Yesterday, I was picking up my boys from daycare & school, and something landing (KERPLAT!) on my windshield immediately freaking me out! I was going about 10 mph rolling up to the entrance waiting in a small line, and at first, my reaction was to violently tap the windshield to make the "bug" go away. As soon as I slowly parked, I took a half second to actually look at the bug. It was HUGE! But doing a double-take, I realized, it was a grasshopper!
When was the last time I actually saw a REAL grasshopper? I stared at it. My brain trying to make sense of the reptile-like hard shell, big legs, and spindly antennae. Sitting on my windshield it looked like it was totally suspended in thin air! It was like a complete alien to me.
I'm not at all the best bug person. I have a healthy respect for all insects but I'm not the type of person who thinks they're fascinating. Pretty sure grasshoppers actually live in like, the GRASS or prairie or whatever. Yes, I live in the midwest so it's not at all a surprise to hear them in the background singing away with the acacias. BUT on my windshield in West County Suburbia? That's a first.
I slowly opened my door so as not to scare it into my car and quickly shut it. I thought about waving it off to fly away but I decided why the hell not just let it chill for a bit. When I got my boys and came back to the car I had already forgotten about it. So when I slammed my door closed and looked up, it was still there!
Intrigued, I quickly googled the symbolism of a grasshopper:
"When the grasshopper appears to us we are being asked to take a leap of faith and jump forward into a specific area of life without fear. Usually that specific area is one that we have avoided and is often connected to change on a larger scale. This can represent a change in location, relationships, career or just in the way we perceive ourselves.
Grasshoppers can only jump forward….not backward, or sideways. So, when grasshopper shows up he could be reaffirming to you that you are taking the right steps to move forward in your current situation. Or it could be that he is telling you to go ahead and move forward, getting past what is hindering you. This is why grasshopper is the symbol of good luck all over the world. Grasshopper’s ability to connect and understand sound vibrations is why he is also a symbol of your inner voice. he could be telling you to trust yours."
Read more:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_spiritual_meaning_of_grasshoppers#ixzz2l9s7BEfE
Understandably, I got chills. Holy cow how apropos! Being asked to take a leap of faith is something I'm doing right now, right here in this blog space, right here offering art classes and seeing if I can really give back to the world through my art. Things that I've been dreaming about for past 5+ years, I'm finally just saying "the hell with this! I'm trying!" and letting go of that fear.
"Usually that specific area is one that we have avoided" is certainly right where I am right now too. Thinking this is not possible, it could never be sustainable as a career and will I find enjoyment in reaching out to others, sharing in this creative process. Making art can be very isolating. While that's very positive and healthy environment to just be with oneself and learn to trust and hear your own voice, it's also just as healthy to share and give and connect with others. Whatever it might be and where it might take me, to trust in my own intuition and inner voice.
As soon as I read this the grasshopper spread it's wings and flew off. I sat there for a moment. I wanted to write this blog post to remember it.
Then I hear my 4-year old behind me, "Why aren't we leaving mama?" snap me back to reality.
How cool it is that the universe can send us tiny little messages - so small and insignificant, I would've completely missed if I hadn't taken a second to sit there awed by this ancient insect.