Dragonfly

Dragonflies live in two realms, water and air. Dragonflies mate in mid-air and lay their eggs in the water. The eggs hatch into nymphs and can spend up to five years in the water before they emerge into full-grown dragonflies. Adult dragonflies chase away other predators seeking their eggs and maintain a watch over the area where their young develop. 

Dragonflies are mostly seen flying along riverbanks and waterways in their search for food. in mid-air, they scoop up their food - other flying insects - with their spiny legs which are held out to form a sort of catching basket. Being territorial, the Dragonfly "patrols" a fixed area and is often seen landing on bushes or trees to rest. Their most used sense is sight, their eyes having 30,000 lens facets that detect the subtlest movement or shifting in the light.

Dragonfly challenges you to understand the watery emotions of your child-self and the responsibility you now shoulder as you move from water (your tears) to emotional maturity.

Dragonfly calls upon you to find emotional balance in all that you do. To find this balance, there is often a need to get fresh air and new light into the situation or issue that concerns or limits you.

Dragonfly tells you it is time to go out and check your boundaries for intrusions that can create illusions and thus deceive you.

Get rest for yourself so you can release stress and find reason within concerning what is bothering you. Meditate or take a walk in Nature to clear the air and your airways for new light, new thought and new focus to enter. Make room for your instincts and sense of sight to express themselves. Do not be satisfied with just one view of the issue at hand. Look at things from all points of view. Discern what is correct for you. Let new ideas take shape so you can grow.   

Dragonfly signals to you that you must find your own solutions.

- originally posted on Sunny Side Up, March 11th, 2008

For a personal account of this animal totem, click here.