INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF INSECTS
Seldom does anything cause as strong emotional response in humans as a close encounter with insects. Some respond with fear, while others respond in awe. Still others try and ignore the most plentiful group of animal life upon the planet. It is estimated that there are over 800,000 species of insects, with a multitude of varieties within those species.64
Insects are both ancient within the history of this planet, and also as symbols within the history of humanity. Humans have long attributed characteristics to certain kinds of insects. Although this is a form of anthropomorphism, it is important to understand that often the qualities associated with insects were attributed to them because of a characteristic they displayed. Again, as with any animal, we do not have to believe that they have a creative intelligence, but we can recognize that the behaviors, instincts, and patterns they do display can reflect and symbolize certain archetypal forces as yet not fully understood.
Many modern shamans issue precautions about working with insect totems, implying that the archetypal force or spirit behind it is too primitive and difficult an energy with which to effectively work. I believe each must determine this for himself or herself. In spite of these warnings, insects have been used as totems in many societies for a long time.
To the Kalihari Bushmen, the praying mantis is an animal bushmen. Their legends and lore are filled with the teachings of Mantis and its mystical qualities. The spider in the Native American tradition is both grandmother and creator, a symbol of the ability to weave new energies into being. To the medieval peoples, dragonflies were often miniature dragons and signs of doorways into the Faerie Realm. We must be careful about making generalizations. Remember that the key to learning animal-speak is to understand the behaviors and qualities of the animal. This will help you to determine its role in Nature and its symbolic role within your own life.
Examine insects in general, and then the specific ones you seem to continually encounter. Especially pay attention to those unusual ones that you come across. Recently upon a trip to Florida, I visited a nature center. I had gone with the expressed purposes of meditating upon certain changes and activities I was hoping to initiate while in Florida. All along the trail I had dragonflies and butterflies buzzing and flying around me. Every time I’d stop, they’d light upon my hand, head, or shoulders. Later I was to encounter the most beautiful spider I had seen in ages. It was called a Golden Orb Weaver, and its web was artistic, beautiful, and intricate. The significance of these insects was not lost on me. They held the promise of new adventures and new beginnings. It turned out to be one of the most successful in that area, and it opened new doors for the future.
Usually, anything small, creepy and crawly is classified as an insect, but this is not accurate. Ticks, spiders, centipedes, and such are members of another class of animals entirely. Insects have jointed legs and three body parts-the head, abdomen, and thorax. They also have three pairs of legs, and most have at some time, one or two pairs of wings attached to the thorax and a set of antennae attached to the head.
Spiders have eight legs and no antennae. Their eyes are simple and small, and the head and thorax are fused together. They are arthropods like insects, but of a different class. For the purposes of this book, I am including spiders along with the other insects within the dictionary.
Insects are opportunists, something from which we all can learn. They are the most diversified lifeform, and there are so many types that one-third to one-half are estimated not to even have names. Insects are enduring, and they seem to possess an uncanny wisdom, doing many of the same things humans do but with greater efficiency-including raising their own crops (fungus), herding insect “cattle,” and living in highly structured and complex social organizations.
Insects succeed as a group because of six primary qualities. First, their ability to fly enables them to spread. Second, they are extremely adaptable to the environment and climactic conditions. Third, they have an external skeleton which provides a kind of armor for themselves. Fourth, their small size keeps their demands meager and more accessible. Fifth, reproduction enables the species to survive. They can delay fertilization until the food supply and living conditions for the young are most likely to be beneficial. And finally, they have the ability for metamorphosis. They can undergo multiple (usually four) changes to facilitate and carryon life.
All of these characteristics can be viewed symbolically as ideas which would assist humans to be more successful within their own lives. We, of course, can not fly, but we can make sure that we don’t get stuck in what is too comfortable. It can reflect a need to continue to explore new avenues in life and not to become too content. We can’t wear our skeleton on the outside, but we can develop our sensitivity to the energies around us and strengthen our own auric fields so that we are less likely to become victimized. We can keep our demands small, and not be so wasteful within our lives. Many people fail at life because they try to accomplish the great all at once, rather than building and doing a little at a time so that it becomes great over time. The delaying of fertilization until living conditions can support it has multiple applications-the most obvious having to do with all the problems of overpopulation in the world.
Lastly is the process of metamorphosis. Change is inevitable in life, and life only becomes more difficult and dangerous on many levels when we resist its natural flow. Change ensures growth. We have to shed the old before we can come into the new. Metamorphosis is the magic inherent within insects. It is the magic of life that they can teach.
Biologically and physiologically, humans recognize that there are changes-childhood, puberty, adulthood. Change should occur on other levels and is necessary at other times. Everything we create in life has to go through stages. These align with the four stages of insect metamorphosis. All insects and thus all ideas and creations begin as eggs. The eggs hatch into caterpillars which feed and spin cocoons. From a cocoon comes its final expression of life-usually with wings.
In the egg stage, there is the fertilization process. We give birth-to an idea, an activity, a new quality, or something. From the egg stage comes the larva. In insects, the egg becomes a caterpillar in this stage. The caterpillar feeds and works to strengthen itself and achieve its foundation. Ideas and creativity need to be worked with, shaped, formed, developed, and honed. When this is accomplished, when the caterpillar has laid itself a new foundation, the stage of chrysalis begins.
A cocoon is woven around itself by the caterpillar, and a mummylike pupa forms within. In this stage there is a reorganization of the caterpillar’s cells even though there is the appearance of lifelessness. Sometimes individuals need to back off, after laying a foundation, and then go deeply within so that creation will be able to come forth strong and in new light. There are points in the creative process where we must be passive and let things take a natural course. We do what we must, and then let it move on its own. This is reflected in the chrysalis stage.
From the chrysalis comes yet a new and final form-a winged insect. The fact that it has wings in its final stages is very significant, and all of the symbolism associated with wings apply to insects as well as birds. The adult only comes out of the cocoon in the warmth of spring-again reflecting the ability to go within and determine the best time to set the new creations in motion on a higher level. Wings are the emblem of the adult insect and thus the adult creation. Flight now becomes a way of life for however long the adult survives.
Within the stages of metamorphosis are the keys to creating and manifesting anything. Those with or without insect totems would do well to study and meditate on how insects molt old forms, shedding the old to come into new forms. Insects remind us that we are never the same. We are always changing, and that is the only constant. But that is also the force of creation. This may have been exactly what the Caterpillar had in mind as he spoke to Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:
“ ... Being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.”
“It isn’t,” said the Caterpillar.
“Well, perhaps you haven’t found it so yet,” said Alice; “but when
you have to turn into a chrysalis-you will some day you know-then
after that into a butterfly, I should think you’ll feel it a little aueer,
won’t you?”
“Not a bit,” said the Caterpillar.
“Well, perhaps your feelings may be different,” said Alice; “all I know
is, it would feel very queer to me.”
“You!” said the Caterpillar contemptuously. “Who are yoU?”65
Many insects live in groups or colonies-bees, wasps, and ants being the most common. These types of insects are called social insects, and there are different jobs and functions within their community. Insect totems can reflect lessons in sociability and working for and within the community.
Most insects breathe through openings within the body, located on the thorax or abdomen. Because of this insects can teach techniques on how to use cellular breathing techniques to enhance overall health. This type of breathing process is part of many teachings in yoga, taoism, and other oriental traditions on the use of breath for power and health.
Each insect will have its own unique qualities and characteristics. These can reflect the energies active within your own life or needing to be developed by you. Only a study of the insect will provide the insight. Pay attention to its most unusual characteristics. For example, an ant can lift a stone 50 times its own weight. A bee can haul a burden 300 times its own weight.
This hints at the kind of energies and the symbolism attributed to insects through the ages. Such feats often have rational, as well as metaphysical, implications. The great displays of strength have to do with the fact that most insects have a different muscle development than humans. A human being has a little less than 800 individual muscles. A grasshopper has over 900; and the grasshopper, along with most other insects, has a great resistance to fatigue.66
Insects have many ways of protecting themselves and insuring successful survival. These should be studied and meditated upon as well. Similar applications can be used by those with insect totems. The most common is concealment and camouflage. Some employ an armor plating, some use cocoons, and some are armed with claws, stingers, chemicals, tusks, and such. What does your insect use? Are you using something similar? Should you be? Or are you using it inappropriately?
The worst enemy of insects are other insects. This is significant when we apply that same aspect to humanity. Humans are their own worst enemy. How often do we hear people say, “I did it to myself. I’m my own worst enemy.” If things aren’t working around you, and an insect is prominent in your life, take a look at yourself. Is there something you should be doing but you’re not? Is there something you are not doing that you should?
Humans are in direct contact with their environment. We have nothing shielding the skin and senses. Insects are not in direct contact. Because of their exoskeleton, they must use other means to sense the environment.
The most dynamic sensory organ is the antennae or feelers. All antennae, antlers, horns, and head appendages have been symbols of higher consciousness, intuition, and heightened perception. The antennae of insects are constantly in motion, feeling the environment about them. This feeling aspect is what links insects with the psychic ability of psychometry in mystical traditions. Psychometry is the ability to hold an object and read its vibrations-attuning to those things and people that have occurred around the object.
The antennae of insects vary in size and shape. They are usually larger in those insects with poor eyesight. With their antennae, they can feel, smell, taste, and determine temperature. They can also use them to create sounds. The antennae have numerous tiny pegs upon them which serve as receptors.
The sense of touch in insects is highly developed. They have numerous touch hairs upon the legs, body, and antennae. Individuals with insect totems will find their own sensitivity to touch becoming greater. Are you too sensitive to your environment and the people within it? Are you not paying enough attention to what is around you? Are you out of touch? Are you getting too mental and ignoring the physical?
It is not unusual to find those with insect totems becoming more sensitive to touch. The skin is the outer covering of our body and our largest sensory organ. It protects while it senses. It is an ancient symbol for sensitivity and self-worth. It is also a symbol of birth and rebirth, as the cells of the skin are continually regenerating.
Insect totems may show up at times where issues of insensitivity surface. Are we being insensitive to others or they to us? Are we trying to deaden our senses to outside influences? What is bugging you? Who are you bugging?
The hearing of insects is very acute. They are even capable of detecting ultrasound. Their hearing organs are found on the legs and the abdomen. These enable them to sense the vibrations emitted around them. Individuals with insect totems should develop their listening skills. Pay attention not only to what is being said, but also to what isn’t. Pay attention to what is said through the body language of others. Trust your impressions.
Insects have no voice, but they do make noise through stridulating, the rubbing of one body part against another. The sounds serve a variety of communication functions. It helps them in finding mates and even to frighten enemies.
Insects pass messages to each other in a variety of ways. They use scent, touch, chirping, and even dances. Ants touch their feelers together. Grasshoppers rub their wings together to create communication noises. Bees will perform dances that communicate where food can be found and how plentiful it is.
The visual acuity of insects is limited. Their vision is only sharp to about three feet in most. They actually have compound eyes. This does not enable them to see more clearly and more focused than humans, but it does aid them at detecting the subtlest of movements. Insect mysticism then can teach you to pay attention to the subtlest of movements and communications within your own life.
Insects are the keepers of knowledge on subtle, non- verbal communication. They can teach us how to use these same subtleties within our own life. A good experiment is to spend a day not using any verbal-written or spoken-communication. Use gesture, posture, movement, utterances of sounds, and touch. See how well you can communicate in this manner. This is part of the wonder and the magic that has long been attributed to the forces associated with insects. This is its truest medicine, regardless of the kind of insect.