My Dragonfly
What does a dragonfly symbolize? Some say renewal, positive forces, or the power of life. In some cultures, it holds a deep spiritual meaning of wisdom or pointing to a higher self. How a dragonfly changes from a mudbug to a flying insect with shimmering, iridescent wings is strikingly dramatic. Its energy is associated with swiftness, strength, and peace.
I did not know any of this when I met “my dragonfly” while walking in preparation for an anticipated pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. My dragonfly entertained with flights of fancy, darting quickly left and right across the path, hovering as if waiting for me and then speeding ahead with a ”Come on, hurry up” insistence. She lightened my steps and made me smile.
My girlfriends and I had committed to walking 125 miles of the Camino in the fall and training had begun in earnest. I knew it would take all my strength to complete this portion of the walk, following the path of millions of pilgrims towards the place where St. James the Great was buried. The path is referred to as The Way. It’s a spiritual journey that takes lots of muscle.
The day I met “my dragonfly,” I was contemplating a mantra. It had been suggested that a mantra, something I could repeat in my head for encouragement while walking, would add intention to my pilgrimage. But the words were taking much thought and consideration. On the day she flew around my feet, they came to me; more of a prayer, they would serve as the inspiration to keep my legs moving.
Maybe you have found a mantra or motto to live by so you can relate to this experience. I was caught up in the moment of this discovery and thanked my dragonfly for being there with me. Voicing the words made them real, even if they were only heard by a dragonfly.
So much self-doubt crept in during the months of preparation. I often wanted to back out and admit I couldn’t do it. I only saw a short distance down the way, never letting myself imagine the entire Way. My dragonfly visited me during these times of fear and self-doubt as I trained and she pushed me to get stronger, encouraging me to keep going. Remember, from mud bugs to wings of flight! I noticed her alighting gently above wheat-topped grasses, hovering and quickly darting ahead. She was spurring me on and giving me hope that the journey was not only doable but within sight.
Finally, my 11-pound backpack was wrapped in cellophane and put on the plane destined for Spain. My two lifelong friends and I were finally on our way! Excitement and fear combined for an exhilarating energy. While writing in my journal after the long trek to our first hostel, I noted the journey had actually begun nine months earlier, in my training. That’s how things work sometimes - you don’t even know the adventure has started. It is in the determination, goal setting and simply starting that the true experience begins. Fear be damned!
We finished our segment of The Way with only a few easily soothed blisters. It’s hard to tell you how fulfilling and magical the moment felt as we entered the Plaza del Obradoiro in Santiago, full of fellow travelers from around the world! There was a children's orchestra playing, and I swore they were playing just for us! The cathedral’s stunning spires reached through the blue sky straight up to heaven! To say I was happy would be a grand understatement!
The dragonfly symbolism of change shone a clear light on how the pilgrimage had affected me. Confidence in oneself is an elusive feeling for me, but as I walked, sang, and laughed along The Way I truly felt strong, hopeful, and powerful. I was at peace. I recalled my dragonfly; light and swift, and realized I was accomplishing my goal, full of freedom from doubt, fear, and judgment. The air was filled with positive life just waiting to be breathed in and tasted.
Change that had started months earlier, fraught with self-doubt and fear, had come to me most gracefully. Walking with me along the path marked with yellow arrows was a trickle of hope, a drop of faith, and an abundance of love. Those virtues strengthened me and transformed my self-confidence. The dragonfly, my dragonfly, now represents that positive place in my life.
Do you have something special that represents a positive change in your life? A moment in time, captured in a symbol, to remind you of a special time or feeling? I hope so!
Bit by bit, that’s all she wrote…