I got a kick out of Kolo and Kai at Strawberry festival on Vashon. These two youg men (maybe 6-8 years old) stopped by my booth on Saturday after the parade and wanted to know about the rune necklaces I was displaying. I explained that runes are an ancient form of writing, and each symbol stands for a sound--like in our alphabet--and also has a magical meaning. I showed them Kano, or Kenaz, the letter that would stand for the "k" sound in both their names. Oh, Yes! they each wanted a rune necklace, but --alas--had no money. I put one aside for them "for tomarrow".

A bit later, Kai came by, asking if I wanted to buy what looked like his mother's business card, for $1. I'm still kicking myself for saying no. Next, I heard him at the booth next door, offering "a long one for $1 or a short one for .50". I think he sold one of each!

An hour or so later, Kolo and Kai came by with enough to buy one necklace. They had decided to share it. I took their pictures as knight and princess.

A while later, they came by asking if I would sell them another necklace for $1.75, which was all the money they had left. I gave them Thurisaz, "breaking down barriers", to go with Kano, "creating your reality", because they had broken down the barrier of having no money to create the reality they wanted: a rune necklace for each. As Kai slipped the necklace with Thurisaz over his head, he turned to Kolo, wearing Kenaz, and said,"you create the reality and I break it down." I wonder how this will play out in later life?

Dragon Lore

I taught Dragon Lore at the Library in Woodburn Oregon last month, with my sister Jeannie. After learning about Dragons all over the world including Mexico and the USA, the teens created their own dragons on silk. We talked of several ways to deal with dragons including:

dancing and singing them to sleep (Medea in Jason and the Golden Fleece)

feeding them milk (works well with some Chinese dragons)

and staring them down (If you see the two headed horror Sisiutl, do not turn and run, for if you do, you will be spinning the rest of your life. Instead, stand firm and face the two heads until they turn toward each other, and Sisiutl will see his own face, will see truth, and will bless you.)

I love dragons. They are so deeply symbolic not only of our terrors, but also of ancient wisdom, power, and creativity.

I am particularly indebted to Anne Cameron's story of Sisiutl in Daughters of Copper Woman. I highly recommend it for those of us facing the fears of terrorism and economic disaster in these times.