“The Dragon of Autumn”

from The Tales of Mystery Wisdom

by A. Roz Mar

The earth was wrapped in the green and golden cape of Urièl, the Archangel of Summer. It is he who gathers the gold from the warmth of the passing rays of the sun and weaves it so that it becomes the robe that he wears throughout the days of summer.

Urièl thrusts his sword through the ocean depths and into the blue crystal layers of the earth as an anchor every morning so that day may ensue. When it nears sundown he removes the sword so that night may enter in.

Archangel Urièl

Sometimes the sword takes such a firm hold within the earth that he must pull on it with a mighty tug. When this happens his golden-orange and yellow cape lifts up and its green lining beneath flutters and flashes a greenish light across the sea at sundown, a rare sight to behold.

The task of Urièl comes to an end as Autumn nears and he rouses from his deep contemplations which he has been in throughout the season of summer, for Urièl is a serious archangel. He will remove the golden robe that he has been wearing and lay it across the courageous shoulders of the Archangel Michaèl who will now oversee the new season of Autumn.

Now, this year it happened that on the final day of summer, while anchoring his sword into the depths of the blue earth, Urièl heard a rumbling sound coming from below and the sword resisted being placed. He tried once more but again he heard the rumble and felt it beneath his feet.

The sword finally took hold on the third try when he used his might and pushed it into place. All of a sudden a loud roar came to his ears and the seas became restless with wild waves. The sword held but he was most concerned. Was it possible that the stories were true that there was a Dragon growing inside the earth? For it rarely emerged before the onset of Autumn.

He watched and waited as the first meteors of firelight streaked through the night sky and came from beyond the stars, for it meant that the Archangel Michaèl, the archetype of the knights of chivalry, was finally on his way.

Urièl stood his ground and waited. Then he saw the rough scaly back of the Dragon begin to rise out of the earth. He could smell the dark thoughts of humankind that had fed the Dragon and made it grow bigger throughout the days of the year.

Suddenly lightning streaked across the heavens and sparks from meteoric iron became brighter and ever more abundant. They were the colors of orange, blue, red, and yellow that lighted up against the cobalt dome of the starry universe, for it is this iron of the Cosmos that gathers to become the valiant sword of Michaèl.

Urièl knew it was time and so he ascended upward to meet him. “It has begun to stir,” he told him. “I had not known the beast before, it feels powerful. I am grateful Sir Michaèl that alas you are here for it is daring to rise up before its time.”

“Sir Urièl,” said the Archangel, “this year the Dragon has grown more daring. Yet we must continue to believe that humankind can awaken to the good, the beautiful, and the true. Why would they not awaken thus when they see our friends, the seasons, the nature spirits, and the blessed Sun, bring forth the earth’s beauty and bounty? How could such abundance not quicken the hearts and enliven the thoughts of human beings? Indeed my friend, we must keep faith.”

He then removed his sword of cosmic iron from its sheath and held it aloft where it gleamed and sparkled with the power of the gods. Urièl removed his golden orange robe and placed it upon his powerful shoulders. He bowed his head to Michaèl, who bowed in return, and departed.

And so it was that another season was upon us and the Archangel Michaèl hovered above and day by day the dark Dragon rose higher and higher out of the earth and the battle began.

The Dragon

The rule of world order dictates that the Dragon must not be slain but only its power diminished. For we have need of him to stir within our souls the forces of Reason and Wisdom. When the Dragon becomes too powerful, selfishness and greed reign and people come to believe that they are only citizens of the earth when in truth human beings are citizens of the World of Spirit.

When the Dragon finally broke free from the earth, where it had grown in the darkness feeding on the cruel, dark, and lower thoughts of mankind, it flashed colors that were muddy and muted. It whipped its great tail in the air and spread its murky wings which gleamed with desire and licked its dry lips with a red hungry and greedy tongue.

The scales are hard as metal and just beneath the surface of its scaly skin glow the fires that burn deep within its belly. They are not the fires of spirit but the fires of cleverness, ridicule, hatred, and tyranny.

There are those on the earth who understand this great yearly battle and it is they who help Michaèl by not falling prey to Dragon-like thoughts. Instead they foster High Minded and Noble Thoughts and that is why the Dragon never wins the battle.

The Fellowship of the Noble lives the principles of the Good, the Beautiful, and the True. They enliven the powers of the virtues of Courage, Love, Unselfishness, Faith, Courtesy, and Understanding, and many other noble values which challenge the soul of man.

Just as Michaèl battles against the dark forces of the Dragon, so must we as human beings battle against those dark forces in thought and deed that arise within us.

And so the battle continued, and sparks of fire could be seen at sunset, and day by day the dawn of clear higher consciousness began to crystallize. Cosmic metal splintered from the sword and fell to earth where every year the beings of the nettle plants gather and absorb it, holding it dearly within so that mankind can drink its powers through the winter at tea time.

Michaèl wielded many swords in the days and nights to come, but by the end of Autumn the Earth was once again purified and cleansed of the prowling Dragon through the leadership of the Mightiest of the Archangels, Michaèl.

The Winter season will arrive and the virgin white snow will blanket the earth and candles will light the night in the darkest time of the year to shine forth across the lands.

And Michaèl will sit beside the One, the Sun Spirit, and await the arrival of the Archangel Gabrièl, who brings souls once again to earthly life, and who will take up the robe of Michaèl that is now of Royal Blue. And Love, Peace, and Goodness will reign in the hearts of humankind until Autumn comes again.

Archangel Michaèl

A. Roz Mar (bluepearlarts.com) lives near the ocean where she works, writes and creates veil art. Alicia hopes that her books and paintings will inspire people to search, explore and ask the deeper questions. Tales of Mystery Wisdom is a children’s book where you can read more stories like “The Dragon of Autumn.”