The dragon is a mythical and powerful creature of legend and tradition that you can find in almost every culture. While the strength of a dragon is a constant in different societies, appearance and meaning are not. Today, many of us adorn our homes and bodies with dragons for their qualities of good luck, well-being, and protection.
In the West, dragons were thought to bring hardship and destruction and were often the guardians of treasure and representations of greed. Societies such as the Norse used the dragon symbol as their figurehead, carving dragons on the heads of their ships and placing them on ridges and shields. When Christianity was introduced, the reputation of dragons further worsened and they came to be known as satanic beasts.
However, in the East and even in some Western societies, including Celtic, Gnostic, Alchemy, and Draconic Wicca, dragons symbolize a supreme being. This divine creature is believed to represent the spirit of nature and the capacity for transformation. Offer hope, courage, and good fortune. Legend often depicts dragons as the guardians of the “flaming pearl,” a gem that symbolizes spiritual perfection. You will often see this pearl on dragon figures and collectibles. Sometimes you will see Celtic dragons in a circular position, from tail to mouth. As in paganism, the circle is perfection, the circle of life, transformation, and eternity.
In our modern literature and movies, dragons are portrayed as terrifying, fire-breathing creatures that create obstacles in our personal journeys and threaten to eat our women and children. Dragons used with the most western beliefs symbolize power, freedom and independence, but are not usually an intention of evil. Most of the time, when we see a dragon, it is not a symbol of fear, but of protection.
Dragon images are one of the most requested tattoo designs. The inked image represents goodness and honor, power and wisdom. It can also symbolize magic and a spiritual or personal quest. The actual shape and meaning of the image depends on the culture it came from, be it Chinese, Japanese, Celtic, Western, tribal, etc. Once the dragon becomes a permanent part of a person’s body, the dragon’s power becomes part of that person’s existence. The tattoo also comes to represent that person or a part of that person’s life.
Images of dragons make powerful charms. Worn close to our body, the talisman radiates protection, drives away negative forces and attracts good fortune. You can wear your amulet all the time or you can wear it when you feel like you need it. You can also wear your amulet or sleep with it under your pillow, it depends on what you are looking for.
Dragon decoration is a popular and stylish way to surround yourself with the power of dragons. From collectible figurines, statues, incense holders, chess sets, plaques, goblets, and even a ceiling crest, there is a dragon for every part of your home.
Feng Shui has become popular in our Western culture and at the heart of this practice is the dragon. There are specific guidelines in this ideology when placing dragons around your space, including how many dragons you should have in the room, so if you are practicing Feng Shui, be careful when decorating the dragon.
In short, dragons are believed to be the protector of treasure, spiritual or material, it is also a powerful protector and bringer of fortune in the human kingdom. There are many ways that we can incorporate dragons into our daily lives and a host of benefits that we can gain from doing so.