Majestic Wings

Posted on by

While pushing my cart from the Co-op, I spotted a dragonfly on the blacktop in the parking lot. Frail in appearance, their iridescent wings are actually quite strong. Among the fastest flying insects in the world, dragonflies can fly backwards, change direction in mid-air, and hover.

IMG_6365

Native American folklore tells us that the iridescence in a dragonfly’s wings is a glimmer of hope; believing that with the dawn of each new day the dragonfly brings possibility and joy.

Where do you see a glimmer of hope?

WRITERS, if you want your writing to soar — to take flight — I’d like to introduce you to my friend Laurie Scheer. Here is a link to my review of her wonderful new book, The Writer’s Advantage.

© Laurie Buchanan

Find me on Twitter @TuesWithLaurie
Find me on Facebook

70 thoughts on “Majestic Wings”

  1. Hi Laurie,

    I see lots of glimmers of hope, and while our future is far from assured, I am cautiously optimistic and getting ever more optimistic.

    One glimmer of hope comes from seeing a growing awareness that it is possible to characterise all major advances in evolution as the emergence of new levels of cooperation, pointing to we humans cooperating at a global level and delivering an abundance of all the necessities of life to everyone.

    Another glimmer of hope comes from the public responses I have had so far to my appearances in public forums during this election campaign.

    Another glimmer of hope comes from the ever increasing productivity of automated systems, meaning that we need fewer and fewer people to actually work to deliver abundance to all.

    Another glimmer of hope comes from the growing number of video recorders, that are making it possible to bring ever greater levels of transparency and integrity to our governance processes. And that is a long slow process, with many levels yet to emerge from murky darkness of privacy and “old boy networks” into the light of public awareness.

    Another glimmer comes from the ability of the internet to connect people all around the world, and allow distributed trust networks to carry information and concepts around the world within minutes.

    Another glimmer comes from a growing awareness that our future relies on us adopting values that go far beyond the values of the market place. Money is a useful tool, and the is much truth in the old adage “that the love of money is the root of evil”. I see many people, from many different paradigms and traditions, reaching common ground on this reality.

    Another glimmer comes from the growing set of powerful tools to empower groups of people to come to decisions that acknowledge and incorporate the concerns of everyone involved.

    Another glimmer comes from a growing awareness of our mutual interdependence, and our joint dependence on the ecosystems that support us. Very few people shit in the bedrooms these days, and most are starting to wake up to the fact that this whole earth is our bedroom.

    Another glimmer comes from ever increasing numbers of people moving beyond simple binary ideas like right & wrong, good & evil, and moving into realms that accept that there are an infinite number of possible paths from anywhere to anywhere else, and just because someone happens to pass us going the other way, doesn’t mean that their ultimate destination is any different from ours.

    Another glimmer comes from the ever increasing efficiency of energy production. Currently the best of our solar cells are a little over half the theoretical maximum efficiency (at 44%) of the theoretical maximum of 86%. Even at current efficiencies of 20% humanity’s total energy needs could be met from less than half of the Australian deserts. There are also many teams working on radiation free nuclear systems – like the Lawrenceville Plasma Physics Focus Fusion group.

    There are many other glimmers, and these few will do to give a flavour of what is driving my cautious optimism.

    Reply ↓

  2. I love the dragonfly Laurie and the meaning of it. When butterflies flutter around me I always feel connected to the moment.
    Karen

    Reply ↓

  3. The iridescence on their wings is a glimmer of hope… I love that! I have always loved dragonflies since childhood, maybe that’s why.

    We don’t tend to see them over here all that often. When I do spot one, it always fills me with excitement and awe… to me, they’re like creatures from another world. I’m sorry to say that I’m not a fan of insects in general, but butterflies and dragonflies seem to me to bring an aura of gentle peace with them when they visit…

    Reply ↓

  4. Dragonflies are one of my very favorites, and I’ve been seeing a ton of them lately. One piece of Dragonfly medicine that resonates strongly with me is their complete transformation from a mud crawling nymph to a glorious flier. They remind re that the way we begin isn’t always the way we will end. 🙂

    Reply ↓

  6. Last Wednesday when I took Curtis to soccer practice I saw hundreds of dragonflies doing their calisthenics: helicoptering above the grass, releasing their iridescence and joy. It must be their season, a final fling before cooler weather sets in.

    Where do I see a glimmer of hope? In the eyes of my grand-children.

    Reply ↓

  7. The glimmer of hope that is with me and my husband, every waking hour , is our eventual completion date for the sale of our house . We start our day with a glimmer of hope only to be let down for another day …another week…another month…another year??????. Maybe the next move will be easier Laurie aggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!! LOL

    I always amazed by the beauty of insects . Their tiny miraculous bodies. That dragon fly is spectacular .
    Cherryx

    Reply ↓

    • Cherry – I wonder if it’s not a case of a buyer looking for the right home, but your home looking for the right buyer? I think (at least sometimes) that houses have a “feel” for these kinds of things. After all, someone is going to actually live inside them and they want to make sure it’s a good fit 🙂

      Reply ↓

  8. Laurie, I love your new cover photo, it’s beautiful! Hope, I try to plant a little of it everyday. I see a glimmer of hope in every seed I plant, every branch I prune, and in every cutting I take. In Human terms that would amount to every word of praise I offer, in the dismissal of unnecessary criticism, and the offering of kindness to someone who could use some.

    Reply ↓

  9. We are all surrounded by glimmers of hope, but sometimes we don’t notice them. A ray of sun peeking through gray cloud cover, just for a split second, reminds us that the sun is still there and shines on us even if we can’t feel its warmth.

    Reply ↓

  11. Humanity has a great many faults, but we have come a long way and I believe we’ll go further. Despite wars and destruction, we must never lose hope that we will triumph for the good of the many.

    Reply ↓

    • Coldhandboyack – I love the Boise Co-op too. We’re in there at least once a week. We’re also seeing lots of dragonflies as we walk through the neighborhood in the historic Warm Springs area. Ya gotta love it! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  15. I begin and end my day by the lake enjoying sunrise and sunset. The sun reflecting in the water and the assurance that the sun will rise and set tomorrow provide glimmers of hope for me.

    Reply ↓

  16. The Dragon Fly has long been amongst my most favorite of winged ones, Laurie. Its beauty coupled with its versatility; the fact that it is so small yet is fast flying, flies backwards, changes direction mid air and hovers. . .has always given me a glimmer of hope:)

    Reply ↓

  17. I am fascinated by dragonflies, love their grace and beauty. Where do I see glimmers of hope? All around me, in the birth of new growth in the spring, the lushness of summer blooms, the touches of fall colors showing up now – the promises of another season, a new day, a movement forward. Where do I lose hope? On those rare occasions (now rare) when I watch the news.

    Reply ↓

  19. I love dragonflies! In fact, I have some carved into a gourd with iridescent wings (the artist did a great job of providing that glimmer of hope). I mostly find my glimmers in nature — as in, right now, I’ve got a glimmer of hope that the saguaro we rescued will survive. She traveled 1/4 mile down the wash, when she was uprooted by turbulent monsoon waters. Talk about an undertaking in the making: we estimate she weighs 150 to 200 lbs. Hoping we can get her upright and happy in new soil.

    Reply ↓

  20. I take hope in the sunrises and sunsets and in the daily tides. This is a really timely question for me right now… looking for those glimmers of hope! They really are in the smallest things and gestures. Thanks Laurie!

    Reply ↓

  21. The wondrous flight of the dragonfly is a beautiful metaphor for a profound sense of optimism, Laurie. We have seen so many instances in the news and on line of people showing compassion for their fellow man. People are basically good, and it is certainly not too much to expect and anticipate that the inherent goodness will always on balance triumph over adversity. This blog and its ever positive mind set is a shining example. 🙂

    Reply ↓

  22. Still have hope of getting infection free? That the surgery will be a great success – the last for my jaw.
    Dragonfly is also a symbol of friendship.
    Will check out book recommendation when on computer tomorrow
    Book group and 12 for dinner tonight
    Nice writing found here thank you

    Reply ↓

  23. What a wonderful post, Laurie. Thank you for sharing it with me.
    Where do I find hope…
    -in my own strength and determination to grow, to change, to adapt, to endure
    -in humanity
    -in believing in and trusting something larger and wiser…

    Reply ↓

  25. The smile of a child, laughter from a “seasoned” citizen, the morning’s sun on a crystal river, tender music played softly in the background, the purr of a kitten, whatever life puts in front of me I find hope. For why else would I be presented with such beauty every day if not to inspire me for tomorrow?

    Reply ↓

  26. Hi, Laurie, what a beautiful dragonfly. I found one in the driveway–very similar–and set it on the front porch to admire. I don’t know about hope, but it gives me gratefulness for “what is”. Blessings to you this fine dragonfly week!

    Reply ↓

  27. A quick story for you. I lost two daughters in 2010…after a memorial service in a meadow we released balloons. As the balloons rose on the blue bird day hundreds of dragonflies of all colors rose with them, we were all speechless and since have adopted the dragonflies as our earth angels and of course jewelry and paintings followed that time. Thank you for sharing this beautiful picture. Ann

    Reply ↓

    • Shirley – Grandchildren, yes! The hope of today. The hope of tomorrow.

      Thank you for the link to Diane Ackerman. I enjoyed reading her optimistic view. And her tagline is great: “One of her guests is always you.”

      Reply ↓

  32. I see lots of dragonflies, and I’m so glad you shared the story of what those beautiful wings represent. Hope! I so frequently say, “I live on hope.” And I’m sometimes being a little silly with it because I say it in conjunction with situations that are a little ludicrous or a situation not very likely to change, but deep in my spirit I am a hopeful person. I see “hope” in my grandchildren and in the college students I work with. The very young and the young adults. They are looking ahead and planning futures, and that is hopeful to me. So much is changing that I don’t like, or my own fears for the future rise up occasionally, but if we keep looking ahead and planning for the future, even one that is altered to accommodate shifts we didn’t personally invite, that brings me hope. I love dragonflies, and now even a little more. 🙂

    Reply ↓

    • Three Well Beings — I think it’s cool that you’re a hopeful person. Seeing hope your grandchildren, in other young people, and college-aged students means that you have in the future. yes, Yes, YES — and my hope is right there alongside yours 🙂

      Reply ↓

  34. Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    I love the expression A glimmer of hope – sometimes we also say ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ Hope is a very powerful motivator and whilst I like the company of all people there are a few who I have to move away from. Pessimists – who see no hope in anything. I am a realist and know that life is not a bowl of cherries but people who suck the hope out of you are lethal. Some may say that you need to spend time to change their approach to life but I have done that in the past and found that those who do bring joy and hope into my life were left by the wayside. So please do not rain on my parade!

    Reply ↓

Leave a reply to authorleannedyck Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.