St David’s day is upon us and so our minds quite rightly are filled with images of leeks and daffodils and more importantly with Dragons.

The mystical and majestic image of a beautiful dragon, a greater site you could ever imagine. I am sure that all our dragons look different to each of us, even if they do share some similarities with each other. I am also sure that our dragons symbolise different things to each and every one of us.

Dragons can represent the primal forces in nature, the elements and the universe itself, they are known to see the bigger picture in things and to see danger long before it arrives. Dragons can be both creators and destroyers of life, and will breathe out fire, ice or poison depending on any particular myth.

In the east, Dragons are known for their longevity and wisdom, and are normally associated with water and will often be shown as water serpents. Vedic tradition however depicts the opposite of this and will associate Dragons with drought or lack of water.

In the 9th century Historia Brittonvm, Nennius says that the ancient Britons used a Red Dragon as their symbol when going to war when fighting the Anglo-Saxens. For me this is my Red Dragon, the Dragon I see whenever I think of dragons, the Red Dragon that protected our shores against the Anglo-Saxens with their Dragon of White. Harold Godwinson’s saxon army held a banner with a White Dragon although the Dragon standard depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry when fighting the Normans definitely looks red.

So the Dragon can come in many shapes, sizes and colours, it can represent many things to many men. But one thing is for sure your Dragon is your Dragon, may it protect you always and give you strength on your journey.

Mantrik