Throughout history in almost all cultures, there have been dragons. Funnily enough, cultures have had a “bipolar” appreciation of dragons. The Anglo-Welsh cultures have seen dragons as fierce beasts that stand in the way of paths and roads and admirable achievements, and must be slain in order to make way, either for the path or for an achievement.
In Eastern (Chinese-influenced) culture, the dragon, on the other hand was a sign of wisdom. The ‘globe’ on which the dragon’s paw often rested was a symbol for many things, but may easily have signified life itself.
In pop psychology, the types of mental and emotional tribulations and pains that have beset many of us have been likened to “our inner dragons.” This has been an image that took hold a few decades ago, but still seems to raise its head in the idiom of clinical therapy of all kinds from time to time.
Many years ago, my wife and I were tossing around ideas about just how Af-x and Clinical Affectology could be “messaged” in a way that made sense to people – ostensibly to help them make some sense of the aims of affectology and how it might pertain to them. In a slightly amused way, I said, “Dragon Slaying Done Dirt Cheap” in a sort of marrying of the ancient ideas of the more devilish dragon mythology and modern use of the notion as representing the hurts and emotional ailments that can lie within all of us.
And, of course, being an Australian, there’s the slight whiff of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” song.
Out of the ashes of that long-ago chat with my dear wife, and a moment of light humor, comes this “seal of the aim of affectology”. I hope you like it. One of these days I might have the courage to paint it on the door of my car.
In Eastern (Chinese-influenced) culture, the dragon, on the other hand was a sign of wisdom. The ‘globe’ on which the dragon’s paw often rested was a symbol for many things, but may easily have signified life itself.
In pop psychology, the types of mental and emotional tribulations and pains that have beset many of us have been likened to “our inner dragons.” This has been an image that took hold a few decades ago, but still seems to raise its head in the idiom of clinical therapy of all kinds from time to time.
Many years ago, my wife and I were tossing around ideas about just how Af-x and Clinical Affectology could be “messaged” in a way that made sense to people – ostensibly to help them make some sense of the aims of affectology and how it might pertain to them. In a slightly amused way, I said, “Dragon Slaying Done Dirt Cheap” in a sort of marrying of the ancient ideas of the more devilish dragon mythology and modern use of the notion as representing the hurts and emotional ailments that can lie within all of us.
And, of course, being an Australian, there’s the slight whiff of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” song.
Out of the ashes of that long-ago chat with my dear wife, and a moment of light humor, comes this “seal of the aim of affectology”. I hope you like it. One of these days I might have the courage to paint it on the door of my car.
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