BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The European 'damoiselle' male ... is a metallic blue-black. The hind wing is ... narrow and brown. The female is slightly smaller ... and is iridescent green. The hind wings may be marginally larger than the male's... (Note: I didn't bother putting in all the measurements they have of the bodies in this book as I didn't feel it was necessary or interesting.)

An insect of the order Odona, the dragonfly is larger. Both have bulbous eyes and membranous, translucent and heavily veined wings. They are known for their ability to hover in a single spot for a long time, along with a capacity for darting flight.

HABITAT
Dragonflies and damoiselleflies live and breed near water. Therefore, they are found around ponds, pools, lakes, rivers, streams, even bayous or swamps. Access to running water is not only preferred, it is essential. Eggs are laid in the water and the entire nymphal (infant) period is spent there.

CHARACTERISTICS
The dragonfly leaves the water to enter the adult phase sometime between April and August. They reach sexual maturity after 10 days of fine weather - longer if the weather is bad or cool.

Like butterfly, frog and even toad, the dragonfly is a creature of transformation which begins its life as an aquatic animal and culminates it as a creature of land and sky.

In flight it performs a wondrous aerial display. Its wings move so fast that they are little more than a blur to the human eye, and their acceleration is phenomenal, from a standing - or in this case, hovering - stop up to 90 mph (144 kph) in a few seconds.

LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS
Dragonflies are equated with mirage or illusion. Its wings beat so rapidly that the human eye cannot perceive them. It appears to hang in space without moving, but its wings are, in fact, quite active. One minute it is there, the next it's not.

The Lakota believed that the dragonfly, butterfly, lizard, turtle and swallow all had magical powers which allowed them to evade hailstones, for the hunters observed that they never found these creatures dead or injured after a storm. The warriors transferred these powers to their robes and shields with pictures, in the conviction that this defense could be conferred to them so that arrows and bullets would pass right through the warrior, leaving him unharmed.

The ephemeral dragonfly was also associated with cobwebs and spider's webs. These too were related to protection, for webs survive mainly intact even after they have been pierced by an arrow or bullet. Both the dragonfly and cocoon were affiliated with the mystery Yumni, who was the whirlwind and had no fixed abode. Variously knownas Yumni, Yomni or Yum, this is the god (or goddess) of chance, love and games. Yumni lived in the teepee of his brother, Itokaga (Okaga), the south wind.

Whirlwind and dragonfly were the essence of illusion, to be invoked to cloud the mind of the enemy. The Cheyenne also used the dragonfly symbol of the whirlwind to impart protection to their warriors. Dragonfly was venerated because of its power to escape a blow. It was swift-flying and elusive. According to other traditions, dragonfly held powerful magic of changing forms. It could play in space and time. The metamorphosis is one of transformation and maturation, rather than that found with the shape-shifting of raven and crow.

According to Jamie Sams and David Carson in their book Medicine Cards, dragonfly was once a dragon, who was challenged by coyote into turning into a dragonfly. Once dragon had achieved this shape-change, it found that it could not change back. Thus dragonfly is symbolic of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightenment, and of communication from the elemental world.

The dragonfly of Europe has had long associations with the world of faeries. The "wee ones" of Ireland used dragonflies as their steeds - birds, such as robin, being reserved for drawing their coaches. One fable suggests that dragonflies are actually faeries who, when looked at in a certain way, can be seen for what they truly are. It was said that one way to accomplish this was to rub primrose on one's eyelids. Another tradition recommends following dragonflies in order to find out where the faeries live.

Therefore, the link with magic and illusion is preserved. On a more pragmatic level, dragonfly served as an omen for fisherman (if they were chaste and prudent), for wherever it hovers, fish are plentiful.

MEDICINE AND POWER
Direction: South
Elements: Air, Whirlwind
Traits: Hovering, darting flight, color
Associations: Mystery, mirage, deception and the protection received thereby, magic and the land of faeries

The dragonfly's nearly transparent wings which catch and refract the light are sometimes likened to the rainbow, which to the Lakota mind was not necessarily a good thing. Because the rainbow usually appeared immediately before the rain stopped, it was believed the rainbow held back the rain.

The mystery of dragonfly is contained within its flight. For the dragonfly, even more than the butterfly, flits and its pattern is so elusive that as soon as the eye has rested upon it, it has bolted.

Part of dragonfly's medicine is its ability to play among the air currents and to dazzle others with light. However, its gift also carries an implicit warning; as master of illusion, those with dragonfly medicine should be warned not to fool themselves.

Dragonfly can be used to travel between dimensions. Its essence is spiritual energy. It can be invoked to aid relaxing meditation, or on the other hand to recharge psychic energy. The native peoples called upon dragonfly by depicting it, or other symbols equated with it, upon their robes and clothing.

Dragonfly facilitates letting go of the past, which is always the first step in spiritual expansion. It can also be called upon to help someone to pierce the veil of deception or delusion. If dragonfly has suddenly appeared one's life, then look around. Something remains hidden from view, and dragonfly's arrival admonishes caution.

Dragonfly medicine helps during a transition, or it may fortell a time of change. If uncomfortable with innovation, seek assistance from dragonfly, for such things are within its domain.

In the past, dragonfly was called upon to cast love spells, as a representative of chance and games, it is the sign of the gambler - but like Lady Luck, dragonfly tends to be fickle.

People with dragonfly medicines are dreamers. They can be perplexing and annoying to others. The dragonfly person may appear almost schizophrenic as he or she rests (or hovers), absorbing light and energy for a time, and then flits off to a new project. As individuals, dragonflies have lots of nervous energy. Intermittently it is good for them to land and get grounded for awhile.