For centuries, the appearance of a white animal has been seen as an indication of a new era of peace, compassion and restored balance.

From ancient times, white animals have been seen as sacred, as representing purity, spiritual fulfillment, and attainment.

And yes, Zinnia is a white animal.

Several members of the Lakota Nation, who have stayed in touch with me since my writing about the New York Carriage Horses, have written me to point out that Zinnia is a white animal, and white animals are held as powerful symbols and spirits by many cultures, including theirs.

Each of the white animals, they believe, belongs to a species at the apex of their ecosystem, and that the environment in which they live will unravel and vanish without them. They believe white animals are a call to humanity to restore love and balance to the world and to heal the earth.

I am not comfortable turning a Labrador puppy into a deity, she is just a dog.

I called Sue Silverstein, a friend and teacher of theology at Bishop Maginn High and asked about Zinnia and her place in white animal lore. Sue has her feet on the ground.

I trust her and listen to her.

“Absolutely,” she said of Zinnia’s white animal identity, “she is a joy magnet. She brings joy, peace, and happiness to everyone she meets. You absolutely cannot look at her and not feel better.”

But this is true of many puppies, I countered. “Yes, but there is something very special about her,” she said.

I am by nature skeptical of such claims, but I am very touched by the effect Zinnia has had on scores of people already. There is a kind of power and symbolism coming off of this dog, and I am sure other dogs as well.

I am listening to what I don’t know and can’t understand, and trying to understand.

I brought Zinnia to Jean’s Place, a magnet for the hard-working, not very well off people of a poor and struggling town. When I saw these people grin and laugh and light up at the sight of her, I knew I was seeing something special.

I feel the Circle Of Love is a vision, and that it is coming to pass all around us, and Zinnia is a part of it. I’ve seen this in my own life since 2016 and this feeling is growing deeper and wider every day. I believe we are entering a new era of promise, not an evil one of greed and rage.

I’ve been reading a lot about white animals this weekend, and everywhere I see them described as prophets of change.

Many of us are weary of the eternal arguments, the hateful assaults on innocent people, the greed of corporations, the fecklessness of elected officials. We are not waiting for the world to turn around, we are not lost in the argument.

We are praying for change.

We are doing good every day. So are many millions of others. We are awakened.

Zinnia is full of love and joy, and I see that this is what people want, above all things, especially above politics.

Native Americans and ancient mystics believed white dogs were sacred, along with white wolves and white buffalo calves. White Star lions of South Africa were also considered sacred, so were white “Ghost Bears” in British Columbia.

White elephants in India, Thailand, and Myanmar are worshipped,  considered powerful symbols of purity and love, as are White Peacocks.

I wrote yesterday of my vision to create a Circle Of Love around Zinnia as she moves forth with her mission to make people smile,  and be an ambassador for joy, a task she has already undertaken with great zeal.

About 30 members of the Army of Good – you don’t have to live here to help Zinnia for this circle – have messaged me and offered to be Zinnia’s other Godmothers. Two men offered to be Zinnia’s Godfathers, men are quite welcome.

The only requirement to join this circle is to have a great heart. To that end, Sue Silverstein became a Zinnia Godmother, so has Robin, our friend, and a waitress at Jean’s Place. She has an enormous heart.

So does Maria, and I asked her if she would support the Circle of Life by also becoming a Godmother (which she already sort of is, of course) and she said she would be happy to support this idea, she loves it.

The thought of these three strong and loving women lifts me up and warms my heart. Something important is happening.

As I wrote yesterday, I believe an enormous Circle Of Love – and empathy and compassion – has grown up in our country since the presidential election in 2016. Hundreds are in the Army Of Good, other people are doing thousands of other things.

It is not discussed much by the people who argue day and night in their New York and Washington TV studios, but I see this Circle Of Love every day, and it is growing and deepening in its commitment to empathy and compassion.

This circle will make itself felt, I am certain of it. This Circle Of Love is off to a great start with three wonderful people of great heart eager to be Zinnia’s nearby Godmothers and many more around the country offering to help, sending light and good energy this way.

I don’t have the answers to these deep and meaningful questions. I want my dog to be a happy dog.

But I  like what Sue Silverstein said about Zinnia. It is impossible to be around her without feeling better.

What a gift that is.