When a Dragonfly Blocked My Door

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My evening routine means that when I get home from work, I take my cats for a walk. Why I walk my cats is a story for another time. After our 30-minute walk, we return home, where I start dinner, and the cats decide if they want to come in or stay outside and play. 

Sometimes on the walks, I listen to a podcast or an audiobook.  On this particular day, I chose to walk mindfully.  I enjoyed the walk much like the cats, listening to the wind and the birds, without seeking to distract my mind.  I hoped that by walking mindfully, I could release the stress from my day.  When I walk this way, I can feel my senses sharpen.  Colors become brighter.  My ears can start to differentiate between the different types of bird calls.  Although I wear glasses, my vision even improves when I walk mindfully.

Tiny little snail I spotted on my mindful walk with my cats

Arriving at my front door, I saw something on my doormat.  I leaned over to see a dragonfly but struggling to flap its wings.  It looked injured, trying to lift off but it couldn’t.

I sensed that the dragonfly wanted to fly away but could not. It looked as if the material of the doormat was keeping it from taking flight.  I assumed maybe it was injured or stunned.   At first, I thought maybe it would fly off on its own. But it didn’t. It lingered. It fluttered in a circle, then settled again. My gut said something wasn’t quite right.

I reached for an envelope from the day’s mail and gently offered the edge. To my surprise, the dragonfly climbed right on, trusting me to carry it to safety.  I sensed that although it was afraid, it was grateful for the help.  The dragonfly clung to the envelope while I moved it to a warm plant nearby and watched as it sat there, still and silent.

Because of my training—and years of quiet listening through energy work—I knew what this moment was asking: Pause. Breathe. Help gently. I considered offering a drop of sugar water, something to revive it. While I was still deciding what to do, suddenly the dragonfly vigorously flapped its wings and started flying.

I watched it take flight.  The dragonfly stopped briefly on my neighbor’s fence, then took to the sky again.  

I have been thankful many times in my life to have Reiki by my side.  I have used Reiki in animal rescues more times than I can count.  I sent the Dragonfly Reiki as it flew away, while my cats Cali and her daughter Cutie Pie (also my Reiki clients) watched on in curiosity.  I recalled sending Cali Reiki as she struggled with her starving kittens, fearful of humans (also another story for another time).

The Lesson in the Pause

That dragonfly didn’t need fixing. It needed time, space, and presence. That’s the heart of Reiki and the essence of so many healing moments in life. Whether it’s an insect, a client, or even ourselves, healing often begins with noticing what is and trusting the process from there.

According to Dr. Steven Farmer, a dragonfly appears during times of transformation, when it’s time to see through the illusions of life, and when there is magic. for me, this means embracing the peaceful calm I have in life right now. After closing my Reiki studio, and settling in to splitting my time between working as a physician and a Reiki healer online, the feeling of peace and calm is nearly unsettling. I’m used to working hard. The feeling of racing ahead while falling behind has become a normal feeling for me. I ask Reiki to help me during these moments when I feel I missing something just because I’m not rushing.

My Reiki Journey has taught me to embrace these quiet moments. Even during this mindful walk, magic appeared.

Moments like this are why I believe Reiki isn’t just for healers—it’s for everyone. It teaches you how to listen, how to soften, how to recognize the sacred even when you’re just trying to bring in the mail.

If you’re curious about Reiki, or you’ve been feeling called to slow down and tap into your own healing gifts, I invite you to join me for my upcoming Self-Guided Reiki Journey. It’s a beautiful, accessible way to explore Reiki on your own time—with support, tools, and stories like this one to guide you.