Dragon Meaning and Symbolism

Having a Dragon as Your Spirit/Totem Animal

Having a dragon as your spirit guide means you are fierce and confident in everything you do.

You never hesitate to speak the truth and may turn dangerous for those who are not in your good books.

You are passionate, with an innate wisdom that enables you to think, speak and act readily.

You do not waste your energy in inconsequential things and thrive to triumph under all circumstances.

You like going with the tide and also nourish a humorous soul.

What Does it Mean When You Dream of Dragons

There are different analyses of dragon dreams, ranging from reflecting your personality to being a comment upon some occurrence in your life, or an indication towards some upcoming event.

A fire-breathing dragon	Points either at your uncontrollable anger or your knowledge about rejuvenation and rebirth
Fighting or killing a dragon	You have overcome your shyness, or have managed to keep your anger in check
Dragon attacking you	Warning for you to be prepared to face forthcoming troubles
A flying dragon	Symbolizes having no power over one’s problems
Riding a dragon	Success is coming your way
A sleeping dragon	Soon you will learn things about yourself you didn’t know of before
A vacant dragon’s den	You will be facing a lot of obstacles in order to achieve your goals
A den with the dragon inside	You will overcome all obstacles to reach your goals
Being scared by a dragon’s sudden appearance	Warning of some coming domestic issue
A snake turning into a dragon	Someone close to you will be instrumental for you to achieve true success

Dream Interpretations for Different Colored Dragons

Green	Your hard-working nature
Red	Sexuality and intimacy
Blue	Your intellect and wisdom
Black	Your uncontrollable anger, or some impending danger
White	Spiritual rebirth
Golden/bright yellow/brown	Wealth, power, and prosperity
Pale yellow	Cowardice and envy

Spiritual Symbolism of Dragons in Different Cultures

The most prominent difference between the symbolism of dragons in the Eastern and Western cultures is that in Asian countries the mythical animal is seen as a benevolent creature, while in the European countries it is portrayed as evil and malevolent.

Chinese

According to the ancient Chinese, a dragon stands for energy, good luck, heroism, nobility, courage, vitality, and happiness. A jade dragon signifies happiness, fertility, and immortality. In feng shui, a dragon and tiger symbolizes the opposing energies of yin (female) and yang (male), and together help to achieve the balance of power. Chinese folklore claims that dragons emerged from under the earth’s surface during the second month of the Chinese calendar, to shower the gift of rain and thunder.

Japanese

The mythical Japanese dragon Ryu, commonly portrayed with three claws is thought to be the male counterpart of a Phoenix, representing the perfect balance needed for a happy marriage. Ryu also stands as a symbol of wealth, and power, often associated with the Gods of rain and thunder.

Celtic

A dragon is believed to have specific attributes on the basis of the element it is associated with, like a fire dragon symbolizes creativity, reasoning powers, and leadership, while a water dragon stands for depth and passion. An earth dragon embodies power and riches, and an air dragon represents insight and inspiration

Greeks and European

According to Greek mythology, dragons were often the guardians of some great treasure, with stories of dragon-slaying heroes like Apollo, Cadmus, and Perseus still being widely known. In general, European folklore looked upon dragons as symbols of ferocity and wickedness.

Since dragon stands for action, it is also one of the basic symbols in alchemy, representing making something happen.