Slay

The Dragon is a monster that almost every culture in the world can relate to. It lurks in dark places, caves, pits, lakes, even in our seas. These creatures inhabit the great wild, unknown dark and mysterious lands that exist on the periphery of human civilisation. Only the bravest of souls dare venture to these places and so most stories about Dragons focus only on the men that slay them. The princes, fierce warriors and heroes that vanquish these evil creatures. But what if there is so much more to this narrative than we have been told? If we focus on the stories that include women as the killers of these beasts, what can then be revealed about female rage, hidden histories, the battle between light and dark, and whether glimpsing the face of a monster is actually a deep exploration of the darkest and most hidden parts of our own souls? Slayed will look at dragon slayer myths and legends from a variety of historical cultures - Greek, Christan, Chinese, Japanese - to explore the largely untold stories of the women that fought these dragons from a first-person perspective, gaining unique and profound insight into the psyche of these figures. It will include exploration of female rage, our drive to chase our own demons, and female power in a distinctly masculine field. Each section will look at the symbolism of the dragon in great detail in each of these cultures, weaving a global picture of the dragon whilst also maintaining its local meanings. Discussion will include the role of gender in dragonlore, iconographic symbolism, philosophical metaphor, and a new and exciting view that dragons often have an impact on our landscape and change how we view our environment. Analysis will focus on what this story means for women today when considering their own monsters that lurk within, what it takes to confront them, and how the stories of female dragon slayers can bring out the fiercest warriors in us all, allowing up to have the courage to see ourselves fully.

Jasmine Elmer is a mythologist and storyteller who brings ancient tales to life with a modern, feminist twist. Fascinated by the magical and the mystical, she dives into the worlds of goddesses, witches, slayers and rebels, showing how their stories still shape - and challenge - our own. With a background in ancient myth and history, Jasmine combines research with passion, breathing new life into myths and turning them into living manifestos of women's power for a modern audience. Her debut book, Goddess with a Thousand Faces, is a bold and lyrical journey through global goddess traditions, blending storytelling with historical insight to reclaim the sacred feminine. Slay is her second book. Of Pakistani and white heritage, Jasmine grew up in East London and now lives in Devon with her husband, son and five unapologetically adored cats. A passion ate advocate of slow living, she spends her time meditating, enjoying nature and a savouring a sip of coffee. You can find her on Instagram @jas_elmer. Go to www.jasmineelmer.co.uk for more.