Tag: Dragon

Making Dragon Magick

Making Dragon Magick

 
 
Half-close your eyes as you sit outside or near caves or rocks. If the light is bright, you may see the swirling iridescent silver, purple, gold, green and blue of the dragon outline shimmering ahead. Let the image enclose and energize you and breathe slowly and regularly, allowing the warm, shimmering colors to flow in and out of your own energy field, your aura. If you see nothing externally allow the image to build up in your mind and superimpose it in your imagination on the scene.
 
You may see an image of the dragon and her fabulous treasures within the cave or see her flying upwards towards the sun. There is no danger in this for she is a spiritual force, experienced through the layers of countless millennia.
 
You may feel very warm as though close to a bonfire and see sparks or sunbeams dancing in the air all around.
 
When you are ready, close your eyes and gently push away with your hands palms outwards and upright. Allow the energies to move away, or you may sense them fading spontaneously as the dragon moves on.
 
Don’t ask for anything. The experience is enough and will help you to move with confidence and attract and spread the abundance you need.
 
Be sure to take a bottle of water to drink afterwards and splash on your hairline, brow, throat and wrists or palms to cool you down.
 
While you are still there, take time to write in your Book of Shadows. You may have heard words in your mind as you experienced the dragons power or they may come now and even if you are not normally poetic, the encounter will trigger off rich and vivid descriptions of flying with the dragon, the mysterious smoke-filled air within the cave and metallic colors of your dragon. If you open your eyes in the night before sleep the colors may reform.
 
Afterwards is a good time to explore the caves and rocks, if accessible. Even if you are crammed in a tourist party, you can sense your dragon and maybe the special place that you connected with in your visions and see the shimmering silver and purples reflected on the dark walls.

Astral Travel Powder

Astral Travel Powder

The following ingredients are needed

2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Cinnamon
1 part Mugwort

Mix the above ingredients and sprinkle on the bedding and pillow to encourage consciously directed astral travel.

Notes on using Powders: Be sure to finely grind up the herbs used in the powders.

Starting in the East sprinkle the powder around you in a clockwise motion and then sit within the circle to absorb the energy from the powder. Sprinkle the powder around a candle before burning to increase the candles energy. You can sprinkle the powder on your altar before spellwork. Use the appropriate powder for the ritual. This can be done randomly or can be done in specific shapes associated with that ritual.

Remember that some powders especially those containing Dragon’s Blood will stain carpets, clothing, bedding etc. so use with caution.

Lessons in Magickal Herbal Use – Lesson 3

Lessons in Magickal Herbal Use
by Leillan

 

Lesson Three: The Less Common Herbs

Ok, this is going to be done a little differently. I am going to give you a few of the most powerful herbs I know. Pay attention here.

Lets start with something that dates back to at least the Druids.

Mistletoe. Mistletoe grows on huge Oak trees. Use Mistletoe for Protection, Love, Fertility, and Health. We all know the spell used at Yule (Christmas): kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. But did you know to burn the mistletoe you kissed under? This prevents the love shared under it from leaving. Mistletoe helps to love bond married couples and bring single people their one true love. A shared kiss under the mistletoe is like a shared wish in a wishing well. However, the berries are poison, so use caution. Although the stem has been used in healing, I would still be careful of children and pets around this plant.

Dragons Blood. Dragons Blood is aligned with fire. As such, it carries the same strengths as fire. A pinch of Dragons blood added to other incense will increase the potency. Dragons blood increases the power of any herb it is used with. It will also increase a person’sstrength and power. It is not, however, to be used lightly in the magickal setting. I have added a pinch of Dragons blood to the inside tube of my wand to increase the potency of any spells in which I use the wand.

Just a hint here… Dragons blood, when finely powdered, puffs up when you pour it. This wouldn’t be a problem, except that it also sticks to everything in comes into contact with.

Mandrake. Mandrake was traditionally gathered from under the gallows tree. It has been called the Witches Mannequin, the man herb, the gallows herb, and woman drake. In Celtic times people would look under the nearest tree used for hangings, seeking this root that looked so much like the figure of a person. It was, and still is, used for protection, fertility, money, love, health, and strength. Mandrake was also used as a poppet. Money, especially silver coins, placed beside a mandrake root is said to double. A mandrake root placed on the mantle is said to protect the home. Mandrake is also poisonous; so again, use caution around pets and children.

Holly. Although Holly is a bush and not poisonous, it is steeped in folklore. Holly grown on the right side of your front door (facing the house) is said to prevent evil and negativity from coming in. In men, it promotes good luck since it is masculine in nature. (Ivy works the same for women). It is strong enough that it has been used (infused or distilled) and sprinkled on a new born babe to protect it.

Dragon Ritual of Making

Dragon Ritual of Making

Notes: For increasing Magick perform during bright Noon or the waxing Moon, with
the Full Moon being strongest. For decreasing during evening hours or the waning
Moon with the New Moon being the strongest. Use in conjunction with any ritual
for it is primarily to use Dragon Power and Magick for bringing desires into
being.

Supplies: Pentacle disk; Dragon pentacle; water chalice with a little fresh
water in it; dish of salt; wine chalice; black (left) and white (right) altar
candles; sword; wand; incense burner; appropriate incense; dragon’s blood and
mastic; dragon mirror; gong or bell; staff; any candles for spells; talisman
bags, etc. It is useful for concentration to plan exactly what is to be used
before beginning this ritual of Making.

Use the Basic Dragon Ritual up to the point of insertion of the necessary chants
for specific Spellworkings. Hold sword in power hand, the staff in the other.
While standing facing the Altar, hold the sword pointed to the Dragon pentacle
and chant five, seven, or nine times in tones that vibrate through the body:

By Glow Of Sun The Power’s Begun, By Moonbeam’s Light The Spell Is Right, To
Create Desire By Earth and Fire, Water, Air, Make Magick Fair. Powerful Charm
Of Making, Creative Magick Undertaking, Be Formed!

While chanting this, concentrate deeply upon drawing on the Dragon power, feel
the power being sent from all sides, listen for any messages from the Dragons
and write them down. Place the candle, talisman bag and contents, or whatever
you may be spelling, between the mirror and the Dragon Pentacle, making sure the
Dragon Pentacle is reflected in the mirror along with the objects. If using a
candle, light it and let it burn out completely in that position. If using a
Talisman bag or poppet (a small cloth doll, usually stuffed with herbs or cotton
soaked in the appropriate oil for the ritual) , leave it on the Altar overnight.
Continue with rest of the ritual.

Calling The Dragon

Calling The Dragon

This ritual is for exactly what it states calling the Dragon or Dragons to
project their presence with such clarity that there is no question of knowing
that they are here. A greater reason for calling a Dragon into stronger presence
is the stronger the auric vibrations of such a creature within the circle the
stronger the ritual and power sent into your motivation for the ritual. When you
use the Dragon call and feel the presence of one or more Dragons it is important
that they are treated with respect. Take time to get acquainted with them before
asking their help. Remember most Dragons are beneficial and helpful, but all
Draconic temperaments are extremely sensitive so treat them with the greatest
respect.

Ritual of Calling

Notes: Perform during bright noon or the waxing Moon for increasing magick, with
the Full Moon being strongest; during evening hours or the waning Moon for
decreasing magick, with the New Moon being the strongest. Use this ritual in
conjunction with any spellworking. This ceremony is primarily used to summon
the Dragon for a manifestation whether it be the rare physical type or, more
likely the sharpening of the inner sight.

Supplies: Pentacle disk; Dragon pentacle; water chalice with a little fresh
water in it; dish of salt; wine chalice; black (left) and white (right) altar
candles; sword; wand; incense burner; appropriate incense; dragon’s blood and
mugwort; dragon mirror; gong or bell; staff; paper and pen to write down any
messages.

Use the Basic Dragon Ritual up to the insertion point of necessary chants for
specific Spellworkings. Hold the sword in power hand and staff in the other
while standing facing the altar and tap the staff three times on the floor while
holding the sword pointed at the Dragon Pentacle. Chant in tones that vibrate
body:

Come Draconis! By Your All-consuming Breath, I summon you. (tap staff three
times)By Your Piercing Gaze, I Summon You (tap staff three times)By Your Mighty
Strength, I Summon You (tap staff three times)By Your Wisdom Ancient and
Cunning, I Summon You (tap staff three times)By Your Magick Deep and Old, I
Summon You (tap staff three times)Come, Draconis, To My Call!

Once done summoning the Dragons it will be possible to feel power being sent
from all directions by the half-seen Dragons. Listen for any messages the
dragons may have. The Dragons’ presence can be felt by a sudden temperature
change, prickly feeling between the shoulder blades, unusual currents of air,
and other phenomena. If the Dragons are pleased with the Magician they often
sound a deep vibrating rumble, almost like a Giant Cat’s Purr.

Making Dragon Magick

Making Dragon Magick

 
 
Half-close your eyes as you sit outside or near caves or rocks. If the light is bright, you may see the swirling iridescent silver, purple, gold, green and blue of the dragon outline shimmering ahead. Let the image enclose and energize you and breathe slowly and regularly, allowing the warm, shimmering colors to flow in and out of your own energy field, your aura. If you see nothing externally allow the image to build up in your mind and superimpose it in your imagination on the scene.
 
You may see an image of the dragon and her fabulous treasures within the cave or see her flying upwards towards the sun. There is no danger in this for she is a spiritual force, experienced through the layers of countless millennia.
 
You may feel very warm as though close to a bonfire and see sparks or sunbeams dancing in the air all around.
 
When you are ready, close your eyes and gently push away with your hands palms outwards and upright. Allow the energies to move away, or you may sense them fading spontaneously as the dragon moves on.
 
Don’t ask for anything. The experience is enough and will help you to move with confidence and attract and spread the abundance you need.
 
Be sure to take a bottle of water to drink afterwards and splash on your hairline, brow, throat and wrists or palms to cool you down.
 
While you are still there, take time to write in your Book of Shadows. You may have heard words in your mind as you experienced the dragons power or they may come now and even if you are not normally poetic, the encounter will trigger off rich and vivid descriptions of flying with the dragon, the mysterious smoke-filled air within the cave and metallic colors of your dragon. If you open your eyes in the night before sleep the colors may reform.
 
Afterwards is a good time to explore the caves and rocks, if accessible. Even if you are crammed in a tourist party, you can sense your dragon and maybe the special place that you connected with in your visions and see the shimmering silver and purples reflected on the dark walls.

Dragon Magick

Dragon Magick

 
 
Western and Eastern European and Scandinavian dragons are the true fire dragons. They are primarily guardians of gold, described as the life blood of the earth, and live in caves. The Oriental dragons are mainly air and water dragons, associated with life-giving rain, with winds and storms and with gems and pearls, through there are the fiery kinds as well, as seen in processions.
 
Dragon magick uses the spiritual power associated with fire-breathing dragons to protect your own particular treasures. These treasures might be tangible ones like your home or your family. Less tangibly, treasure to you might represent speaking the truth or receiving honesty from others, the power to develop your career or heaing powers, or the ability to love or gain knowledge. Dragon magick is also good way of manifesting prosperity in your life, not for its own sake but in order to have the resources to do all the things you want to – and so that you don’t need to worry and can bring happiness to others.
 
For despite their bad press in Christian times as symbols of the earth mother, dragons are essentially wise and noble. Of course, physical dragons don’t exist. By means of visualization however, you can build up a connection the huge energy field of the dragon that exist spiritually, the same way the love and altruism are real.
 
Fire dragons are variously described as possessing all or some of the following: eagles’ feet, bat-like wings, the front legs of a lion, a reptile or dinosaur’s head with a huge mouth and teeth from which smoke and fire pours, huge scales, the horns of an antelope, a soft underbelly and a spade-like snake or lizard-like tail that may being close to the head.
 
Smaller fire drakes, found in the myths of France and Germany, don’t have wings, but are red and have fiery breath. They live in caves with their great hoards, the riches of the earth.
 
According to Bulgarian dragon lore, the male dragon is the fiery one and is a benign protector of humans and the crops, in contrast to his watery and less well-disposed sister. In this tradition, dragons have three heads and wings.
 
The ruler of the fire dragons is called Fafnir, whose name comes from the Norse and German culture. He was once a dwarf but was transformed into a dragon because of his love of the treasures he created and the metals he forged. He was killed by Sigrid Volsungr or Siegfried who burned himself, licked his fingers and so absorbed the dragon’s power to commune with the birds.
 
This isn’t a straightforward legend and has a lot to do with the overcoming of the earlier earth goddess power as typified by the dragons. Therefore, Fafnir shouldn’t be thought of as a greedy dwarf who became a dragon to be slain, as in the patriarchal, monk-recorded legends. Rather, Fafnir is lord of the dragons, who guards from the greedy and insensitive the power of the hidden treasures, whether these be of the goddess or your own potential. So if you do include Fafnir in your dragon chants recall his wonderful craftsmanship and how he conserves the minerals of the earth – not a bad lesson for modern times.

About Basic Dragon Rituals

About Basic Dragon Rituals

 

 

Before beginning rituals, it is suggested that you set aside time for work with changing, music and dance, as well as meditation. Consider these activities the training exercises an athlete goes through before actually participating in the main event.

While practicing rituals, the magician can begin to collect the ritual tools she/he needs to begin performing dragon magic. Do not fall into the trap of equating expensive with better. Once you have established communication with the dragons, they will lead you to many of the tools; dragons seem to be very conscious of a good buys.

Although ritual magic is a serious practice, the magician must also make room for fun. Music and free-form dance can be very important in keeping dragons interested. These activities are also of importance to the magician, since most humans live lives full of stress and over-seriousness. Know yourself, know your real intentions for doing ritual, and enjoy your time with the dragons. Take time to be a child again, non-judgmental, full of wonder and delight at the antics of dragons. Learn from them when to be serious about life and when to lose yourself in play and pure enjoyment. My dragon has taken part in rituals with total concentration and involvement, only to spook one of the cats when we are finished.

Enjoy yourself with your dragons. Ask them for help in whatever you are striving to accomplish. Provide them with friendship and the chance to frolic in the energy vibrations you create. Learn from them. But never, never, treat them as commanded slaves or take their friendship lightly. Dragon magic is serious business. Be an honest friend, and you will receive honest friendship in return. Dragons are not like humans. They feel no compunction to continue a friendship or be helpful or even nice if you mistreat them.

It is helpful to the magician with dragons as co-magicians to keep a notebook detailing inner experiences while working this type of magic. Some dragons will appear only during certain phases of the Moon, while others arrive during specific weather patterns such as storms, long hot spells, etc. Other dragons hung around for days, especially if the magician is going through a period of turmoil in her/his life. Some dragons make brief appearances during a ritual and are not seen again for quite some time.

Each dragon has a definite feel to her/his personality just as humans do. The magician must learn to recognize them individually even if she/he never learns their names. Dragon names are usually never what they seem, since dragons are extremely cautious about giving their true names to humans. I never argue or press them on this point since I feel they have a right to their privacy if they desire it.

It is a quite an ordinary occurrence for a magician to work the dragon rituals several times before becoming aware that she/he has attracted dragons-helpers. Do not become discouraged if you are not immediately aware of their presence. Be patient. Dragons have good reason to be wary of humans. Prove your trustworthiness and friendship to them. A friendship developed slowly and on a firm found lasts the longest.

Seeking and Working with Dragons

Seeking and Working with Dragons 

It should be obvious by now that I have a deep respect and love for dragons, a belief in their powers as co-magicians that is backed by years of personal experience. And I hope I have piqued your interest enough to want to work with them.

So how does one go about finding dragons? And how do you use their power? Should you do co-magick with dragons, or should you avoid the partnership?

I assume since you have read this far, that you either already practice some form of magick or are seriously contemplating doing so. If you are experiencing any doubt about your worthiness (Goddess forbid!) to work in the area of magick, any area of magick, you have some serious work to do on your self-image and the programming you have undergone that created your poor self-image.

Every magician, indeed every person who even uses prayer, constantly walks the fine line between an overinflated ego and an appreciation of her/his self-worth. She/he understands, without any cover-ups, exactly why they are choosing to work magick at any given time. This understanding is vitally necessary in order to assess the end-result of the spellworking, the type of magick used, and the consequences that may be forthcoming for certain actions. What others think of a magician’s reasons is not important; they do not pay the penalties, gain the advantages of the rituals, or know exactly what that magician may think and feel. However, the magician must know what is deep within her/his own mind and heart, know it and deal with it if there is negative programming or intentions that are selfish and unjustified.

A good magican is neither white nor black. A good effective magician is what I call gray, one who understands completely the consequences of actions and is willing to do what is necessary, particularly in the areas of protection and the removal of evil. An effective magician knows her/himself like no one else does; she/he has to be brutally honest about real intents and purposes for using any type of magick in the first place, but especially so when practicing dragon magick.

In dragon magick, the magician cannot afford any lingering doubts as to her/his right to ask help from these powerful entities. Like many other beings, physical and nonphysical, dragons will take advantage of anyone who vacillates in her/his commitment or who is unclear about their intent of a ritual.

I have yet to meet an “evil” dragon, although I have encountered a few who distrust humans so much that one must take special care when working with them. Dragons become “evil” only when there is an imbalance of energies, a disruption of the powers flowing from the Earth and humans to dragons and back again. To re-establish a positive flow of this power, the magician does not join every fanatical group out picketing and rioting. She/he knows that all changes begin within the self. Like ripples in a pond, when the self becomes balanced the immediate atmosphere and community are affected. When the community becomes balanced, this spread further, taking in countries and eventually the entire world. But, as with all things, a majority of individuals must desire and seek the balance and improvement or it will not occur.

Does this mean that unless you are perfect in all levels of your being that you cannot attract, contact and learn from dragons? Of course not? But if you desire a continued companionship with them, you must strive to better yourself, balance the ebbs and tides of energies within you, and make this effort, an on-going project. Every magician and spiritual seeker should be aware that there is no such thing as complete perfection within the human body and mind 100 per cent of the time. If you could become that perfect, you would no longer inhabit a physical body. The laws of the universe do not allow anything to remain static, non-moving or non-growing. Perfect is static in whatever form it currently has; therefore, in order to confirm to the laws of the universe, that perfect form must evolve into something else, some form of being that can continue to evolve to the next higher stage of life. Change is one of the few constants of universal law.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Dragons In Astronomy

Dragons In Astronomy

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 of Cheops was aligned.

Ancient astrologers called the north node of the Moon Caput Draconis, or head of the dragon, and the south node Cauda Draconis, or tail of the dragon.The nodes (the actual meaning is “knot” or “complication”) are not planets but points which relate the Moon’s orbit to the actual orbit of the Earth around the Sun. In astrology the north node symbolizes intake and positive aspects, the south node releases and negative aspects. These draconic nodes are still considered important to today’s astrologers.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Northern Dragons

Northern Dragons 

Probably the greatest of Northern dragons was Nidhogg (Dread Biter) who lived in Niflheim and was constantly gnawing at the World Tree. Nidhogg would be classified as a chaos dragon, one who destroys in order to re-create. This idea of destruction-resurrection extended to the Norse belief that Nidhogg stripped all corpses of their flesh.

In the Northern regions, dragons were said to live in cold seas or misty lakes, storms and fogs. When these were not available, dragons lurked in deep underground caverns, coming out when hungry or when there was a thunderstorm. Even after conversion to Christianity, the Scandinavians, especially the Norwegians, placed carved dragon heads on the gables of their churches to guard against the elements, as for years they had guarded their ships with dragon-headed prows.

In the original legends of Scotland, Scandinavia, and northern Germany, dragons were not winged, nor were they totally evil. Up until the early Middle Ages, it was reported that flights of dragons were as common as migrating birds. By the Middle Ages when the Christians had grabbed control of nearby everything and were fanatically persecuting Pagans, they changed the ideas of dragons into winged monsters, always menacing and evil, some with multiple heads. They described some of them as having the throat and legs of an eagle, the body of a huge serpent, the wings of the bat, and a tail with a arrow tip; we now call these two-legged dragons wyverns. Christianity was quick to equate dragons with their Devil and their Hell. The Christians also portrayed all non-Christian rulers as evil, destructive dragons.

There are many Christian references to dragons, all of them negative, which generally speaking meant “down with Pagan ideas.” One such tale is told in the book of Bel and the Dragon in the Apocrypha: another is described in the book of Daniel. Christian tales of saints and dragons always picture the dragon losing. The Christians want you to believe that they have killed dragon power, but this is not so. They have not, and never will destroy magick or the wily, elusive dragon.

Christianity and its admonition to hunt down and destroy dragons brought about the end of common dragon sightings, for these great and knowledgeable beasts withdrew from the physical plane, especially in Britain, and Europe. In the Orient dragons were never subjected to the malicious hunting practices of Europe and so continued to involve themselves in human and cosmic affairs. Oriental dragons, being as a whole gregarious extroverts, having generally been treated with much more respect and honor than other dragons.

In Mexico the dragons of the Olmecs were pictured with the body of a rattlesnake, the eyebrows of a jaguar, and feathers. This combination of serpent-jaguar-dragon was common among the civilizations of Mexico, Central America, and certain portions of South America. This combined sinuous and hungry form symbolized the ambiguities of the universe, the process of destruction and re-creation, subconsciously understood by even the most primitive people. Although these cultures were primitive by our standards, they were certainly not without knowledge, cultural advancements, and scientific studies. After their own fashion, they were very spiritual people, who would have been perfectly capable of discovering dragon power; their strange half-dragon, half-jaguar carvings represent their understanding and acknowledgement of the dragons of their continent. Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, a dragon serpent figure known and revered over much of the area, bore many of the same characteristics as Oriental dragons.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

The Precious Stone, Dracontias

The Precious Stone, Dracontias

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 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. It is unclear how he managed to extract the dracontias before the dragon died; it was said that if the dracontias was extracted after death it lost its power. 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.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Chinese Dragons

Chinese Dragons

In China, for instance, dragons are portrayed with four legs, a long sinuous serpentine body and a snake-like tail; they ranged in size from a few feet long up to the Great Chien-Tang who was over a thousand feet in length. They could speak, were able to alter their forms and sizes and had a varying number of claws.

Chinese emperors adopted the five-clawed dragon as a sacred ancestor, symbol of their power. Only Imperial dragons were said to have the special five claws on each foot. All other Oriental dragons had only three or four claws. It became a law that only the Emperor could have a five-clawed dragon embroidered on his robes or painted on anything.

According to tradition, China’s history dates back to 3000 b.c.e., although modern historians only goes back to 1600 b.c.e. A clay vessel from about 2000 b.c.e., is decorated with a dragon picture. The dragon symbol and figured still exist in modern-day Chinese art and celebrations.

The Chinese divided their dragons into groups or classes, each with different characteristics. There were four major Lung Wang dragons, or Dragon-Kings. The names of these brothers were Ao Kuang, Ao Jun, Ao Shun, and Ao Ch’in. They also had specific duties: the t’ien lung supported the mansion of the gods; the shen lung brought rain; the ti lung controlled the rivers; and the fu-ts’an lung guarded hidden treasures and deposits of precious metals. The Lung Wang or Dragon Kings, resembled the Indian Nagas, or sacred serpents. They were the patron deities of rivers, lakes, seas and rain. They had valuable pearls in their throats and lived in magnificent underwater palaces.

Further divisions produced the kiao-lung, or scaled dragon; ying-lung with wings; k’ui-lung with horns; chi’i-lung which was hornless; the p’an-lung which was earth-bound. The ch’i-lung dragon was red, white and green, the k’iu-lung blue. Chinese dragons were also entirely black, white, red or yellow with yellow considered superior.

When it came to using dragons for decoration, there were nine distinct categories; the p’u lao was carved on gongs; the ch’iu nui and pi hsi on fiddles and literature tablets; the pa hsia at the base of stone monuments, the chao feng on the eaves of temples; the ch’in on beams of bridges; the suan ni only on the throne of the Buddha; the yai tzu on the hilts of swords; and the pi han on prison gates.

Chinese experts were said to be able to tell the age of Oriental dragons and their origins by their colors. Yellow dragons were believed to be born from yellow gold a thousand years old; blue dragons from blue gold eight hundred years olds; red, white and black from gold of the same color a thousand years olds.

To the Chinese, dragons could be either male or female. They laid eggs, some of which did not hatch for a thousand years. When a hatching did occur, it was known because of great meteor showers, violent thunderstorms, and great showers of hail.

The number of scales on a dragon was also of importance. Some Ancient dragon experts in China maintained that a true dragon has exactly 81 scales, while others stated that the number was 117. They were never said to be covered with anything except scales. This is characteristic of dragons worldwide.

Chinese dragons were said to have the head of a camel, horns of a stag, eyes of a demon, neck of a snake, scales of a carp, claws of an eagle, feet of a tiger, and ears of a cow. Although, as one can see from ancient pictures, all Oriental dragons did not fit conveniently into this description, they all were said to have a lump on the top of the head. This lump enabled them to fly without wings. Although this flying-lump was considered an essential part of Oriental dragons, it is rare to see it portrayed in pictures.

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

The Chinese even had methods of protecting themselves from annoying dragons. It was said that they could be frightened away or controlled by the leaves of the wang plant(or Pride of India), five-colored silk thread, wax, iron, or centipedes. It is difficult to imagine a dragon being deterred by wax or centipedes. Perhaps this idea grew from a single dragon who reacted in fear to these objects, just as some humans fear crawling things, heights, or mice. After all, dragons have very distinct and individual personalities just as we do.

In Chinese medicine, the skin, bones, teeth, and saliva were considered very valuable. Powdered dragon bone was a magickal cure-all. Old medical textbooks are quick to point out that dragons periodically shed their skin and bones, like snakes do. Since the skins glowed in the dark, presumably they were easy to locate. Some of the bones were listed as slightly poisonous and could only be prepared in non-iron utensils. How “bones” could be shed is a mystery unless it is not really bone, but something that looks like it. The shedding and regrowth of teeth is known to occur among certain animals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Dragon saliva was said to be found as a frothy foam on the ground or floating on the water. It was usually deposited during mating or fighting. One Chinese story tells of a great battle just off the coast near a fishing village. The people watched the great dragons rolling in the black clouds and leaping waves for a day and a night. Their echoing roars were clearly heard by all the villagers. The next morning these people set out in all their fishing boats to the place of the battle. They scooped up whole boatloads of dragon saliva that they found floating in huge piles on the ocean.

The blood of Oriental dragons was sometimes red, other times black. Dragon experts said it changed into amber when it soaked into the ground. Wherever dragon blood fell, the ground became incapable of supporting any vegetation. Although the blood was considered dangerous, sometimes deadly, in Oriental myths. European heroes bathed in it to create invulnerability or drank it to become wise. This transformation of the blood into amber could well be alchemical expression of the manifestation of magickal power and elemental energies into a desired physicial result.

Oriental dragons did not figure in Chinese creation myths. Only rarely, and then only by accident, did they come in conflict with the gods or heroes. They tended to mind their own business and keep a benefical attitude toward humans. Oriental dragons had specific duties such as controlling the weather and keeping the land and animal fertile, as well as assignments to help humans learn certain civilized arts. Although dragon parts were widely esteemed in Oriental medicine, these magickal creatures were not hunted down as were Western dragons.

 

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Western Dragons

Western Dragons 

In the Mideast, there seems to have been a meeting ground for dragons, some being like Chinese dragons, others more like Western dragons. Phrygian history tells of dragons that reached ten paces in length, lived in caverns near the River Rhyndacus, and moved with part of their bodies on the ground, the rest erect. Islam gives hints of Muhammad’s magick horse rising to heaven with the aid of dragon’s breath. An illustration from a Turkish manuscript now in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris shows this scene.

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.

In the Classics, the Greeks told of their hero Herakles slaying the seven-headed hydra, a form of dragon. While still in his cradle, he slew two giant serpents sent by Hera. Later the hero save Hesione who was chained as a sacrifice to a sea dragon. Perseus did the same for Andromeda. As a baby, Apollo also killed a serpent (dragon) sent against his mother by Hera. Jason killed a hydra (many-headed dragon) to get the Golden Fleece; scenes of this story can still be seen on Greek dishes from about 480 – 490 BCE, showing a definite dragon creature. Both the Greek Medea and the Roman Ceres were said to ride in chariots pulled by dragons. Ancient Greece and Rome considered the dragon both beneficent and evil, depending upon the activities of the creature. The Purple Dragon became the emblem of the Byzantine emperors. There is a wall painting of a dragon still existing in the ruined Roman city of Pompeii.

In legends from India there was ordinarily no conflict between the gods and the Nagas, or serpent-dragons, as shown by the stories of Krishna and Vishnu. Both of these gods have a fine working relationship with Ananta, king of the serpent-dragons, and the Nagas. The greatly revered Indian god Vishnu was on good terms with Ananta, the Endless One, a giant serpent with eleven heads. Vishnu slept on Ananta while the serpent guarded him. Ananta is considered by the Hindus to be the symbol of cosmic energy which is vital for creation.

The one exception to this friendship between the Nagas and the gods was the slaying of Vritra, a great serpent who coiled around the navel of the Earth, holding back the waters, Indra killed him to create the world-mountains.

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. But as with all dragons in whatever form the Nagas were capable of killing people and causing problem when annoyed. There are stories of their creating drought, pestilence, and great suffering when humans broke their rules.

Sometimes the Nagas were pictured 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.

In Africa, the country of Ethiopia was said to be heavily populated with dragons at one time. The Roman poet Lucan and other Classical authors wrote the African dragons could fly, that their brilliantly colored scales shone brightly and that some of them were so huge that they could be mistaken for hills when they lay asleep.

Generally speaking Western dragons were different in physical structure from Eastern dragons. Most of them had two strong hind legs, two shorter forelegs, a thick body and a long tail. Their wings were membranes, like those of bats, and had long ribs or bones. Their wedge-shaped heads were carried on long sinuous necks. Western dragons were fully armed with long claws and sharp teeth, besides their fiery breath. They talked with humans by means of telepathy and were extremely cunning and wily.

The ancient Celts had traditions of dragons, considering them wily but wise. Unfortunately so much of Celtic lore was lost to deliberate destruction that we have only remnants of tales and fragments of dragon lore left today from that culture. The Celtic ram-snake or dragon is connected with Cernunnos, the antlered Earth god. This Celtic ram-dragon is also connected with the number eight, this being the number of spokes on the solar wheel; the solar wheel is set in motion by the ram-headed dragon. What few carving we have of the god Cernunnos picture him with a bag of gold at his feet and a double-headed ram-snake belt about his waist. This belt with its two ram-dragon heads symbolizes the spiritual bridge between various planes of existence. The Celtic shaman-magician-priest knew that in order to travel this bridge, she/he must go inward to meet the dragon guarding the bridge. A lack of self-discipline and self-knowledge would prevent any seeker from being able to pass the dragon and enter the realms of the Otherworlds.

Conchobar of Ireland was said to have had both a divine and a human father. He was born at the Winter Solstice with what the story calls a water-worm in each hand. From the description these water-worms were probably baby dragons.

The Irish hero Finn MacCumhaill also killed dragons. Some magickal systems would look at Finn’s activities as not physical but as battling his own destructive inner thoughts.

The dragon has been depicted on the Welsh banner since at least the departure of the Roman legions. And in England, Scotland and Ireland the dragon has been drawn with four legs and the wyvern with two since the 16th century. On the European continent, however, the two-legged wyvern is still called a dragon, the same name given to the four-legged variety. Even today, the dragon, alone or with other designs, is part of the heraldic heritage of some two hundred English families and some three hundred from Euope.

In Scandinavian legend, the hero Sigurd (called Siegfried in Germany) killed the dragon Fafnir. This story clearly details the benefits from a dragon’s blood. Sigurd accidentally swallowed a drop of it and immediately could understand the language of birds. This saved his life from the dragon’ss treacherous brother who was plotting to kill him for the treasure. Sigurd also was bathed with the blood when he struck Fafnir from a pit. This made him invulnerable to weapons, except where a leaf covered a tiny spot.

The god Thorr once caught the World-Serpent while fishing. Considering the power and negativity of the great serpent-dragon, Thorr was fortunate that his companion cut the line. The god did not feel that way about it though and clouted his friend alongside the head for letting his big “fish” get away.

If one reads the very best of translations of the story of Beowulf, it is quickly seen that he fought three dragons. Although the first he killed was described as a young two-legged male monster who was raiding for food among the houses at night, it could have been a wyvern (who has two legs) or a four-legged dragon who walked upon its hind legs or a dragon in human disguise. The second creature was a mature female, finally killed in her spawning ground, who definitely took on human form. The third dragon came later in his life, and was specifically listed as a dragon. This one was a mature flying male with a poisonous bite. Well into middle ages at the time, Beowulf used himself as batitto draw the last dragon out of its lair so it could be killed.

 

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Dragons and Their Interaction With Humans

Dragons and Their Interaction With Humans

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. Few people know of the joy and companionship and spiritual knowledge that come from dancing with dragons. Dancing with dragons takes cooperation, not master-slave relationships: it takes great self-discipline to reach into another level of existence and contact a dragon as a co-magician.

It has been my experience that, although dragons have form and existence, they do not exist in this physical world as we do. Dragons inhabit the astral plane which co-exists with and interpenetrates this physical plane. Astral beings are as real as we are; they just have a body that vibrates at a different rate than physical matter does.

Dragons can be everywhere and, in a matter of speaking, in all things. Every elemental action and reaction has the possibility of being an extension of a dragon and its power. This is not to suggest that dragons go about controlling people and incidents. usually they take little note of ordinary humans, deeming them beneath their notice.. There are two reasons a dragon might become involved with humans and their problems. First, if there appears to be an immediate danger to the dragon’s area itself. Second, if a magician knows how to properly contact and communicate with dragon power, and if she/he can persuade the dragon to help.

The only exception I know to this are dragons talking with children. Some dragons take a delight in communicating with small children, particularly those who have psychic ability. Unfortunately, parents and society take a dim view of such ability, hedging it about with so much disfavor that most children stop using it.

One of my grandsons, when quite small, saw dragons all the time. He described them to me in great and accurate detail, although I had never discussed them with him. When he finally realized that this made his mother very angry he shut off the ability. The programming may be effective enough to keep him from re-opening and exploring his early friendship with dragons while he lives at home, but the desire is still there. When he visits us, the first place he goes is to the bookcase full of dragon statues. He is very quiet and intent while he looks over every single one, although he is familiar with them all. I leave him to his silent contemplation as I realize it is a form of communication between him and his “lost” dragon friends. Someday, if and when he feels strong enough to dispense with his subconscious programming, he may decide that acknowledging the existence of dragons is not wrong.

On rare occasion an astral being, such as a dragon, will manifest itself so clearly on the physical that people see it with the physical eyes. It is my opinion that some of the so-called monsters, such as those of Loch Ness, are astral beings. Nessie is possibily a kind astral sea dragon. For this reason I do not expect that there will ever be any hard physical evidence, the kind scientists can put under a microscope or dissect, produced to validate Nessie’s existence.

Carl Sagan, in “The Dragons of Eden,” spent a lot of time and paper trying to discredit dragon stories around the world. His narrow-minded, tedious explanations tried to convince the public that the stories of dragons came from racial memories of dinosaurs. But then more than a few scientists, unless they can capture and dissect something, are not about to admit they do not know everything about this world and its creatures, let alone admit that there might be other planes of existence that interact with ours.

There is not only one way to see and work with dragons. There are many magickal systems in the world, and they 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 as symbolic, again having no true existence. It has been my experience that dragons are real creatures who come and go from the astral plane as they please. I have seen them, heard them and felt their power. After working with dragons in ritual, I leave it to you to form your own opinion.

Dancing With Dragons

D. J. Conway

Dragons In Heraldry

Dragons In Heraldry

Even through times of persecution, the dragon did not fade from sight. In European countries, and China in particular, the draconic image remained alive in stories. European families, especially used the dragon in coats of arms. The European art of heraldry and coats of arms still employs the depiction of dragons in its art. The Prince of Wales has a red and gold dragon in his coat of arms and on his flag. The families of de Drago, von Drachenfels, de Draek, de Dragon de Ramillies, and Dragomanni, among others, all have a dragon on their coats of arms, as did the family of Sir Francis Drake.


In heraldry, a dragon with two legs is called a wyvern; 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), a 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 color: or (gold), gules (red), sable (black), or vert (green).

Dragons In Other Cultures

Dragons In Other Cultures

Everywhere the legged dragon is associalted 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 catastrophic 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 inot the heavens and Earth. Worldwide, dragons and serpents are symbolic of the energy source of life, healing, oracular powers, fertility and maternal blessing.

H. P. Blavatsky states in her books that the dragon is a very old sign for Astral Light or Primordial Principle. This means that there is always wisdom in chaos, even if humans cannot see it. The dragon stood for psychical regeneration and immortality. Perhaps the stories which insist that dragons were partial to virgins simply meant that the seeking of wisdom and true innocence of the spirit were traits which attracted draconic beings.

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 four-legged red and gold dragon on it.

The dragon has become a symbol of evil and the Christian devil only after the church gained power. In an attempt to crush the ancient beliefs of Pagans, the Christians spread their propaganda of their devil, calling them the Dragon. By instilling deep fears, particularly of eternal punishments, the priests and church leaders managed to grasp control of rulers and governments. By becoming the controlling forced behind governments, the church could control the people themselves, either through making their own Christian religious belief the state religion or by influencing the laws that were passed. Even then, though, there were truly individualistic people who refused to give up what they knew to be for them, true spiritual paths. These Pagans had to go underground, living in fear of persecution and death, for centures until they were once again granted the freedom to follow their ancient ways, freely speak of contacting the powerful astral beings who aided them.

 

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Dragons In Alchemy

Dragons In Alchemy

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 symbol 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, or merging with the Supreme Creative Forces within, thus completing the cycle of human growth by returning to the Source.

Jung wrote that the alchemists considered the winged dragon as female, the wingless dragons as male. Jung 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 in 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. To the Chinese, the dragon was a potent symbol of luck and power. Silver dragon amulets were worn to help gain these qualities.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

What are Dragons?

What are Dragons?

 

 

Many cultures around the entire world have stories of dragons in one shape or another. Some are depicted as huge wingless serpents, other more like the traditional picture we of the Western world have of dragons: heavy bodied with wings. Dragons are shown with four legs, two legs, or no legs at all. Some dragons were said to have arrowhead-pointed tails, while others have spiked knob on the end of the tail. Some have twisted horns, others long antennae rather like those of moths. But the dragon, in whatever form, is there in thousands of folk stories, regardless of the description attached to it. Humankind has a subconscious knowledge of the dragon and its powers that even the assumed thin veneer of so-called civilizations cannot remove.

I discovered dragons and their potential powers years ago as a child. Being open-minded and noncritical, as most children are, I enjoyed the company of dragons, faeries, elves, and similar beings on a daily basis. My activity, however, was deeply frowned upon as “imagination.” I soon learned to keep quiet about my special ability in order to stay out of trouble with adults. Soon I began ignoring these others beings because I was afraid of making a slip and talking about them. Ridicule and punishment were severe when this happened; the subconscious negative programming had begun. When I finally rebelled against family control, I found the inner door not only shut, but locked. It took years of conscious retraining and experience before I could again understand how to call upon these beings, especially dragons, and use their magickal powers.

Negative programming has created havoc and unhappiness in a great many lives. This type of programming is inflicted upon others because of fear and a desire to control. The perpetrator forgets, or does not care, that they are dealing with an individual who has the right to her/his special abilities, dreams and goals in life. This happens not only to children, but to anyone who is less than sure of themselves, dependents upon someone else, or unable for whatever reason to leave the situation and people who are causing them great mental and emotional pain. If these beleaguered souls could make contact with their own special dragons, they could build the inner power to either remove themselves from the problem or at least refuse to accept the guilt, fear and control being placed upon them.

But what are dragons? Are the 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.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Dragons In Alchemy

Dragons In Alchemy

 

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 symbol 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, or merging with the Supreme Creative Forces within, thus completing the cycle of human growth by returning to the Source.

Jung wrote that the alchemists considered the winged dragon as female, the wingless dragons as male. Jung 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 in 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. To the Chinese, the dragon was a potent symbol of luck and power. Silver dragon amulets were worn to help gain these qualities.

“Dancing with Dragons”

D. J. Conway