Saturday, September 8, 2007

White Dragon

TODAY in MONGOLIA I rode my horse up a mountain to make an offering to the White Dragon. On top of the mountain is a pyre of sticks, 15 feet tall. This is the den of the White Dragon who does not take any blood offerings, only white offerings: milk, yogurt, and sugar.

A small fire of special juniper branches is lit to create a white sweet smelling smoke. Each visitor lays a handful of juniper on the pile and says prayer.
Then we walk around the tall pyre three times, throwing a stone into the pyre, each time making a wish.

Milk and yogurt is poured into the smoking juniper while a special chant is intoned.

From the top of the mountain the view is beautiful. A long valley runs below, a silver river snaking through it, with trees lining the river. One sole yellow tree shines in the sun when it peeks through the clouds. A small group of gers has set up next to the river, in the shadow of the hills on the other side of the valley.

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