A Dragon's Guide to Destiny


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A Dragon's Guide Newsletter: Issue VII


Welcome to the September issue of A Dragon's Guide.

The newsletter usually comes out quarterly, but I waited so that I could announce the publication of the fourth book of A Dragon's Guide to Destiny. It's entitled The Book of Sorrows, now available at Amazon. It will soon be available at other outlets.

Here's the synopsis.

* * *

When a series of earthquakes in Tamaras rocks both the ground and an increasingly divided and troubled society, the people blame the earth dragons. Both the government and its opposition, the Austeres, ask Serazina, Heroine of Oasis to intervene. Although she learns that other dragons consider the earth variety to be rude, secretive, and possibly treacherous, her desire to keep the Tamaran chaos from affecting Oasis takes her into danger.

In Tamaras, she, Druid, the Dragon of Destiny, Phileas, Guardian of Oasis, and Tara, a cat who's used up more than a few of her lives, discover a society with undercurrents at least as treacherous as the earth dragons.

Tamarans pursue pleasure in order to escape a mysterious emotional pain whose source is unknown. The Austeres, enemies of self-indulgence, waste, and welfare, say that the people can only become happy when they replace sensuous excess with stripped-down simplicity.

Investigating further, Serazina and her companions discover that the source of Tamaran disruption is a mysterious force called the Book of Sorrows. To learn its secrets, they must go deep into the earth to face both the giant Dragon queen and a race of beings whose name no one dares to speak.

* * *
Kinship With All Life by J. Allan Boone

If you seek a deeper relationship with other animals-and with your own inner wisdom-I cannot recommend this book too highly. I have reread this classic many times since my first reading in 1982.

Before meeting Strongheart, a German shepherd and silent movie star, J. Allen Boone considered dogs and all animals to be "dumb" creatures who stood far below humans on the evolutionary ladder. When he became Strongheart's temporary caretaker, his conception of the relationships between living things changed forever.

Upon entering his new home, Strongheart inspected it with great and gave the grounds an equally diligent inspection. That night he insisted on sleeping facing the windows. When Boone protested, the dog demonstrated by pulling the curtains that he needed to have his head faced in the direction of possible danger.

Having set matters straight, the dog fell asleep, but the human lay awake, reflecting that the qualities of independent thinking, clear reasoning, judgment, and common sense that he'd considered exclusive to humans had just been expressed by a dog. Boone writes, "For the first time I understood how dumb a human can be in the presence of an intelligent animal."

Boone's amazement deepened one day when, a few minutes after he thought of hiking with Strongheart, the dog brought his sweater, jeans, walking stick, and boots to him. The man realized that the dog understood him perfectly. He, on the other one, fell short when it came to understanding Strongheart's thoughts.

Shedding the Human Skin

After failed attempts to bridge the communication gap, he understood that he had to drop the idea of himself as a superior being and also stop limiting Strongheart to the category of "dog." Finally he came to the realization that "what I was actually being privileged to watch was not a dog expressing great qualities, but rather, great qualities expressing a dog."

As Boone increasingly dropped the faŤade of human superiority and learned to appreciate the equality of all beings, he also realized that all creatures can communicate in a universal language that transcends sound. He applied this lesson at every opportunity, becoming conversant with skunks, ants, and an unusual individual called Freddy the Fly.

This book, written in the 1950s, long before the concept of communicating with animals gained a certain level of popularity, is not a step-by-step guide. It's not about doing but about being. It's not about communication; it's about communion.

I recently read this quote by Deepak Chopra: "Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box." If we step outside the box, it's still there, promising safety. When we get rid of the box, we live dangerously-and freely.

And a world of wonder awaits us.

How Kinship with All Life Helped to Create
A Dragon's Guide to Destiny

Although I found the book astonishing, it revealed only what what I, however unknowingly, knew. I believe that a deep love for animals springs from those moments of magic when we experience the kind of communion that T. Allen Boone did with Strongheart. Not only do such moments reveal the greatness of our partner in communion, but it reveals our own.

This is what I've sought to express in A Dragon's Guide to Destiny. In the first book, Big Dragons Don't Cry, all that can save a nation of clueless humans is taking a few steps towards recognizing animals, especially the dragon they fear and loathe, as fellow citizens of their world. Each of the following books takes that idea further.

The book was emerging in my mind a few decades ago (that first book took forever to write) when I had an encounter with a cougar. Eventually that cougar became Tomo, friend and confidante of the water dragon, Druid.

The encounter occurred at a wildlife farm. Please note: I realize that much controversy surrounds the issue of any place where wild animals are held captive. I have feelings on the subject, some of which are reflected below.

That day I met a male cougar, who was pacing back and forth in a small cage. I stood before the cage, feeling sorry for the beautiful and powerful creature inside until it occurred to me that this wasn't helpful energy for the cougar. I wondered how I could shift and trained my thoughts into appreciation. I looked at the magnificent cat and thought: You are so beautiful. You are so powerful. I love you.

The big cat seemed indifferent to my efforts, but a half-hour later, when I passed his cage again, he greeted me with that unique cougar screech. I paused, and he screeched again. When I walked closer to his cage, he rolled over on his back and began to purr.

For a moment there was no cage, and not even a cougar and a human, just two beings joined in appreciation and spirit.

I end with this quote from The Nature of Personal Reality, by Jane Roberts:

"You can learn more form watching the animals than you can from a guru or a minister--or from reading my book. But first you must divest yourself of the idea that your creaturehood is suspect. Your humanness did not emerge by refusing your animal heritage, but upon an extension of what it is."

An Excerpt from Big Dragons Don't Cry

The magic was here. It had always been here. The stream of golden light carried her into the Dance.

As she danced with the kitten and the dragon, she was the sway of the cypress trees, a cattail's bold thrust, the sleepiness of moss.

And where do I fit in? Serazina asked the Lady.

You are my hope.

What must I do?

Learn to listen.

To you?

To all my creations. Listen.

A soft wind rose up, its sigh the feathery chords of a harp. Nestlings in a tree nearby cried out, "Hungry! Father! Food!" A song rose from their parent's throat. "Coming, my loves."

Sunlight poured through the forest, each shining ray singing, "Grow, grow."

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Big Dragons Don't Cry is available at Amazon. You can also get versions for Nook, iPad, and Kobo. Visit my web site for more information.

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