Dragon Baby and Riding the Dragon: Changes in an Archetypal Image

In the Western world, the archetypal image of the dragon has historically been considered a destructive mythic creature that requires slaying, and, even worse, the incarnation of dark and purely evil forces. Fighting the huge destructive power of the dragon as a threat to human order and to human consciousness has been a predominant storyline for many centuries with only rare exceptions such as Saint Margaret’s taming of the dragon.

Near the beginning of the 20th century, new storylines emerged in the Western world containing friendly or harmless dragons. Since then, especially during the last sixty years an increasing number of stories have appeared, both in Europe and in America, about helpful dragons or even dragons that can be ridden. Helpful dragons or baby dragons that can be cared for have also been showing up in modern dreams.

The lecture will examine this change in the archetypal image within the context of the development of consciousness in the Western world as well as its relevance to the need for renewal. The dragon in alchemy and Chinese culture will also be discussed and compared.