Symbolic Dragonfly Meanings Related to Death

Published January 25, 2021
Dragonfly resting on woman's han

The dragonfly meaning of death is a symbolism found throughout the world. In many cultures, it's believed dragonflies carry messages from the deceased to loved ones.

Dragonfly Meaning Death Symbolism

The symbolism of seeing a dragonfly soon after the death of a loved one is interpreted to mean the deceased lives in another world or plane of existence. In some cultures, the dragonfly is more than just a symbol of life after death.

Messages From the Other Side

Some people believe their loved one residing on the other side of this world sends the dragonfly as a messenger. In this instance, the deceased person presents their loved one with the physical dragonfly, having somehow manipulated the insect to them. The dragonfly carries their message of love and reassurance they are fine and continue to live on after death.

Dragonfly Meaning Death Symbolic

The symbolism of a dragonfly and death is a commonly held belief. Many people believe the dragonfly serves as a conduit that can connect them to the spirit world. This makes the dragonfly a symbol of communication with the dead.

Significance of Dragonfly in World Cultures

The spiritual significance of a dragonfly is often seen as a sign of soul evolution. The dragonfly is a symbol of advancement and transformation of the soul after death. It is viewed as a physical demonstration that the person has ascended Earthly trappings, making it a symbol of rebirth.

Native American Spirituality and Dragonfly

This type of transformation is seen in some Native American mythology. The Native American spirituality observes dragonflies as the transformation of a loved one's soul. The dragonflies are the physical manifestation of Earthly souls transcending into spirit form and assuming the mystical appearance of a dragonfly. Whether the dragonfly is actually a physical creature, or a form of the spirit is debated.

Blue dreamcatcher with dragonfly

Reassurance by Visit From Dragonfly

Regardless if the dragonfly is a physical insect or a spirit, its appearance signifies the person exists after death. When a Native American is visited by a dragonfly soon after the death of a loved one, it is taken as a good omen their loved one's soul lives on. Eventually, the soul of the deceased will feel it has reassured loved ones of its well-being and will then ascend into the next plane of existence.

Chinese Culture and Importance of Dragonflies

For other cultures, like China, the dragonfly takes on a more god-like meaning related to death. In ancient China, the emperors were believed to be direct descendants of dragons. The dragonfly became a symbol of these deities/emperors and emerged as a good luck symbol in the ancient art form known as feng shui. The mystique of dragonflies is prominent throughout Asian cultures.

Spiritual Visitation

Being visited by a dragonfly can reveal secret messages from the spirit world. These hidden messages are often sent by the deceased. In some instances, the appearance of a dragonfly signifies a visit from a god or Demi-god.

Old World Dragonfly Bad Omen

In many Old World cultures, the dragonfly often had a more sinister symbolism. Many European cultures feared the dragonfly was the devil's horse, or more aptly the devil had taken on the dragonfly shape. This fear also made the dragonfly a symbol of black magic and death.

Giant black dragonfly

Folklore and Ominous Dragonflies

The folklore of various countries has rather ominous names for dragonflies. Some of the names include blind stingers, water witch, hobgoblin fly, and devil's darning needle. Each name carries a story of the dragonfly, such as gouging out eyes, stinging those who are bad, or being a servant of the devil.

Symbolism of the Dragonfly Meaning Death

Throughout history, the dragonfly has been associated with death. It is portrayed as either a positive messenger to loved ones or the manifestation of the soul's transformation into the spirit world.

Symbolic Dragonfly Meanings Related to Death