Dragon's Head

The Dragon's Head, also called The Tree of Life, is an ancient symbol found throughout the known worlds. It has been linked to Cardinalism, Quadrocardinalism, and many other belief systems. The sign is usually depicted with eight points, each with special names. In Quadism, the shape is also contained within an equilateral triangle, which represents creation.

It is important to note that, despite the modern named "Dragon's Head" the shape was not originally meant to depict a dragon; and only came about later as a simplified description of it.

Rising/Falling

When displayed right-side up (with the 'horns' on top) it is called Dragon's Head Rising. When rotated 180 degrees so the 'horns' are at the bottom, it becomes Dragon's Head Falling. The rising form is the most common by many orders of magnitude, and as such the falling form has long been associated with darkness, evil, and general contempt. The falling symbol is often co-opted by cults (such as the Cult of the Dracolitch) who feel a strong alignment to evil. Exactly how Falling became associated in this way is unknown.

Traditional Dragon's Head

The names of the seats are as follows:

• 1. God or Core
• 2. Movement or Freedom, but also the Root
• 3. Mercy
• 4. Victory
• 5. Kindness
• 6. Glory
• 7. Understanding
• 8. Strength

Quadrocardinalistic Dragon's Head

In mysticism derived from Cardinalism, three additional points are added:

In this interpretation, the three points of the triangle represent the godhead, or holly trinity in Cardinalism. The three points are also called Heaven, Ocean, and Earth, which represent the sacred journey.

Esoteric Representations

Various esoteric traditions number the points differently. This most common version allows a line to be drawn connecting each point without raising the pen:

The shape can be depicted as an irregular polygon beneath a trapezoid:

Or as a line shape:

Often used to represent an unbroken cycle.

Other