Butterfly Wisdom

One of my favorite sayings is:

" Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."- proverb

I've been seeing a lot of butterflies lately, and think I feel compelled to them because I can relate what it's like to go through a metamorphosis. They remind me the dark period in a cocoon is a necessary part of the process of creating beautiful new freedom. There are many meanings associated with these "flying flowers." In ancient Greek the word for butterfly is "Psyche", which translated means "soul" or "breath". This was also the name for Eros' human lover, (Eros is today known as Cupid), and when the two figures are depicted they are often surrounded by butterflies. In one of the Russian dialects, butterflies are referred to as "dushuchka" which is a derivative of the word "dusha" also meaning soul. There is also an Irish saying: "Butterflies are souls of the dead waiting to pass through purgatory".  In Cambodia I saw the most beautiful butterflies at the place where many had died during the regime, and it made me feel like they did represent the souls of those lost in some way.  They were flying hope and life through a very dreary landscape. I captured one that sat still while I got up close and took a picture, (below), and then flew over to my nose and gave me an actual butterfly kiss.  It was one of the most amazing moments!!!

  Tonight we stumbled upon a restaurant after walking around the casino, and wouldn't ya know, butterflies, on the walls, the plates, the doors, even the exact picture I have in my room.  Synchronicities are messages, signs that you're on the right path, reminders, encouragements... the soul has eyes that can show you so much if you chose to see. 

                               If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. ~Richard Buckminster Fuller

The fluttering of a butterfly's wings can effect climate changes on the other side of the planet. ~Paul Erlich

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever. ~Carl Sagan

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ~Maya Angelou

Daily Silver Lining:

"As though you were born, And so you thought, The future's ours to keep and hold, A child within, Has healing ways, It sees me through, My darkest days, I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly, In that dream of mine, I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly, In that dream of mine."- Catching the Butterfly by The Verve