SoulCollage(R) Card: Taming the Dragon
“The
human spirit is capable of an endless number of extraordinary feats. It is a
dragon slayer, animating its presence within our being to challenge images and
thoughts that arise from the depths of our darkness, intent upon reshaping how
we see the landscape of our life.”
- Carolyn Myss
A few years ago, I took a class
called Dark Gifts. I was intrigued by the title and ready to face my fear of
writing the true stories of my childhood with a dysfunctional (but loving) family.
I knew it was going to be scary, even though I had previously written a book of poems called
“Little Mother”, and dived deeply in my journal for many years. But I also knew there was
treasure to be uncovered in that dark cave.
At each transition point in my life,
it seems, the dragons raise their heads and blast me with “thou shalt not pass
here” messages. I am a brave and curious soul, usually, not reckless, not Game
of Thrones kind of adventurer, but eager to understand my own processes and
move onward and upward. Still, after the dizzying mid-life transition at
menopause, I felt a bit weak in the knees, a bit less sure of myself, so this
course beckoned to me.
Here’s the thing about dragons – what
I found out when I asked it why I couldn’t pass (in a guided meditation), is that
there was no good reason – and when I imagined my little girl self singing it a
lullaby, the dragon actually lowered its hoary head and let me come closer. The
tears that flowed from my eyes melted some of my own armour, showing me the
true nature of courage; by allowing myself to be vulnerable, as Brene Brown says, more courage began to flow. It felt like a pivotal moment. (I’m still working
on those childhood stories).
What I’m discovering with my
creative practice of SoulCollage® is that the first step, after creating a safe
space to play/work in, is to call in my allies and guides for help in facing the dragons. I have made
several Protector cards, Wise Elder and Earth Mother cards, cards that feel
nurturing and loving and accepting. I also have a few warrior cards, and a
ferocious Mountain Lion who stands guard and protects my boundaries. Now I also know that my innocent girl child has a light and power that can fight the dark.
SoulCollage(R) Card: Mountain Lion Protector
In the workshop I’m offering this
weekend, called Darkness to Light,
Navigating Transitions, we are going to name and claim our dragons, the boogeymen who say – Stop! You can’t go forward! There be dragons here! And we will also find and name our allies. We have
all been through many transitions in our lives, but in the face of the
current transition or challenge, we sometimes forget the skills and tools we learned the last time
around. For instance, most of us have survived a lot of challenges: we made it through adolescence, challenging
relationships, illnesses, loss of a loved one, or a job change – but when we are in the middle of it, it feels just as scary every time to face the
unknown, to be uncertain of the future. I remember Joan Borysenko describing it
in a workshop on Change as being in the hallway, with one door closed and the
other one not opened yet. It’s normal
to feel uneasy about what is not seen yet, and unknown.
SoulCollage(R) Card: Goddess Blessing Child with Sun and Water
This is why we need to call in our
allies. We also need to name our challengers, pull the dragons out of the dark
and ask them to speak to us, ask them: what is the treasure you are guarding? What gift
do you have for me? What can I give you in return? There is always a gift in
the darkness; hiding in the shadows is our gold.
Writing this article, I came across
this powerful piece called Meeting the
Dragon, by Robert Holden: “’On the
path of bliss you will meet a dragon. On the dragon there are many scales.
Every one of them says ‘Thou Shalt Not’," said [Joseph] Campbell. The
dragon may take many forms. For instance, a person who discourages you, who
says “You can’t” and “You shan’t.” When I was 20 years old, I worked at a BBC
radio station for the summer. I loved it. On my last day, the station manager asked
to meet me. It was a short meeting. He told me I shouldn’t pursue my interest
in radio as I didn’t have the personality or the talent for it. I burst into
tears in front of him. What he said sounded like the truth; not just an
opinion. This month marked the start of my ninth year hosting my Shift Happens! radio show
for Hay House Radio. Not every “Thou Shalt Not” is true.
The dragon is, essentially, an inner experience. It’s often a self-doubt, a judgment, or a belief that breathes fire at you. One of my dragons is the “inner critic” that would roar at me when I sat before the blank page. Over the years, I learned to tame this dragon. Initially, I did everything I could to avoid it, to outrun it, to heal it, and to slay it. One day, I had a revelation. It struck me that the “inner critic” had never been published! I was released. The inner critic still roars at me from time to time, but it has no fire.”
The dragon is, essentially, an inner experience. It’s often a self-doubt, a judgment, or a belief that breathes fire at you. One of my dragons is the “inner critic” that would roar at me when I sat before the blank page. Over the years, I learned to tame this dragon. Initially, I did everything I could to avoid it, to outrun it, to heal it, and to slay it. One day, I had a revelation. It struck me that the “inner critic” had never been published! I was released. The inner critic still roars at me from time to time, but it has no fire.”
This piece spoke to me personally, because I studied Radio & TV Arts for one year at university, but gave it up, thinking I was not the competitive type of person it took to make it. These days, I have the chutzpah that I didn't have at age 19.
While some people express and explore through words, others use images or dance, breathwork or yoga or any other expressive art to feel the fear, find their strength and glide
around the dragons. No matter which modality you use, one thing I’m sure of, your spirit has more power in
it than you know. Reclaim your inner resources, your inner wisdom and find your
playful spirit of resilience. Perhaps you won't slay the dragon, but have a conversation with it. Use your
intuition, your imagination, and most of all, use imagery and symbolism, the
language of the soul, to get to the bottom of your treasure.
And of course, if it feels too overwhelming and difficult, consult a professional who can help you face your fears and move forward.
There may be dragons here, but there
also be Transformation and Healing!
Playfully yours in creativity,
Jennifer
Art Collage: Warrior Monk Flies down the Path with Eagle
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