| The dragon can be found in the mythology of | | | | God. Their belief about dragons revolved around |
| hundreds of cultures and featured on ancient | | | | the chaos of nature and the Spirit of God. Their |
| drawings and carvings from every corner of the | | | | fiery dragon could conquer all things. |
| globe. Because of the diversity of each culture's | | | | Ancient Emperors and Celtic kings believed the |
| beliefs, there's lots of meanings behind this | | | | dragon symbolized an existence that brought |
| beautiful tattoo. | | | | order and prosperity to their kingdoms. Very old |
| Depending on the cultural history of the dragon | | | | documents and drawings about these powerful |
| tattoo you are going to have inked on your body, | | | | leaders often described them as heavenly |
| you could be wearing a symbol of gentle wisdom | | | | dragons seated on a throne. |
| and kindness or a fire-eating enemy ready to do | | | | Dragons thought to be born of water can be |
| battle. Legend has always depicted a hero slaying | | | | credited with pleasant and benign activities, like |
| the dragon and saving the castle or the village | | | | bubbling springs and waterfalls, but they also |
| from total destruction and winning the heart of a | | | | drown people according to ancient understandings. |
| fair maiden. | | | | Great horned dragons live underwater, beckoning |
| In Chinese cultures, the dragon symbolizes | | | | people to their watery graves, if you read the |
| lightning, thunder and rain, which, in their ancient | | | | beliefs and myths of Eastern Native Americans. |
| understanding, represented the uniting of the | | | | Water dragons possessing a glittering jewel |
| earth and water elements or fertility. Traditional | | | | flashing lightning bolts can be found in legends |
| Japanese tattooing is often about balance and the | | | | from Cambodia. Thunder and its power to bring |
| various characteristics of yin and yang. The | | | | rain was often believed to come from a pearl held |
| dragon, in Japanese tattooing, is often portrayed | | | | in the dragon's mouth. The medieval paintings of |
| with other symbols that represent both the | | | | St. George are full of dragons resembling sea |
| balance and duality found in yin and yang. | | | | serpents. |
| Another aspect of dragons, in the Far East, is | | | | When reading these ancient beliefs and thinking, |
| their representation of either the four points of | | | | "How could people be so naïve?" keep in |
| the compass or the nature symbols of water, | | | | mind our current myths about dragons: the Loch |
| earth, the underworld and the sky. | | | | Ness monster in Scotland and Ogopogo in Lake |
| The Gnostics, who started a philosophical and | | | | Okanagan, British Columbia. |
| religious movement in pre-Christian times, believed | | | | We're not so far removed from believing in flying, |
| in the spiritual nature that lives in all of us and | | | | fire-breathing dragons. |
| relied on their understanding and knowledge of | | | | |