I liked to hike with my dog, a German Sheppard/wolf mix.
My favorite place to go is in the high Arizona desert far away from people where the alpine and ponderosa pines boarder the change in high desert. Storms roll into this area almost daily in the late spring and summer. Winter brings deep snow. Mid spring is the best time.
I found a unique and special place in between some pinion pines trees about 10 feet tall.
I came across a circle made of individual stones imbedded in the ground each about 8 inches in diameter and covered with lichen moss. The circle was about 8 feet in diameter.
In the center of the circle was a large square boulder about a foot tall. Around the square boulder was a pile of arrowhead chippings and broken arrowheads.
The type of stones the ancient Navajos and Apaches used came from a nearby mesa, they were petrified rocks and very colorful. Purple, red, yellow, white, black, pink, grey and multicolors.
I decided to camp there overnight. This was the place!
I gathered some cedar nearby for the night fire.
I ate dinner and watched a brilliant lighting storm in the distance by the flat top mesa with the setting sun rays leaving a rainbow against the backdrop of the dusky sky.
The smell of rain and desert sage was in the air.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
As the sky darkened the coyotes were howling nearby. There were several packs yacking back and fourth. They knew I was there although I could not see them.
I built a small fire away from the circle and brewed a cup of mushroom tea and prepared some smudge.
Smudge is a variety of dried flowers and plants that grow in the high desert which I cut to about 4 inches long and tightly wrap to the size of three fingers or so. When lit it smolders and produces a unique smell. Natural incense.
I smoked a little mj then at about 9pm I drank my tea.
After spending some time by the fire and starting to feel the effect of the tea I walked over to the circle and sat in it cross legged. I looked up to see more stars then I had ever seen in my life.
With the dancing flickering light of the fire I arranged the broken arrowheads in a circle on top of the chipping block and set the smoldering smudge in the center.
I knew I could trust my dog if the coyotes got to close while I was underway.
I couldnt have done that without my dog.
The coyotes continued to howl every so often and my dog would occasionally lift his head and look in the distance with ears up, nobely standing gaurd.
As the tea really started to affect me the most intense sensations of not being alone came over me.
I felt there were several around me joining me in the circle. Sitting with with me. I was not scared but my heart was racing wildly. The energy was so intense. I didnt feel threatened but welcomed as I was respecting them and their sacred place. My intentions were known.
I would hold the arrowheads and rub them between my fingers with my eyes closed. "EGOSSI", one said to me within my mind. "This one I made". I opened my eyes to find my dog starring at me from the distance. "EGOSSI, trust your dog to guide you in the next life, he will see you through".
I would pick up the smudge and fan it in the air to make it glow again as the aroma of cedar and dried herbs filled the circle while the air still smelled of damp sage spring rain in the chilly night.
A large black tarantula with gold banded legs walked next to the circle and was drawn by the light of the fire. It was a cool sight to watch it go about its business.
I must have stayed in the circle for at least 4 or 5 hours. I lost track of time.
I went through many intense things that night.
The next day I had returned everything as I had found it.
That is one of the most unique spiritual experiences I have ever had.
I hope one day to go back and carry the ashes of my dog and a locket of his hair with me so we can sit in the circle again.
