Celtic Dragons and Serpents: Symbols of Earth Energies
Dragons and serpents of Celtic Religion symbolized Earth energies, potent forces of the land, which polarized into Positive and Negative roles. The mythical beast usually is represented as a huge,winged, fire-breathing reptile. For centuries the dragon has been prominent in the folklore of many peoples; thus, tis physical characteristics vary greatly and include combinations of numerous animals. The dragon has often been associated with evil.
In many legends a dragon had the ablilty to wreak havoc upon the land and therefore had to be either placated with a human sacrifice, or killed; it was also often the guardian of a treasure or a maiden. The highest achievement of
a hero in medieval legend was the slaying of the dragon, as in the story of St. George. King Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon (dragon's head), also killed a dragon. The giant red dragon of the Apocalypse (rev.12) gave rise to the use of the beast as smybolic of Satan in Christian art and literature. In ancient China, the dragon was associated with fertility and prosperity. Many of the beliefs connected with the dragon are echoed in snake worship.
In esoteric terms, the Red Dragon, Ddraig Goch, represents the Sovereignty of England and is the totem beast of the greatest line of Kings, The
Pen-Dragons. The Red Dragon (dragon is ddraig in Welsh) is derived from the Great Red Serpent that once represented the Old Welsh God, Dewi, who later metamorphosed into Wales mythical patron saint, David.
There is a legend that Merlin, Druid Wizard and later resident Wiseman of King Arthur's court, was called to help King Vortigern. He was attempting to build a temple (Stonghenge) on Salisbury Plain, but the structure kept falling
down. Merlin saw that the problem was that a Red and White Dragon were fighting in a mystical pool beneath the temple's foundations. Stonehenge, a Megalithic Stone Circle dating from the 3rd Millennium, B.C.E., is built on a
powerful convergence of earth energy lines (Ley Lines), represented by the two Dragons. Merlin prophesied that Vortigern, the Red Dragon, would be slain by Uther Pendragon, The White Dragon, and so it happened.
