Tribe.net. Local Connections Andy http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon/thread/da5c897b-407e-4b91-a6e0-b0cf059fe737 2006-02-11T02:22:59Z 2006-02-11T02:22:59Z

<div>Hi all, <br/> <br/> Don't forget that I've got a fair amount of high quality furniture grade plywood scraps courtesy of Fred. Anyone who has <br/>seen his wild sculptures at PDF can see what this stuff can be made into. <br/></div> <div> posted in <a href="http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon">Burning Dragon</a> - 0 replies </div>

Andy 2006-02-11T02:22:59Z Aerial http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon/thread/7b58220d-7f28-4474-82cb-637b3393d634 2006-02-10T06:37:41Z 2006-01-05T02:30:03Z

<div>Here's a thread to discuss construction. <br/> <br/>My basic idea is a segmented dragon body that can be carried and thrown on a (the ?) fire. The wooden burnable body could be covered with small dowels (like dragon spikes) to which poeple can tie messages written on ribbons. <br/> <br/>We are also imagining large Orgasmo (oops I mean organza) wings tha would be removed before firing. If we could get burnable wing material that would be great! (?) <br/> <br/>I would like the dragon to be hollow so we can light it from within with candles when we carry it to the fire for its immolation. <br/> <br/>I will probably start a separate thread to discuss the symbolism of a dragon in this context. Lets NOT talk about that here - lets talk practical construction ideas. I suck at this, so I will gladly accept all construction help! <br/> <br/>Thanks in advance, <br/>Bear </div> <div> posted in <a href="http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon">Burning Dragon</a> - 9 replies </div>

Aerial 2006-01-05T02:30:03Z illusiongirl http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon/thread/a281172b-7f31-4d99-8907-74af38e09643 2006-01-22T17:48:53Z 2006-01-06T19:06:00Z

<div>So...I don't build things. I'm not even allowed to touch power tools. But I'm kind of a drama queen. Andy mentioned something about doing a sort of ceremony. Guess we could use this thread to start working out what the details, what sort of elements, etc. <br/> <br/>In my experience, fewer words &amp; more drama allows people to personalize &amp; take it where they need to. The more you talk, the higher the chance folks are going to get bored. We're participation based. So IMHO, our job is more to create a sort of sacred space for folks to make of what they wish. <br/> <br/>I get that our intent is generally a memorial, an homage to the transformation of war through awareness, etc. I personally might like to convey to folks that each of us has to end war within ourselves in order to end it on a larger scale, or something along those lines. But there again, the more words you cram down someone's throat, the more likely they are to spit them out at your feet. So I dunno. <br/> <br/>Curious what other thoughts are out there, in what capacity folks want to participate, etc. Sounds like we'll definitely need some dragon carriers/dancers at the very least.</div> <div> posted in <a href="http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon">Burning Dragon</a> - 1 reply </div>

illusiongirl 2006-01-06T19:06:00Z Aerial http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon/thread/3fa29795-7bd0-4ef0-9d93-01c03581507e 2006-01-06T19:28:14Z 2006-01-06T14:29:41Z

<div>I'd like to use this thread to discuss the symbolism and meaning of the ceremony we're creating. In this first post I'll offer my thoughts for the dragon and then leave it open for everybody to share theirs. <br/> <br/>The year that my Dad died I wrote a message to him and left it in David Best's Temple of Honor at Black Rock. The temple burn really helped me towards acceptance of my loss and left me with the desire to bring something similar to PDF. <br/> <br/>After some consideration and mental wandering I settled on a burning a dragon for a bunch of reasons, which I'll now try to summarize. <br/> <br/>In the West dragons are symbols of violence greed and sloth: ancient reptiles asleep on piles of gold for which they have slaughtered entire kingdoms. Bush. Oil. Iraq. Forgive me if I'm overstating it. ;^) <br/> <br/>In the East though, dragons are more spiritual and celebratory. The legendary long life of these creatures has made them - in Asia - wise rather than wealthy. Transcendant rather than slothful. <br/> <br/>Considering this, I began to imagine a ceremony in which a wooden, Celtic (Western) dragon would gradually be transformed into an Eastern, spiritual one. <br/> <br/>This transformation could be accomplished in two ways. <br/> <br/>1) During the weekend the dragon would be on public display. Next to it would be rolls of colored ribbons, scissors, pens, and a sign inviting people to cut off a piece of ribbon write a message on it, and tie it to the dragon. If we got enough messages, the dragon would go from an ugly wooden "frame" to a beautiful multi-colored, um, thingy. All the messages, piled together, would create a kind of mystery. <br/> <br/>2) Burning the dragon can symbolize its transition from the physical to spiritual worlds. To me its symbolizes the choice to eschew violence and greed in favor of community and spirituality. To me, if the dragon represents something in ourselves and in our culture, then by burning it we are surrendering that and choosing to move on without it. <br/> <br/>I had also imagined a processional in which the dragon would be light within by candles, carried to a fire, and tossed in. To me this is more cathartic than piling wood under it and torching it. The act of carrying the dragon can represent the acceptance of responsibility for what it symbolizes. It also re-inforces the transformation to an eastern, spiritual dragon. We've all seen those fabric dragons in Asian New Year's parades. <br/> <br/>Well there it is. While I do feel that I sort of sparked this idea, I certainly don't own it and if it turns into a community project rather than just something I'm doing alone, that would be really, really great. <br/> <br/>So come on in - the heat is fine! <br/> <br/>;^)</div> <div> posted in <a href="http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdragon">Burning Dragon</a> - 1 reply </div>

Aerial 2006-01-06T14:29:41Z