Symbolism behind the dragonfly:

What is amazing to me, is when I see a dragonfly and it appears to follow me and "play" with me. It always gives me a special joy, probably because I have always heard that to see a dragonfly indicates good luck. It has been said that when a dragonfly lands on you, you will hear goods news from someone who is close to your heart, but may be far away. A dead dragonfly symbolizes sad or bad news.

In Japanese paintings, dragonflies are represented as new light and joy. Additionally, in ancient times, Japanese farmers believed the dragonfly was the spirit of the rice plant. Dragonflies were also believed to bring good luck in battle. About 1600 years ago, the dragonfly was the symbol of a great Japanese warrior clan. The dragonfly later became one of the emblems of the emperor

Native Americans cometimes say that they are the souls of the dead. In Fairytales, dragonflies are said to have been real dragons.

The Dragon-fly by Alfred Lord Tennyson from ``The Two Voices''

Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

Symbolism behind the butterfly:

The butterfly is a powerful symbol of transformation. The butterfly also is symbolic of the spirit or soul. Like the dragonfly, some people say that when a butterfly lands on you it means good luck

The eartly Celts thought that women became pregnant by swallowing butterfly souls. These butterfly-souls flew about seeking a new mother.

Psyche is the Greek word for both soul and butterfly. The belief was that butterflies were human souls searching for a new reincarnation, which gave the creature uncanny and sometimes ominous connotations. This symbolism was also used in early Christianity as a symbol of the soul.

The butterfly has also long been a Christian symbol of resurrection, for it disappears into a cocoon and appears dead, but emerges later far more beautiful and powerful than before.