By:  Jean Harper

My interest in Dragonflies has peaked since a profusion of them around my neighborhood caught my attention recently.  I wanted to know more and so I started reading about them.

The dragonfly inhabits two realms: air and water. As a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change. And as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has – which is a lesson for all of us. 

The main symbolisms of the dragonfly are renewal, positive force and the power of life in general.  Dragonflies can also be a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. There are many different representations of the dragonfly; it all comes down to which culture you happen to be in. For instance, if you are in Japan, the dragonfly symbolizes a new light and joy. Some animal symbolism has the dragonfly representing good luck, prosperity, swiftness, purity, harmony and strength. Some Native Americans believe dragonflies are the souls of the dead. There are also many cultures that believe that the meaning of a dragonfly is happiness, courage and subconscious thoughts. It is also believed that if you see two dragonflies paired together that they represent love and maturity.    

The dragonfly has been a symbol of happiness, new beginnings and change for many centuries and even though the representation of the dragonfly seems to change throughout the cultures, there are still a few things that are similar; the dragonfly means hope, change and love.  With the constant changing of the world, it is no wonder that more and more people are adopting the dragonfly as their totem and admiring this beautiful insect.

I choose to believe that the Dragonflies that have inundated my neighborhood, and towns all over Florida and the Gulf Coast are here to deliver a message to us.  The message-  This disaster happening in the Gulf of Mexico will bring with it- change. The desire to change from our dependency on oil and a renewed appreciation of our natural world.