In Australia seeing even one Ladybirds is uplifting - a flash of brilliant spotted colour - solitary designer wonders. Here on the east coast of the USA they're familial wonders hanging out together. I was putting up prayer flags with a friend Dechen, and we found oodles of them on this flag pole. I had never seen so many in my entire life: a biological cornucopia.
They were also crawling over Stupas and Statues - and in my friend Rinchen's room where they had taken up residence in the corner. Here is a picture! Well you can't really see them in detail but you get the picture.
Rinchen said don't be deceived by Ladybirds - as she had been bitten by at least one of them. I was disbelieving at first but on further inquiry found they can bite when their food supply of aphids is in short supply. So they're predators! Watch out if they start looking at you like a giant aphid.
Still there's a lot of interesting stories associated with Ladybirds that are quite captivating like the associations with wishes, love - and spirituality. The most moving association I found was the use of the symbol of the Ladybird by the Dutch Foundation Against Senseless Violence. A paving stone with a Ladybird is placed at a site where senseless violence is deemed to have occurred and people are encouraged to step around the Ladybird paving tile - not stepping on that which is beloved. If we placed a paving stone wherever senseless violence occurred it would cover much terrain. In this respect the Ladybird is an uplifting sight in dark places, glossy winged light.
