Every week I talk a walk along the trail by the creek, giving both my dog and myself needed exercise as well as a connection to nature. On today’s walk I was accompanied by my video camera, taping segments for a series of self awareness and growth videos for an upcoming project on my new website CreateABetterDay.com.
Our walk had both purpose and destination, with our turnaround point being the deep pool of water at a certain point along the creek. The walk to this point is long but worth it: Angie, my black lab, loves her water, and this is the only point in the creek where she can go neck deep in the water. Talk about heaven on earth!
As we neared our destination I recorded another segment of video, and suddenly I caught movement out the corner of my eye. It was a dragonfly – smaller than the ones I typically see, but a welcome sight. He disappeared almost by magic, there one moment, gone the next. I see very few dragonflies through the year, and enjoy these magical, ancient winged creatures. Dragonflies are considered a sign of power and agility: they can fly backwards like the hummingbird and achieve speeds of up to 45 mph. Though this creature has been around for 300 million years their life cycle is short, reminding us to live fully within the moment.
Our return back along the trail was different, I had filmed all my videos and was now fidgeting with my phone. One short section of our walk is fenced on both sides, with either side being city property used for one purpose or another. We’re all grateful to have the extension on our trail, fences or no fences.
I could not help but see another winged delight, this one obviously out of his usual turf. It was a hummingbird, zipping over the blackberry bushes along the trail. He stopped and stared, zipped across to the other side of the trail, zigged and zagged, and was gone in a flash. I often hear the hummingbirds as I walk along the trail, but the shear volume of trees makes it impossible to spot them unless they give a little help by hovering above their perch.
Nature is there for us 24/7, supporting life as it has for millions of years. Our excessively creative human minds have pushed us from the gentle tones of the earth, and even though we benefit from our evolutionary process we are still a part of nature, whether we like it or not. Thanks go to the hummingbird and the dragonflies for this insightful journey, joining me along the trail and helping me to remain focused on the moment. What a wonderful way to spend a day, interacting with both the hummingbird and the dragonfly: I felt as thought I was walking with wings.
What significance does the Hummingbird or the Dragonfly have, what intuitive meaning do they carry? Learn more about the hummingbird in nature and in Shamanic earth awareness. Join us at HummingbirdShaman.com
 |
Small Creatures and Ordinary Places: Essays on Nature :: Amazon Small Creatures and Ordinary Places reveals to us the beauty and value of hornets, bats, katydids, mice, cicadas, and other tiny dwellers in |
 |
Dragonflies and Damselflies in Your Pocket: A Guide to the Odonates of the Upper Midwest (Bur Oak Guide) :: Amazon Just as more and more people enjoy watching birds and butterflies, watching the many shimmering dragonflies and damselflies-collectively cal |
 |
Walking Wild : Mount Baker, North :: Amazon "Walking Wild : Mount Baker, North" explores five diverse trails that wind through the natural wonders found on the north side of Mount Bake |
 |
A Dazzle of Dragonflies :: Amazon From fossils and folklore to life cycles and the latest in digital imaging techniques, A Dazzle of Dragonflies will take you into the far-re |
Popular Topics