The
dragon is probably the most universal of all mythical creatures. It is
most
frequently described as a great flying reptile, a ferocious and
untamed (but
not necessarily evil) beast which embodies in many cultures the
elemental forces
of chaos and cosmic order.
Dwelling
in the
dark caverns of the earth, with lungs of fire, wings of a bird and
scales of
a fish, the dragon epitomizes the four elements of the ancient world,
unifying
them into a single presence that can inspire the imagination and haunt
our dreams.
The dragon carries opposite meanings representing the paradox at the
heart of
our being - the mutual dependence of light and dark, creation and
destruction,
male and female. But more than any other symbol, the dragon also
embodies the
unifying force underlying these opposites. In itself it is neither
good or bad,
but symbolizes the primal energy upholding the material world, which
can be
turned to either good or evil purposes.
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