Guardians of Being
The Power of Bow Wow: What Our Dogs and Cats Can Teach Us About What Matters Most
Guardians of Being is a joyful exploration of what our dogs and cats can teach us about love, presence, and the wonder of being alive. This book will have you wagging your tail and purring in unison with your beloved pets.
What Our Animals Help Us Remember
The animals in our lives seem to understand something we often forget: how to be fully present. They invite us to pause, to notice, to play, and to find joy in the simplest moments. Through their companionship, we experience a connection that needs no explanation — one that can deepen our sense of kinship with all living beings.
In Guardians of Being, the spiritual teachings of Eckhart Tolle meet the warmth, humor, and wisdom of Patrick McDonnell’s beloved MUTTS animal characters. Together, they offer an illuminating reminder of what our dogs and cats show and teach us every day.
Eckhart Tolle & Patrick McDonnell
Eckhart Tolle’s teachings invite us to become more fully aware of the present moment. Patrick's art finds meaning, humor, and wonder in the everyday lives of animals. Their work shares a simplicity and directness that can open the door to something much larger. In Guardians of Being, their perspectives meet to create a reading experience that feels both playful and profound.
How the Collaboration Began
Patrick first read Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now when it was published in 1999. “I was taken by its directness, its simplicity, and its deep truth,” Patrick recalls.
Over the years, Patrick began to imagine what might happen if Eckhart’s teachings were brought together with the world of MUTTS. A photograph of Eckhart with his dog, Maya, helped bring the idea into focus. Patrick began gathering passages from Eckhart’s books and recordings about animals, nature, and the present moment. Patrick paired a selection of those thoughts with his drawings and created a small sample of the book.
When the idea reached Eckhart, he agreed to collaborate. He revisited the selected passages, refined some of the teachings, and added new ones written especially for the project.
The result was Guardians of Being.
The Poetry of a Comic Strip
Patrick has often compared the art of the comic strip to haiku or poetry. With only a few lines and images, a comic must reach the essence of an idea quickly. That same clarity is at the heart of Eckhart’s teachings.
Both invite us to slow down, look more closely, and discover how much meaning can be found in what appears simple.
“This book is an opportunity to reconnect with your beloved dog, cat, life, and your inner self.” — Patrick McDonnell
A Look Inside
A Book to Savor
Guardians of Being is not a book that needs to be read quickly (or only once). It can be opened anywhere. A single page can offer a moment of calm, a smile, or a new way of seeing an animal you love. Its teachings reveal themselves gradually, often becoming more meaningful when we return to them.
It is a book to keep nearby and revisit often, or to share with someone who understands the gifts animals bring into our lives.
The New Gift Edition: A Beloved Collaboration, Newly Imagined
More than fifteen years after its original publication, Guardians of Being returns in a hardcover gift edition.
The gift book will be published on August 11, 2026. Copies preordered at MUTTS.com will include a bookplate signed by Patrick, alongside a collection of special book-and-gift pairings inspired by the art and teachings in the book.
Reader Reflections
Since its original publication, Guardians of Being has found a lasting place in the lives of readers who love animals and recognize the wisdom they bring into our world.
Continue Exploring
Patrick's work has brought him together with spiritual teachers, poets, conservationists, and other creative voices who share his reverence for animals and the natural world.
Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet
A gentle conversation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a panda about our responsibility to care for the planet we share.
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Me...Jane
The story of a young Jane Goodall, her beloved toy chimpanzee Jubilee, and the childhood dream that grew into a life devoted to animals.
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Darling, I Love You: Poems from the Hearts of Our Glorious Mutts and All Our Animal Friends
Poems by Daniel Ladinsky and drawings by Patrick McDonnell celebrate the joy, humor, and mystery of the human-animal bond.
GET THE BOOKOur Animals Are Always Bringing Us Back
To the present moment, to wonder, to joy ... and to the understanding that every being belongs to something larger.