyes are glowing in the dead of the night.

It would seem to me that if there were an inherently evil spirit about with malicious intent, it would take the form of something much more affective than a dog.

Out of curiosity, what type of breed is the dog? Is it big, little, floppy eared, pointy eared, square headed, short-snouted, long-faced?

[Phobos]

I only see it at night. Never in the day.
It's about the size of a doe. It's pretty friggin' big.
It looks a lot like a wolf, crossed with some sort oflab or something. Like it looks a lot like a wolf, but has some irregularities.

[CelestialWolf]

I don't know about this one. My personal instinct with this is to steer clear of the dog. Something about the way you describe him just doesn't feel right to me.

[Phobos]

I'm afraid I'm going to lose you guys with this part, but its eyes have changed color now. They wer red last time I saw it, and tonight, they were purple. What in the world???

[Squiver]

I'm afraid I'm going to lose you guys with this part, but its eyes have changed color now. They wer red last time I saw it, and tonight, they were purple. What in the world???

Has it's "strobe walk" remained, or is that gone, too? Have you changed the route you walk on? It could be a simple scientific matter of the lighting being different.

Otherwise, it's intentions could have changed, or it's revealing it's true self to you, or... something, that's my best guess. Purple seems to be a much more benevolent color than red, but that's just my personal take.

[Phobos]

No, it's strobe walk is the same. I always take the same path, since it's the quickest way home.

[Squiver]

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news if this is upsetting to you.

I talked to my friend today who's a bit of an expert on demonology and "darker" magic, he seems to think that it sounds like a phenomenon called "The Grim". He said that the animal itself is harmless, actually protective towards you, but that it is an omen of personal or worldly tragedy to come.

I think it's important to note, however, that that is just speculation based on the description you gave, and perhaps even the purple eyes is an omen of your fate changing positively.

[Phobos]

My father does have kidney failure, but he's been doing well.
Would it be likelier that misfortune would be falling upon me?

[Squiver]

My father does have kidney failure, but he's been doing well.
Would it be likelier that misfortune would be falling upon me?

Well I think it was misfortune that would fall upon you, or misfortune that would fall upon the world as a whole, in a way that would affect you.

[Phobos]

Well, at least it's my burden. I wouldn't want to drag anyone with me.

[Squiver]

Don't go about thinking that this is a definite, and waiting for trajedy, or surely it will come. It's only a theory, and the changing of the eyes I haven't an explanation for.

Probably, you'll be fine. Don't worry about it and just live your life.

[Phobos]

It's odd; I'm pretty much used to it by now. It only shows up when I'm alone, and in the woods. It won't come out whenever someone else goes with me.
Wait, do you think it'd be possible minor depression could possibly be a factor in any of this? I'm not gonna lie; things haven't been looking up for me as of late.

[Squiver]

I'm sorry it's been two months since I last responded to you, but I suppose, yes, depression could possibly have something to do with it. There are a lot of cultures that believe in the black dog being a portent of trajedy and death, but most likely as a result of an old Christian tradition. Church officials, when consecrating a new cemetary, would bury with it a dog, who was said to return as a spirit; a shaggy, huge dog, resembling a wolf, with glowing eyes. The spectre was meant to protect the souls of the dead, and stop them from haunting the living in their sadness and regret.

So, if you are experiencing sadness and regret, I suppose it's always possible that the Grim is there to protect you.

[Phobos]

It seems that he turns up whenever I feel stressed or nervous for my well-being. Which is very interesting to me.
I've been reading up a little; is it possible this is my familiar?