Do You Believe in Dragons?

[Dria El]

Do You Believe in Dragons?

COPIED FROM: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Posted: Friday, August 4, 2000 | 7:02 a.m.

George Johnson On Science :

This is how a scientist named George came to believe in dragons
By George Johnson

I have often wondered why my parents named me after a dragonslayer.

They had selected the family name Sparhawk for me, but when I was born they examined me carefully and instead pronounced "George." A slender, shy boy, I would have loved to have been called "Hawk." Instead, they named me after a saint famous for killing a dragon.

Find more information: here (http://txtwriter.com/Onscience/Articles/dragon.html)

George Johnson is a biology professor at Washington University. onscience@txtwriter.com - http://txtwriter.com

[Sequoia]

Kewl. :D

[slvr_phoenix]

That's an interesting take on dragons. I always thought that they were just (for the most part) sleeping, awaiting the coming of some event to wake them up.

The methane part was kind of cute. I thought it interesting though that a biology teacher didn't think about how many insects are known to carry chemicals in glands and can combine those chemicals to produce things like scents and lights. If an insect can do that, why can't an animal do something similar to create fire, or a poisonous breath, or a breath that causes things to freeze like some fire-extinguishers. If insects can be such masters of chemistry, why couldn't an animal? And if an animal could do this, then it wouldn't need the oppressive weight needed for a methane flame to have a 'breath' defense.

Of course, magick is still always a more entertaining answer. :) But science doesn't rule out the possability of their existence.

[gunner]

the thing that has always interested and puzzled me about dragons is that almost every culture has legends of dragons in some form while the nearest thing we know of to "dragons", the dinosaurs went pretty much extinct 65 million years ago. long before anything like men existed which would just about preclude "racial memory" and no fossils or other remains of dragons that existed within historical times have ever been known to be found. yet the stories are still there and had to begin from something. lots of questions, few answers.

[Danustouch]

Personally...I choose to believe in almost all mythological creatures...until it can be absolutely proven that they do not, and have never existed. Which..will be impossible...so ..for now..I'll just take it all on faith.

Btw...do you know the bible mentions unicorns? I forget where the verse is...but my friend had a poster with the verse on it in college ;)

[Swanspirit]

Do have poisonous bites, that eventually
disable the prey which is usally a deer and allow it to be caught and eaten.
The Indonesians call them "ora"
Dragon facts:
The largest dragon found and confirmed by science was 10' 2.5''. The saliva of an ora contains almost fifty forms of bacteria with no known antidotes. The Komodo dragon is the only animal immune to its own saliva, and for that reason their blood is being studied for antibiotics and antidotes
The teeth of an ora are arranged so that the maximum amount of flesh can be bitten off and swallowed whole.
An ora can run faster than 15 m.p.h.
Oras smaller that 3' are fully capable to climb trees.
Aside from humans, oras are the only animals that willingly control their population (by way of
eating their eggs).
Oras are also cannibals, eating other members of their species.
In ecological disasters [such as a titanic fire] oras have been known to swim to other islands
for safety.
Although not confirmed by science, claims are made that the ora is a good swimmer. Some
Indonesians refer to the ora as a "water crocodile"; some state that the dragon can travel
relatively long distances in water, sometimes diving 12' or more. ( Ihave seen films on TV showing them swimming long distances and they swim well.)
Komodo Dragons, or at least their near relatives, have existed since the Jurassic period.
Not only that there was alarger species that existed prior to the Komodo, but is extinct
In conclusion, the Komodo Dragon is not only the largest reptile in the world, but a very
fascinating one. They are a spectacular living example of the biodiversity of our planet, and
although are in no current danger, should be preserved in their natural form and temperament
for future generations and ecologists to observe.

Love and Light
Swannie

[Sephiroth]

Originally posted by gunner
the thing that has always interested and puzzled me about dragons is that almost every culture has legends of dragons in some form while the nearest thing we know of to "dragons", the dinosaurs went pretty much extinct 65 million years ago. long before anything like men existed which would just about preclude "racial memory" and no fossils or other remains of dragons that existed within historical times have ever been known to be found. yet the stories are still there and had to begin from something. lots of questions, few answers.

me personaly i think dargons are magickal creatures and when they die everything goes without a trace. meaning that i believe they simply vanish bones, magick, heart and all.

i also believe there are 2 types of dragons good dragons and evil/bad dragons.

[random]

Originally posted by Swanspirit
attachment

that's a zoo komodo though...

I have always believed in Dragons... I love them, and am drawing my own for a tatt... Still working on it :) but only because my best friend gave me a necklace with a Dragon on it of which I want forever with me... 'cause its very fragile and eaily bent. its kinda taped to my drawing table right now, or i would scan it. oh well.

who's to say Dragons do/didn't exist? Maybe they have found away to a different world which we do not know of yet, going there in safety from all the slayers. Geez, you never know.

-christy-

[Swanspirit]

Originally posted by gunner
the thing that has always interested and puzzled me about dragons is that almost every culture has legends of dragons in some form while the nearest thing we know of to "dragons", the dinosaurs went pretty much extinct 65 million years ago. long before anything like men existed which would just about preclude "racial memory" and no fossils or other remains of dragons that existed within historical times have ever been known to be found. yet the stories are still there and had to begin from something. lots of questions, few answers.

add this to the boiling cauldron under
Swannies OWN theory......
in ancient times , especiallly Chinese....
there were Warrior cults that were named after Dragons....that as we know in any Mystical and Combat Systems, the person took on the spirit and characteristics of the Being to which he was dedicated , be it "Dragon" "Tiger" etc .... to use a familiar reference. I think that some of the "dragon memories "are memories of previous incarnations as well .....by people who may have truly been a Dragon" in a former life .
Love and light
Swannie

[Myst]

The question "do you believe in dragons" to me is like asking "do you believe in stones".... I work with them, look towards them for protection and guidance, etc. I don't see them yet but one of my best friends does. They aren't exactly on this plane (like fae folk) which is why you don't often see them and why they don't leave remains if/when they die. It's not hard to follow this concept of there being more then one plane of existence, or that other creatures exist on those planes, and that those planes can sometimes come into contact with our own. Think of Samhain or Midsummer as an example - where the "veil is thinnest", so the other planes are more easily visible. (think kaballah-ish)

In our beliefs, they are neither "good" nor "bad". Those terms are so subjective - for example, imagine a sweet, cute little kitten. You would probably think that kitten was "good", but a mouse who happened by and saw it would think "bad". Just like chaos and destruction aren't "bad" neither is any dragon, in OUR beliefs. There are those of the elements, of various locations (ie. european and asian), they are like people, they have their own personalities... in OUR beliefs..

[Mooncrow]

There's a large dragon above my montor, really come and see

BB

Mooncrow

[Dria El]

Just might take you up on that! lol

:D

[Myst]

Originally posted by Mooncrow
There's a large dragon above my montor, really come and see

BB

Mooncrow

I hate when things sit on my montor...

8O

[Rævyn Cigány]

Gee, this post looks awfully familiar, Dria.... ;)

BB

Rae )0(

[Dria El]

Originally posted by Rævyn Cigány
Gee, this post looks awfully familiar, Dria.... ;)

BB

Rae )0(

hehe I thought you might notice that. ;)

[Twig]

To this man I would say, "see my signiture." ;) ;)

Peace,
Twig
:elf:

[flar7]

The Chinese have many Dragons of diverse temperments, good and evil. It has been awhile since I studied them so you may want to search them. Chinese Dragons are separated by the number of toes they have. 3 toes Guardian, 4 Elemental (I think?), 5 Storm Dragons (very fierce!), and 6, the highest order of Dragon, the Celestial.

[Swanspirit]

I have loved Chinese Dragons since I began my venture into the study of the I Ching, many many years ago ......
Flights of Dragons ...... to you Sir :>
and Tibetan Dragons are wonderful too
Love and Light
Swannie

[mewatea]

Hello,
I am new to this site, I thought I would give my input on this subject.
Yes, I believe in dragons. Often when I am doing a healing ceremony I call on dragon to help take away the pain or tension. He really helps me.
I only say he because the particular dragon that helps me is a boy. I dont know his name but i have seen him a few times, interested? E-mail me.

*Sarah

[Dria El]

Welcome to Mystic Wicks mewatea! Glad you made it!

[Midnight_Raven]

Of course i Belive in dragons because no one can tell me that they arent there somewhere. Just like Unicorns and fairies.

[Sequoia]

hey. . . all the mythological creatures exist, imo. . . there are still MANY places here on this earth that we havn't explored. . . and who says we could find the creatures if they didn't want to be found?

And then you have the whole astral realm bit of it. . . they could be purely existing there, not physically here. . . and as of yet it'd be hard to scientifically prove that. hehe

[Lilu]

Originally posted by gunner
the thing that has always interested and puzzled me about dragons is that almost every culture has legends of dragons in some form while the nearest thing we know of to "dragons", the dinosaurs went pretty much extinct 65 million years ago. long before anything like men existed which would just about preclude "racial memory" and no fossils or other remains of dragons that existed within historical times have ever been known to be found. yet the stories are still there and had to begin from something. lots of questions, few answers.

I recently discovered that the Egyptians believed in dragons, in fact some of the stuff I was reading said that they have some of the oldest references to them - they were more serpent-like rather than the flying ones we are so familiar with, but I am intrigued!!! I am trying to find more info about them because I love dragons and am so interested in Egypt at the moment.


Originally posted by Willow Raven
The question "do you believe in dragons" to me is like asking "do you believe in stones".... I work with them, look towards them for protection and guidance, etc. I don't see them yet but one of my best friends does. They aren't exactly on this plane (like fae folk) which is why you don't often see them and why they don't leave remains if/when they die. It's not hard to follow this concept of there being more then one plane of existence, or that other creatures exist on those planes, and that those planes can sometimes come into contact with our own. Think of Samhain or Midsummer as an example - where the "veil is thinnest", so the other planes are more easily visible. (think kaballah-ish)

I happen to believe that dragons exist on other planes than this physical one. I have seen one ONCE in a meditation/ritual where I was in an astral plane. He was icy blue and just BEAUTIFUL. *sigh* I have so wanted to see one again but haven't yet. One day maybe :) Maybe an Egyptian Dragon will come visit me?

Lilu

[mewatea]

thankyou everyone for making me feel so welcome.



*Sarah


_____________

"Do you believe in the power of the Magic Cheese"

[dragonmagic64]

:idea: the original Question , are there really or where there really Dragons.
In which reality do you speak.
for according to Mystics, the Mind and that reality is far more real then This one. Time and Space are concepts of the Mind
The Universe is Describes as a Serpent.
and we are a speck of dust on that Serpents tail.

Yes there are Dragons, and we can see them if we but use the right eyes :crystalba to see them with.
:braindrai

:eyebrow:
But I would gather you are meaning in this Time in this prime Material reality, on this plane of existance, If you can't see it with the naked eye then it isn't real. Perhapes not now.

The Dragon, or slaying of the dragon, I would gather is referencing the piercing of the void. The slaying of the Serpent, the controling of the Mind.

Introflection will show the answer, and is the only way to prove the existance or non existance to said Dragon.

Everything is speculation until we know, or faith in someone elses ability to see that which we can not.

:seehearsp
There is a story about 5 Blind yogis all holding a part of an elephant, and a 6th yogi on a hill watching them all.
All five yogis are asked to discribe the Elephant based on what the knew about it.
One Held the Ear, the other the Leg, one the Tail, and another the trunk, and the 5th sat in the middle of the back of the beast
All five argued with one another Calling each other names and thinking the other 4 insain or just stupid.
Each knew what the Elephant was based on what they felt.
The 6th stood in bewilderment and silents watching the others Argue.

So there is my answer.
:halohead: & :smoke:

I am a Dragon,
I must slay myself
an then my eyes will be open.
and then my Dragon will be free.

[*GrumpButt*]

Yes I do beleive there are dragons somewhere, I wish I couls find ione.

I think that they are intellegent and I do beilive that they are noble and such.
I get kinda streamed when I hear stories and the dragon is always some woman eating drooling nut case .lol

[Psyche Ague]

Wow, necromancy strikes again.

I can't say that I believe in dragons, but I'll never rule out the possibility of them existing on other planes or in another dimension or something. (Semantics befuddle me...)

Komodo dragons are awesome, though! One bite and you just about instantly get gangrene! How cool is that? Fascinating, scary creatures.

[banondraig]

dragons kick @$$ !!!

[Pesha]

Hey HYSTYPHUS honey, do I beleive in dragons...."most assuredly Mistress and I beleive in you!"

BB
DS.

[Adam Of Avalon]

My personal take: They exist on the astral plane.

[Equinox]

I don't believe anything without good evidence, and I can see a dragon right now! My son - my wife and I named him "Draconis". So I definitely have to believe in Dragons.(middle name)

Have a fun day-

-equinox