Sunday, September 27, 2009

July Dragonflies

It is kind of interesting that I included Dragonflies and Butterflies both last year in my pieces and this year as well. Last year the dragonflies were nearer the beginning and the the butterflies nearer the end. It would seem that transformation is a very strong message in my life these last couple of years.

July's block comes with 2 dragonflies landing in amongst the flowers on my sacred tree. The number 2 is important to Dragonfly, so think in terms of two year periods when you begin a change. Their heads and main body segments are heart beads both to represent my love of dragonflies but also my love with Wayne. The paired bodies of mating dragonflies form the shape of a heart, perhaps being the source for the modern symbol of love; it is believed that if you see two dragonflies paired together that they represent love and maturity.

The dragonfly is a symbol of growth and development. Her life begins in water, but as she matures, she moves to the air yet always stays close to the water. She reaches her strongest physical point during the summer months as she gains optimal strength from the warmth of the sunlight. Her brilliant colors result from reflecting and refracting the radiance of that 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 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.





When Dragonfly enters our lives, it is time to dig deeper, lift the illusion of suffering and believe in our limitless divinity. They are the essence of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightenment; and the communication from the elemental world. Dragonfly is a magical totem, signifying our ability to transform ourselves as we travel our path of self knowing toward enlightenment. It's iridescence and shifting colors lift us into dreamtime, where we can come to see that what seems to be "reality" is actually the illusion. The dragonfly symbolizes going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing. Call on Dragonfly to guide you through the mists of illusion to the pathway of transformation.




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) but as they get older they achieve balance with mental clarity and control. They gain an expression of the emotional and mental together.(the influence of air). Dragonflies are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity.

It is said that Dragonfly was once Dragon, covered with beautiful, shimmering scales and wielding great inner strength. It could change form at will, and light the darkness with the fire of its breath. Coyote tricked mighty Dragon into changing form and into believing itself to be tiny Dragonfly. Dragon got caught in this illusion of its own making, just as we can find ourselves forever mistaking our facades for who we really are. Too often we believe our failures, our shortcomings, and our limitations are real. We have forgotten that we too can change form at will, wield great inner powers, and can light our darkness with our faith, hope, and determination.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Finding a Voice

Although she has been done for a while now I am a bit behind in blogging about my beautiful magpie friend. She is bright-eyed and happy to finally get to meet you all. Life seems to keep getting in the way of my blogging and I am sorry that I have been so preoccupied with life.
Seeing a magpie is good luck. This member of the crow family teaches communication and the use of your voice. Understanding the balance of light and darkness, they help one see in darkness. Magpies are highly adaptable and have strong social organization skills.

Curious and somewhat impudent those with the magpie as their animal have a will of their own. Magpies will steal anything they can carry off and teach us the skill of using what ever you can find. The use of what is on hand; may reflect in a ‘dabbling’ pattern in your life.

Magpies symbolize intelligence showing the proper use of knowledge and intelligence and how to use what you have. They help you advance your knowledge although the knowledge is often incomplete. You may gain what you desire from the use of knowledge, but it may come in an obtuse or unusual way.


Magpies show us how to use ritual in everyday life. They help us to understand messages from spirit and the proper use of animals as familiars and occult knowledge. If the magpie is your animal you can use whatever metaphysical knowledge that you have and are able to open up as a person to new realms as simply and quickly as possible. You should not look for quick easy methods of attainment through occult knowledge. Seeing or dreaming of magpies usually indicates that you are going to encounter the spirit realm and metaphysical world in a different manner.

The flowers in this block were to represent my love of lilacs, my favorite flowering tree. In my mind they will always be tied to my Grandmother who had beautiful full lilacs in her front yard. The smell of them when they bloomed was amazing. As I write this she has just recently passed. I am so glad that I included a memory of her in BJP while she was still alive, her love of plants and knowledge were always inspiring. Once we start landscaping for our new house I will try to include lilacs because they always remind me of her.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

June Magpie takes flight

June goes to the birds or in this case to one bird. The magpie is one of my spirit animals and she has decided to visit us on my sacred tree.

I started working on her on our way back from Boston in the end of July. She wanted nice feathers so using feathers I had purchased years ago at Michaels I couched her feathers down. I am sure there were people in the airport and plane wondering what in the world I was up to.
Although a magpie's tail is not so fluffy and fanned out she liked hers that way so they will stay a burst of blue to help us steer and balance we go through life.

I used a crystal sequin for her eye and then beaded her head in blue to black size 15 seed beads.