According to the Chinese, 2013 is The Year of The Snake,

But my dragonfly friends have a different point of view.

Yes, I said dragonfly friends.

I know it sounds strange, but over the last couple of years, I’ve gotten to know quite a few of them.

It all started one day, when swarms of red dragonflies suddenly showed up in my garden, whirling and swirling above my patio umbrella. (I’d never seen a red dragonfly in my life.)

Just to make sure they had my attention, the whole gang came back three days in a row. (For more on that, read this.)

Since then, I’ve spotted dragonflies in the craziest places.

On Hollywood Boulevard. Sunset Boulevard.  The streets of Beverly Hills. Even on the freeway.

As if that wasn’t bizarre enough, at my friend Moira’s house, an enormous blue dragonfly flew into her garage and did a circle dance around my head. (If Moira hadn’t seen it, we would have both questioned my sanity.)

But I must say, the ultimate dragonfly woo-woo experience took place a couple of months ago when my husband and I were walking under the mighty oak trees at the Ojai Valley Inn.

I was telling Will about the book I’d just been reading by the pool. And how it talked about ancient cultures that worshipped the Goddess and actually revered older women. (In fact, they were honored as High Priestesses and Medicine Women, valued for their wisdom, experience and leadership.)

Just as I was launching into how different things are in our current youth-obsessed culture, I stopped mid-sentence.

Suddenly, dozens and dozens of whirling, twirling, swirling red dragonflies appeared out of nowhere.

Again? Seriously? More dragonflies?  (In all my years in Ojai, I’d never seen a single one.)

Okay, that was it. There was no ignoring the fact that the dragonflies had a message for me.

But first, a little Dragonfly 101:

You see, a dragonfly spends most of its life as a “nymph” (an alien-looking larvae-like creature) crawling around the bottom of a pond. (This stage can last up to four years.)

Then, one seemingly random day, the nymph climbs out of water, onto a reed and out into the sunlight.

There, it sheds its skin and reveals its true dragonfly self.

Transparent wings unfurl. Magical colors emerge. And the dragonfly spends the rest of its life soaring.

And then it hit me. That’s what this was all about.

I’m a dragonfly. And maybe you are too.

-Have you found yourself  submerged in the dark waters of self-doubt?

-Is the Real You somewhere in hiding?

-Do you have gifts and passions that you long to express?

-Do you feel like there’s something you’re meant to do but you’re not sure what it is (or how to do it)?

-Do you worry you don’t have enough time to fulfill your dreams?

Yep, I had a feeling I wasn’t the only one. Which is what I believe the dragonflies have been trying to tell me.

Well, I’ve finally gotten the message:

It’s time to start a Dragonfly Movement.

I’m not sure exactly what that means or how to do it.

But I do know, deep down in my soul, that no matter what age or stage we’re at in our lives, we’re meant to crawl out from under our fears and give our hearts wings.

When one of us dares to shine our true colors, it lights the way for all of us.

Here’s a little poem that flew into my imagination (along with the painting above.)
Kind of a “Dragonfly Manifesto.”

Dragonflies
Take to the skies

Colors twirling
Passions swirling

Hide no more
Express, explore

Ageless, cageless
Soaring sages

Find out what you came here for

I’d love to know if the idea of a Dragonfly Movement moves you.
And, of course, feel free to share whatever’s on your mind. Or in your heart.