“Let it be your business every day, in the secrecy of the inner chamber, to meet the holy God. You will be repaid for your trouble it may cost you. The reward will be sure and rich.” – Andrew Murray
There is little that I need add to this.
The “inner chamber” is within you, and the “holy God” is that Supreme, Divine power to which you ascribe as the Source of your life, by whatever name you may have come to know it. The meddling and venomous dragons that often torture your mind will not be found within this chamber of the heart. They are reduced to dust in the overwhelming light of truth that fills this space.
ALL of the answers to ALL of your questions, and ALL of the blessings that you could possibly seek are already there, waiting, in that inner chamber.
I shall walk across the Glen. The beautiful green grass, the singing birds, and me, heading towards the most amazing sunset that you could ever imagine.
I shall enter the woods, with the burnt orange beams of the sun’s rays filtering through the trees, and I shall make my way to the brook, where all the animals come to quench their thirst from the waters that will satiate them until day dawns anew.
I am a wise man…yes. A wizard…at times. A wisdom keeper who has been deeply touched by Creation’s subtle, yet mighty hand…it is true. All quite impressive to a shallow ego, and often a delightful experience. But, in the end, I am nothing more, or less, than HUMAN.
Who is it that says that he/she has achieved some greater level of life – that they have somehow escaped, through meditation, or prayer,or drugs, or severe austerities, being human? Shun such a one…as they are living in delusion. The goal is not to somehow escape being human, but to be human fully, embracing all that it entails, living each moment as it is given without judgment.
I shall be at the brook, watching the leaves of each moment pass before me as they flow gently downstream. This is my peace – my salve for the deep and tiresome wounds caused by horrific fights with many mental dragons. Even though I emerge victorious…I hurt.
The dragons cannot come here – it is sacred space which they cannot penetrate; they dare not even make the attempt. My strength here is at its zenith, in the midst of my human weakness.
Do you have such a place of refuge? I pray so – all of the strength of the Lord of the Dragons I send to you this night. There is a refuge for you…a place of safety and healing. You must find it, and go there when fatigue overtakes you. If you wish, you may sit with me on the moss-covered boulder by the brook, in the woods at the edge of the Kelly green Glen. There is room…and comfort…and safety…and peace.
It was a mystery. Perhaps a ruse contrived with mirrors and pulleys, the illusion of a great magician. He couldn’t figure it out how it worked, but there they were; forty-seven stones stacked one upon another, reaching a height of over six feet.
No stone was the same shape or color as the one preceding it, or the one that came after, yet they stood. This was impressive, but not the greatest mystery. He understood the concept of balance, and though he realized an energy of far greater skill and knowledge than he possessed created this edifice, he knew balance was involved; leverage, weight-distribution…patience. Yes, incredibly impressive…but not magic. No, the magic was the foundation of this sacred tower.
There were forty-seven stones, one for each year of his physical life. A crude abacus of sorts – a sacred homage to his existence. Why it stood here, beside this creek, at the base of the castle mound and some two days ride from its fortified gate did not intrigue him as much as the foundation.
Forty-seven stones…but the first eight were missing. There was stone number nine – suspended in thin air – and all of the others neatly stacked upon it. The energy, the power, of the first eight stones must be there, but the stones themselves – gone. It was impossible, save for the fact that he was seeing it now, with his own eyes, as he had innumerable times before.
He was sweating as he passed his hand beneath the ninth stone…NOTHING. There was nothing there. He approached it from the other side, this time me sweeping his foot under the suspended stone. Again…nothing. And now wires to suspend it from above. What sorcery was this? What wizard or enchantress could have done this?
He sat down upon a large, moss-covered boulder nearby, stroking his chin as he puzzled over this feat. There was no sound save the soothing sound of the gently flowing water, the stirring of his horse, and the distant cry of a hawk; a sound that accompanied him everywhere he went. The hawk knew the answer to his questions, of this he was sure. The hawk had observed everything since the day he took this form, but the secret of his “life in stone” that stood before him now had yet to be shared with him. The hawk being ever near, he knew his answers were ever near. So close and yet so far away.
He had come to this spot many times, desirous to know the mystery of the missing stones. But it was more than curiosity that brought him here. He was the King, “Lord of the Dragons” they called him and, it was true. But he couldn’t leave it alone, he couldn’t simply accept it. He had to know why.
The reason that he was the King, and Lord of the Dragons, rested within those missing stones. And his destiny, what he was to become, was hidden there, too. He tossed a rock through the gaping wound of absent stones, and watched it skip harmlessly into the creek.
“Perhaps another day,” he mused aloud as he moved toward his horse. The hawk called as he began his return to the castle. He looked back once as he rode away. Adjusting his sword upon his back, he whispered to himself, “There are dark days ahead…we shall see.”
The desire burns within me to speak of wondrous and magical things, but each time that I have dipped my cup into the well this night I have returned with nothing. No nectar, no cooling water to soothe a troubled soul, just an empty ladle.
So, up I go. On weathered but powerful wings I take to the air this night – the Dragon Lord is passing over your home this very evening. I cannot sleep, so I will watch…and be ready to do battle with the specters that haunt your dreams.
There are more than a few of you out there who are facing dragons…you have told me so. They shall not prevail against you.
I do not fully understand the power that has been entrusted to me, but I know that it is real, and that those who call upon the aid of that power that is Gawain of the Coire shall not go unheard.
Gawain, The Dragon Lord, is fearless, and immensely powerful in many planes of existence. I, however, the human flesh within which this energy makes its home, am not. And yet, we co-exist. Gawain of the Coire takes flight, and leaves this mortal frame in order to carry out tasks that I cannot even comprehend – then returns to my body to reside. It is wonderful, and mysterious, and scary, and a blessing. Often, its “tasks” are words which, as I have written, are the very essence of the power of God. At other times, I have been told that its presence has been sensed – though many miles may separate our physical forms.
No matter…tonight, I fly. Look for me if you are troubled.
I have them now. Two pieces of the most exquisite Bloodstone that I have ever beheld. They are in my possession, by Divine design, fitting tools for a Dragon Lord.
Such beautiful blood red…such ethereal pale green. The power is palpable…I doubt that I shall ever see their like again. I must make arrangements as to their disposition when my mortal frame ceases to function. They must be left to one who understands, who knows. Where shall I find such a soul? I do not know.
How much blood has been shed as a sacrifice to lift the downtrodden of mankind? How many have been put to the blade, or met the unforgiving lead of a bullet because they championed those who are misused and vilified? The number is incalculable. These stones radiate the power, the courage, the strength of those men and women…going back thousands of years. They beam it from every corner and side. They live, they breathe…they are kings among the “stone people.”
I have many stones and crystals – none are like these. Their energy is staggering in both depth and dimension.
Am I a fool? Is all of this talk insane? I speak too much, for there are many who are not yet established in such matters. To those people, I am a crazy man. So be it. Do not let it trouble you, for I shall not trouble you.
But know this – the blood of the earth is not a trifling thing. It is in my veins, and pulsing with a ferocity that can bring the mightiest of dragons to their knees. If you have read my posts you know of which dragons I am speaking. These stones, which the grace of the power of he Divine Mother have placed in my possession, have closed the gap in the power that the Infinite has given to me to wield. There was a “hole;” it is there no longer.
Yes, it all sounds quite odd…even to me as I read it now. But rest easy. I am not delusional..No, what I am is keenly aware; there is a dramatic difference between the two. Shall I always be so? I doubt it..it will likely come and go. But tonight, the power is here. I am wielding bolts of lightning.
With that in mind, I encourage you to write to me if you have any issues that are plaguing you…that you are willing to place in the path of Gawain of the Coire. I will be up at least 1/2 hour more checking messages tonight.
A heinous act of terrorism…perpetrated by you, with your own mind.
We grow the dragons, lovingly nourishing them as luscious tomatoes on the vine. Perhaps they were not born from us. Perhaps the embryo was placed by another, when we were but babes; but we tend to them as our own. After all, who would we be without them?
And the dragons grow strong on our blood…and then turn and torment us relentlessly. And what do we do? Do we throw them out? Do we put the nefarious beasts to the tip of the sword of what is true? No. We give them names, and their own room, and free reign to tear through our psyche as they please. And believe me, they will.
Reading these words, any rational person would no doubt conclude, (and correctly), that to allow such a thing makes no sense at all…yet it happens every day in the minds of a staggering number of people. Why? Because the ego needs to be somebody – it insists upon an identity to cling to – a reason to be.
Your ego doesn’t give a damn whether you feel “good,” or “bad.” Its sole concern is to be noticed – to be able to say “this is who I am.” Victim? Cool. King of all that you see? That works, too.
Now, I understand that there are cases where the “machine” is in some way compromised, or “broken,” for lack of a better word. There are cases where some event, (or numerous events), have occurred that carried such traumatic weight that the chemistry of the machine (brain) actually altered. But even this, though it may not be something that can be completely overcome, can be dramatically lessened in its severity through practices such as prayer, meditation, and the use of appropriate Sanskrit mantras.
The number of people who fall into the latter category, those who have suffered chemical changes in the brain, is significantly less than the number of “normal” people who simply allow the dragons to define their behavior and attitudes. So, what do you do with the dragons that you have raised and that now torment your life? Send them packing.
As I mentioned before, your brain and ego don’t give a rat’s behind what your “identity” is – they just insist on having one. We all need an identity to function in this world. If it happens to be tormenting dragons, and negative emotions and feelings, so be it. That’s where they will hang their hat. In reality, the ego isn’t the enemy…it just needs a new pair of shoes to wear into town; and you are fully capable of changing your shoes.
If you suffer with self-doubt, self-condemnation, lack of positive self-esteem, etc., you know it. When those feelings arise, you feel them. It is at that moment that you have the opportunity to break the back of that dragon. Reverse it. As soon as your mind/ego go to “your not as good or worthy as these other people,” interrupt the thought. It is only a program, and you can replace it with a new one by simple interruption. “No, I AM worthy. I lack nothing. I AM as valid and important as anyone else.” Over time, the constant interruption of the old, negative program will result in the new, positive program taking its place.
Your mind is just an innocent hard-drive, like a computer. It doesn’t have the ability to determine what is “good” or “bad;” it just runs the programs that are loaded. YOU are the loader. NOT “you” the body, but YOU, the Infinite power of Creation, with the ability to observe and change what isn’t working.
If you choose to wallow in misery, then don’t bitch about your misery – you made the choice. If you don’t like it, slay the dragons by taking their program away. Start a new program that is positive, uplifting and faith-filled, and the dragons lose every ounce of their power. You become the “dragon lord;” they shall bow at your feet, ready to do your bidding in a POSITIVE way [a mental dragon is an immensely powerful ally when programmed in a beneficial direction].
Much to ponder tonight. Make the changes and stick with them, and you will be amazed at how quickly your life changes for the better.
Wandering through the darkness, expecting to find…something.
A bracing draught of exquisite, eighteen year-old scotch. A sublime pleasure that brings me closer to…nothing…save warmth to the bones.
There are dragons slicing the air tonight. The light of the enchanted blade of Gawain of the Coire reveals their presence, tearing asunder the darkness and exposing their traps. But tonight there shall be no battles. The loyal Griffin awaits to spirit the Dragon Lord away to the place of refreshing.
Blood red and piercing eyes, like shining ruby crystals, and a red aura that gives the most fierce dragons pause, this Griffin is not to be trifled with. Her power is a mystery to the dragons, and to me – they dare not approach her.
Nestled between her wings, Gawain of the Coire, the Lord of the Dragons, can rest easy. How long shall he be gone? There is no answer, as time does not exist in the realm of the Infinite. In the passage of time, no time shall actually pass.
Metaphor? Reality? Fantasy? Dreams? Insanity? Call it what you will…but know this. Gawain of the Coire shall ride the Griffin this very night, and return with more power flowing through him than he left with. Doubt it if you wish…call it fantastical gibberish if it suits you. This is only proper, and to be expected – UNTIL you feel the power and the presence.
You may have noticed that the look of the Gawain of the Coire blog has changed. It is rather “dark” now.
At first blush, it doesn’t seem to make sense that a blog that’s intent is to share the light of hope would have a dark look. But there is something about the juxtaposition of darkness and light that intrigues me. If we are honest with ourselves, we realize that the two are not separate…just different ends of the same piece of string. I would love to tell you that it was such a deep, spiritual truth that motivated the change…but that would be a lie.
Nope, the reason for the change of the look reflects a change that is more honest to who I am. Forget about the “I” that is the “I AM” for right now. I’m talking about the “I” that is ME.
All of us have a “physical” purpose; a personality, a bundle of ideas and likes and dislikes that we carry around with us. You can say that it comes from Karma, past lives, environmental forces that have shaped us…whatever. You can go through meditations and retreats and seek detachment from all of that, (the linchpin of many Eastern religions and thought), but to solely focus on such a thing is foolishness. There is a middle-ground between detachment and recognizing and pursuing the physical purpose that has been placed in your heart – a purpose that was placed there by the very power that you look to in your effort to escape it. This is a big topic, and I’m not going into it tonight. Maybe another day. I will simply say…BALANCE. Without it, you can be sure of falling. Anyway, back to the change in the look.
I speak much of knights, and castles, and dragons, and my Scottish roots. In my mind, I often find that I live by a code that is closely aligned to the romantic image of the medieval period. This is in me, why would I attempt to suppress it? I do not need to cling to it, but it has not been placed in my heart to be shunned either.
There is a part of me that is “Gawain of the Coire.” It is my essence, and who I am given to be this time around. And, as I wrote in my previous post, I am a “Dragon Lord” [http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/the-dragon-lord/]. You do not need to believe any of that. In fact, you may believe that it is a total crock. But, whatever you believe, the power flows through me, and I have witnessed it change many a life.
So, with all of that in mind, I have decided to embrace this aspect of my existence. The new look of the blog reminds me of the inside of a castle, from long ago…medieval in its own way…and I like it. It suits who I am in this realm of existence.
The purpose of Gawain of the Coire, MY human purpose, is to help those who are ready to slay the dragons of the mind that plague them…that hold them back…that keep them bound in fear. This imagery suits that purpose. We begin in the dark, and are led to the light. I have grown weary of those that claim to desire change, but will not enter the darkness to seek out their “dragons,” that think that such battles are clean and bloodless, that a warm and fuzzy feeling will get it done. It doesn’t work that way.
The castle that I have built, that was given to me through visions and wondrous experiences, is not open to just anyone that wants to wander in. There must be integrity, and determination, and the willingness to see it through to the final victory. I wrote of this on Facebook some time ago. My words were:
“Many shall pass…but to those who lie to themselves, who approach with false resolve and weak commitment…those people shall not pass. Only those who are true to themselves shall enter the castle.”
It has taken me a long time to admit, (without an arrogant egoistic attachment), that there is a power that flows through me that I cannot explain. Tonight, I admit it, and give thanks for it – though it be an eternal mystery. I cannot say that I wield it whenever I choose, but I do know when it is flowing and when it isn’t – and it invariably flows the moment that one earnestly asks me for aid.
The darkness…do not fear it; your route to freedom lies within the darkness. Gawain of the Coire, a knight who has spent much time in the darkness, the essence that is ME, can guide you out, and help you to defeat your dragons. I await your call for help. You can find me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Gawain-of-the-Coire/205425236152070
This phrase used to be on the edge of nautical maps, when everyone thought the world was flat. The unknown somehow always had monsters…kind of a pitiful way to see the world. Anyway, I am here to tell you, surprisingly, that dragons DO exist.
Physical dragons? Those that spew fire and strike fear into the hearts of mortal man? Probably. I do not know what plane of existence they may be on, or where in the cosmos, but I feel pretty certain that they exist somewhere. But there is another kind of dragon – more dangerous than the type I just described. These are the dragons of the mind.
In more common vernacular, people often refer to “dealing with their demons” when they are speaking of addictions or negative ways of thinking. But I refer to them as dragons, and I am a “Dragon Lord.” At one time, this blog was titled “Lord of the Dragons,” but I changed it to better reflect the broader areas that I often write about. Nevertheless, I still feel a place as “The Lord of the Dragons,” and have kept some of the iconography in my blog header, (courtesy of master Fantasy Artist and friend, Mr Ed. Beard, Jr.: www.edbeardjr.com
Now, that sounds pretentious and egotistical on the surface and, on the surface, it IS. But I’m not on the surface tonight…I am far from it.
It is on the surface, THINKING, that creates the dragons. “Dragons,” these nefarious creatures that consume our minds with worries and doubts and fears, are a product of the mind; it creates them and they are immensely powerful in that world that they claim as their own – the mind. They can literally scare you to death, and have killed many a person. On at least a few occasions, they have nearly taken my life from me.
So, how can I say that I am a “Dragon Lord?” Well, here’s a news flash for you: if you are to be a lord over dragons, you must have faced many a searing flame belched from the pits of their dark souls…and I have.
The dragon’s realm, (the dragons that I am referring to here), is the mind. These dragons hold sway in no other place. Therefore, if you know that you are not the mind, then you usurp all the illusory power that they have.
I am awareness – that is, I observe the dragons from a place that is separate from the mind. Pure awareness is not subject to the dragons of the mind. It observes dispassionately, not clinging to or focusing on the threats and lies of the winged serpents that inhabit the brain. This renders them powerless. At this point, you are lord of the Dragons – they cannot touch the unmanifest observer – they cannot cling to detached awareness. They are dispatched by your indifference, starved by your lack of attention to their noise and fury.
I still have dragons in my mind that have power over me. If you encounter a spiritual teacher that claims otherwise – one who implies to have achieved “perfection,” run away as fast as you can; perfection does not exist, and one who has not faced many dragons cannot lead you to freedom from your own. Nor can one who is not still in some way “afflicted” have compassion for your struggles.
I am a “Dragon Lord.” I have seen and fought more dragons than I can even recall…and I can help you to slay those that plague you. NOT because of who I am physically, but because I AM, and that awareness…”mystic ability” if you like that term, transcends the dragons of the mind.
I have written this knowing that many will think it self-serving and arrogant. So be it. I have seen this power accomplish wonders in the lives of many people. It is real, and it will touch you if you choose to allow it. I am here, waiting, to be of assistance.
Gawain of the Coire is Scottish, (as is my ancestry), and means, roughly, White Hawk of the Seething Pool. [In the older Gaelic, and in Irish, "Coire" means "ravine." The principle is the same]. “Gawain” is pronounced similar to “Dwayne,” (with “G” replacing the “D”), and “Coire” is pronounced as “Corey.” I am an author, teacher, and “Lord of the Dragons,” which you can find my description and context of the term here: http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/the-dragon-lord/
This blog used to be called “The Broadening,” but the universe has led me in a new direction.
Life for all of us is a river, continuously flowing, without beginning or end. And like any river, there are gentle currents, dangerous rapids, beautiful scenery, and sometimes “seething pools” of great challenges or misery that we can sometimes find ourselves stuck in. At times like those, we need someone to scoop us up, and that is the job of “Gawain,” the White Hawk.
I have had many blessed experiences with hawks, and if you are interested in reading a little about that, you can check out the post, The Gift of the Hawk, [http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/110/]
I realized, just recently, that I had formed a nucleus of friends on my social networks who seemed to already be in a “good” place, emotionally and spiritually. This is, of course, is wonderful, and I learn much from many of them. These people don’t need to be snatched out of a “seething pool.” They have discovered tools and knowledge and power by which they can, presumably, get themselves out of a spot if need be. But what about the people who have lost hope – who see no way out of their misery – who do not know how to find peace? These are the people I am here to serve, and so I am making changes to reflect that more focused direction.
There are many people who are plagued by “dragons,” winged and fearful monsters that inhabit their minds, instilling fear and doubt. Together, we work to slay those dragons, thus freeing their minds from anxiety and needless torment.
What you will find in Gawain of the Coire is a wide variety of uplifting messages, sometimes in the form of a narrative, sometimes in the form of poetry, and sometimes direct and rather forceful messages that come from…I don’t know…let’s say “The Ancestors,” (because that sounds cool – I don’t really know who is speaking at those times).
So, I perch upon the highest limb and watch. I watch the flow of the river of life as it passes through me, Seeing those who have become caught in one of those nasty, “seething pools” of dark, swirling water. My words, shared in this blog, are designed to be a life-saving rope, a line to hope and peace for those who will reach out and grab it. You can also find Gawain of the Coire of Facebook, at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gawain-of-the-Coire/205425236152070
That is my goal, that is my mission, that is my purpose.
