THE BALLOON DRAGON DEVOURING MY FEARS

 

I think the Chinese say "Face your Dragons". I like that because I'm really into Faeries, Elves, Angels, Unicorns, so, of course, Dragons go right along with the rest.

A few years ago when That-Person was being most successful in the Psychic- Attack, and giving me so many nightmares that I was afraid to go to sleep. One night I noticed the street light shown in my bedroom window, reflected off a mirror and reflected off a deflated metallic balloon I had hanging from a ceiling hook. The play of light and shadows made a Perfect Dragon's head. I was paralyzed with fear. Finally I remembered to breathe! Then I sat upright in bed and faced that Dragon!

"What do you want of me?"

"I have come for your fears."

I was puzzled. Not the answer I expected, if I even expected one at all. Again, I said, "What do you want?"

"I have come for your fears."

"What do you mean?"

"I devour fears?"

"What do you mean, you devour fears?" This conversation was going nowhere fast.

"Give me your fears. I devour fears."

I glanced at the Unicorn at the foot of my bed. It seemed to be tossing its head. How could a picture on my T-shirt be tossing its head?! Just because I had painted the Imaginary Friend of my childhood on my T-shirt didn't give it the right to move!

"It's OK. Give the Dragon your fears."

So, with my Unicorn's encouragement, I lay back down. "OK, Dragon, you can have my fears."

In my mind's eye I saw the Dragon open its mouth, and starting at my feet, bite and chew my fears. Next bite further up my legs, my hips, my body, by shoulders and head. I could FEEL the fears being stripped from my cells.

When the Dragon was done devouring my fears it disappeared and there was only a balloon hanging in the corner of the ceiling. But, when I turned out the light the next night, it was back. This process went on for nearly a month. As long as the Dragon devoured my fears before I went to sleep I had peaceful dreams. When I no longer needed the Dragon it no longer came. Now the deflated balloon is only that.

 

(C) Sharri Lorraine 1989, 2001