Dancing with Dragons

[…] What are dragons? Are they real or imaginary? 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. Certainly in most legends dragons spend their time watching, whether it be treasure, territory, or the supposedly captive maidens. The word “dragon” is used in many different fields, as diverse as astrology, astronomy, alchemy, magick, heraldry, psychology, and the study of dreams. From the time that humans began to record things, dragons have been mentioned.

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 millenia and may have once been the polestar to which the pyramid of Cheops was aligned.

[…]

Alchemical Dragons

In alchemy, 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. Ancient alchemy used the picture of a dragon or winged serpent as one of its many secret symbols. A common of spiritual alchemical work was the dragon or serpent holding its tail in its mouth, an unending circle of eternity. Near this circled dragon was 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 […]

Dragon Pendant for Realisation of Dreams
Jung wrote that the alchemists considered the winged dragon as female, the wingless dragon as male. […] Joseph Campbell also speaks of the winged dragon or serpent as being the balance between Earth and Spirit. To the Chinese, the dragon was a potent symbol of luck and power. Silver dragon amulets were worn to help gain these qualities.

Everywhere the legged dragon is associated with creation or life-giving. Throughout the world the Goddess, or Great Mother, is connected with serpents, dragons, and spirals. As the great whale-dragon, Ishtar brought about the catastrophhic flood which made it possible for a new order of humans to develop. Tiamat of Mesopotamia was the Mother-creator-dragon whose body was shaped into the heavens and Earth. Worldwide, dragons and serpents are symbolic of the energy source of life, healing, oracular powers, fertility, and maternal blessing.

[…]

Mayan Feathered Serpent

Priests of Egypt and Babylon - Sons of the Serpent Gods

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 of the race of the Dragon. The Welsh word Draig, or dragon, was used to denote a leader, hero, warleader, 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 dragon became a symbol of evil and the Christian devil only after the church gained power. In attempt to crush the ancient beliefs of Pagans, the Christians spread their propaganda of their devil, calling him the Dragon. By instilling deep fears, particularly of eternal punishments, the priests and church leaders managed to grasp control of rulers and governments. […]

Even in these times of persecution, the dragon did not fade from sight. In European countries, and China in particular, the draconic image remained alive in stories. The European families, especially, used the dragon in coats of arms. […]

Dragons in Heraldry

Wyvern

In heraldry, a dragon with two legs is called wywern; a dragon without wings is a worm; a serpentine dragon with wings but no legs is an amphiptere; a dragon with wings and legs is termed a guivre. Further meaning of these draconic images was determined by how the dragon was posed: rampant (forelegs raised), passant (one foreleg raised), statant (all four feet on the ground), wings endorsed (upright over the back), displayed or depressed, tail nowed (knotted). Even further definition was determined by the color: “or” (gold), gules (red), sable (black), or vert (green).

[…]

Dragon Families

Although one can speak of dragons as a seperate species of being, there are numerous subspecies and families within the dragon community, as one can deduce from reading ancient histories and stories. The subspecies and families may have greater or lesser differences in appearance but still retain the basic traits that are common to all dragons whereever they are. One family of dragons, with very similar characteristics, lived in Europe, especially northern Germany, Scandinavia, and islands of the North Atlantic. A second family was recognized in France, Italy, and Spain. A third family dwelt in the British Isles, including Ireland; these dragons, commonly called Firedrakes, included the subspeciesof Wywerns (dragons with two legs) and the winged but legless Worm. A fourth family was found in the Mediterranean area, especially Greece, Asia Minor, southern Russia, and northern Africa; the dragon with many heads was common in this region. A fifth dragon family, and the largest in number, was the Oriental dragon of China, Asia, and Indonesia. The sixth family, of very limited size and number, was found in the Americas and Australia.

In the Eastern world, dragons seldom breathe fire and are more benevolent, although hot-tempered and destructive when provoked. They are sometimes pictured as wingless, but can propel themselves through the air if they wish. The dragons of the Orient, Mexico, the Americas, and Australia propelled themselves through the skies by balancing between the Earth’s magnetic field and the winds.

[…]

Ability to Take on Human Form

All dragons are said to have the ability to take on human form. One can see reasons behind a draconic being passing a human; dragons are intensely curious about all things and may wish to directly experience human life from time to time. It is possibility that, while in such a form, a dragon could contact a human and establish a line of cımmunication that could be continued after the dragon resumed its own form.

[…]

The Egyptian Apep and Goddess Tiamat

The Goddess Tiamat

The Egyptian Apep was described as a huge serpent-dragon that lived in the Underworld. The Canaanite god Ba’al is said to have killed the dragon Lotan and made the world from its body; the Hittites had a similar legend about the dragon Illuyankas. The Mesopotamian god Marduk killed the she-dragon Tiamat and created the world from her body. Ancient heroes of Persia battled with dragons.

[…]

The Nagas, or Serpent-Dragons of India

via Raingod

The Nagas were known for their great magickal powers and the pearls of great price that they carried in their foreheads. The Nagas, also patrons of lakes, rivers, rain, and clouds, lived in wonderful palaces, often visited by the gods. […] Sometimes the Nagas were pictures with serpent heads and human bodies. They were said to live at the top of Mount Meru, where they had a golden palace full of music, gems that fulfilled wishes, wonderful flowers, and beautiful companions. In the center of this garden, which once belonged to Varuna, stood a dragon guarded tree of life and reincarnation.

[…]

Dracontias, the Dragon Stone

Dragon and stone Pendant leather necklace

Dragons have a precious stone, called the dracontias, in the forehead. This stone is credited with amazing powers of many kinds. For the stone to hold its powers, however, it had to be removed before the dragon was dead. There is a story of such a stone being acquired and then kept within a family for centuries. About 1345 the Chevalier do Gozano, who was later Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, killed a dragon on the island of Rhodes. This stone, about the size of an olive and beautifully colored, became a family heirloom. On several occasions this dracontias was put into water; the water was boiled and drunk as an antidote to poison and disease, with complete recovery by the ill person.
Quoted from pages 1-34 of the book Dancing With Dragons: Invoke Their Ageless Wisdom & Power by D. J. Conway

Related Links

• Part I : Fantasy Dragons and Snake Gods
• Knights Hospitaller - Wikipedia
• What is Better Than Slaying a Dragon - upenn.edu
• The History of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem - orderstjohn.org