I was in Lakeside, Arizona after the big fires and wanted to see the results. I had also heard the Gaan Crown Dancers are sometimes seen in the mountains in that area. I took a walk one day in February to see if I could catch some magic.
I walked into the woods and saw the devastation and dry creek beds and turned to walk back. I couldn't find my way.
I walked for hours and it started to get dark. I hiked to an enormous rock and looked around but couldn't see anything but trees. The sun started to set. I had a half bottle of water and my pack that had aspirin, a couple of textiles and a sweatshirt. The sun went down and the coyote packs howled at each other. The day before I had seen a map of animal poop and I remember wondering why I was interested. Now I knew. I stayed up on the big rock and spent the longest night gazing at the stars and hearing the noises of wildlife.
It took me 12 hours walking, the next day to find my way out. I was dehydrated and dirty. The first house I saw had a sign, Healing, I knocked and the white woman took one look at me and wanted me gone. She had a client coming and I looked pretty bad. She gave me a small Dixie cup of water and asked me to leave. I told her my story but she really didn't care. I have yet to be face to face with a Crown Dancer but I'm not dead yet.
(Outside) SANT
A FE, NEW MEXICO Sculptor Bob Hauzous
(Outside) SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO Sculptor Bob Hauzous
