​Last week a beautiful luminous blue dragonfly few into my therapy room, hovered and flew right out again. It was a moment of awe. In the eight years that I have been occupying this space, it has never happened before. With no body of water in the immediate vicinity the visitation was even more special since Dragonflies stay close to rivers or dams.
 
The synchronicity of the sighting is crucial since I will be moving my practise to another space at the end of February. Thus, it is a time of great change for me. Dragonflies are associated with change and transformation bornfrom mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.  In early life, they live as a nymphs within water for almost two years, before they mature and transform into a colorful flying insects, known for their fast flight and dazzling aerial movement. They represent the ‘Power of Light’, illuminating how light can be directed and moved. Besides flying forward, up, down and sideways, dragonflies can even fly backwards. They are able to fly with one wing (if they have to) and change direction in an instant, demonstrating an incredible agility. .
 
Dragonflies have been around for over a 180 million years which speaks of adaptability and incredible survival. Ted Andrews links them to the dragons of myth. They represent ancient archetypal forces. As cold-blooded creatures they need the warmth and the light of the Sun, making summer the season when they are at the height of their power. They are seen as divine promptings to shine your own light and to use imagination to create the wonder of a colorful new vision. Dragonflies inhabit the two realms of water and air. They symbolize the expressions of both emotional and mental life, integrating these polarities to allow new perspectives to emerge.
 
Structures in their shell scatter and refract the light, in similar fashion to rainbows, making them look iridescent blue and green. This ability to reflect and refract light and color is associated with magic and mysticism. “The bright colours take time to develop, reflecting the idea that with maturity our own true colours come forth” (1).
 
Dragonflies captured my imagination during my summer holiday over December/January during which I had two short visits which involved swimming in mountain rivers in the Western Cape Region of South Africa.  The first visit was to a little town called Barrydale where I swam in the mountain pools of Tradouw Pass. The second visit was a stay in a stone cottage on the banks of the Breede River at the foot of the Bainskloof mountains, taking dips in the shallow river. On both occasions there were literally 100’s of colorful Dragonflies swirling though the air – an awesome sight - signifying for me the magic and mystery of the ‘Universal Life Force’ as represented in Nature.
 
Source:            Animal Speak, Ted Andrews, 1993, p. 175
Image Credit: Image by komkrich Srigoson from Pixabay
 
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​“God is some kind of lost continent in the human mind” (Terence McKenna). Edward F. Edinger wrote “For modern man, a conscious encounter with the autonomous archetypal psyche is equivalent to the discovery of God. After such an experience he is no longer alone in his psyche and his whole world view is altered.” (1)
 
Jung’s archetype of the Self is the central archetype in our psyche, the ‘imago Dei’ and source of life energy. Jung said “It might equally be called ‘the God within us.’ The beginnings of our whole psychic life seem to be inextricably rooted in this point, and all our highest and ultimate purposes seem to be striving toward it.” (2) As a transpersonal power and eternal dimension of the psyche, it transcends the ego.  According to Jung “The ego stands to the Self as the moved to the mover.” (3)
 
The Self is an archetype of wholeness, referring both to the origin and entirety of our being. Jung said “The Self is not only the center, but also the whole circumference which embraces both conscious and unconscious; it is the center of this totality, just as the ego is the center of consciousness” (4). The Self is the regulating center of the psyche, a structuring or ordering principle which integrates other internal archetypal structures. It holds the tension between opposites such as masculine and feminine rather than their merging into undifferentiated oneness.
 
The archetype of the Self is depicted by certain typical symbolic images such as mandalas, the philosophers’ stone (also called the transcended or philosophical tree of life), the world tree or cosmic tree, as well as circles paired with a representation of quaternary such as a square or cross. According to Marie-Louise von Franz the Self may be symbolized as an animal, representing our instinctive psyche embedded in nature, especially in dreams (4). Within dreams or experiences of altered consciousness, the archetype of the Self may be experienced in the numinous images of Jesus Christ, Buddha, the Dalai Lama or divinities and gods from various religions and mythology. The archetype of the Self may be what some spiritual teachings refer to as our higher or true self.
 
Edinger emphasizes “The connection between ego and Self is vitally important to psychic health. It gives foundation, structure and security to the ego and also provides energy, interest, meaning and purpose.  When the connection is broken the result is emptiness, despair, meaninglessness and the extreme cases psychosis or suicide” and further “A symptom of damage to this axis is lack of self-acceptance. The individual feels he is not worthy to exist or be himself.” (1)
​
Denise Grobbelaar, (Instagram @denisedreamshaman), author of this post, will be presenting at Jung Southern Africa’s Mantis lecture series, taking place on-line from the 2-4 October 2020. She will examine Nature as a dynamic extension of Jung’s Archetype of the Self as embodied in the image of the White Lion. This presentation is based on her paper published in the 2020 Spring issue of the Jung Journal “The White Lion as Symbol of the Archetype of the Self and the Cannibalization of the Self in Canned Hunting”.  Book your space: https://jungsouthernafrica.co.za/events/
 
Sources:

1. Edinger, Edward, F. (1972) Ego & Archetype: Individuation and the religious function of the psyche, (p. 104, p. 43, p. 40)
2. CW 7, ¶399
3. CW 11, ¶391
4. CW 12, ¶44
5. Jung and Von Franz 1964, p. 220

 
Image credits:

1. Carl Jung, Image from the Red Book
2. Philosopher’s Stone,  Atalanta Fugiens,  Michael Maier, 1617
3. White Lion, Global White Lion Protection Trust

 
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Butterflies taste flowers by walking on them.  They have taste receptacles on their feet. This reminds me of the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” Butterflies seem to be dancing on flowers, as they joyously flit from one to the other. They awaken a sense of joy, lightness, pleasure and beauty, reminding us to not take everything so seriously. They call upon us to invite playfulness. Butterflies are a compelling reminder that, while life is a powerful dance between the great forces of Shakti and Shiva, it is also sensual, pleasurable, joyful and playful.
 
Butterflies breathe through tiny pores called spiracles. Most insects breathe through such openings in the body. This can really teach us about deep cellular breathing to connect us to the world around us, allowing us to truly live an embodied life. As international breath work teacher, Dan Brule said in a workshop in Cape Town a few years ago “We are all breathing the same breath… called life”.  
 
Butterflies are associated with the process of transformation, metamorphosis and shape shifting. We know that change is inevitable in life.  Change ensures growth and maturation. Everything in life must go through stages of development. Butterflies begin as eggs. The fertilized eggs hatch into caterpillars which eventually spin cocoons around themselves, setting the stage for the chrysalis process. A mummy-like pupa forms inside the cocoon and dissolves into a liquid mush. This intense change can be equated to the alchemical stage of Solutio, - or in humans, the dark night of the Soul. In this a reorganization of the caterpillar’s cells occurs even though everything seems lifeless. Then from the cocoon the final expression of life emerges. Even as the butterfly appears we are reminded that everything has a purpose. In the process of struggling to leave its cocoon, the butterfly’s wings are strengthened. A butterfly would not be able to fly - and will die - if it were prematurely pulled from its cocoon. Give yourself time. Be patient. Even as the butterfly whispers of your hidden potentials, the old have to be shed before we can embrace the new.
 
Butterflies have long been associated with a deep and powerful representation of the soul and spiritual transformation. Their blue color is often thought to symbolize healing.
 
The inspiration from this post came from a hypnogogic moment between sleep and wakefulness, one night a few months ago during Covid19 lockdown. The amazingly clear image of a luminous blue butterfly appeared in my mind’s eye and I literally gasped in awe and admiration at its beauty. I have since identified it as a Morpho butterfly. ‘Morpho’ means change, modification, transformation… talk about hitting you over the head with the symbolism of TRANSFORMATION!
 
(from Wikipedia) “Morpho butterflies are colored in metallic, shimmering shades of blues and greens. These colors are not a result of pigmentation, but are an example of iridescence through structural coloration. Specifically, the microscopic scales covering the morpho's wings reflect incident light repeatedly at successive layers, leading to interference effects that depend on both wavelength and angle of incidence/observance.”
 
 “There’s an old saying that there is nothing in a caterpillar that knows it’s going to be a Butterfly. Nonetheless, the transformation from caterpillar to winged wonder happens quite naturally.” – Read more https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/spirit-totem-power-animal-meanings/insects/butterfly-symbolism-meaning/
 
Source:            Animal Speak, Ted Andrews, 1993, p.331-332, 39-340
Image Credit: https://webcomicms.net/
 
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Recently while walking in the forest, I was delighted to come across a Praying Mantis resting on a boulder in the middle of the stream. I can’t remember seeing one in the forest before. One is more likely to encounter eagles, owls, snakes, field mice, spiders and other bugs. Periodically a Praying Mantis pays a visit to my herb garden which I deem a great honor.  We always have to take care when picking herbs.
 
I believe a Praying Mantis to be a sacred being and I feel awe in their presence. Their front legs are characteristically held in a prayer-like posture, which is regarded as a sign of reverence, veneration and respect. It is also a form of greeting "Namaste", which means "I bow to the divinity within you from the divinity within me."
 
The IXam, the First People of my country, South Africa, believed Mantis (whom they called ǀKágge̥n) to be the first being and creator of the world. He was a shape-shifting trickster god (similar to Coyote and Raven from the stories of the first nations of America) who stole fire from the ostrich for humans. He was curious and watchful, observing and pondering everything he saw in silent contemplation.
 
A Praying Mantis embodies stillness in its slow, graceful and mindful movements, never hurrying. However, it is a deadly predator and great hunter in the insect world, waiting patiently and motionless, blending with its surroundings, suddenly grasping its prey at the most opportune time. A Praying Mantis demonstrates the great power in stillness and silence. “It teaches us to still the outer, so that when it is time to act (in any form) it is done with surety, accuracy and great power” (1).
 
The word “mantis”, derived from Greek, means “prophet”.   Encountering a Praying Mantis may indicate that Spirit is speaking to you in a significant way and you may need to go within to find the prophecy from your Higher Self. Meditate on what is important to you. Listen to your intuition. Be mindful that your choices are in alignment with your inner self. Reduce the external clutter and unnecessary activity in your life. . When a Praying Mantis enters your life through a dream or a sighting, what you may need is peace, quiet and calm.
 
Sources:
(1) Ted Andrews. Animal Speak (1993), p. 349
https://www.spirit-animals.com/praying-mantis-symbolism/
https://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-mantis.html
 
Image credit:
(1) Praying Mantis http://bfuword.blogspot.com/
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Early one morning during lockdown a Verreaux's Eagle visited my garden. The magnificent black bird was perched high in a tree visible from my bedroom.  I was in awe of its presence. Eagles represent illumination of spirit, healing and creation according to Ted Andrews in “Animal Speak” (1993).  They have often been seen as symbols of power, nobility and higher perspective.  Eagles are seen in many cultures as messengers from heaven and an embodiment of the sun energy. As with other solar animals and apex predators, such as lions, eagles help to maintain balance in the world.
 
Eagles “teach a balance of being of the earth but not in it” (p.139). Their powerful grip and ability to utilize what they have grasped is symbolic of their connection to the Earth. It is an invaluable part of their great hunting prowess, which ensures their survival.  The message is to keep oneself grounded, laying a foundation for yourself while expanding your vision of what is possible. Eagles conserve their energy when hunting.  They do not waste their resources and bide their time, waiting for the right moment to strike. With tremendous control of their powerful wings they glide slowly and silently so as not to alert their prey. They sometimes hover for a brief moment for a more accurate strike. The image of the Eagle inspires us to strengthen our wings on the winds of life while developing an acute sense of timing in terms of when to hover and when to strike when opportunities present themselves.
 
The eagle’s magnificent ability to fly and soar to great heights with its keen sight and hearing represents a more expansive perspective of reality. A visit in a dream or a sighting may signify the opening of a new vision within the present moment, reaching far to the past and into the future.  An eagle’s sharp beak and powerful jaws are designed to cut, tear and crush. In humans the jaw is important in digestion, but also in speech. The eagle’s message may be the need to develop discernment in when to speak, how much, and how strongly in order to not inadvertently hurt and rip the other person to shreds.  

Photo Credit: Derek Keats

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