The Dragonfly Symbolism
I have noticed through reading message boards and talking to friends that often while we are developing at times we are greatly affected by “the unknown.” Such as, for example, not knowing what changes are coming next, unknown spirit presences, etc. Some times the unknown are things in our daily life such as not knowing whether husband and wife will be able to work their problems out and stay together or will divorce. Often the unknown can cause great anxiety which in turn can effect whether we can sleep, eat, focus, or just function normally in general.
Often when i am feeling anxiety or feeling anything for that matter that I don’t understand what the cause of it is I talk to my guides about it. I know that they will let me know one way or the other what is going on with me or simply a sign of whether there is even any real reason to even be feeling anxious.
So today was one of those days and I was talking to my guide about it when suddenly a dragonfly flew by…but on his way by he stop dead in his tracks (so to speaks) and hovered almost perfectly still in front of my patio screen door as though he stopped specifically to say hi to me. That I can honestly say has never happened before. Then in case I wasn’t paying attention my dog started acting weird and at the same time I heard my printer turn on. When it turns on its pretty loud so there is no mistaking it because the device inside it slides over when the power button is pushed. It’s a large Dell 5 in 1 printer with a flat bed scanner…so it is fairly large too. I went over and checked it but the printer was off. Well my guides make noises all the time when I am talking to them so I am use to it so I knew right away that was just to make sure I knew the dragonfly was in fact a symbol for me and not just a coincidence (which I don’t beleive in coincidences anyway).
About the Dragonfly
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.
The Meaning
I am posting this info as is and giving the link because for all your animal symbolism needs you need to bookmark this site, it’s awesome…http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-dragonfly.html.
As a creature of the wind, the dragonlfy totem represents change. It’s iridescent wings are incredibly sensitive to the slightest breeze, and so we are reminded to heed where the proverbial wind blows - lest we run into stormy weather.
Dragonflies are also creatures of the water, and any creature whose habitat is in, or around water carries symbolism relative the the subconscious, or “dreaming” mind and thoughts.
This is because in the animal world, water is symbolic of the subconscious mind (”deeper mind,” “dreaming mind”) and relates to the thoughts we have in relaxed/meditative/sleeping/subconscious states.
Dragonflies carry messages that deal with deeper thought - and they ask that we pay attention to our deeper thoughts and desires.
Why This Makes Sense to Me
Last night I couldn’t sleep even though I was so tired. Every time I closed my eyes I would immediately start seeing things and having visions. Every time I did manage to doze off I would immediately start dreaming and for some reason disturbing to me like a nightmare is disturbing although nothing about what I was seeing should have bothered me. But I would just let the visions come. I kept stopping them because like I said for some reason they were freaking me out. Right before I saw the dragonfly I was talking to my guide about the visions and why I kept stopping them and the unexplained anxiety I had been feeling.
Notice in the section above says “Dragonflies are also creatures of the water, and any creature whose habitat is in, or around water carries symbolism relative the the subconscious, or “dreaming” mind and thoughts. This is because in the animal world, water is symbolic of the subconscious mind (”deeper mind,” “dreaming mind”) and relates to the thoughts we have in relaxed/meditative/sleeping/subconscious states.”
To me there are two messages here for me.
One is about change. Yes I am going through lots of changes in many different ways and aspects of my life.
The other message for me is an answer. The question was…I told my guide that I know I kept stopping the visions instead of just going with the flow and letting them come. I asked for another chance to do this because I have been stopping visions from coming like I did last night for some time now and for the same reason. Something would make me feel uncomfortable and uneasy. Same thing that use to happen when I first started hearing spirit voices outside my head when I was in the inbetween awake and asleep state. So this is my confirmation that we will be trying this again, if not tonight then very soon. lol.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
This afternoon I found a dead dragonfly in my car. I had been driving around this morning through Los Angeles and felt felt the need to end up at the beach. I traveled through the Malibu mountains and did stop at the beach for a bit of meditation and to regain some energy and focus. Upon leaving the beach I drove back into LA, tried to run an errand or two but it did not feel right. So I grabbed a salad, choose to arrive early to a guided imagery session (which I have never done before), and have my meal in the garden. When I finished I went back to the car to grab my computer when I found the dragonfly in my backseat. I read great things about the power and meaning of the dragonfly but also that a dead one is sad news coming. Does it mean anything if it came to me alive but then perished? Thank you.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Sadly, it means that death is nearby. I hope that you are still OK, as I am reading this about one month after you posted it. Have you lost someone close to you? Are you still with us? I pray for your safety.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
When I was small my mother collected dragonflies. Not the actual insect but anything with a dragonfly on it. She died when I was 15 of a sudden death heart attack. This was in Feb. during her graveside service we were having an ice storm,and dragonflies were flying about,landing on the spray of flowers on the casket. Dragonflies as you know are insects of the summer and not winter and would never fly around during a storm !
Since then,everytime something major in my life has happened,there has been a dragonfly show up. My oldest son was in an accident and while laying in the middle of a pasture,miles from help a dragonfly landed on his chest and stayed there until paramedics arrived. The same thing when my oldest daughter was on her homecoming court. A dragonfly landed on her shoulder and stayed there until just before she was crowned homecoming queen.
Even though I lost all of the dragonflies my mother had collected,I started collecting them myself several years ago. To me,they bring a sense of peace and hope.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
Dragonfly Goddess,
Thanks…well no so far there has been no death however recently one of my cousins (within the past week) has had a stroke. My father did have a relative during that time that passed away but it wasn’t a relative I knew well and had only met once and not sure if I would still get the symbolism for someone I don’t know well.
During that week the dragon flys were pretty persistant. Many times flying directly at my windshield while driving and flying so close to my head while outside that I thought they were going to run into me. And seeming very much to hang around for long periods of time right outside my door in my view.
Hmmmm I am going to ask for a clue in a dream and see what I get and I will post it.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
OMG…I am so glad I found this post. I have been having dragonflies show up in my life like crazy ever since my heart attack 7 months ago (April 16th) and they are either alive or in the way of inatimate objects (cards, jewelry, wrapping paper, and at some of the craziest times or repeated situations, or while Iam talkng about them……….It is just amazing!!
I am losing my home in a foreclosure, I just lost my full time status so I lost my health benefits…..but ity is so crazy…when dragonfly appears it helps me move on…keep my sanity…does that make any sense??????????
Your response in so much needed!!!! and appreciated!
December 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
When I remarried my exhusband on my front porch a couple of years ago hundreds of beautiful dragonflies zoomed about. Nothing like that has ever happened at my house before. I thought that it might mean that our marriage would be better than before, but sadly it doesn’t seem to be. So I am wondering what all those dragonflies meant?
February 7th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Hi Sherry:
Today I had a physic reading at a fair. The physic Geraldine, said that my animal guide was the dragonfly. In fact, she saw two dragonflies, one behind the other touching, flying. She indicated it meant change and one other thing I forgot now. She said she had never before seen two dragonflies like that before in all her readings.
Can you please tell me the significance of two dragonflies as an animal guide flying one behind the other…touching.
Thanks, Elizabeth
February 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Well it kinda makes sense to me because of the symbolism of the dragonfly. Dragonfly is about transformation and change. Many symbolisms which talk about transformation and change also speak of birth, renewing, etc. Now I could be wrong because I don’t know all there is to know of the dragonfly but the only time I know that they are together seeming attached is when they are mating. This is the process of creating new life so it matches up with the symbolism or change, transformation, and birth. But also you could put the symbolism of death in there but I consider death and birth to go hand in hand. The reason I say that is that sometimes a dragonfly is not a willing participant and attacks muderously and then other time the mating process has the male basically grabbing them without warning when they are actually in the process of laying eggs near water and resulting in the female drowning in the process. So I think that you would have to see that symbolism of the two dragonflies together as change, transformation, birth, and death. But in a nut shell it is about some change. And with change often we remove or something is removed from our lives clearing the way for something new.
I think this explanation of dragonfly as animal guides says it all and also makes sense of her seeing two dragonflies together. If the psychic knew a little more about the dragonfly she would have been able to probably go a little deeper and give you more info but it’s hard to know everything about all the animal totems…there are soooo many.
The dragonfly inhabits two realms: air and water and the influence of both these elements will be felt by Dragonfly people. They will be emotional and passionate during their early years (the influence of water) and more balanced with greater mental clarity and control in as they mature (the influence of air).
Dragonfly is the essence of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightenment; and the communication from the elemental world. Dragonfly medicine beckons you to seek out the parts of your habits which need changing.
Call on Dragonfly to guide you through the mists of illusion to the pathway of transformation. The number 2 is important to Dragonfly, so think in terms of two year periods when you begin a change. Dragonfly brings the light and color of transformation into your life.
Notice that the number 2 is important to the dragonfly. Also guiding you through illusions…maybe seeing the one guide as two dragonflies is the hint of it’s helping with illusions. Of course when I think of two I always think of duality and hence balance, ying and yang, up and down (heaven and earth), etc.
So now that you have all this info the question to ask is what is going on in your life. Are you in need of the help of the dragonfly guide? In need of more balance? Or is your need at this time change? I say that because maybe there is a reason she saw and told you of this animal guide. I always say nothing happens by accident but happens quite on purpose.
February 8th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Thanks Sherry, that was very helpful. f.y.i. she saw both the dagonflies moving forward at the same time, one behind the other….I got the impression like following one another. She also did mention change because of the moving forward part.
Thanks again, for you quick response and input.
Elizabeth
February 9th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Hi Sherry, I am an Artist painter and yesterday I decided to add a dragonfly hovering above the water in one of my paintings. They have been on my mind recently ,not sure why? Today when I was riding home forn the beach a very beautiful almost golden dragonfly hovered right in front of my face so I could see it clearly. And then darted off. It’s a wee odd as there isn’t any freash water ponds or lakes nearby only the beach!And I’ve never seen one around Fremantle before!
The painting I’m doing of the lakes is of an amazing private property in England. Where I felt i went through a transformative process, through the power of the natural elelments there.
Did I actually see a dragonful or was it something quite magical?
Looking forward to seeing what you think.
Also I’m having quite a tricky time with my husband?
Thanks kindly Jill
February 10th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hi Jill,
I know what you mean about darting in front of you. When this happens it is trying to make sure you do not miss that you are trying to be told something. I feel it shows an urgency and an importance in not missing that you are either being given this symbol as a clue to where you are at in your life right now or sometimes a hint at the answer. Yes the dragonfly is magical…however you did see it in reality.
What came to me when i read your comment was the story of how the dragonfly came to be. The most important part is in an effort to prove it’s power and magic it lost it’s power. How could this apply to the situation with your husband. What just came to mind as I typed that was “WINNING THE WAR AND LOSING THE BATTLE.” Are you trying to hard to prove a point, prove your right, prove your worth, etc? Are you maybe going about something all wrong. Maybe you think it seems that you are going about something the right way but in the end it will not lead you where you really want to go. Is there possibly another way that you could handle the situation. Before doing anything I would just take the time to sit and think about it. See what comes to mind. Possibly meditate on the painting you spoke of…stare at it in a meditative state with eyes open of course. Or maybe also work on another painting and start with the dragonfly and see what else come to mind for the painting and see if it offers some insight.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Elizabeth, you are very welcome!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Hi
My name is Teresa and I am a big fan of dragonflies. I am so taken by them I have a tattoo on my ankle of a beautiful dragonfly. I lost my true love last year and I believe that the dragonfly is some symbol of this. Please advise.
Thanks.
Teresa
February 20th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Hi Teresa,
When the dragonfly appears to us it is speaking to us of some type of transformation, awakening or the breaking of the illusion of limitations past physical exsistance. The dragonfly often ask you to see that there is a rebirth and light illuminating an illusion. So being very interested in the dragonfly for you could be a symbol that your love is near and is trying to let you know that he did not experience death but in fact a rebirth and that he is not really gone…but has just transitioned. That very much has to do with the dragonfly helping to shed light on the illusion of limitations past physical exsitance.
Sherry
February 21st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Hi!
I just want to share my way to dragonfly.
When I was a child, I decided to collect butterflies because I find them beautiful. But somehow it didn’t succeed. Maybe because it seems to me that everyone likes butterflies so it’s a common to see a person collecting butterflies. I want to be different. And so, I thought hard of something rare to collect. I thought of collecting kerrokerropi stuff (a frog). But then I realized it’s absurd because I am afraid of frogs. And so naturally, it didn’t work out. After that I have not thought of collecting anything.
I moved into another country two months ago. While strolling around the place, we passed a shop selling bags and jewelleries. I saw a pair of dragonfly earring and liked it immediately. Then I told myself maybe I would collect dragonflies. Yesterday, we passed again to that shop. To my delight, the items were on sale. And so I was able to afford to buy 3 items all with dragonfly design. And I am really happy about that. It only reinforced my idea of collecting items with dragonflies.
When I was about to sleep, I saw the items and tried them on. It feels so right that I’ll be collecting dragonflies. And so, I started searching about dragonflies .I browsed the internet and I was amazed by what I learned. I found out that the symbol of dragonfly is connected to me in many ways. I am a nurse who wants to be in the OB-Gyne or mental health nursing. Just like the dragonflies being connected with fertility and of being a deep thinker or dreamer. I have always been curious on how people think and how it affects their actions and behaviour. Looking back to my childhood, I didn’t do butterflying but have a lot of good memories of running around catching dragonflies and feed them with weeds (they munch them really!). And I remember that whenever I see a dead dragonfly, I feel sad and yet amazed on how they can retain their appearance even after dying. All of these memories come as I write right now.
As I think deeper, maybe the two realms of the dragonfly (water and air) is the combination of what I am actually looking in butterfly and frog. And the connection doesn’t end there, few hours ago (before I searched about dragonflies), I decided to send a message and make amends with a long lost friend. In my message, I said that I’m sorry for being immature. It‘s funny how it coincided with the dragonfly’s symbol of maturity. Even the transformation and adaptation aspects are really applicable to me, since I am in a new country with a totally different culture and way of living.
Maybe it’s just me connecting these things with my life. But in my heart I know that I finally found what I have been looking for, it’s not just mere satisfaction of collection. I was longing for a representation of what is the real me, simple yet unique and rare, just like a dragonfly…
I am not an expert with this, it’s my first visit here, please give me more insights. thanks!
April 27th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
hi, A 3 year old little girl went missing a 2 years ago, and searches thought that she was in the river, and that finding her alive was very slim. During the search the little girls father was at his house, and a dragonfly stayed around all day long, and also during this time the grandmother was up searching for the little girl, and she’s not a big fan of dragonflies at all, but one came by and flew around her head, and normally she would swat at them, but this time she didn’t, but she didnt really know why. But when she got home to her son, he had told her his story, and she had told him her’s. Well in the end the little girl was found by the dam, and she had died (she was missing for almost 3 months) we believe that the little girl has come back as a dragonfly. Is there any way that it could possible be true?? and is there a reason that she would come back as a dragonfly?? your answers would be greatly appriciated.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hi Michelle,
Rest assure that the dragonflies were the little girls way of connecting to her loved ones. She saw their worry and I imagine franstic searching also and was trying to get their attention as a way of letting them know she was okay now. Dragonflies are also symbols of past memories and also known for being childrens playmates in the summer. Every time they see a dragonfly it should remind them of this little girl and let them know this is her way of visiting them and reminding them of the good memories of the past. It is a sign that is being sent.
I hope this helps.
Sherry
April 27th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
thank you, thats just what i thought. it is so good to know that there is a way that we can all connect with her, and to know that she is ok. and that we can be ok. Because we still don’t quite understand why this happened, but to know that she is ok, it works for me. thank you again.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Michelle,
The healing will come…it just takes time and with a child I feel it is just that much harder to heal from it.
You welcome.
Sherry
April 27th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
yeah….i had another question….other then the whole dragonfly thing, you seem to know alot…..the little girl had siblings, one of them is now 6 and the other one just turned 3….they say that they see and talk to her all the time, and when i was with the 3 year old the other day she had said that her sister was in the kitchen, and we said well why don’t you tell her to come here into the living room, and she said that she couldnt cuz she was at her grammy’s, what does that really mean. can she be in two places at once, or i dont know it just kinda caught me off gaurd.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
When my son was between 2 and 3 yrs old it was really hard at times to make sense of what he was trying to tell me or the answers to the questions I asked. At that age it is also hard to get answer as far as timing of when something happened. What I mean is the last time she saw her sister she was in the kitchen and my guess is that she is not just seeing her sister but also communicating with her. Possibly she told her she was going to visit her Grammy when she left there. Possibly she asked her sister where she was going. But yes children that age are very open and most can see spirits. But they are limited on communicating things to you because of their age so sometimes it can be hard to make heads or tails of what they are trying to tell you. Just be patient…know when to drop it…and then come back to the questions at a later time because with their short attention spans they can get easily frustrated by not being able to communicate things to you clearly.
Don’t worry…it does catch you off guard. It still does me often too.
Sherry
April 28th, 2009 at 7:39 am
ok. thank you very much for answering my questions.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I am sitting on my porch having a glass of wine thinking about how tough things have been lately…a dragonfly flew on the stem of glass and then landed on the table and is staring right at me. It was first laying flat and now the wings have gone up into the air as if standing on legs. I looked up symbolism of dragonflies and was led to this site. Very interesting…
May 21st, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Thank you Sherry… of all the sites I’ve just visited reflecting symbolism of the dragonfly, yours brings peace. Over the past two days (in an urban factory setting) as I stood outside to just take a quick break, I encountered dragonflies. Yesterday it was just a single dragonfly circling around me… today “he” was back almost doing laps around me and ahead of me, then I noticed another one further down also doing laps or circles… but what really amazed me was when two additional dragonflies (joined together) flew in front of me and then disappeared over the building roof. I believe there is a message here. Perhaps the delays I’ve experienced in love, success, wealth and health are over. Change is in the air!
May 24th, 2009 at 11:57 am
good good?this post deserves nothing
?hahaha just joking 
?nice post 
May 29th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I am thinking of leaving my husband and moving to another state. I was sitting on the deck with my eyes closed thinking about my process and visualizing my life in this new state. I kept feeling something on my arm. I would shake my arm and it would leave only to return. After about 3-4 times I opened my eyes and there was a dragonfly on my forarm. Does this mean the ‘change’ I am planning is for the better? or for the worse? What does it mean when you are visualizing a future plan and the dragonfly will not leave you alone?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Dragonflies have been showing up for me big time. I am going through much change in my life. A dragonfly represents transformation. Death can simply mean that the ‘old you’ is dead. The ‘new you’ is emerging! It does not have to mean physical death. Remember that change is constant. In every moment you are a new person. Change is awesome! Let go and go with the flow. Good or bad is just a perception of the mind. Don’t judge, just flow. God is with you always. Bless your hearts!
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
My 13 year old son died about a month ago. His friends, classmates and family were building a memorial at the site of his accident last Sunday. Suddenly the field was filled with dragonflies. There were hundreds of them. But there was one bright blue one that was buzzing a few peoples heads and they stayed a long time. I am hoping that it was my son Wyatt. Any comments?
July 4th, 2009 at 7:46 am
I found your site through my search for dragonfly symbolism. I’ve been going through a transformation through my yoga practice and through my recent readings of the metaphysical. I’m hungry for knowledge and understanding. Recently, while I was receiving Reiki through my yoga teacher, she had a vision of three dragonflies going by her face. I’m assuming this vision was for me to understand but would like to know the significance of the “three” dragonflies. I’m happy to have found your website!
July 4th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Bonnie,
I’m sorry to about you loss. Ask God to send you dragonflies to visit you as confirmation that your son sent you the dragonfly or appears as a dragonfly to let you know it’s him…and then just keep your eyes open.
Sherry