The first week of living in the small village of Arroyo Seco, atop of El Salto Mountain, about ten miles outside of Taos, New Mexico, was an adventure. At 5 AM my daughter and I were awakened by the ear piercing sounds of a howling dog, followed by loud knocks on the downstairs door.

I rolled over onto my side, moaned, and covered my head with a pillow. I hoped the loud yells and knocks were left over from a bad dream. However, the unsettling sounds continued.

I did not know what to do. My daughter and I lived alone and our closest neighbors, who we had not met, lived about a mile away, The realtor had warned me of wandering bears, but not loud sounds in the night.

“New land, new life, and new rules” I said out loud to comfort myself. I walked haltingly downstairs, hoping that if I hesitated, the noise would end.

The outside door was made of wood and had no glass to see outside. The howling continued only louder than before. Clutching the top of my pajamas around my throat, I opened the door.

Four Native American men looked me over.  The big, gray dog howled. Its back leg was bloody and looked like it had been almost gnawed off. 

“How can I help you?” I asked the men.

“This dog got caught in a bear trap. We need your help.”

“Who owns the dog?” I asked, stalling for time.

“Mine,” each man said, pointing to himself.

“I’m sorry, I said, “I think you have the wrong house. I am not a veterinarian.”

“He don’t need a doctor. He needs a healer and we know you are one.”

I stepped back. It is true I counsel and guide people and talk to Spirits, but I have never called or thought of myself as a healer. Even when I participate in healing circles, I never have presumed to refer to myself as a healer.

“Look, white lady, don’t you know there is no difference between a healer of human spirits and a healer of animal spirits? This dog don’t have long in this world if we don’t do something. Chattering is not healing.”

I agreed. “Let’s get started,” I said with more force than I felt. First, let’s all remember this dog when he was healthy and rambunctious. Let’s open our hearts and connect with The Great Mystery or All That Is and send healing energy to the spirit of this dog.”

We stood together breathing and sending energy to the dog whose name I did not know. My eyes were closed and I prayed silently for the dog to use our healing energy in the best way. Just before I opened my eyes, I realized that both of my hands were held by the men who stoo on either side of me. To my surprise, the dog was quiet and the bleeding had stopped. The man closest to me opened his arms and hugged me. I was passed around and each man  hugged me.

“We’ll be back again,” said the oldest man. Mind if we put a stick in your driveway to let our people know that you are friendly to our kind? He did not wait for my answer.

“How about some coffee? “ I asked my first guests.

By the way, my name is Rosalie, and you are?

Excerpted from Awaken Your All Knowing Heart, by Rosalie Deer Hart