Ancestral Calling

A Note from the Author

This scene comes from my musical Dogs and is titled Ancestral Calling. It is about the moment when instinct awakens — when something ancient stirs beneath the comfort of the present, and the call of lineage, moon, and stars is felt all at once.

It is especially meaningful to share this now, in this very season, as we have just passed the Full Wolf Moon and Sirius, the Dog Star, stands high in the night sky. The heavens themselves are in the same alignment the song describes, as if the sky is quietly echoing the story.

The Wolf Moon and the rising of Sirius are not just sky events here, but signals written deep into memory. They awaken what has always lived inside the domestic: the rhythm of the pack, the language of the howl, the pull of the wild that still echoes in bone and breath.

In this moment, the dogs are not dreaming and they are not running yet — they are remembering. Remembering who they have always been. Remembering the long line of canids before them. Remembering the great family they belong to, stretching from hearth to forest, from campfire to constellation.

I have left the stage descriptions in place with the lyrics so that you can see the scene as it unfolds — the moon brightening, the constellations rising, the pack gathering, and the ancient call moving through them — offering a visual as well as a voice.

This song is the gathering of that memory — the hush before movement — the collective pause when the ancient voice says:
You are not alone. You are part of something older than time.

Scene 2 - Ancestral Calling

A magical celestial scene. The full moon is still rising, as it was in the first scene. It makes its way slowly up the sky.

The stage is white with snow and glowing in the moonlight.

It’s the full Wolf Moon — a wolf face can now barely be made out in the moon if you look closely.

The Dog Star Sirius slowly begins to rise up in the sky, and the stars of the Great Dog constellation appear around it. Orion rises also. The Great Dog constellation is animated and can be seen slowly following Orion, moving its legs dreamily across the sky.

The path the sun takes in summer — the path the moon now follows — is briefly seen. It flares through the sky, almost looking like the Milky Way.

The Dogs are still sleeping on the stage, but they are dark silhouettes. Then, all of a sudden, there is a loud “WOOF!” as the campfire lights up with a big ball of fire. [All the Dogs voice the word “WOOF!” for this, mimicking the “woosh” of a fire started with gasoline.]

All Dogs can be seen now and have positioned themselves around the campfire. The light flickers and illuminates the snow and their faces. Sparks fly up into the sky. Magical.

A Dog starts to speak. Words are spoken with great meaning and magic, as if it were a great tale that can only be told while sitting by the campfire at night. Soft light is on each Dog as they speak. Dogs stand and gesture as they speak. All other Dogs are sitting around in a big circle and intently watching the speaking Dog.

Every year
[Dog is standing while speaking and gesturing to the stars above]
When the moon is right
When the stars align
To their lofty heights

When the full Wolf Moon
[Moon brightens briefly, sun trail illuminates across the sky, similar to the Milky Way]
Blazes high overhead
Tracing a trail
The summer sun has led
And brightens the land
[Snow glows brighter]
A milky white glow
In the heart of winter
In a blanket of snow

When a star in the night
[Sirius high up in the sky now and twinkles brightly]
The brightest to see
The star called Sirius
Is high as can be
Above the horizon
[Sirius still rising and twinkling]
And guiding the way
The dog star is calling
Dogs near and stray

When the Great Dog has risen
[Canis Major is dreamily running as a constellation following Orion]
And runs through the sky
Faithfully following
The Great Hunter’s thigh

It’s the time of year
[Dog gestures to all the other dogs]
When our very best friend
Canis lupus familiaris
Has a meeting to attend

When the call is heard
[All Dogs tilt their heads side to side]
Dogs gather together
Howling to the moon
It’s the biggest pack ever!

They’ll romp and play
[Some Dogs tap their front feet wildly in excitement (Zoey)]
And dance and sing
They’ll bark and howl
With celebrating

Tails will wag
[Tails wag]
As tales are told
Stories they’ve heard
Around the water bowl

Stories and songs
Ballads and dreams
Of love sick puppies
And famous dog memes

Of running with paws
And getting new names
Truck drivin’ dogs
And tears in the rain

Dogs that ride bulls
In a rodeo ring
And places dogs go
Where it’s always spring

The great pack of dogs
Is a wonderful sight
It’s a magical time
But it’s just for one night

And tonight is the night
Our fur coats are thick
For Winter’s bitter cold
And tomorrow comes quick

Tonight in the light
Of the magical moon
That blazes a trail
Like the sun did in June
[Sun trail illuminates again]

The first full moon
[Moon brightens]
Of the new year
The Moon of the Wolf
[Wolf face in moon becomes clear]
Is finally here

Awakening the instincts
[Dogs shake heads, one scratches at collar]
In the family of canids
Who bask in the firelight
Whose necks they are banded

All Dogs:
We heed the call
[Dogs look up at the sky and at each other]
A howl inside
Sparked by the moon
And the stars in the sky

We’re on the run
[All Dogs dance a running pack around the fire]
And with every stride
Our pack grows stronger
’Neath celestial guides

Follow the calling
[Glowing eyes in trees, wind in branches]
Blowing in the breeze
The ancient wolf howling
[Wind and distant howls]
Echoing in the trees

Run all night
Run through the day
Run by the starlight
Guiding the way

(Louder)
Follow strong
And follow well
Follow your instincts
You’re under the spell

The ancestral wolf
Within your bones
Is calling you, calling you, calling you home!

(Softer – Refrain)

By the light of the full Wolf Moon
[All Dogs stand and look up at the moon in a trance]
In the light of the full Wolf Moon
The bright light of the full Wolf Moon
By the light of the full Wolf Moon
In the light of the full Wolf Moon
The bright light of the full Wolf Moon
The bright light of the full Wolf Moon
The bright light of the full Wolf Moon

[Campfire fades out and the dogs exit the stage. Full moon remains shining.]