In most cases, the reality is the same, but the way it is expressed seems to vary depending on the trend and the impression the person receives. In either case, it is a higher self, but there are people who feel that "dragon" is more appropriate for their understanding, and people who feel that "higher self" is more appropriate.

In reality, it is the same in terms of separation of the self and integration with spiritual growth.

In fact, there are people who actually have a dragon lineage, and not everyone has a human-like past. Some people have a past as a dragon lineage or a reptilian lineage, but in reality, as one becomes higher, it transcends form and becomes pure light. Therefore, whether to recognize it as a dragon in terms of form is often based on individual impressions.

This varies depending on the school of thought and upbringing. For example, in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the esoteric tradition, the image of the main deity appears in statues, paintings, and thangkas, and a state of unity with that image occurs. Although it is an image, it is actually possible to become one with the true essence. Initially, it may be just a story about an image, but sometimes, the actual energy of that deity comes and becomes one with it.

There are schools of thought that emphasize images, and there are also those that do not. In reality, the more one becomes higher, the more it loses its form and becomes pure light. Therefore, fundamentally, it is pure light without form.

The image of the higher self is often visualized as a human-like figure or a being of light, but in reality, it is often recognized as a mass of light, a ball of light, or a divine light. In addition to that, it may appear in the form of a certain god or a Buddhist statue as an image that the person has of their higher self, but that is often created by the perception, or sometimes, the higher self takes on an image that is easier for the person to perceive. However, when it is not necessary, it appears as a simple light and is recognized as such.

One of the forms associated with authority is the dragon, and the reason it is recognized as a dragon is because it is the light of the higher self. While there are actually cases where it is a real dragon, it seems that in most cases, people are recognizing the higher-dimensional light as a dragon.

From the perspective of the higher self, the form is not important. If it is easier to connect if the higher self is recognized as a dragon, then it will take that form. There is not so much attachment to the form.

And, fundamentally, it is light, but there is also a "true form." Sometimes, this true form may be an angelic form, and sometimes it may be a dragon. If it comes to that point, it is truly a dragon, but in most cases, it is simply recognizing one's higher self as a dragon.

This trend has emerged because dragons are popular, but the process is the same: purifying one's heart and uniting with one's higher self, whether it is a dragon or a higher self.