In many cultures and throughout history there is a creature that has been depicted as a villain or as a saint of the air, sea and land. This creature is known by many names, has been held as a God or a Devil, and in some cultures said to be mortal and in other cultures immortal. The modern world has one name for the creature I speak of and it is “Dragon.”

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary describes a dragon as, “an imaginary animal usually pictured as a huge serpent or lizard with wings and large claws.” Some of the historic names for Dragons are Wyvern, Lung, Lindworm, Knucker, and of course Western Dragon.  Wyverns are described much like a regular dragon but a main difference is that they have on two legs and wings. A Wyvern was depicted by Leonardo Da Vinci in one of his drawings. A Flemish manuscript called “Liber Floridus” (1448) has St. Michael and the Angels fighting Satan in the guise of a Wyvern. This type of dragon was like a bird and did not breathe fire but was said to be the largest of the dragons.

The Lung is the dragon of china. It was said to be able to fly although it is described as not having wings but rather a long serpent like body with scales, four or five toes, a feathery tail and long whisker like feelers around its head. The Lung had the capacity to shape shift into many different guises including human but its favorite from was  that of a large Gold Fish or Carp and this may be why Coy ponds were thought to be spiritual places for enlightenment. It is believed that the Lung taught the Chinese how to write and many legends describe how the Lung shared their wisdom and power with the worthy.

The Lindworm or any of the worm dragons are the most associated with a family curse.  They are described as being long like a snake some having two legs, aquatic by nature and belligerent by temperament. The Lambton Worm legend dated 1420 is said to have occurred in Durham England and is still talked about today in that community. Knuckers are similar to Worms but have four legs and vestigial wings.

The most seen dragon in modern films and literature is the Western Dragon. This dragon has been depicted as good or evil. It has four legs and wings and breathes fire. Historical accounts of this type of Dragon hold many of the modern descriptions except that none of the Western Dragons of olden times were good by nature and most were slain by the hero of the stories. These Dragons varied in type and color by the region in which they dwelled. The Frost Dragon would breathe a freezing wind that would instantly freeze its prey. In some cases the breath contained poisons gas or acid.

If you look hard enough in the art of the ages you will find a dragon or two there looking at you. If you enjoy eating Chinese food like I do look around your favorite restaurant and see how many Dragons you see. I was born in the year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac and have been told by a Beijing herbalist that I have a Dragon looking out for me. I know that to many people that belief in anything which cannot be proven is just fiction. I have a belief in Dragons, not in the way they were depicted in Western Literature but more in the way of the East. A Dragon to me is a dweller of a realm that a very few of us will ever see again due to our lack of awe at the beauty and mystery of the world. They may be spiritual guides and keepers of the knowledge that we with our science have lost the right to acquire.

I like to believe in my Dragon and that he helps to guide me sometimes and dwells within me ready to lend his courage and wisdom to me in my time of need. Yes - I know that with the balance in all things there must be Dragons that are bad and some have been slain by the heroes of old. If you walk this earth as I walk it, you will see beings much more scary than any Dragon of history with more devastating weapons than fire. I will keep the flame of the Dragon as a light to see in to the darkness and I will remember that there are always more than one side to every coin and every situation. I will always keep the treasure of my heart close and guard it well keeping true to my own heart.

Last of all, if I find myself in an evil Dragon’s territory I will remember that I might taste mighty good with ketchup to him!