Spirit Guide

It's no secret that I love my job.

Love it to the point of obsession...and here's one more reason why.

Every year New Haven goes on a river rafting trip for one of the weekends when parents come out to visit their girls.

That annual weekend was about a month ago.

I was able to go, but just couldn't be in the fun, battling rafts since it can get a little crazy trying to commandeer the fellow rafts.

It was quite sad, but I still had an awesome time going down the river and camping with my girls and their families.

Also on this trip, there is a special ceremony where the girls get their animal spirit guides.

If you've seen the movie "Brother Bear" you have somewhat an idea of what I'm talking about.

A spirit guide is an animal that has characteristics like you.

There are things within the animal that others may see, but you haven't yet seen in yourself.

Sometimes the animal shows up in your life more frequently than other times.

This animal is supposed to help remind you of where you need to be, what you need to work on, and how you can be the most happy.

The guide is always picked by someone who is close to you, knows you really well, and usually has some sort of authority.

The girls really enjoy receiving them and a lot of them really connect with the animal.

After the ceremony and everyone went to bed, the staff had a mini ceremony of our own to receive our spirit guides.

Of course you start to speculate what animal you'll receive.

I really wanted the dolphin because it's my favorite animal.

Or the cougar would've been fun since I went to BYU.

When it was my turn, however, the animal I received had never crossed my mind.

My supervisor called me up and started talking about all of the animal qualities that my guide embodies and how my co-workers can see those qualities within me.

Then he said my guide:

The dragonfly.

And I love it.

Absolutely love it.

Here is the description of what being a dragonfly means:

"The dragonfly has many things to teach you with many powerful symbols and abilities.  They inhabit two realms: water and air.  This is symbolic of your ability, with practice, to achieve balance between the mental and emotional states, bringing peace to the past and present.  They are hatched underwater and remain there for the first 4-5 years of life.  At that time a major transformation takes place in their bodies.  They climb out of the water and shed their old skin and their bodies become long and slender and 4 large wings emerge.  This drastic change reminds you of your ability to change yourself in ways that may appear impossible at first thought.

The dragonfly has 2 very large eyes on each side of its head.  Each eye is divided into 2 section that can look in different directions.  One can look up for danger while the other looks down for food.  Each eye has 28,000 lenses which increase its ability to focus.  A dragonfly can focus in on a mosquito flying 20 feet away and catch it with its legs.  The dragonfly's sharp sight and depth perception has led to the belief that it can help you gain greater perspective and see past the illusions in your life to a clear picture of the truth about yourself and the past.

Its 4 wings can flap in 4 different directions at the same time allowing it to change directions, stop, hover, or fly backwards in an instant.  The dragonfly has been clocked at speeds of 60 miles per hour.  Scientists have tried for decades to duplicate the flying capabilities of the dragonfly and have not even come close.  To the dragonfly, this impossibility is reality.  The dragonfly teaches you to never accept 'I can't' as a  motto for life.  Let the dragonfly guide you as your learn that you can."

There literally is 2-3 full pages describing the dragonfly, but those are some of the mini highlights.

I love the qualities of this beautiful insect and want to strive to always emulate them.

You can tell you're not living in harmony with your guide when you are unhappy.

You have to refocus and get back in line to have the most success.

I also received a necklace with a dragonfly on it and I now wear it all the time.

I've also become obsessed with trying to find one!

So next time you see one...think of me. :)