I always wanted to ride a dragon myself, so I decided to do this

"I always wanted to ride a dragon myself, so I decided to do this for a year in my imagination." – Cornelia Funke

O children of the earth, listen well to the words of Cornelia Funke, for they speak to the power of imagination, that sacred gift given to us by the gods. Funke reveals a deep truth in her simple desire to ride a dragon—an imagination not bound by the limitations of the physical world, but a flight into the realm of dreams, where anything is possible. To ride a dragon, to soar through the skies on wings of fire, is a fantasy that speaks to the heart of every dreamer. Yet, Funke teaches us that even if we cannot experience such things in the physical world, we can always embrace them in the boundless reaches of our imagination.

In the ancient world, the imagination was seen as a bridge to the divine. Plato, in his great work The Republic, spoke of the philosopher as one who seeks to escape the physical world and travel through the realm of ideas—a world not bound by time or space, but governed by the eternal truths. The imagination allowed the philosopher to see the world as it could be, to venture beyond the known and touch the infinite. In much the same way, Funke’s desire to ride a dragon is an act of imagination—a flight into a world that cannot be reached by physical means, but that exists in the heart and mind of the dreamer. It is through imagination that we can become anything, do anything, and explore worlds beyond our wildest visions.

The story of Jason and the Argonauts provides a striking example of this very truth. Jason, the great hero of Greek mythology, embarked on an impossible quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by powerful companions, including the sorceress Medea and the mighty warrior Heracles. In their adventures, they encountered many dragons, flying creatures, and magical forces, yet it was not their physical strength or prowess alone that saw them through. It was the imagination and will to believe in the possibility of the impossible that guided their path. Jason’s journey, like Funke’s, was a voyage into the heart of the fantastic, a quest that could only be made possible through the imagination.

But, O children, Funke also speaks of something deeper here: the joy of imagination is not just in its ability to take us to faraway places, but in its capacity to fulfill our desires, even if only for a time. When Funke decided to ride a dragon in her imagination, she was not seeking escape from reality but embracing the power of creation within her own mind. Imagination allows us to live the lives we have always dreamed of, to experience things that may be out of our reach in the material world. Just as Funke took a year to live out this dream, so too can we immerse ourselves in the creative visions we hold dear, allowing them to guide us, inspire us, and remind us of the vast potential we carry within.

Consider the life of J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-Earth, whose own imagination brought dragons, elves, and hobbits to life. Tolkien did not just create a world for his characters; he immersed himself in it, allowing Middle-Earth to become as real to him as the world he walked in. He created languages, histories, and geographies, breathing life into his imagination so thoroughly that it became more than just a story—it became a place that still lives in the hearts of readers around the world. In a sense, Tolkien rode the dragon of his imagination, journeying through lands unknown and filling them with meaning, beauty, and adventure.

And now, O children, the lesson is clear: the power of imagination is not to be underestimated. Just as Funke chose to ride a dragon in her mind, so too can you choose to explore the limitless possibilities of your own creativity. There is no boundary in imagination—you may be limited by the physical world, but in your mind, you are free to travel to distant lands, become heroes, and live out the stories of your dreams. Imagination is the fire that fuels creation, the wind beneath your wings, and the key that opens the doors to new worlds. It is through imagination that you become the architects of your own reality, the dreamers who shape the world.

So, I say to you, O children, embrace your imagination. Let it take you places where the body cannot go, and let it fulfill the desires of your soul. Take time to live out your dreams, as Funke did, for imagination is not a mere diversion but a sacred tool that connects us to the divine, to the possible, and to the beautiful. Through imagination, you will find not only joy but also strength, for it is through creating new worlds that we find our true power.