The Alchemical Dragon:
Slaying, Taming, and Ridging the Dragon
Entering the Cave and Encountering the Dragon
- Entering the dark cave of fears
- moving within it in the total dark to find the dragon waiting within it
- Having the courage to walk into this cave of fear and darkness - to descend deep within oneself and face one’s inner dragon - shadow ego.
- Facing the dragon, and slaying it.
- Taming it, standing upon it, to show that you have dominion over it now. so that it becomes your ally and the dragon energy serves you and assists you
- The Dragon power is your primordial energy. It is reptilian, it flies, It breathes fire, you can ride upon it. It is huge and powerful. A magical creature
- The dragon is connected to the kundalini energy(?) The coiled serpent biting its own tail, the hidden potential within you. arousing the Dragon.
"In C. G. Jung Speaking,Jung describes the alchemical process as “difficult and strewn with obstacles; the alchemical opus is dangerous. Right at the beginning you meet the ‘dragon,’ the chthonic spirit, the ‘devil’ or, as the alchemists called it, the ‘blackness,’ the nigredo, and this encounter produces suffering. He goes on to say that in “psychological terms, the soul finds itself in the throes of melancholy locked in a struggle with the ‘shadow.’”
“The Winged Serpent”
Alchemical Texts
"A savage Dragon lives in the forest, Most venomous he is, yet lacking nothing: When he sees the rays of the Sun and its bright fire, He scatters abroad his poison, And flies upward so fiercely That no living creature can stand before him, Nor is even the Basilisk equal to him. He who hath skill to slay him, wisely Hath escaped from all dangers. Yet all venom, and colours, are multiplied In the hour of his death. His venom becomes the great Medicine. He quickly consumes his venom, For he devours his poisonous tail. All this is performed on his own body, From which flows forth glorious Balm, With all its miraculous virtues. Hereat all the Sages do loudly rejoice." — Book Of Lambspring, by Nicholas Barnaud Delphinas (Musaeum Hermeticum Reformatum et Amplificatum, c. 1678)
"I am the dragon, venomous, present everywhere, and to be obtained at the smallest price. Upon that which rests above me do I rely, and whoever investigates me within myself shall discover the truth. My water and fire destroy, and by compounding them you will extract from my body the green and the red lion. If you do not know me precisely, you will abuse my fire with your five senses. A scorching venom emerges from my nostrils, which has brought ruin to many. Therefore, carefully separate the coarse from the subtle, and you will rejoice in extreme wealth. I generously bestow upon you the riches of the heavens and the earth, equally for men and women. But the mysteries of my soul must be handled courageously and magnanimously. If you desire to operate in this work, which involves many labors and much wealth, you must subject yourself to the fire of my soul. I am the egg of nature, known to the wise by the sun alone, who have generated from me the pious and modest microcosm. It is prepared by the divine will of the Supreme God, yet granted to very few, even though many fruitlessly desire it. It has been given that the poor may be enriched by my treasure, but let them not fix their souls on perishable gold. I am called Mercury by the philosophers, my spouse is gold (the Philosophical Stone). I am the ancient dragon, present everywhere on the earth, father, mother, youth, and elder. I am the strongest and most subtle, visible and invisible, hard and soft, mortal and rejuvenating. I descend to the earth and ascend to the heavens, the highest and the lowest, the heaviest and the lightest. In the natural order, I am often found in color, number, weight, and measure, containing natural light, both obscure and luminous. Emerging from the earth, I am known and am as though nothing at all, and yet I bring forth all colors to shine, and metals are perfected through the rays of the sun: the solar carbuncle, the most noble earthly matter, by which copper, iron, tin, and lead are transmuted into gold." — Azoth, sive aureliae occcultae philosophorum, c. 1613 by Basil Valentine
“The dragon, a mythological beast, appears frequently in alchemical manuscripts generally, the dragon is a symbol for philosophical mercury, or the Matter that needs to be transformed in the Great Work. In other words, it is another symbol for your self, or you inner world. because the dragon is an animal, it can also be taken for the lower, animalistic nature of man, furthermore because the dragon is sometimes taken to represent the Earth, that is the body. The dragon needs to be killed, and then signifies the stage of putrefaction. that is, coming into contact with your lower nature and transforming it. The image of the dragon was widely used by alchemist, probably because it represented a wild, untamed animal, and thus comparable with the untamed emotions of a normal person.”
- The Secret of Hermetic Alchemy, by Dirk Gillabel
“In a few tales where the dragon is conquered and made tame, he is penetrated by a lance with an iron point. Iron was always regarded a special metal, as it was found in meteorites. As the metal associated with Mars, iron has an active, destructive force. The lance, as a phallic symbol, is the alchemical ‘secret fire’. The penetration of ‘the body’ (here the dragon) with a lance is the penetration of physical matter with the alchemical fire. In the same manner the Greek god of the sun, Apollo, penetrated the Python of Delphi, with arrows, and let the Python rot away next to the temple. Since then this place is called Pytho (putrefaction). Putrefaction is the first phase of the great Work.”
- Dirk Gillabel, c. 1988
The dead dragon undergoes a transmutation. The dead dragon is not an end, but the beginning of the Great Work. From the dead dragon, vapors and volatile substances arise, often seen in alchemical images. In other terms, the earth is partly being transformed into water, it ascends as vapor.
- Dirk Gillabel, c. 1988
Some sources say that in the head of the dragon is a stone, a clear reference to the rough stone, or ‘prima materia’ (first matter). Killing the dragon also refers to a cosmic happening. It is the penetration of the ‘prima materia’ as primal ocean, or primal chaos by the secret fire or the divine spirit. The fiery serpent emanated fire and light into the primal waters. When the dragon (or serpent, as the cat of Ra the sun god cut off the head of the serpent Apophis), is killed, the original chaos ceased and the process of cosmic evolution started. In Greek mythology the hydra of Lerna was also a kind of dragon with similar symbolism. Hercules killed the hydra in the second of his twelve works. The hydra of Lerna lived in a swamp, the residence of primal instincts, passions, lusts, desires. Anyone who gets involved with these emotions gets into a swamp in which he drowns. Therefore Hercules shot fiery arrows (the alchemical fire) to get her out of her hiding place. First he cut off the hydra’s heads, but they grew back. A energetic approach is not the right way. Then his nephew Joales comes to rescue. He starts to singe the cuts with flaming tree trunks, so new heads cannot be formed. It is a systematically, patient, reflective and profound attitude that is required.
- Dirk Gillabel, c. 1988
The Mythical Dragon
the hero must enter the cave, confront the dragon, and emerge transformed, carrying the boon (the treasure or wisdom) back to the world.
The cave represents the subconscious and the shadow self, where the dragon of fear resides. To slay the dragon is to conquer your deepest fears and limitations, proving your worth as the Hero. Unless you slay the dragon, it will continue to haunt and terrorize the kingdom and the Hero remains enslaved by his fear and his enslavement to his own inner dragon tyrant.
Entering the dark cave of fears
Enter the dark cave and face the Dragon.
The dark cave is the primordial fear of unknown, of being lost, of being swallowed up….
The Dragon is the external monster that sits on our treasure.
Reptilian, clever, The Dragon is the symbol of the ego, the lower self
Slaying the dragon is vanquishing the monster within you
Walking deeper into the darkness
Facing the Dragon
The Symbolism of the Dragon
The archetypal medieval high fantasy dragon
often not necessarily evil. But a force of nature Amoral rather than immoral
Takes up residence somewhere, claims it as their own.
Hoards gold
Guards a sacred river, cave, sacred place
Many die trying to attain glory by slaying it
For the true Knight, it can be slayed and tamed and the kingdom is liberated from its tyranny
the Lower Nature
embodies the primal, untamed aspects of human nature—desires, instincts, and impulses that, left unchecked, can lead to chaos or destruction.
The Dragon as the Ego
Greed for gold Sexual lust Wanting to be ruler
1st chakra - security 2nd - sex 3rd - power
To tame the dragon is to balance the lower three chakras
Trial & Triumph
trial and a triumph—a symbol of the forces that challenge us to rise, and the rewards that await those who persevere.
Encountering the Dragon
To know the Dragon is to know oneself,
Prima Materia
The raw material, the unrefined and chaotic substance
The unrefined state of one’s own being and consciousness
The Primordial Fire of Nature
The dragon’s fire is the alchemical spark that transforms base matter into gold. The Fire Salamander elemental creature
the transformative fire that fuels the Great Work
In its belly lies the secret fire, a volatile force that dissolves the old to birth the new. It is said: “He who would transmute lead into gold must first face the Dragon in its lair.”
The connection with Goetia, Daemons, etc..
It seems to be a very similar idea - that one must go deep within to the depths of the underworld to encounter these ancient primordial and powerful Daemon energies within you and bring them under control
The Power to Destroy or to Create & Forge
containing both the poison and the remedy (venenum et medicina).
Left uncontrolled, its venomous breath represents the destructive forces of unchecked passion and ignorance. Yet, harnessed and transmuted, it becomes the very elixir of life—the fixed volatile, the Stone.
untamed primal forces—the unrefined, chaotic energies of the cosmos and the self.
The Dragon is the Shadow
Found in the cave The grotesque monstrous aspect of you That which we repress, ignore, deny - we project it out as an “other”
For some people, Donald Trump is their dragon …
And most people don’t actually want to slay the dragon, because it gives them something to fear and hate and project all the evil of the world onto. They will make small petty attacks at it, but never actually go to its lair, never actually face it, never actually intend to slay it.
In the cave - in the earth, the underworld, the unconscious deeps
When the dragon leaves his cave he devours virgins. Our inner dragon murders our innocence, our virgin consciousness
“The mythological dragon has the power to enchant, to hypnotize with his voice the brave knight who dared to challenge him. The dragon can also impose riddles in which the knight gets lost.”
The Green Dragon
the acidic Mercury or the volatile aspect of the prima materia, dissolving impurities to reveal its essence.
When the alchemists talk about the Green Dragon then they are talking about the universal spirit that is present in everything, it is not the same as the dragon of the underworld.
- Dirk Gillabel, c. 1988
Guardianship and Trial
Like the dragons of myth guarding treasures or sacred places, the alchemical dragon guards the Philosopher’s Stone. It challenges the alchemist to overcome their fears, ignorance, and base instincts.
The Dweller on the Threshold The Monster that guards the treasure
. The Inner Battle
the alchemist’s internal struggles, the confrontation with the shadow or unrefined aspects of the psyche.
The Dragon The stilling of the heart is the true alchemy which turns mercury into silver.
- Inayat Khan
Mastery of Fire
Esoteric teachings say the dragon must be slain and tamed through fire,
the adversary is also the teacher.
The Power of Destruction & Creation
both destroyer and redeemer, the dragon embodies the principle of Solve et Coagula (Dissolve and Coagulate):
- Devourer: The dragon dissolves the old, breaking down matter (or the self) into its fundamental components.
- Creator: The dragon also brings about rebirth, transmuting the dissolved elements into a higher, purified form.
Protector & Destroyer/Devourer
the force that breaks down the fixed into the volatile, dissolving matter into its essential components. The Green Dragon, for instance, symbolizes the acidic Mercury that consumes the body of Sol, reducing it to its pure essence.
As the Protector – The Dragon guards the treasures of Nature, the hidden light of the Philosophers’ Stone, much like the dragons of legend guarding hoards of gold. Only through patience, courage, and wisdom can the adept pass this guardian.
Slaying The Dragon
Taming The Dragon
You slay it, but what you really do is slay the false version of it so that the whole and healthy version can arise.
The Alchemist Standing On The Dragon
In alchemical imagery, the alchemist standing on the dragon signifies mastery over these base instincts. This is not about suppressing the lower nature but transforming and integrating it, turning its raw, chaotic energy into a refined and purposeful force. dominion over the lower self
In Nigredo, one must descend within and face the dragon. Perhaps in Albedo is the work of slaying the dragon done Citrinitas - taming and harnessing Rubbed - fully joining
The Dragon Power
Arousing The Dragon: The Serpentine Kundalini Energy
The Story of Merlin and the Dragons
Taoist, Chinese Dragons
Dragons in Alchemical Lore
The Hesperian Dragon
In the excerpt from The Hermetic Arcanum, the Hesperian Dragon guards the Philosophers’ Garden, where the fountain of clear water (wisdom and life) flows. This dragon must be confronted, fed, and transformed:
- Drinking Thrice Seven Times: This act symbolizes the repeated purification and harmonization of the elements within the alchemical process.
- Shedding Garments: The dragon’s transformation reflects the alchemist’s own spiritual and material purification.
- ”The entrance of the Philosophers’ garden is kept by the Hesperian Dragon, which, being put aside, reveals a fountain of the clearest water proceeding from a sevenfold spring. This fountain flows forth on every side of the garden’s entrance. Within this sacred space, make the Dragon drink thrice the magical number of seven, until, having drunk, he puts off his hideous garments. Then, may the divine powers of light-bringing Venus and horned Diana be propitious unto thee. *Three kinds of most beautiful flowers are to be sought and may be found in this Garden of the Wise: Damask-coloured Violets, the milk-white Lily, and the purple and immortal flower of love, the Amaranth. Not far from the fountain at the entrance, fresh violets will first greet thee. These violets, watered by streams from the great golden river, take on the most delicate colour of the dark sapphire. At this point, Sol will give thee a sign. Thou shalt not sever such precious flowers from their roots until thou makest the Stone. For when freshly cropped, they contain more juice and tincture. Carefully pluck them with a gentle and discreet hand. If the Fates do not frown, this will follow easily. One white flower being plucked, the golden one will not be wanting. Let the Lily and the Amaranth follow with still greater care and longer labour. Philosophers have their sea as well, wherein small fishes, plump and shining with silver scales, are generated. He who entangles and captures them with a fine and small net shall be regarded as a most expert fisherman. *The Philosophers’ Stone is said to be found in the oldest mountains and flows from everlasting brooks. Those mountains are of silver, and the brooks are even of gold. From these, gold, silver, and all the treasures of kings are produced. *Whoever wishes to obtain the Philosophers’ Stone must resolve to undertake a long pilgrimage. It is necessary to journey to both the Indies, so as to gather the most precious gems and the purest gold from those distant lands. *Philosophers extract their Stone out of seven stones, the two chief among them being of diverse natures and efficacies. One infuses invisible Sulphur, the other spiritual Mercury. The former induces heat and dryness; the latter, cold and moisture. By their combined influence, the strength of the elements is multiplied within the Stone. The first stone is found on the Eastern coast, while the second is found in the Western. Both possess the power of colouring and multiplying, and unless the Stone takes its first tincture from them, it will neither colour nor multiply." — The Hermetic Arcanum, c. 1623
Red vs Green Dragon
- The Red Dragon (Sulfur) vs. the Green Dragon (Mercury): A struggle between fiery and watery principles, symbolizing the reconciliation of opposites.
Red Dragon: Represents Sulfur, the fiery principle of passion, willpower, and transformation.
- Green Dragon: Represents Mercury, the volatile, fluid, and dissolving principle.
- Their battle and eventual reconciliation embody the alchemical coniunctio, the sacred marriage of opposites that produces the Philosopher’s Stone.
The Fight of the Red and Green Dragons represents the struggle between Sulfur and Mercury, the fiery and watery principles. Their reconciliation brings forth the purified Salt, the foundation of all matter.
Winged vs. Wingless
- The Winged Dragon vs. the Wingless Dragon: The volatile vs. the fixed aspects of the alchemical process. Their union signifies the culmination of the opus.
The Winged and Wingless Dragons
- The Winged Dragon signifies the volatile forces that rise and dissipate, while the Wingless Dragon represents stability and fixation.
- Their union symbolizes the perfect balance of volatility and stability, a central goal in alchemy.
Dragon Pathworking
Visualize the dragon as the embodiment of your unrefined potential. In meditation:
Ritual
Ritual Work with the Dragon 4. Create a ritual where you symbolically confront and feed the dragon: * Prepare a symbolic “drink” for the dragon (e.g., consecrated water or wine) and offer it as part of the transformative process. * Use fire (candles or a cauldron) to represent the dragon’s internal flame, which will be tamed and harnessed.
Add Dragon statue or figurine to my altar to remind me of the inner power that I gain by slaying and taming the dragon within me
invoke the dragon as a guardian and guide
Resources
The Dragon in Alchemical Lore https://www.alchemywebsite.com/emb\\_dragon.html