Dragon Wisdom

The dragon in one form or another was known to the majority of world cultures in both the Old and New Worlds. It is one of the early symbols of the Great Mother Goddess of the matriarchies. Until the arrival of the patriarchal societies, the dragon was considered to be a sacred, benevolent creature; its serpent body symbolized matter and life-giving water of creation, its wings spirit and the sacred breath of life. In the Western world, our word dragon comes from the Greek drakon and the Latin draco. Drakon comes from a verb meaning to see, to look at, or possibly to flash. The word “dragon�?is used in many different fields, as diverse as astrology, astronomy, alchemy, magick, heraldry, psychology, and the study of dreams. It was used as an emblem for divinity and royalty in Babylon, Egypt, China, Japan, Greece, and Rome. The Chinese Manchu dynasty, the Phoenicians, and the Saxons all showed it as enthroned, a symbol of the power of the ruler. The Chinese dragon symbolized the masculine yang power, very high spiritual power, and the emperor himself. This connection with imperial power carried over into England and Wales. The dragon was known as the King of Larger Serpents to medieval writers. Dragons and bulls in the Western world were fought by such Sun heroes as Mithras, Siegfried, Hercules, Jason, Horus, and Apollo. In Hindu myth, Vitra, the Dragon of the Waters, was killed by Indra so the waters could be released upon the Earth. The dragon was also an emblem of Aruna and Soma.

There were two major categories of physical appearance of dragons: those of the East and those of the West. The Oriental or Chinese dragon looked terrible and fierce, but was a symbol of prosperity, rain, wisdom, and hidden secrets. Oriental dragons did not have wings, but were shaped more like huge serpents with four legs. The early Chinese worshipped the dragon, and at one time had its image on national flags. Using the symbol of the five toed imperial dragon was reserved for emperors. The guardian of the mansions of the gods was the Chinese Celestial Dragon, T’ien Lung; he also prevented the deities from falling out of their heavenly realm. Oriental heroes did not hunt the dragon, as did Western heroes. The Oriental dragons were said to leave their mountain caves or watery homes in the Spring to bring the fertilizing rains. Both the Chinese and Japanese believe that dragons can turn themselves into birds. The three clawed dragon of Japan symbolized the Mikado, the imperial and spiritual power. Most Japanese dragons were said to live in lakes and springs. Ancient Western writes wrote all kinds of terrifying things about the Western dragons. These creatures were built like enormous lizards with wings; their bodies were thicker than those of Oriental dragons. Their throats and back legs were like those of an eagle, the grasping front legs like those of a reptile, and a tail that ended in an arrow point. Western dragons were considered to be enemies of humans, and heroes were always hunting them down and killing them. Under the circumstances, it’s no wonder that Western dragons stopped trying to get along with humans. They liked to live in dark caves, a few of them in water. They breathed fire, and their breath was supposed to spread plagues.

The dragon in alchemy had a number of meanings. If several dragons were shown fighting each other, it meant separating out the Elements, or psychic disintegration. A dragon biting it’s tail symbolized cyclic processes and time; this particular dragon was known to the Gnostics as Ouroboros. It was a common symbol of alchemy. Near this circled dragon were written the Greek motto en to pan, or “all is one�? The fabled Philosopher’s Stone of alchemy was also considered the One Which Is All. This stone was closely connected in ancient writings with the Great Work of alchemy; the Great Work simply means humankind becoming God, or merging with the Supreme Creative Forces within, thus completing the cycle of human growth by returning to the Source. A winged dragon represented a volatile Element, while the wingless dragon stood for a fixed Element. The dragon was considered to be matter, metal, and the physical body. Often mentioned in conjunction with the dragon was the dragon’s sister: spirit, metallic mercury, and the soul.

Jung wrote that the alchemist considered the winged dragon as female and the wingless dragon as male. He also considered water in dreams and analysis as unconscious spirit or the water dragon of Tao. This water dragon of Tao symbolized the yang embraced in the yin, or balanced growth in spirit. In Chinese Taoist symbolism, the dragon was seen as “the Way�? the bringer of eternal changes. Often it was depicted as guardian of the Flaming Pearl, or spiritual perfection. Joseph Campbell also speaks of the winged dragon or serpent as being the balance between Earth and Spirit. In astronomy, the ancient constellation of Draco is in the northern heavens and curves in a winding pattern between the Big and Little Dippers. It ends in the Dragon’s Head, a trapezium of four stars. The star Draconis is a brilliant double star. The constellation has probably shifted over the millennia and may have once been the polestar to which the pyramid Cheops was aligned. Ancient astrologers called the north node of the Moon Caput Draconis, or head of the dragon. The nodes (the actual meaning is “knot�?or “complication�? are not planets but points which relate the Moon’s orbit of the Earth around the Sun. In astrology, the north node symbolizes intake and positive aspects, the south node release and negative aspects. These draconic nodes are still considered important to today’s astrologers. In spiritual definitions, the dragon represents the supernatural, infinity itself, and the spiritual powers of change and transformation. In some cultures, a full initiate was called a dragon or snake. Priests of Egypt and Babylon called themselves, Sons of the Serpent-god or Sons of the Dragon. Even the Druids of the Celts spoke of themselves as snakes. In Mexico, the priests of Quetzalcoatl referred to themselves as the race of the Dragon. The Welsh word Draig, or dragon, was used to denote a leader, hero, war leader, or prince. King Arthur and his father Uther Pendragon were said to have used a dragon as their emblem. Even today, the royal banner of Wales has a four legged red and gold dragon on it. The European art of heraldry and coats of arms stills employs the depiction of dragons in its art. The families of de Drago, von Drachenfels, de Draek, de Dragon de Ramillies, and Dragonmanni, among others, all have a dragon of their coat of arms, as did the family of Sir Francis Drake. Today, true practical dragon magick and power are almost a forgotten art in the world of magick. Generally speaking, only those practitioners and believers in the Faerie Tradition speak of the existence and validity of dragons. There is not only one way to work with dragons. There are many magickal systems in the world, and they can each tend to look at dragons in their own way. Some systems think of them as elemental energies without independent existence. Others think of them only as symbolic, again having no true existence. I personally have a dragon as a guardian spirit and have seen him as well as felt his presence. My best friend has felt his presence as well. Dragons come in many sizes, colors and shapes. They are able to shape shift. Mine dragon friend looms large when necessary but can become small in stature so as not to freak me out with his true size. He has devoured the occasional nasty little attachments that are my emotional baggage as it has been removed. Don’t believe me? That is fine. My suggestion, never limit the ability of any animal, no matter what the size. Each is an individual unto themselves as you and I are.

Attributes: Dragons are teachers, warriors and protectors. They symbolize the Great Mother Goddess, matriarchy, benevolence, divinity, royalty, the supernatural, infinity, change, elemental magick and spiritual instruction. They are connected to Mithras, Horus, Apollo, Indra, Aruna and Soma. Protection, instruction in the spiritual, Element magick. Using the spiritual to transform life. Adding extra power to magick. Associated with wealth, the elements of the inner earth and treasure. The dragon as a familiar will help you find the 'treasure' within you subconscious mind. At times you must slay your 'inner dragons' and fight your fear to find the truth, the power the wealth hidden away within the caves of your inner mind. Ability to move between worlds. Connection to the birth of the Universe.
Shape shifting quality: A creature that likes to be alone. It values quality and therefore gathers riches both spiritually and materially and hordes them away safely in its cave.

(Eastern): Eastern dragons are more serpentine looking and often whiskered. They specifically symbolize the power of the ruler, masculinity, yang, prosperity, rain, wisdom and hidden secrets.

(Western): Western dragons are more reptilian, more massive and often have large, almost bat-like, wings. They specifically symbolize fire, confrontation, danger and seclusion.

Chant

Dragons strong and dragons bright,

Dragons full of wisdom old,

Teach to me the spiritual light.

Let me walk with knowledge bold.

Dragon fire, lift me higher!

Bibliography: Animal Magick, Animal Speak, WyldKat, Encyclopedia En Cart, Dancing With Dragons