Life on the wing

Dragonfly medicine teaches us to pierce our self-made illusions. Dragonfly can cause us to question the illusion which we call reality, particularly that part of our realities which hinders our ability to grow and create transformation/change in our lives.  Shamanic Journey 

I always thought dragonflies were beautiful, but never regarded them as having a special significance for me until one summer, three years ago, when they kept appearing. I was going through a number of profound personal and spiritual shifts during that time, and it seemed that at some key moment when I needed affirmation, a dragonfly would appear.

Symbolically, the dragonfly represents transformation. Hope, change and love are all embodied in the energy of dragonfly. As nymphs, they live water-bound at the bottom of lakes and ponds for two years until they mature into dragonflies and become airborne. (This reminded me of a spiritual metaphor central to Buddhism, that of the lotus, a gorgeous flower that grows out of swamp muck.) Can you imagine spending most of your life in one state where your existence is relatively limited, only to magically evolve into another level of existence where your movement is essentially unlimited? I took the timely appearance of these beautiful insects as a sign that I was on a life-changing, heart-opening journey. Reiki and motherhood were the two events that year which transformed and continue to inspire me to evolve in my role as someone called to the service of others.

When I made the decision to practice Reiki professionally, I knew that the dragonfly was the perfect metaphor for the type of healing journey I wanted to embark upon with my clients. As a Reiki practitioner, I am mindful of the fact that I am merely the facilitator of healing life-force energy. The person receiving Reiki is the one truly doing the healing and learning to live life on the wing where the brilliant, shimmering colors are continually evoking and reflecting a transformational state.

I have seen profound change in my own life through Reiki, where acknowledgement and healing of some very deep wounds has taken place. Clients experiencing any number of issues that result in pain and suffering have come in, committed themselves to change, and have utilized the healing energy of Reiki to make amazing progress on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. The life transformation you seek is limited only by your imagination. Just wait until you see how those wings are going to look on you!

6 Responses to “Life on the wing”

  1. Pamela Says:

    Thank you for such a beautiful post.

    I have also experienced the synchronicity of dragonflies appearing at times of great change, even in New York City! Dragonflies are a beautiful, gentle, and powerful image of transformation.

  2. Jackie Says:

    I love dragonflies too!

  3. Laura Says:

    Hi,
    I did not see dragonflies appearing but rather I saw grasshoppers and prayingmantis appear on my apartment window. The strange thing was, I am up on the third floor so those little hoppers can really jump! At the same time I was seeing so many my son in another state was also seeing them. We hadn’t seen each other in years and I think that was a sign of change, transformation and love.

    –Laura

  4. Sherri Says:

    Dragonflies are powerful because they represent water, air, and light (the reflection of beautiful light colors on their wings and body). Water is cleansing, air is breathe/spirit, and light represents truth and our transition into a higher place. The dragonfly is a very fitting image for what you are doing.

  5. Sherri Says:

    Oh…and to Laura, who replied that she was seeing grasshoppers and praying mantis (as was her son), my take on that would be that the praying mantis represents being patient, contemplative, still. The grasshopper is a symbol of good news, good luck, abundance, happiness…an overall very positive symbol.

    I would read that combined symbolism as, “Be patient…great things are on their way to you…you will find them and access them through going inward, connecting spiritually, being still and patient.”

  6. Dana Young Says:

    Thank you all for your positive comments on my blog post! Sherri, as always, thanks for the additional insight. Interesting aside – in the same year that I was attuned to Reiki, I visited a shaman who told me I had “praying mantis energy.” I thought that was very intriguing and helpful to know. Reiki requires patience, stillness and the ability to be present with the experience, so learning more about the symbolism of the praying mantis was so useful to me.

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