I took a small break from ZIA’s and did a realistic sketch of my latest inspiration, the cicada. I have been seeing an abundance of them this year and learning so much about them. They are oddly beautiful. Like a, “Your so ugly, your cute” kind of thing. Their colors are so vibrant with an iredescent shine. Their bulbous eyes are bizarre and there underbelly is segmented and limby. They look like something from a monster movie.

You can hear them humming. A rythmical beat of all of them singing together. Well, the males at least whom call for a mate. Once they have mated, a female will lay 200- 600 eggs in a hole on a tree branch. Once the young (or nymphs) have hatched, they will make their way underground and attach themselves to the tree’s roots. There they will stay there for 14- 17 years, depending on the species, feeding on tree sap. Then when their time has come, instinct tells them to rise above ground again where they will shed their skin and become the chiming cicadas we are all familiar with. They will live for another five weeks or so above ground. This gives them just enough time to find a mate and have the next generation start the whole process over again.

So what does the cicada have to tell us? By emerging from the ground in one form and so rapidly changing to the next, it shows us that a complete metamorphosis is on it’s way. We have been laying dorment for many years; transformation is upon us and we must not fight nature. Shed your skin and sing your song. The cicadas are calling to each other, telling us to use our voice. We can no longer hide underground in the dark and silence. We have been born anew and should freely express ourselves as the individuals we have strongly grown into.

Cicadas also represent happiness and joy.  Ultimately, we have tranformed from nymph to what we were truly meant to be. A greater version of ourselves than before. That is something to be joyous about. Be proud of the the person you have worked so hard to become. Your metamorphosis is complete. What a rush!

I hope you enjoyed reading about these oddities of nature. What stories do you have to share about the cicada? Leave a comment below. Thanks for stopping by this week!

Until next time,

“Great men are not born great, they grow great.”

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Sources:

**Cicada Mania – http://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/what-do-cicadas-symbolize/** Sun Signs – http://www.sunsigns.org/cicada-animal-totem-symbolism-meanings/ **Book of Shadows by Silver Ravenwolf **National Geographic – http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/cicadas/**