Entering the Mouth of the Dragon

This ritual, Entering the Mouth of the Dragon, will likely be one of the most interesting, enlightening experience of your magical career if you approach it with the right attitude. It is a ritual that can be repeated whenever you want, as many times as you wish. Since a magician on the ultimate spiritual path is constantly seeking and being initiated, a single initiation ceremony is not considered either adequate or a sign that nothing further is needed in the way of knowledge. Initiation must be a periodic, ongoing experience, a striving for greater contact with higher powers that has no end.

Many of the ancient pictures and carvings of humans being devoured by dragons may in fact be a symbol of initiation. It is difficult to know whether someone is entering or leaving the dragon’s mouth. To a dedicated magician, this path into other planes is well-worn; she/he never feels they have learned all there is to know. The magician follows the Otherworld path confident that she/he is not the first to do so, nor will she/he be the last. The magician is driven by an inner yearning for growth on all levels of her/his being.

The experiences gained during this meditation-type ritual can help you make changes in your life, pick up your spirits when you are down, provide you with new insight and goals. It will be rare that a magician comes out of the experience with nothing. Of course, if you put nothing of your energy into the experience, you are likely to get little in return. Remember dragons work as co-magicians only when there is an exchange of energy.

During this initiation ritual, you will be going in meditation into a huge cave shaped like the mouth of a dragon. This is best done on a Full Moon or bright noon. For 24 hours before the ceremony, try to remain aware and conscious of dragon power. You will find it flowing through all kinds of people, objects and happenings. Just before entering the ritual area for initiation, take a cleansing bath with at least some salt and perhaps a little dragon’s blood powder in the water. Be certain that you have your magical name chosen. Dress in your ritual apparel. Carry any selected magical jewelry to the altar; do not wear it until it has been consecrated.

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, initiation or blessing incense, dragon’s blood and thyme, dragon mirror, gong or bell.

Set altar in the center facing east. Make certain that you will not be disturbed once you have cast the circle. This may mean silencing the telephone and hanging a “do not disturb” sign on the door. Instrumental music also helps to set the mood and mask background noises.

Begin the ritual by going to the east. With your sword in your power hand (the one with which you write), “draw” your magical circle on floor around your ritual area. Do this by pointing the sword at the floor and seeing great flames shooting from it. Move clockwise around the circle with this flame; end by overlapping it in the east. While drawing the circle, saying:

BY DRAGON POWER, THIS CIRCLE IS SEALED.

Return to the altar. Point the sword at the dragon pentacle and say:

DRAGONS OF SPIRIT, HIGHEST OF DRAGONS AND MOST POWERFUL, BLESS THIS ALTAR WITH YOUR FIRE. LET US BE ONE IN MAGICK, O DRAGONS GREAT AND WISE.

Set the water chalice on the pentacle. (The water used in the chalice is not to be confused with the water you collect from various watery power spots.) With the wand in your power hand, circle the chalice three times clockwise with the wand and say:

AIR, FIRE, EARTH, BRING POWER FORTH,

WATER OF LAND AND SEA, PURIFIED BE.

Hold the chalice high, say:

DRACONIS! DRACONIS! DRACONIS!

Sprinkle the water lightly around the circled area, beginning and ending in the east.

Set the dish of salt on the pentacle. Circle it three times clockwise with the wand and say:

WATER, AIR, FIRE, HEAR MY DESIRE.

SALT OF EARTH AND SEA, PURIFIED BE.

Sprinkle a few grains of salt to each corner of the altar. Circle the incense burner three times clockwise with the wand. Say:

FIRE OF DRAGONS, FIRE OF EARTH,

YOU ARE PURIFIED. BRING POWER FORTH.

Circle the incense and herbs three times clockwise with the wand. Say:

INCENSE MAGICKAL, INCENSE BOLD,

AWAKE THE DRAGONS, AS OF OLD.

I CALL YOU PURIFIED.

Put a small amount of incense onto the burning coals. Lift the burner by the chains and touch it lightly to the pentacle. Lift it high over the altar, say:

DRACONIS! DRACONIS! DRACONIS!

Then carry it clockwise around the circle, beginning and ending in the east. Return it to the altar.

Kneel before the altar with the sword in both hands. Mentally, dedicate yourself to the study of dragon magic. Project your interest and love of dragons as strongly as you can. Continue this for several minutes. Then rise and point the sword at the dragon pentacle and say:

BEHOLD, ALL DRAGONS AND RULERS OF DRAGONS,

I AM (magical name), A MAGICIAN WHO SEEKS DRAGON MAGICK.

WITH (name of sword) IN MY HAND, I ENTER THE REALMS OF THE DRAGONS.

NOT FOR PHYSICAL BATTLE, BUT FOR KNOWLEDGE AND POWER.

I GREET YOU, O DRAGONS, ANCIENT AND WISE, AND AWAIT YOUR BLESSING AND GUIDANCE.

Continue holding the sword outstretched until you feel the blessings of the dragons.

When the flowing power of the blessing has lessened, lower the sword. Still holding the sword in your power hand, take the dragon pentacle in your other hand and go to the east. Point the sword at the eastern position and hold up the dragon pentacle facing outward. Draw an invoking pentagram with the sword. Say:

FROM SAIRY’S (sair’-iss), RULER OF THE EASTERN DRAGONS FAIR,

COMES NOW THE WONDROUS POWER OF AIR.

Feel the power of Air entering your body. When the flow stops, go to the south. Hold up the pentacle again. Draw and invoking pentagram with the sword; say:

FROM FAFNIR (far’-near), RULER OF DRAGONS OF THE SOUTH,

COMES CLEANSING FIRE FROM DRAGON MOUTH.

Feel the power of Fire entering the body. When the flow stops go to the west. Again hold up the pentacle. Draw an invoking pentagram with the sword; say:

FROM NAELYAN (nail’-yon), RULER OF DRAGONS OF THE WEST,

COME THE POWER OF WATER, THREE TIMES BLEST.

Draw into yourself the power of Water. Go to the north. Hold up the pentacle. Draw an invoking pentagram with the sword; saying:

FROM GRAEL (grail), RULER OF DRAGONS OF THE NORTH,

THE POWER OF EARTH DOES NOW COME FORTH.

Draw into yourself the power of Earth. Return to the altar. Lay aside the sword and dragon pentacle. Add more dragon’s blood powder and thyme (or other appropriate incense) to the incense burner.

Lay any magical jewelry on the pentacle disk and touch it with the point of your sword. Say:

BY DRAGON POWER, I CALL YOU PURIFIED.

BY DRAGON FIRE, I CALL YOU BLESSED.

BY DRAGON MAGICK, I CALL YOU POWERFUL.

THROUGH DRAGON WISDOM, I WELCOME YOU.

Slowly pass the jewelry through the incense smoke. Then put it on.

Take up the mirror, the Eye of the Dragon. Hold it before you and gaze deeply into it. Picture yourself as a confident magician of dragon magic. Say:

I AM A SEEKER OF DRAGON KNOWLEDGE.

I COME WILLINGLY FOR INITIATION.

INTO THE MOUTH OF THE DRAGON I GO OF MY OWN FREE WILL.

WELCOME ME, DRAGONS OLD AND WISE.

DRACONIS! DRACONIS! DRACONIS!

Lay aside the mirror and sit before the altar. Either lay the sword across your knees or at your feet during this meditation.

Close your eyes and mentally see before you the mouth of a huge cave. It is shaped like the mouth of a dragon. Inside, from some deep terrestrial fire, comes a red glow. Long drops of stone hang around the opening like teeth. Enter the cave and follow the dim passageway deep into the Earth. After many twists and turns, you will enter a circular subterranean chamber with crystals embedded in the walls. A gem-encrusted altar stands in the center of the floor. On the altar is a jeweled chalice.

At the four cardinal points of the circular chamber you see deep pits or cracks in the floor. From these pits comes the red glow of fire from deep under the Earth. The chamber is lit by their light alone. Sometimes you see the shadowy forms of dragons around the dim edges of the chamber.

Stand before the altar and announce to the dragons that you have come for initiation. Be sure to call yourself by your magical name. You will feel power sent to from all sides by the half-seen dragons. Listen for any messages that they may give you.

Finally, you will hear the deep voice of a dragon saying, “Drink of the cup.” Visualize yourself lifting the heavy jeweled cup and drinking the contents. You will feel dragon magic coursing through your body, seeping into your bones. Thank the dragons, and follow the dim corridor upward until you reach the cave opening. Open your eyes and return to the here and now.

Rise and set the wine chalice on the pentacle. Circle it three times clockwise with the wand and say:

CUP OF POWER, CUP OF MIGHT,

DRAGON MAGICK, BE HERE THIS NIGHT.

Drink the wine, saving back some to be poured outside on the ground later as an offering to the dragons. (If it is not possible to pour the offering outside, leave it on the altar for about an hour.)

Now is an excellent time to chant and use free-form dancing. Invite the dragons to share in the raised energy and your joy of being a magician. Talk to them about your hopes and dreams. And listen to see if they have suggestions or words of encouragement for you. This is an opportunity for close friendship to be forged.

To close the ritual, take the sword and go to the east. Draw a banishing pentagram with the sword; say:

GO IN PEACE, DRAGONS OF THE EAST.

AND RETURN AGAIN IN THE RITUAL HOUR.

Go to the south. Draw a banishing pentagram with the sword; say:

GO IN PEACE, DRAGONS OF THE SOUTH.

AND RETURN AGAIN IN THE RITUAL HOUR.

Go to the west. Draw a banishing pentagram with the sword; say:

GO IN PEACE, DRAGONS OF THE WEST.

AND RETURN AGAIN IN THE RITUAL HOUR.

Finish by going to the north. Draw a banishing pentagram with the sword; say:

GO IN PEACE, DRAGONS OF THE NORTH.

AND RETURN AGAIN IN THE RITUAL HOUR.

Return to the altar. Raise both arms say:

FAREWELL TO YOU, O DRAGONS FAIR,

FIRE, WATER, EARTH AND AIR.

TOGETHER WE MAKE MAGICK WELL

BY POWER DEEP AND DRAGON SPELL.

IN PEACE GO NOW. RETURN ONCE MORE

TO TEACH ME MAGICK AND ANCIENT LORE.

DRACONIS! DRACONIS! DRACONIS!

Cut the circle with a backward sweep of the sword across the boundary line. Extinguish the altar candles. Clear the altar of all tools. You have now entered the mouth of the dragon and become an initiate into dragon magic. Being an initiate does not mean mastery of magic. An initiate is a beginner on the path.