An intriguing dragon quote floating through the Internet proclaims that, according to Chinese ancients,
If you breathe life and energy into your spiritual dragon, or your greater self, you create change that breathes life and energy into all, allowing you to ride the dragon’s expansive spirit to a zenith of endless possibilities.
"If you ignore the dragon, warns a Chinese proverb, "it will eat you. If you try to confront the dragon, it will overpower you." But, continues the proverb, "If you ride the dragon, you will take advantage of its might and power."
How does one "ride the dragon?" What characteristics of the dragon's "expansive spirit" are suitable to foster in your greater self?
In the Chinese view, dragons are benevolent creatures, deeply revered and intrinsically linked with the natural world, especially the elemental forces of water, rain, and storms. They majestically embody power, strength, knowledge, wisdom, and the spirit of transformation, and they use these qualities to bring good fortune, prosperity, and abundance to people.
Among Chinese people, a wish for a child's success can be conveyed with the phrase, "Hoping that your son will become a dragon." Even three thousand years ago, when the great Chinese sage Confucius, then a young man, met Lao-Tze, the founder of Taoism, he exclaimed in awe, "Today I have seen the Dragon."
To become "a dragon among men" in the Chinese view, is to become a person of superlative talent and unmatched achievement. The dragon's power is used for benevolent purposes, not in pursuit of malevolent or even merely unkind ends.
Breathing life and energy into one's spiritual dragon clearly is no small effort, and it's helpful to keep in mind another Chinese proverb: "The dragon's flight is guided by the currents of patience." "Do not," advises another adage, chase the dragon's tail; walk beside it and learn its dance."
"In the dance of dragons," it is said, "wisdom and strength move as one."
At Dancing Brush Designs, we feature several prints of Chinese dragons by a master of the Chinese brush, Jim Hardesty (He Lishan), who painted many Chinese dragons during his career to inspire people to achieve strength in pursuing noble aims. These prints are museum-quality fine-art giclée (zhee-clay) reproductions of ink-and-watercolor works on fine archival paper. Giclée prints "stand apart with their extremely high level of quality, longevity, and value."
We would be pleased if you would visit our site and take pleasure in some truly beautiful works of Chinese art.
Sources: China Daily, FluentU, Chineasy, Kudry, Asian Language School, History Skills, DragonsInn, Gnosis Chocolate