misanthropic, if you don't mind, what is the meaning behind your tattoo? And the letters?
So many of you posted about your tattoos, but I want more people to share!
Damselfly explained why her username is such in the thread Greendawn started a while back about explaining our avatars and usernames. This got me thinking a damselfly tattoo would be pretty cool. I am interested in something feminine but not too feminine, something that represents strength (and the nymph is a strong little bugger who has a rough time of growing up at times), something that represents the transformation I'm going through right now as I come into my own and truly become an adult. Butterflies also represent transformation but I think they can sometimes be overdone.
Here's what I found about damselflies and dragonflies:
They go through a metamorphosis period to emerge as fully formed and functional new creatures. For the dragonfly (and its closest relative, the damselfly), life starts out encased in an egg. These eggs are laid in water, and when the young dragonfly emerges, it is known as a nymph. These juvenile dragonflies are not nearly of the beauty or stature of their adult counterparts. In fact, they can be downright ugly. Their wings are tiny and their jaws are large and extended, to make it easier to find their favorite foods (like mosquito larvae). They can spend three years in the nymph stage, living in water, waiting to truly take form.
The chance that the procedure of morphing from nymph to damselfly is painful is very high. The first step seems easy enough. The nymph just climbs out of the water to rest on a plant stem or leaf. But then, the process really begins! The skin of the nymph begins to split, with the new head emerging from the ruins. The rest of it emerges, until finally free, its wings have a chance to dry and become strong enough to fly. The process takes about two hours. However, it won’t be fully complete for another day or two, when the beautiful colors begin to fully come in.
The dragonfly’s shell is designed with special facets that reflect and refract their beautiful colors and the light of the sun. This almost sparkling appearance has leant added meaning to the dragonfly’s form. They’ve taken on a mystical and magical symbolism. The dragonfly’s magic is it’s light magic, and all of the wonderful similes, metaphors and clichés that light has inspired. In
In Native American astrology, there is a strong belief that each person has a totem animal spirit which serves as their guardians and guides through certain phases of life. Often, an individual would have many different totems throughout life, some for just a time, some for their entire lives. And one of these totem spirits was the spirit of the dragonfly. It would adopt men and women, young and old. The dragonfly spirit means you must consciously make an effort to express your hopes, dreams, needs and wishes.
The dragonfly spirit is the essence of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightenment; and the communication from the elemental world. Its medicine beckons you to seek out the parts of your habits which need changing. You can turn to the dragonfly to guide you through the mists of illusion to the pathway of transformation.
Thanks, Damselfly, for having this be your username and thus indirectly inspiring me to think about what they represent. :)