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A Dragon's Disposition

By: Jeff Bronson

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I recollect sitting in a large circle on our story time rug in my kindergarten class and listening to my teacher, Mrs. Tuttle, read us tales about great big, mean, fire-breathing dragons and the strong, brave knights in shining armor with the enormous sword that would come and kill the horrible beasts. There was always a pretty (and rich) princess that the knight would be rescuing and would later marry.

My childhood was full of damsels in distress and fierce dragons. Every night at bedtime, my mom or dad had to follow a particular protective ritual of ensuring there were no child-eating beasts in the closet or under the bed just waiting to harm me the second my folks left the room.

When I was a slight bit older, I learned about Hercules in Greek and Roman Mythology. Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mere mortal, slew the Hydra, the nine-headed serpentine dragon.

A few years later, I studied Beowulf, albeit begrudgingly. In case you were fortunate enough not to have to read it, it's about a fearless hero who again, fights and is victorious against a horrific and dangerous dragon.

Even films like Reign of Fire and Dungeons and Dragons portrayed most of the mystical beasts as brutal, man-eating (and burning) creatures. And you can’t overlook Godzilla, although many will say that he was some kind of dinosaur/iguana, but at least one of his enemies was a dragon.

In these stories, no child, woman, or city was safe from the wrath of a dragon.

However, in the midst of all these horror stories, I also heard a number of not so menacing ones: Pete's Dragon and Puff the Magic Dragon. A friendly, peaceful one. And then there were also the dragons of Dragonheart (I and II) and The Never Ending Story. The beasts weren't anything like what I had been hearing about in the other styles of tales. How could this be?

The short answer is they were from the East. In Eastern culture, markedly Chinese, the dragon is a divine creature. In the East (as well as a couple of other philosophies such as Feng Shui, Celtic, Draconia Wicca, Gnostic, and Alchemy), the dragon symbolizes a supreme being offering hope, courage, and prosperity. It is also a symbol of transformation, personal and spiritual quest, and wisdom.
Where in the stories I had heard before dragons are protectors of treasures and prisoners, in this new philosophy they are protectors of not only human beings and valuables, but of spiritual perfection, itself. Yet every dragon, Eastern or Western, ally or foe, is a token of power.When I glance around the room I’m sitting in, I see a resin fantasy dragon figurine of two creatures viciously fighting. Yet when I look at this statue, I envision power and strength rather than a horrifying evil. On the opposite side of the room (on the east side per Feng Shui guidelines) is a Chinese dragon carved out of a dark wood—it makes me feel serene.

Dragons are often showed as unruly, fire-breathing creatures that are bringers of destruction and will take down anything in their way. This is the kind of dragon we observe most often in belief system, literature, and in the movies. However, when we think about it, we can also come up with examples of dragons as guard or harbinger of luck. What do dragons signify to you?

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Jeff Bronson is the owner of Obscuria.com, a darkly unique Gothic shop. Obscuria offers a quality selection of dragon figurines and dragon collectibles, and many custom made, exclusive in the U.S items.

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