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.
