The Secret I Learned From a Dragonfly

Last week, I was sitting in my garden thinking about the never-ending to-do list that seems to sprout new tasks like hydra-heads whenever I cross one thing off.

You know, bamboo shoots, blackberries, and cherry plum seedlings sprouting up on one side (from my neighbor’s yard) and asparagus fronds spilling into the path on the other—not to mention the general buzz of uncertainty that seems to hover in the background of modern life like an annoying mosquito that never seems to land… well, I guess I did mention it.

As if out of nowhere, like some mischievous faery sent by the universe, a bright blue dragonfly zipped into my line of sight. It hovered right in front of me, wings catching the sunlight like little stained-glass windows, and then—with a dip and a spin—performed the most perfect aerial dance.

I laughed out loud.

For one shining moment, everything else fell away. Worries dissolved, noise faded, and all that was left was this flash of shimmering joy.

By the time the dragonfly zipped off, the whole garden looked brighter. It was as if that one insect had pressed the “refresh” button on reality.

And here’s the secret it whispered to me (without actually saying a word):

Joy is not a luxury. It’s medicine—for you, for me, and for Earth itself.

Why Your Joy Heals the Planet

It’s easy to feel powerless when facing the world’s big challenges. What can one person really do in the face of melting ice caps, raging wildfires, and political systems that seem stuck in a loop of disfunction?

But then I thought: what if real power doesn’t look like grand gestures?

What if every time you allow yourself to feel genuine joy—a belly laugh, a sigh of contentment, a flash of wonder—you’re not just “feeling good”… you’re literally weaving threads of healing into the fabric of the planet?

Joy is contagious. It ripples outward like rings on water, touching people, animals, and the land itself, even if they are far away.

The ancient Celts knew this. They believed the happiness of one person could bless an entire village. They also taught that Nature is alive and responsive—that the land itself blossoms under our laughter, our gratitude, our delight.

Every small act of magic—smiling at a stranger, noticing the delicate curl of a wildflower, savoring the aroma of your morning tea—plants seeds of renewal in a world that desperately needs them.

The dragonfly reminded me: joy is magical activism in disguise.

But Isn’t Joy Selfish When the World Is Burning?

This is the trap many of us fall into.

We think: How dare I be happy when so much suffering exists?

But here’s the thing. Misery loves company, but it doesn’t relieve misery. If the world is on fire (sometimes literally), what good does it do for me to sit in ashes of despair?

Joy doesn’t deny reality—it transforms it.

Think of it like a candle. Lighting one spark of joy can light someone else’s day, which can ignite another, until the fire spreads—not a fire of destruction, but of connection, passion, creativity, and hope.

When you laugh with a friend, when you savor strawberries in summer, when you notice how the moonlight makes your backyard look like a faery glen—you are feeding your own life-force. And that vitality makes you more resilient, more creative, and more able to show up in the ways that truly matter.

In other words: joy is a magical power that fuels action.

The Science (and Magic) of Joy Ripples

If you need science to back this up, researchers have found that emotions spread through communities like a flu. If you’re joyful, the people around you pick up on it—sometimes even strangers you pass in the grocery store.

And if you’d prefer a magical explanation, the faery folk will tell you (if you listen closely) that joy strengthens your auric field, which strengthens the web of life itself.

So whether you prefer quantum physics or Celtic lore, the truth is the same: joy isn’t frivolous. It’s foundational.

Small Magic, Big Change: A Simple Practice

Here’s a tiny ritual you can try.

1. Pause for Pleasure. Today, let yourself savor one tiny thing—a favorite song, a sunbeam on your face, the taste of chocolate melting on your tongue. Notice the joy, even if it’s fleeting.
2. Send It Outward. Imagine that joy as a glowing spark in your heart. Picture it traveling outward, blessing your home, your neighborhood, and radiating across the globe.
3. Repeat as Needed. The more you do this, the more you’ll notice the world responding in kind—like dragonflies appearing right when you need them most.

Simple, right? But don’t underestimate it. This is the kind of small, steady magic that can shift everything.

What the Dragonfly Wants You to Remember

The dragonfly didn’t stick around long—it had other gardens to enchant. But its message has stayed with me:

• Your joy matters.
• Your delight is a blessing.
• Your laughter is a prayer the Earth loves to hear.

So the next time your to-do list feels too long, let yourself lighten up for a moment. Dance in your kitchen. Sing in the shower—even badly. Notice the way sunlight paints gold on the leaves.

Because your joy doesn’t just heal you.

It heals the whole world.

If you’ve lost the thread of joy in your life, maybe it’s time for some Magical-Life Coaching to help you get back on track. Learn more at my Magical-LifeCoaching.com website where we use Inner Alchemy, EFT, Matrix Reimprinting, Law of Attraction and a touch of magic to uplift your life… and leave your outworn baggage and limiting beliefs behind!