by Last Updated on October 17, 2022 by Avia
Grasshopper Symbolism and Grasshopper Totem Meanings: A reader asked me for clarification about grasshopper symbolism and various symbolic/cultural roles this magnificent creature plays within the insect realm.
Table of Contents
Grasshopper Symbolism and Meanings – Keywords
The spiritual meaning of grasshopper implies a lot of aspects that all humans can relate too. From cleverness to connectivity, grasshopper meaning is diverse as well as packed with wisdom. Here are a few quick keywords to get us started in our exploration of the deeper meaning of grasshoppers.
- Lucky
- Stable
- Virtue
- Vibrant
- Content
- Intuitive
- Fertility
- Patient
- Peaceful
- Creativity
- Abundance
- Insightful
- Messenger
- Connected
- Courageous
- Resourceful
- Forward Thinking
Grasshopper Totem Meanings
As an animal totem, the grasshopper appeals to artists, musicians and dancers. To wit, the lilting song this creature emits is an inspiration to our muse; its skittering and jumping is divine choreography. The artist within us all easily recognizes the grasshopper making its own dance steps, and grooving to its own special melody.
The grasshopper moves to its own rhythm and tune, indicating this creature is a advocate of intuition and listening to our inner voices. The grasshopper encourages us to listen to our own stirrings – those beautiful chirping lullaby’s that sing in our hearts are indications of our inner beauty and creativity. A grasshopper totem reminds us these inner musings must never be silenced – rather, they should be nurtured, and always remain as the background music to the performance of our lives.
As with most insect totems, the grasshopper keeps itself to the ground. As such, this is a grounding totem, and the grasshopper can teach us stability, patience, security, and solidarity.
“Art finds kingdoms in a foot of ground.”
~Stephen Benet
Grasshopper Messages of Innovation and Vision
The grasshopper chooses those of us who are innovators, forward-thinkers, and those who progress in life by unorthodox methods. This is because grasshopper symbolism recognizes tremendous leaps of faith, impressive jumps in progress and consistent forward momentum. Those with this totem are likely to aim high, and achieve amazing feats – they take great leaps where others fear to tread (or jump, in this case).
Another special feature of the grasshopper totem is that it calls to those who have natural clairvoyant abilities. Just as the grasshopper uses thousands of tiny eyes to formulate the “big picture” so too do those whom the grasshopper is called. In other words, those with this totem are visionaries. They see things intuitively, seeing beyond what the concrete world holds, and they use this special vision to see the world with a childlike wonder.
We can call upon the grasshopper when we need a sense of adventure in our lives. When we feel stuck in a rut, the grasshopper can bounce us into magical viridian worlds filled with awe and joy.
The grasshopper can also help us when we need a little creative inspiration. If muses kept pets – the grasshopper would certainly be a first choice.
Grasshopper Meaning in Myth & Cultures
The grasshopper pops up in a lot of myths, legends, and stories across our beautiful globe. In many cultural stories, this little insect is praised for its industrial resourcefulness. In other ancient stories, the grasshopper is cherished for themes of fertility and lilting songs. Here are a few cultural views about the grasshopper.
The Grasshopper Meaning in Japan and China
As a cultural symbol, this insect is a prominent feature in Asian traditions. For instance, the Japanese connect its molting phases with the wax and wane of the moon.
Further still, the Japanese cherished the song of this creature (particularly the long-horned grasshopper), and believed the moon coaxed the music from them.
As a Chinese symbol, the grasshopper offers attributes of longevity, happiness, good health, good luck, wealth, abundance, fertility and virtue. In fact, grasshoppers were thought to be fertility symbols; specifically omens of the birth of a son (hence, another reason for its good luck symbol status as sons are considered prized gems within the setting of the family).
In certain regions of China, grasshoppers were kept as family pets and it was believed grasshoppers embodied the personalities of family members who were deceased. Keeping these reincarnate souls in the form of grasshoppers insured prosperity among the family members.
Ancient Greece and Grasshoppers
In Ancient Greece the grasshopper is a status symbol. Athenians would adorn themselves with golden grasshopper hair combs and brooches as an indication of nobility. The grasshopper is also a symbol of immortality as we see in Greek myth when Zeus grants immortality to Tithonus, who was later transformed into a grasshopper (who of course, lived forever).
Grasshopper Meanings in Native American Wisdom
In Native American Indian symbology and tribal lore (specifically the Iroquois nation) grasshopper symbolism deals with messages of glad tiding. In this context, the grasshopper is a harbinger of good news. Indeed, when this creature is seen on spirit walks, it is a sign that the seer will receive profoundly joyful news that will benefit the entire community.
Tips for Connecting With Your Grasshopper Totem
Take the time to connect with the grasshopper. Here are some suggestions in doing so…
♦ Consider the spaces in your life that need a little extra-sensory vision and call upon the eyes of the grasshopper for a grandiose view.
♦ Visualize some amazingly good news hopping your way on the back of the grasshopper
♦ Invoke the grasshopper’s help in making forward-motions in your life with great leaps of courage and faith.
♦ Ask the grasshopper if it might share its antennae with you – see yourself with a pair of antenna – sensing out your environment, detecting the energy around you, and gaining new clarity with your new sensory organs.
♦ Recall the summer songs of the grasshopper that lift from warm grasses like a background fragrance. Tapping into grasshopper song can be incredibly uplifting, as well as inspirational.
♦ Consider the earthy grounded-ness the grasshopper represents when you need some anchoring and stability in your life
Frequently Asked Questions About Grasshopper Meaning
A bunch of stuff! Overall, grasshoppers symbolize opportunity. Because these are incredibly resourceful and opportunistic creatures, they are strongly featured in cultural myths as being a presence that opens up possibilities and advantages to humans. In the same way, many cultures view the grasshopper as a symbol of good luck. Grasshoppers are also symbolic of life-affirming themes such as fertility, prosperity, creativity.
Because this insect is such a tiny thing, but it achieves massive accomplishments when working together, that is spiritually symbolic of things like: 1) Even the tiniest bit of faith can render huge results, and 2) The faith and fellowship shared with others (community) has the potential to manifest big positive change in the world. The grasshopper is also a highly sensitive creature, and this could be a spiritual message of listening and tuning into our inner voice, intuition, or higher power for guidance.
Seeing a grasshopper might be a sign that it’s time to get busy on a project or get started on something you’ve been putting off. If you consider – you don’t see many grasshoppers in the wild resting on their laurels. They are often busy babies. And so, a visit from a grasshopper might be your sign to get busy crushing those goals looming in your life.
Grasshoppers remind us to stay connected, be resourceful, and never underestimate the power you have within you to make positive changes in the world. If you are feeling small or ineffectual, remember that the grasshopper – although tiny – makes mighty changes wherever it goes. The grasshopper may also carry a message of patience and transformation for you, as it goes through its own transformations and it recognizes that perfection and full development can never be rushed.
I hope you have enjoyed these observations on grasshopper symbolism and grasshopper totems. This is truly a magnificent creature capable of expanding your horizon to new heights. As always, thank you for reading!
Mighty brightly,
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