this time ~ this space

Dragonflies
Dragonflies from prehistoric mists,
flying around long before the ice ages, above shallow water
in the shade of gigantic trees - their clear blue wings fluttering,
growing deeper, slower, rays still shining on them -
such fragile wings, a thousand years old,
vibrating, like rainbow drops,
in the primeval wind - there were no birds is yet,
just the shade of branches, ferns rustling, just, dug in above
the lush coal swamp, flight till then, intoxicating,
lasting but a moment. — By Judita Vaiciunaite

(Poem translated from the Lithuanian by Viktoria Skupskelis and Stuart Friebert Literary Review, Fall, 1993)

Dragonfly Encounters
Dragons and dragonflies have always been in my dreams and as this is autumn I was surprised to see one on out deck yesterday.

Dragonfly symbolism crosses and combines with that of the butterfly and change. The dragonfly symbolizes going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing.

Dragonflies are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. Some people who have the dragonfly as their totem have had emotional and passionate early years, but as they get older they achieve balance with mental clarity and control. They gain an expression of the emotional and mental together.

Dragonflies are old and adaptive insects, and are most powerful in the summer under the effects of warmth and sunlight. They are fantastic flyers, darting like light, twisting, turning, changing direction, even going backwards as the need arises. They are inhabitants of two realms - starting with water, and moving to the air with maturity, but staying close to water.

Their colors are a result of reflecting and refracting the power of light. As a result, they are associated with color magic, illusion in causing others only to see what you wish, and other mysticism.

Dragonflies are often represented in Japanese paintings, representing new light and joy. To some Native Americans they are the souls of the dead. Faerie stories say that they used to be real dragons.

Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. “Let there be light” is the divine prompting to use the creative imagination as a force within your life.

Dragonflies help you to see through your illusions and allow your own light to shine in a new vision.

Related posts:
Secret Gardens: Recycling Lost Life
Dragon Dreaming: Symbology