Dragonflies are ancient insects. They have existed on Planet Earth for approximately 300 million years. Today, they look very much like they did in "dinosaur times," though they have gradually gotten smaller since then. Dragonflies can be useful in controlling mosquito populations. Mosquitoes are one of their primary food sources! As far as insects go, dragonflies are among the fastest. Some of the faster species can fly upward of 30 miles per hour. Their four wings also allow them to move sideways, backward, to hover in place, etc. And they can do all of these movements quickly and accurately, which makes them well suited to eat other insects right out of the air.
Dragonflies are not born with wings. They are born in a larvae state and eventually go through a partial metamorphosis process, during which they grow their wings. They spend most of their lives in the larva stage (up to three years, depending on the species). The adult, winged stage only lasts a few weeks. Mating is the primary reason for their winged stage. So when you see a winged dragonfly, you know it's toward the end of its lifespan. Sad but true.
Most dragonflies can be found around lakes or rivers. They breathe water through gills in their abdomen, and can squirt this water out fast to give themselves a quick jet-propelled movement. Dragonflies hatch from eggs in freshwater, and spent at least a few months (sometimes several years) as aquatic predators. As they grow they molt (shed their whole skin at once) many times. Once they are big enough, they crawl out of the water and the adult stage emerges from the skin of the nymph. Once they have transformed into the winged adult stage, the stop growing.
Most dragonfly species spend the winter as nymphs in the water, but some migrate south, and spend the winter as adults. In few species that lay their eggs in the late summer or fall, the eggs don't hatch until spring. Dragonflies emerge from the water in the warm months of spring or summer.During its two year incubation cycle in the water the dragonfly sheds up to fifteen skins. The dragonfly also holds the qualities of the water, contributing to its grace. Water holds deep seated thoughts, emotions, and the yin quality of introspect.
Since the dragonfly life cycle encompasses both the waters and the sky this creature is tied to our own transformational abilities. The key is to remember that any transformation, to be complete, takes time.
The wings of the dragon fly are transparent, abounding with many luminous colors. The eyes are multi- faceted, able to see from many angles. This reminds us that we can see anything in life from many angles. We should always look past the illusions. The dragonfly can be utilized as a symbol for understanding an aspect of our evolutionary process in life. Taken as a whole our life is very transformational, seen or unseen. We can learn patience and faith that the steps we take will lead us in the right direction.
You can use the qualities of the dragonfly totem in your daily meditation. With the dragonfly we have that transformational quality, and we can transform thoughts and perceptions into understanding and growth. We can look beyond the illusions and stories for the greater world of clarity and connectivity with self. Stories of totem animals is an simple way to learn more about our own deep seated abilities. Learning about our own totems is a step into self discovery, and can bring clarity to our own vision and understanding. Learn more about totem spirits, and the collective qualities that empower and embrace our creativity in life.
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