Mar. 2026 Musing on Healing
March Muse: Healing
Our dog had knee surgery in mid February. As we are walking with Roscoe and doing our best to support a complete recovery, we are staying mindful not to impose any stories to the process. We are keeping an eye on the incision, monitoring movements and watching for inflammation. We are following the protocol for medication, passive range of motion and ice to ease swelling. The body has a systematic response to repair and recovery. We are biologically equipped for mending and repair.
I’m amazed at how quickly the incision is healing and how the swelling is minimal. He is restricted to rest and short leash walks for potty breaks. He isn’t testing his limits when we go out. He trusts me to support him and does not object to walking with the support of a sling. He notices when his muscles are shaking and is happy to return to his area for rest.
In contrast, people love to speculate. We want to imagine and plan. How long will the healing process be? What if the pain is overwhelming? What if something goes wrong? What if it doesn’t fully heal? What if it heals but the scar tissue makes me limp? This “what-if scenario” line of thought can activate the body’s stress response, which triggers your body to flood the system with cortisol and adrenaline. This kind of stress response will suppress immune function and slow tissue repair.
Beyond the level of speculation and expectations related to outcomes, there may be a threat to a person’s identity. If an athlete has a injury that requires surgical repair, the risk to their identity as an athlete is in the mix. The injury becomes a story, a loss, a source of grief or frustration. This psychological stress can create tension in the body which directly interferes with the relaxed, parasympathetic state where healing happens.
My dog has the clear advantage of presence. He operates from an entirely different framework. There is no story. He isn’t dreading the surgery beforehand. He isn’t telling a story about the frustration of being confined for recovery. There is no narrative about what challenges may face him in the future. My dog is existing in the current moment, having an experience, and responding to what is rather than what might be.
The lack of anticipatory stress and mind chatter allows his autonomic nervous system to be more balanced. Without the cortisol load of chronic worry, his immune system can operate at full capacity. The body can heal without the additional inflammation that can be triggered by psychological stress.
Roscoe is recovering without guilt. He isn’t pushing through pain to prove something or to get back to work. He isn’t impatient about the recovery timeline. He is responding to his body’s signals instinctively. He isn’t filled with stories, or expectations, or nagging worries about work and family responsibilities. Dogs have nothing to prove.
We can notice the power of presence in the healing process as we witness our animal friends who are recovering. We can agree that it is fair and reasonable to take time for rest and recovery, and hopefully find some kindness for ourselves to navigate healing with presence if we every have to go through something similar.
Spirit Animal: Raccoon
One of Raccoon's most powerful healing gifts is inner resourcefulness. We have all the necessary resources, both internal and external, to navigate the challenges we face. Raccoon medicine reminds the wounded that everything for healing already exists within.
Raccoon medicine is quiet, clever, and practical. It fosters resilience and reminds the soul that you have everything you need. Raccoon asks, "What masks do you wear and why? Raccoon spirit doesn't shame the masks. Stepping out from behind the masks we create with our stories creates new perspective. We can find our inner strength and natural ability to heal. Raccoon teaches us to value the healing journey and the transformation because of it.