Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Dragon Magick"

Meeting Your Dragon The first thing one should do is create an atmosphere that will attract dragons. Pictures and statuary will help. The next thing is to take a good look at yourself and decide if you are ready. Do you think you have what it takes to work with dragons? They are not a force to be controlled or manipulated. They are creatures far older and wiser than us, and if you try to pull one over them, they are not going to be happy. It is for a serious person, who wants to cultivate a friendship and partnership, not someone who just wants power. Working with dragons requires that you earn their trust and friendship by showing that you are worthy of it. This doesn't mean you must be perfect. Dragons realize that humans aren't perfect, nor is the world we live in. but, if you put some effort into it, and do what you can, you will find some great friends. How some people greet them is by lighting a bit of sandalwood incense, because sandalwood is incense for all dragons, as is dragon's blood. Then, close your eyes and either think or say my message of friendship to the dragons. Generally it starts off "I call to the dragons of this plane and others with this offering of incense, to extend my hand of friendship and companionship." Then, say whatever you think is appropriate. There are other ways to, like contacting them in astral travel or meditation, or there are rituals as well. Try not to make promises you can't keep. Make your intentions very clear, that you wish for friendship and a partnership in magick, and you will become aware of their presence. Do this a few times; I think about five, before you may feel some presence in your room, or where you do the ritual. The dragons are probably going to check you out first, before they make any contact. Try to set up dates where you can meet the dragons without being disturbed. Do the ritual whenever you can. Blessed be and the best of luck to you. Remember, be a friend, and you'll get a friend. Calling Your Dragon This is for calling a dragon's presence, but in a way that they project their presence so strongly that you know that they are there. When you use this call, treat the dragons that appear with respect. Take the time to get to know them before you ask for their help. Although most dragons are beneficial and helpful, their temperaments are very sensitive, so treat them with respect. Perform during bright noon or the waxing moon for increasing magick, with the full moon being the strongest; during evening hours or the waning moon for decreasing magick, with the new moon being the strongest. Use in conjunction with any ritual. You will need your pentacle disk, dragon pentacle, water chalice with a little fresh water in it, dish of salt, wine chalice, black (left) and white (right) altar candles, sword, wand, incense burner, appropriate incense; dragon's blood and mugwort, gong or bell, staff. Paper and pen to write down any messages. Use the basic dragon ritual up to the point where you can insert spell workings. Hold the sword in your power hand, the staff in the other. Stand facing the altar and tap the staff three times on the floor while holding the sword pointed at the dragon pentacle. Chant in tones that vibrate through your body: "Come Draconis! By your all-consuming breath, I summon you. (Tap staff three times) By your piercing gaze, I summon you. (Tap staff three times) By your mighty strength, I summon you. (Tap staff three times) By your wisdom ancient and cunning, I summon you. (Tap staff three times) By your magick deep and old, I summon you. (Tap staff three times) Come, Draconis, to my call!" You will feel power coming at you from all sides. Listen for any messages they may give you. You may feel their presence by a sudden temperature change, prickly feelings, or other things. Casting A Dragon Circle Have everything you need inside the working area prior to the casting. Make preparations so you will not be disturbed. If you are performing decreasing magick, any place that instructs you to use a clockwise motion, use a counter-clockwise motion instead. Set the altar center facing east. Make certain that you WILL NOT be disturbed once the circle is cast. Instrumental music can be used to set the mood and mask background noises. Begin the ritual by going to the east. With your sword in your power hand (the one you write with), "draw" your magickal circle on the ground around your ritual area. Do this by pointing the sword at the floor and seeing great flames shoot out of it. Move clockwise around the circle with this flame; end by overlapping it in the east. While drawing the circle, say: "By Dragon Power, this circle is sealed." Return to the altar. Point the sword at the dragon pentacle (a pentacle with a dragon design on or around it) and say: “Dragons of Spirit, highest of dragons and most powerful, bless this altar with your fire. Let us be one in magick, O dragons great and wise." Set the water chalice on the pentacle. With the wand in your power hand, circle the chalice three times clockwise with the wand and say: “Air, Fire, Earth, bring power forth. Water of land and sea, purified be!" Hold the chalice high, say: “Draconis! Draconis! Draconis!" Sprinkle the water lightly around the circled area, beginning and ending in the east. Set the dish of salt on the pentacle. Circle it three times clockwise with the wand and say: “Water, Air, Fire, hear my desire. Salt of earth and sea, purified be!" Sprinkle a few grains of salt to each corner of the altar. Circle the incense burner three times clockwise with the wand. Say: “Fire of dragons, Fire of Earth, you are purified, bring power forth!" Circle the incense and herbs three times clockwise with the wand and say: "Incense magickal, incense bold, awake the dragons, as of old. I call you purified!" Put a small amount of incense onto the burning coals. Lift the burner by the chains and touch it lightly to the pentacle. Lift it high over the altar and say: "Draconis! Draconis! Draconis!" Then carry it clockwise around the circle, beginning and ending in the east. Return it to the altar. Kneel before the altar with the sword in both hands. Mentally project your interest and love of dragons as strongly as you can. Continue this for several minutes. Then rise and point the sword at the dragon pentacle and say: “Behold, all dragons and rulers of dragons, I am (magickal name), a magician who seeks dragon magick. With (name of sword) in my hand, I enter the realms of the dragons, not for physical battle, but for knowledge and power. I greet you, O dragons ancient and wise, and await your blessings and guidance." Continue holding the sword outstretched until you feel the blessings of the dragons. When the flowing power of the blessing has lessened, lower the sword. Still holding the sword in your power hand, take the dragon pentacle and go to the east. Point the sword at the eastern position and hold up the dragon pentacle facing outward. Draw an invoking pentagram with the sword. (An invoking pentagram is a star drawn by starting at the top of the star, and going in a counter-clockwise motion to draw it by starting at the top and going down to the left first, then continue drawing as normal.) Say: "From Sairys (sair'-iss), ruler of the eastern dragons fair, comes now the wondrous power of Air." Feel the power of Air entering your body. When the flow stops, go to the South. Hold up the dragon pentacle again. Draw an invoking pentagram with the sword and say: “From Fafnir (faf'-near), ruler of dragons of the south, comes cleansing Fire from dragon mouth." Feel the power of Fire entering your body. Go to the west. Hold the pentacle up and draw the invoking pentagram with the sword. Say: “From Naelyan (nail'-yon), ruler of dragons of the west, comes the power of Water, three times blest." Draw into yourself the power of Water. Go to the North. Hold up the pentacle and draw the pentagram, then say: “From Grael (grail), ruler of dragons of the north, the power of Earth does now come forth." Draw into yourself the power of Earth. Return to the altar. Lay aside the sword and dragon pentacle. Add the appropriate herbal incense to the burner. At this point in the ritual, insert the proper chants and workings for the particular spell working or meditation you are working. This is also a good time to ask the dragons for any advice they might have for you. Listen and write down all that you hear. When finished with the spell working, tap the staff three times and chant: “I thank you, dragons old and wise, of Earth and Fire, Water, Skies, for sharing wisdom here with me. As we will, so shall it be." Always approach dragons as equals, not as a force to be ordered or conquered. Set the wine chalice on the pentacle. Circle it three times clockwise with the wand and say: "Cup of power, cup of might, dragon magick, be here this night." Drink the wine (or apple juice or cider), saving some to be poured outside for the dragons later, or, if not possible, leave it on the altar for at least an hour. Now is an excellent time to chat with dragons and use free-form dancing. Invite the dragons to share in the raised energy and your joy in being a magick user. This is an opportunity for close friendships to be forged. To close the ritual, take the sword in your power hand and go to the east. Draw a banishing pentagram with the sword. (Same as an invoking pentagram, except you start at the top and go downwards to the right side of the star). Say: "Go in peace, dragons of the east. And return again in the ritual hour." Go to the south and draw the pentagram, then say: “Go in peace, dragons of the south. And return again in the ritual hour." Go to the west and draw the pentagram. Say: “Go in peace, dragons of the west. And return again in the ritual hour." Go to the North, draw the pentagram, and say: "Go in peace, dragons of the north. And return again in the ritual hour." Return to the altar. Raise both arms; say: "Farewell to you, O dragons fair, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Together we make magick well by power deep and dragon spell. In peace go now. Return once more to teach me magick and ancient lore. Draconis! Draconis! Draconis!" Cut the circle with a backwards sweep of the sword across the boundary line. Extinguish the altar candles. Clear the altar of all tools.