Once upon a time… When was it? When was it not that a Dragon lived upon the earth? Dragons are ancient beings that can bring great destruction or new life. Cast out of the cosmos to live within the fiery center of our planet there was once a dragon empowered to live in physical presence. Deep in the poisonous molten gases of the bowels of the earth it lived… harboring evil. Once every seven hundred years it crawled up through the caves to enter the world of humankind. There it fed on fear and lies, hatred and ignorance. It flew out over the land with great power and it’s breath burst with fire - burning the land and it’s people. This is a story of how this Dragon was tamed and transformed… harken well for within the tale, the gems of truth glisten.
Long ago, in a Kingdom of earth and sky, close to the great opening of the Dragon cave, there lived a people who were preparing for it’s return. Legends of the land taught about the coming of the Evil Dragon, recounting the death it had caused in the past and foretelling it’s coming again. Brave men and women, who chose to do battle, trained for Knighthood. Chosen fr their might and courage, they trained in skills of fighting and killing with swords and shields of metal. The King and Queen rewarded them with great riches and promises of glory.
Then the day came when rumbling was heard beneath the earth. Poisonous gases began to seep out of the mouth of the caves at the base of the mountain and the people steeled themselves in preparations. The Knights slept little and were on edge, ready.
Long ago, in a Kingdom of earth and sky, close to the great opening of the Dragon cave, there lived a people who were preparing for it’s return. Legends of the land taught about the coming of the Evil Dragon, recounting the death it had caused in the past and foretelling it’s coming again. Brave men and women, who chose to do battle, trained for Knighthood. Chosen fr their might and courage, they trained in skills of fighting and killing with swords and shields of metal. The King and Queen rewarded them with great riches and promises of glory.
Then the day came when rumbling was heard beneath the earth. Poisonous gases began to seep out of the mouth of the caves at the base of the mountain and the people steeled themselves in preparations. The Knights slept little and were on edge, ready.
Then it came. Monstrous, the dragon burst upon the world and took flight over the land. It burned all that was in it’s path and took pleasure in causing suffering. The people ran in fear. The King called for his knights to do battle but though they were brave, they fought with hatred for the beast and it only gained strength. Once by one the Knights went to battle the Dragon - and one by one they all perished - burned by the fire of the beast, in pain they were killed. The Dragon gained strength from each of these battles. The people lived in terror, hiding during the day as the Dragon flew over the land. The King and Queen, in despair, thought there was no future for the people left. As more and more of their kingdom was burnt and destroyed, and the graves of the people grew, and those who were left hid, they lost hope. There was one empowerment left - and that was the power of prayer. This they did.
That night, while the Dragon slept, the King and Queen had a dream vision. They were lifted into the realms of the heaven where a great Knight in golden light was sharpening a sword of spirit power. Shooting stars were born from the anvil of light… bringing renewed strength and courage where ever they fell to earth. The shooting stars fell to the earth of the Kingdom for the people who still were among the living. Then the great Knight spoke, “There will come a Dragon Tamer, Wise One, who will teach you what must be done.”
In the morning, over the land of the Kingdom, shooting stars were indeed falling to earth… The Dragon was not able to fly in the meteor shower, and did not stray far from the mouth of the cave that day. In prayer, the King and Queen prepared for the coming of the Dragon Tamer. They bade the palace guards open the gates upon his arrival. Whispers of hope spread among the people who were left. Then, riding from the place of the rising sun, there came a stranger into that land. Through the ashes the stranger came, arriving at the gates of the palace. It was not the arrival that the people expected. For the rider was not dressed for battle but in garments that were filled with a soft light, and she was but a young woman, scarcely past childhood. She carried the sheath of a shaft of sunlight. “ I have come to tame the Dragon,” she said to the palace guards, “Let me enter”. Surprised, they opened the gates. She was of small build, but very strong. She bid them tend her steed and entered the palace, led to the throne room where the King and Queen were waiting. “I am Wise One, and I have come to teach you the ways of taming the dragon. We must be swift for our time is at hand. While the meteors fall, the dragon will not fly…. Gather all who remain with the gift of life in this Kingdom. No one can be left behind. All must come together to the safety of the palace. Here I will teach all what must be done.”
The King’s heralds and guards then went throughout the land. They gathered the people and told them of this message. They made sure that all joined them. This was not easy for there were many who trembled in fear, some who had been injured by the Dragon and were not able to physically come without help… but at last, at the setting of the sun on the third day, all were gathered within the walls of the palace.
Then the teachings of Wise One began. First was the knowledge of healing. As they learned this knowledge, a new light grew within them. Second was the taming of fear and the transformation of hatred. As this was understood, music was born anew and a song whose words were of a new language sounded on their tongues. Third was the will that empowered each must take care of the other - that of love that never faileth. As they practiced this, trust and peace grew strong in their hearts.
“Now the meteors will be ending and the Dragon will fly again. It will be hungering for new fear and hatred… take care to not feed it.” Said Wise One. “There is but one garden left in the land - that of the Palace has been protected. We will not meet the Dragon with swords, but with the fruits and flowers of the last garden of the land.” So saying she led the people to the Queen’s garden where they gathered the fruits and flowers that grew there. Then she led the people out through the palace gates. All of the people, with fruits and flowers in hand, formed a circle on the field outside the walls of the Kingdom.The field had been burned but instead of ash upon the ground it seemed to be a ground of light, for the shooting stars that had fallen made the earth look like a star. They stood holding up the fruits of the garden and Wise One stood in the center. She led the people in the song she had taught them.
The Dragon awoke, hungry from it’s time of waiting. It saw that the shooting stars had stopped falling. It heard the song of the people on the wind and it became enraged. With a terrible cry it rose to the air and it’s fiery breath made the air unbearably hot. It flew out over the land and saw the people gathered. It was enraged to see them thus - not fleeing with cries of terror, but steadfast and strong, united in song, unfailing in their honoring of the fruits of the land. It screeched and flew straight for the center of the circle - seeking to burn Wise One first. But Wise One did not falter. She raised her sword of light over her head and spoke,” Death will come to those who glorify it. Life will remain with those who protect and transform it.” And the song of the people grew stronger. Each with the other empowering the heart of love.
At the moment of their unification, the power of the Dragon ended. It’s fire was not able to burn without the poisonous gas of hatred. It’s wing was not able to fly without the winds of fear. It looked in the eyes of Wise One and knew for the first time what love was. Then it began to fall. The sound of rushing wind filled the air. It fell towards the center of the circle of people. It fell towards Wise One who stood her ground, shaft of light held firm. The Dragon fell upon the shining one - and Wise One and the Dragon disappeared into the earth that closed over them both.
The people were filled with love and gratitude for the being of the Wise One. They were filled with sorrow for her loss but somehow still felt that she was close to them. “We will remember Wise One and live her teachings from this day on,” said the King. The Queen then bade them all to place the fruits and flowers in a great mandala where the Dragon and Wise One had entered the earth.
In the days and months that followed, the seeds of the flowers and fruits took root and grew into a magnificent garden. Just as the people remembered and practiced the teachings of Wise One, making sure that each new generation also received her wisdom, so did the seeds of the garden continue to grow. The land was one of plenty .The land was one of peace.
And what of when the Dragon comes again? The people were careful not to have fear in their hearts about this. They remembered that fear would only empower the beast’s fire. The teachings of Wise One held the truth that in a land where the people lived in peace and with compassion, the Dragon would remain transformed. It’s fire would be empowered with light - It would seek beauty and joy as it’s nourishment. New Worlds were now possible in the unfolding of creation for all.
Janene Ping -- Michaelmas 2018
