arts & ideas
“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. 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 36 •
being human
Archangel Urièl 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.