Summer Plans with the Dragons

The osprey are back in Maine, along with the spring warblers. As the seasons move into the growing season, the summer is just around the corner. Dragon's Eye Adventures still has openings in Sessions III and VI, so if your young detective mage would like to join us, there is still time!

Session III features the mystery called "The Bottle Tree." This story draws upon southern traditions and beliefs of the Gullah and Geechee people of the lowlands and islands oof Georgia and the Carolinas. Blue bottles are hung upside down on small trees, as a kind of fly trap for evil spirits, keeping homes safe. Our story examines what happens when a collector's collection of spirits threatens to break loose.

Session IV involves the adventure called "The Crossroads of Knowledge." It draws on my love of libraries. My journey has led me from library to library in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Boston, and Maine -- creating a kind of map of books. We will be making book nooks as part of our story -- these are magical nooks that lead to tiny rooms or back alleys or mossy grottoes ... or the legendary library in Alexandria, Egypt.

More about these two mysteries may be found by clicking their titles.

Details about dates, times, and fees are on the Current Programs tab.
Registration forms and directions are on the Registratin & Contacts tab.

The Autumn Festival -- Mystery for Ages 6 to 16 -- Columbus Day, 2017

Japanese carving of a dragon, Boston MFA
Photo by RL McNulty 2017

Dragon's Eye will offer a full-day mini mystery on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. The program will run from 9 AM to 4 PM, with after hours available from 4 to 5 PM. The location is the Pilgrim House chapel of First Parish Church, at 9 Cleaveland St. in Brunswick. The fee is $50, with after hours at $10.

Our mini mystery is called "The Autumn Festival." The story leads to the annual Takayama Matsuri, the autumn festival held each year in Takayama, Japan. This beautiful celebration involves eleven elaborate floats that the town's artisans have lovingly preserve and maintained for about four centuries.

Lanterns will be lit. Mechanical puppets will come to life.  And detectives will learn some of the secrets behind the festival, secrets that date back to 5th century Japan.

Summer 2017 Session VII: Star Chronicler's Journey

Star Chronicler's Journey
R L McNulty 2017

Two more adventures have been added to the Summer 2017 Dragon's Eye season. The mysteries will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Landing YMCA at 24 Venture Ave. in Brunswick. After hours until 5:30 is available. Young people ages 6 to 16 are welcome. Older detectives will be mentoring the younger ones in some very special partnerships.

The first adventure runs from Aug. 14 - 18, 2017. The mystery is a Dragon's Eye classic called "Star Chronicler's Journey." An ancient spell by the legendary Yellow Emperor is weakening and the demons of chaos imprisoned in the bronze mirror are beginning to escape. The Detectives must don their Flying Cloud Shoes to travel the Yellow Road, following the journey taken by a Taoist astronomer sage known as Star Chronicler. Their journey leads to the Palace of the Emperor of Heaven.

Winter Queen Update

Serpent's Eye of Winter
Photo by R L McNulty

February 2 was Imbolc Day, and the weather was sunny and mild. That means the Cailleach went in search of more wood for her fire. Settle in for a long winter ... we're going to need the help of some Dragon's Eye Detectives to end this winter!

There are still four more spaces in "The Winter Queen"--the mystery we're running during February break. This adventure for ages 6 to 12 will be held at the Landing Y in Brunswick.

The story is growing nicely on the yellow pages where new Dragon's Eye stories begin. Who knew that the tale of the queen of winter would lead to yet another serpent dragon, one that is not only a solar serpent, but an Oroborus? I didn't, but as usual am delighted by the discovery of the more ancient roots of this seasonal myth.

It has its origins not in Ireland or Scotland, but in what is today Spain. Which makes me wonder if there's a hidden tie to Egypt. The Cailleach has much in common with Mehen, the Egyptian Oroborus who provides the serpent roads for the solar god to travel through the seasons and the day/night cycle.

Both myths are essentially star myths. The Oroborus is the Yellow Road, the ecliptic along which the sun appears to move in its journey across the heavens. If you think about this path as a serpent swallowing its tail, you begin to understand the otherwise puzzling story tying a serpent to a solar myth.

The myth will certainly provide a delightful tale for our detectives! We'll be encountering Storm Wolves and a magical baby and the Cailleach herself. Better bring winter gear, because the storms will be blowing inside this adventure!