D IS FOR DEMOCRACY AND DRAGONS
In China this is the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, in particular the Wood Dragon. I love dragons. They capture the fierce spirit we can tap into this year as we defend democracy. Here's more about dragons.
For me the dragon energy is within us. It is fierce and fiery and goes where it is needed to make things right. I looked up what others said about dragons. One said, “Western dragons are depicted as dangerous creatures and symbols of evil (usually), while Chinese dragons, by contrast, are believed to be friendly, auspicious, and lucky (usually) — symbols of great power, good fortune, wisdom and health.”
Another source said, “Dragons in Chinese culture symbolize great power, good luck and strength. They represent power and authority, particularly control over typhoons, water, rainfall and floods. Emperors were assumed to have descended from the dragons. That is why, out of the twelve zodiac signs, the Dragon is the most popular one.” Dragons are often associated with challenges and obstacles, but they're also known for overcoming them.
A Tibetan source says, “Dragons are revered as powerful protectors of the Dharma, a positive icon bringing change, energy, wealth and creativity.” The Dharma means different things to different cultures. In the simplest terms I think of the Dharma as right living. “The concept behind Dharma is anything that upholds or sustains a positive order.”
When I was in college I made a large sculpture of a dragon using copper, brass and tin. A while back my husband and I lived in a small village called Galisteo in the Galisteo Basin in northern New Mexico. A sloped ridge several miles long rimmed the basin. Jagged rock formations ran along the top of that ridge and we thought of it as a dragon. It felt like this natural dragon was guarding and protecting us.
May we be full of good dragon energy in the coming year.
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