The White Dragon & The English Cross - Wulf
In English Nationalist circles there have long been arguments as to whether we should drop the English
Cross altogether and use the White Dragon. This argument has recently been put to me within WF-EM, so I am going to give my
reasons as to why I feel that this is most certainly not the time to make such a move.
Firstly we need to look at the background of Woden’s Folk, and to clarify the aims and ideals of our Movement.
From the very start, back in 1998, our Movement was strictly an English Heathen Movement dedicated solely
to the English Folk and the English Struggle, and our Movement remains true to these ideals today. We can leave the “international”
scene to the OR and others who tread this path. Since we take this particular path – within a world-wide struggle –
then we need to think very carefully before we make important changes.
I believe that there
are various arguments as to why the English Cross is now seen to be “alien” to the English –
Ø To English Heathens it is a “Christian”
cross and symbol.
Ø It appears only after the Norman invasions.
Ø It derives from the Templar Cross.
Firstly, the English
Cross is an equal-armed cross (+), having a longer horizontal line only because it is used on a rectangular
flag. Used on a square banner it would be the equal-armed cross. The Christian Cross has a longer vertical arm, since
it is merely a cube unfurled. (It is also symbolic of another important concept which I will explain later.)
This equal-armed cross in its simple version (+), and the “Templar Cross” version can
be found on English coins from 600CE to the end of the tenth century, i.e. well before the Norman Invasions or the Knights
Templar. It appears on the following coins amongst others –
·
Sigeberht, King of Mercia
· Offa, King of Mercia
· Berhtwulf
· Aethelweard (East Anglia)
· Aethelstan II
· Oswald
·
Cnut (Viking)
· Throughout the line of the Kings of Wessex.
It was thus well
known here in England long before the Normans or the Knights Templar. Indeed, in these two variants we can trace it back to
as long ago as 10,000BCE and before. It can be found in the cave at Lascaux, dated 10,000 – 20,000BCE.
It appears on Scandinavian rock-carvings and in Germany, Italy and elsewhere. This cross has a history many millennium prior
to the Christian era. It is most certainly a Heathen Symbol taken up later by the Christians.
The equal-armed cross (+) has always been used as symbolic of the positive and also
to increase (plus sign). In heathen terms it has also been used as symbolic of the 4 points of the solar
year, i.e. a Solar Symbol. A red cross on a white background is also symbolic of the Sacred Blood and the
White Race – hence the reason why we still use our original Blood Flag which uses the English Cross.
One legend has it that the red blood on the white flag was the blood of Saint George when he slew the dragon. Since this is
merely a Christian version of Sigurd/Sigmund slaying the dragon, then the red blood represents the Dragon-Slayer which
is one of the most important symbols used by the English.
These arguments
should be enough to show that the equal-armed cross was in use in Anglo-Saxon times, well before the Normans came under the
auspices of the Pope. Both the English Cross and the Templar Cross/German Cross were used plus other variants of both.
If anyone was to ask around the people
of England which was the flag of England many would still perhaps say the “Union Jack”, which of course is the
British Flag. But a large section would say the “English Cross”. The few English Nationalists who are now
adopting the White Dragon may well say this, but they would be in a vast minority! Indeed, show most Englishmen the White
Dragon and ask them which country it stands for and you will invariably get the answer – “Wales”. Even though
the Red Dragon is the dragon of the Welsh. This really is the main argument against dropping the use of the
English Cross, for we would get out to far fewer people through doing so. This particular time is not right for
such a move as dropping the English Cross.
I have made it clear
years ago that the White Dragon is symbolic of the English Revolution and we use it as such.
The English Cross is used within WF-EM because it will attract an English audience to us easier than our
own Heathen Symbols. This is firmly etched in the English Consciousness at this time, and began to arise again a few years
ago.
The Templar Cross holds a vital secret known to very few people,
for it has a hidden symbolism. If you look closely at the Templar Cross/German Cross you will see that it is made up of a
clockwise swastika and an anti-clockwise swastika bound together in the one symbol. It thus
symbolises the Power of Light and the Power of Darkness in balance. This is the reason why WF has used this in our
early days, for it symbolised the aims of our Movement through The Hooded Man Prophecy. I have no idea why it was
adopted by the Knights Templar, and it is doubtful that we could find out. Indeed, a secret society like the Knights Templar
has given up few of its secrets, and what we do know has come through from the forebears of the Inquisition that suppressed
it. All that we can guess is that they were concerned with finding some kind of alchemical secrets in the “Holy Land”
(sic.) which is probably why they were there.
Staying at an exoteric
level it is important to note that the English Cross appears upon the flag of Lombardy in Northern Italy. The name “Lombardy”
hails from the Lombards or Langobards (Long-Beards), a Germanic Tribe favoured by Odin due to the wiles of his wife Frigga.
The Lombards have an Origins Myth which closely resembles that of Sceaf of the English. I have no idea why they use the same
cross, but their Origins Myth may point to a link with the English in ancient times of the Folk-Wanderings.
The Christian Cross did not originate within Christianity, for it was used long before the time of the so-called
“Christ” of the Bible. The symbol was found as Orpheus hanging upon the same cross – the Gnostic Christ.
The cross here represents the Northern Cross which is Cygnus the Swan. This can be seen as a cross as well
as an Ear-Rune/Cweorth-Rune, and is the Irminsul, the Milky Way and the Milky Way in miniature, guarding the Dark Rift at
the northern end of the Milky Way Galaxy. This is the “cross” upon which Woden hangs as the Hanged God.
I have shown in previous articles how the Merseberg Charms hold the secret of the Fylfot,
and also a magical formula –
Sunwheel-Cross-Fylfot-Cross-Sunwheel This formula relates to Pol or Balder who is imprisoned in the Underworld, his “ring” taken away (Cross)
and his “feet” broken” (Fylfot). In this formula the “Cross” is the next step in the process
of the new arising of Balder the Sun-God. This must be understood when dealing with the cross as a Wodenic Symbol.
The original White Dragon used by the English Tribes was a wind-sock version which was earlier used
by the Scythians or Sakas, and also by the Dacians (Sons of the Wolf). As such it would have been more like a Wyvern in form,
with two legs rather than four. It is important perhaps now to reiterate the meanings of the White Dragon Symbol –
Ø The symbol of the Saxons according
to Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Ø Symbolic of the Milky Way Galaxy
– the “Sun-Dragon of Igg”, i.e. Igg-dra-sil.
Ø The Wif-Earn
(Eagle-Woman) who is Wyrd or Urd and whose symbol stood at the gates of Nurnberg – Berg of the Norns. She is the
Ar-Kona or Ur-Kona and is the White Lady associated with origins. Her “ghost” can be found in many places such
as old castles etc. She is also “Britannia” shown on our old coins, holding the Trident and Shield as protector
of England.
The original version of the White Dragon is a Winged
Coiled Serpent. It represents the same kind of symbolism as the Eagle at the top of Iggdrasil. The Serpent changes into
the Winged Coiled Serpent or the Eagle – symbolic of the heavens.
The White Dragon
and the Golden Dragon (West Saxons) are interchangeable symbols. We are informed in the Welsh Mabinogian that the
banner used by the Saxons was the “Winged Coiled Golden Serpent of Germany”. Both are solar symbols.
Since the original White Dragon was a wind-sock there is no real
proof as to the background that we should use. There is a Mercian version using a black background, which we have used on
some badges. But the most widely used is the red background which has been adopted as the usual White Dragon Flag by all English
Nationalists. It seems clear that different versions were used by different
tribal groupings within the English Folk; some tribes may not have used the symbol at all. This does not detract from the
usage of the White Dragon as a unifying force for the English. Indeed, as with any regeneration of a nation there is a need
to create an English Myth. One day we shall need a common symbol for the White Dragon to achieve this.
There are, of course, other important symbols that we use in our work. The White Horse Flag of Kent
is symbolic of the Founding Twins, Hengest & Horsa, and the Three Golden Crowns of Anglia are symbolic of the Three Royal
Lines of Anglia. These are important symbols for use at a local level.
I have tried to
make it clear why the official policy of WF-EM is to use the two flags – White Dragon & English Cross – side
by side. Those who do not feel right with the English Cross have the right not to use it, which is their own individual choice.
In time there may be an argument for replacing the English Cross with the White Dragon – but that time has not
yet come.
Wulf – Folk-Warder.