Releasing my inner dragon!
This Chinese New Year is the year of the Wooden Dragon!
Why am I writing about this? Because as some of you know I use a dragon as a meditation focus. It started as I looked at ways to stay positive after being diagnosed with a second cancer. I was fortunate to see my tumour twice, first during the cystoscopy to diagnose the cause of haematuria and then whilst they performed a TURB procedure to biopsy and stop the bleeding. I chose to have spinal anaesthesia so I could recover quicker.

So getting up close and personal with my tumour I gave it a name! Tommy! I wasn’t going to let this 4cm bump take over. In my experience of being a psychotherapist I had often encouraged clients to visualise what they were facing, so that’s where my hungry dragon came to mind, gnawing away at my tumour to destroy it. Thus began a love affair with dragons. My friend actually gave me a dragon ornament with its huge teeth. It was fierce and ugly! Yet it became my friend as I practised visualisation every day to enable me to stay positive.

As a result of this things escalated! Other friends joined in, and I began to investigate the history of dragons as mythical figures. There is quite a lot written about them as protectors and keeping the balance between good and evil. It might seem a little “woo woo” for some of you but for me it has really helped in my cancer journey.

Those who know about it are very supportive. Even those who are more inclined to the use of prayer and religion. So, I looked at what my big hungry dragon gives me. Hope! And self determination. I am determined to prove the medics wrong. I probably can’t stop Tommy growing, but if I believe I can stop it spreading I can come to terms with this tumour growing inside me. I am in control. This new cancer isn’t going to define me.