Dragon symbolism

Dragons are very popular as symbols. What do they symbolize?

Setting David Icke aside for the moment, I would like to post some of my musings on the subject. For the purpose of this conversation I will define the dragon as a symbol of anything more powerful than any single man.

Typically we think of man being at the top of the food chain with no significant competition for the title of lord of the earth, so we create fantastic fictional beasts to fill us with awe at something more magnificent and powerful than us.

That is what makes the dragon such an apt symbol for government. Government is an entity that is more powerful than any single man. And in a way it takes on a life of it's own and pursues it's own ends at the expense of mankind.

How do we puny humans interact with dragons? There are so many fantasy tales about dragon/human interaction that we can't cover all the scenarios. But I would like to cover a few that I consider significant.

slain dragon

Dragon as Destroyer.

This is where the dragon is an obvious threat to mankind and is the object of a knightly quest. Upon slaying the dragon the knight ascends to a new level of power, usually through taking upon himself some identifying aspect of the dragon; He wears a dragon as his heraldic emblem, drinks the dragon's blood, wears his skin, takes his treasure, marries the princess that was given as a sacrifice to the dragon, or just calls himself "dragonslayer" aka takes his name. The point is that the power has transfered to the knight and for all intents and purposes the knight becomes the dragon that he has supposedly slain. You become what you hate.

Chained Dragon

“ In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” Thomas Jefferson

The founders solution to the problem of too much power being in one mans hands was to set up a series of checks and balances, thus the constitution. Essentially you keep the dragon alive to serve you and be your slave. Obviously this can be benificial to some people.

The difficulty is that dragons are smart enough to tell anything to get you to loose them from the chains, they will tell you what you want to hear, tell you about all the dangerous beasts that they could protect you from if you would just let them go for a little bit. Or you might use the dragon as a weapon, ride on the dragon's back and go destroy the enemies of your tribe.

Once that dragon has got his strength back and is on the loose, you are back to square one and will probably have to put him down.

Jury Symbolism

The trial by jury system is an imitation of the heavenly order. The Judge fills the role of the Sun, and the twelve members of the jury are the stars of the zodiac.

Judgment is committed into the hands of these men. The court is meant to be a dragging of the hidden things of darkness into light; the light of truth and justice. What is just stands up under the light of scrutiny and iniquity is destroyed by it.

I really like the way it is put in the Gospel of Philip; “Most things in the world, as long as their inner parts are hidden, stand upright and live. If they are revealed, they die, as is illustrated by the visible man: as long as the intestines of the man are hidden, the man is alive; when his intestines are exposed and come out of him, the man will die. So also with the tree: while its root is hidden, it sprouts and grows. If its root is exposed, the tree dries up. So it is with every birth that is in the world, not only with the revealed but with the hidden. For so long as the root of wickedness is hidden, it is strong. But when it is recognized, it is dissolved. When it is revealed, it perishes. That is why the Word says, Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees. It will not merely cut - what is cut sprouts again - but the ax penetrates deeply, until it brings up the root. Jesus pulled out the root of the whole place, while others did it only partially. As for ourselves, let each one of us dig down after the root of evil which is within one, and let one pluck it out of one's heart from the root. It will be plucked out if we recognize it. But if we are ignorant of it, it takes root in us and produces its fruit in our heart. It masters us. We are its slaves. It takes us captive, to make us do what we do not want; and what we do want, we do not do. It is powerful because we have not recognized it. While it exists it is active. Ignorance is the mother of all evil. Ignorance will result in death, because those who come from ignorance neither were nor are nor shall be. [....] will be perfect when all the truth is revealed. For truth is like ignorance: while it is hidden, it rests in itself, but when it is revealed and is recognized, it is praised, inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. It gives freedom. The Word said, If you know the truth, the truth will make you free. Ignorance is a slave. Knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we are joined to it, it will bring our fulfillment." ([....] = portion of the text missing)

Astro-Religion symbolism

What I am hoping to accomplish with this blog is to create a place for the discussion of religious symbolism. I want my religious ideas to hold up under scrutiny, and I think that a public dialog is helpful in creating new connections and developing a more cohesive worldview.

I, personally, am fascinated by the astrological sybolism that is so commonly hidden (in plain sight) in religion. I anticipate that a large portion of my blogging will be dedicated to expounding on the what I see as the religious implications of astrological or astrotheological symbolism.

Also I am becoming more aware of the influence of entheogenic plants in religious symbolism and experience. And I am interested in any related information.