Bios & the Gentle Dragon's Story
(BIO COMING SOON)
Marti V. Galione
Therapeutic Herbalist, Certified Bach Remedy Counselor
Creator of "The Dancing Devas" Class
Flower Essence Class Teacher
EFT Practitioner & Teacher
As a very young child Marti was greatly influenced by her German Grandmother in the European tradition while helping in the garden. Grandmother taught her that the plants were not only nutritional but medicinal as well as delicious foods. At 8 years of age her family moved to the Arizona desert and there for the next 25 years she became interested in native traditions and lifestyles and in the healing power of the desert plants. Her expertise grew from a child's curiosity to an adult commitment to healing with plants and natural therapies.
After twelve years on her farm she made the painful transition to leave and return to the west where she relocated on the Oregon Coast in the temperate rain forest of the Northwest and started over. Now trained in the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and a certified Bach Flower Essence Counselor she finds great joy and happiness in teaching others about healing their lives.
Lyla Hill
Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
She brings a wealth of knowledge to her work about self image and its relationship to movement.What initially drew her to the work was an old injury that had bothered her for a long time.. She went to a Feldenkrais Practitioner and for the first time in years experienced improvement. She took the training to improve her own mobility and in the process learned about movement and self image. She teaches Awareness Through Movement classes individually and in groups and works with people on the table to improve Functional Intergration.
Once upon a time… long, long ago but not so very far away there lived a wise and magical dragon. This dragon much preferred the company of a good book and a soft place to stretch out in the sunshine listening to the birds sing or soaring over the countryside gliding swiftly across the sky, like a cloud upon the wind or playing with the whales, riding waves and swimming in the great blue seas or singing and dancing and laughing with great gusto to any of the antics dragons are more accustomly known for. Of course great strength was one of the dragons many attributes but strength does not always equal viciousness or an affinity for violence. In fact, this dragons strength was as calming as that of a giant redwood tree resonating the presence of an ancient wisdom with an underlying wit and cleverness that would alone defeat most challengers. Causing harm to any living being was not the nature of our hero knowing that all life is connected intricately through the web of life and all is sacred. This dragon’s heart was immense and deeply saddened by the unnecessary cruelty witnessed in the eons of existence already experienced. This is not to say here beats the heart of a coward by any means, just that a gentle existence of peace, respect, integrity, laughter and love was preferred and demonstrated whenever possible. True strength and bravery are not best proven on the battlefield but by being a reflective example of what one believes to be right and good through ones daily actions even when it is not the popular opinion, and by living a life of honor and integrity and only fighting when all other avenues have been exhausted and only killing when evil will not be defused by any other means. This is the Gentle Dragon, whose tale is long and winding, wrapping through the threads of time, but not to be confused with the actual tail, which is considerably shorter and like the rest of this magical creature has the tendency to disappear and reappear not unlike the Cheshire cat of wonderland. It would take more than my lifetime to recite even a fraction of the escapades of one who has been here since before what we know as the beginning and witnessed the rise and fall of species, kingdoms, cultures and vast landscapes. Needless to say behind these kind eyes lie our history and secrets.
Now that you know a little about the nature of our dragon friend you might better understand why I have chosen this mascot to protect our sanctuary of healing and transformation and maybe from time to time to guide us with a gentle wing, a deep full laugh or song upon the breeze. The Gentle Dragon welcomes you and will watch over you with a joyous heart gladdened that you have chosen to take some precious time to heal. For all healing begins within us as individuals and spreads like ripples out into the world.
Legends of the DragonThe myriad legends of the Chinese Dragon permeate ancient Chinese civilization and shaped their culture even today. Its benevolence signifies greatness, goodness and blessings. Instead of being feared and hated the Chinese dragons are highly respected creatures of good fortune that bring ultimate abundance, prosperity and good fortune. Chinese mythology says dragons control the rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. Many Chinese cities have pagodas where people used to burn incense to ask the dragons to favor their crops or change the weather. Dragons are referred to as the divine mythical creature.
As an animal possessed of magical abilities the Chinese dragon is able to shrink to the size of a silk worm; and then swell up to fill the entire space between heaven and earth. It can make itself visible or invisible, as it so chooses. It can take on human form or that of another animal to carry out some secret mission.
Everything connected with Eastern Dragons is blessed. The Year of the Dragon that takes place ever twelve years is lucky. Present-day Oriental astrologers claim that children born during Dragon Years enjoy health, wealth, and long life.
The Dragon/Chinese Zodiac
The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Asian Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected.
THE SIGN OF THE DRAGON
The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Conformation is a Dragon's curse. Rules and regulations are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The Dragon is a beautiful creature, colorful and flamboyant. An extroverted bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible, everything Dragons do is on a grand scale - big ideas, ornate gestures, extreme ambitions. However, this behavior is natural and isn't meant for show. Because they are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost inevitably successful. Dragons usually make it to the top. However, Dragon people be aware of their natures. Too much enthusiasm can leave them tired and unfulfilled. Even though they are willing to aid when necessary, their pride can often impede them from accepting the same kind of help from others. Dragons' generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends, but they can be rather solitary people at heart. A Dragon's self-sufficiency can mean that he or she has no need for close bonds with other people.
DRAGON FACTS:
People born in the Year of the Dragon share certain characteristics. The Dragon sign is an abbreviated way of characterizing that individual's personality. Following are features associated with the sign of the Dragon.
Fifth in order, Chinese name-LONG, sign of luck
Hour-7am-8:59 a.m. Month-April
Western Counterpart-Aries
CHARACTERISTICS
- Innovative
- Enterprising
- Flexible
- Self-assured
- Brave
- Passionate
- Conceited
- Tactless
- Scrutinizing
- Unanticipated
- Quick-tempered
2012 – Year of the Yang Water Dragon
What kind of year will 2012 be? From a Feng Shui standpoint 2012, the year of the Yang Water Dragon, brings many possibilities for good fortune.
Unlike the wicked, fire-breathing dragons of Western mythology, China’s celestial dragon symbolizes potent and benevolent power. Dragons are ancient, majestic, wise, and intelligent, and Dragon years are considered particularly auspicious for new businesses, marriage and children. Dragon years also tend to boost individual fortunes and the world economy.
The Year of the Water Dragon (1992, 1952 and 2012) is noted for its calm, visionary intelligence, and balance of right brain creativity with left brain logic.
Like all Dragons, the Water Dragon is an innovative, fearless leader. But the Water Dragon is also far more sensitive to others’ needs, and is more likely to be progressive and diplomatic, as well as socially and environmentally conscious. Because Water bestows a more peaceful disposition, this Dragon will act wisely and intelligently, and unlike his fellow Dragons, is willing to set aside his ego for the good of all.
This Dragon is a successful negotiator, and while he is adept at marketing, he also knows how to apply force skillfully when necessary. On the down side, the Water Dragon sometimes forgets to build a solid foundation for his grand plans, and he can hold on too long to pet ideas and projects, and thus create a famous Dragon-sized disaster.
If you subscribe to the dawn-of-a-new-era theory of 2012, then it’s easy to see how the influence of the Water Dragon will increase the likelihood of success for progressive movements gaining momentum all across the globe. Energy conservation and green energy-producing technologies, curtailing Global Warming, challenges to multinational corporations, attention to world hunger and the renewed health of the oceans and sea creatures will all likely fare well.
If your expectations tend more toward disaster, then you might expect tsunamis, hurricanes, monsoons and other weather extremes to be in the headlines.
But of all the Dragon years, the 2012 Water Dragon is most likely to bestow the Chinese Five Blessings of harmony, virtue,riches, fulfillment and longevity, adding even more weight to the growing belief that 2012 will be about breakthroughs, not disasters.
Most people know that water covers 2/3 of our planet & comprises 95% of our bodies; we simply cannot live without it. In Chinese element theory, water produces wood, which signifies growth and is the natural element of the dragon. The dragon governs east/southeast, wealth accumulation & the hours of 7 a.m. -
In 2012 the Yang Water Dragon Year starts January 23, 2012 and ends February 9, 2013. The energetic high point of the year is the dragon moon, which is from May 20 to June 18 (new moon is May 20, full moon is June 4 and dragon moon is over June 18. June 19 begins the snake moon, which will set up the energy for the following year, 2013, year of the yin water snake.)
Embrace the upcoming 2012 Year of the Water Dragon!
