Animal Symbolism: Butterfly Meaning,
by Avia/ Συμβολισμός των ζώων: Σημασία των πεταλούδων, από την Avia
Symbolic Butterfly Meanings
Interpreting animal symbolism is a powerful way to connect with nature, and learn
lessons from her creatures - lessons that we can apply to our own lives.
Observing the butterfly and learning her symbolic meanings offers us an
opportunity to apply her movements to our own lives. For example, we can relate
the butterfly's stages of life to our own life-phases...growing pains, times of
ravenous hunger, times of vulnerability, moments of miraculous expansion.
The more we seek symbolism in nature, the more we realize we have a lot in
common with animals, insects and life in the wild realms. Indeed, we are
intimately connected with the animal queen/kingdom - inseparable from nature
and her movements. Overwhelmingly, cultural myth and lore honor the butterfly
as a symbol of transformation because of its impressive process of
metamorphosis.
From egg, to larvae (caterpillar), to pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) and
from the cocoon the butterfly emerges in her unfurling glory.
What a massive amount of transition this tiny creature undergoes. Consider
for a moment the kind of energy this expends. I daresay if a human were to go
through this kind of change we'd freak out!
Imagine the whole of your life changing to such an extreme you are
unrecognizable at the end of the transformation. Mind you, this change takes
place in a short span of about a month too (that's how long the butterfly life
cycle is).
"Transformation literally means
going beyond your form."
~
Wayne Dyer
Herein lies the deepest symbolic lesson of the butterfly. She asks us to accept
the changes in our lives as casually as she does. The butterfly unquestioningly
embraces the chances of her environment and her body.
This unwavering acceptance of her metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith.
Here the butterfly beckons us to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in
our lives. She understands that our toiling, fretting and anger are useless
against the turning tides of nature - she asks us to recognize the same.
As mentioned, tapping into animal symbolism is akin to tapping into our own
souls, because we are inseperable from nature and her creatures. For easy
reference, here's a quick-list of symbolic features of the butterfly:
Symbolic
Butterfly Meanings
Time
Soul
Grace
Growth
Elegance
Expansion
Lightness
Surrender
Transition
Expression
Celebration
Resurrection
Vulnerability
"If
you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you
are undergoes a transformation."
~Jiddu Krishnamurti
Symbolic Butterfly
Meaning in Cultural Myth, Beliefs and History
Animal symbolism is a big deal in cultural identity. And the butterfly makes
important appearances on the stage of human beliefs and understanding.
Interestingly, in many cultures the butterfly is associated with the soul -
further linking our meaning of faith with the butterfly.
In Greek myth, Psyche (which
literally translates to mean "soul") is represented in the form of a
butterfly. Befittingly, Psyche is forever linked with love as she and Eros (the
Greek god of love, also known in Roman myth as Cupid) shared an endlessly
passionate bond together - both hopelessly in love with the other.
Greece doesn't corner the market on associating the butterfly with the soul. Here
are a few other ancient cultures that associated this elegant creature with the
soul: Asian (central), Mexican (Aztec), New Zealand and Zaire
Christianity considers the butterfly as a symbol for the soul. To wit, the butterfly
is depicted on ancient Christian tombs, as Christ has been illustrated holding
a butterfly in Christian art.
It's connection with the soul is rather fitting. We are all on a long
journey of the soul. On this journey we encounter endless turns, shifts, and
conditions that cause us to morph into ever-finer beings. At our soul-journey's
end we are inevitably changed - not at all the same as when we started on the
path.
To take this analogy a step further, we can look again to the grace and
eloquence of the butterfly and realize that our journey is our only guarantee.
Our responsibility to make our way in faith, accept the change that comes, and
emerge from our transitions as brilliantly as the butterfly.
There
are dozens of myths and cultural beliefs that view the butterfly
and the soul as one-in-the-same.
A Neat Video on
Butterfly Metamorphosis
As you watch this video, ponder the potential symbolism and meaning of the
butterfly as she emerges through her stages of life. How are these life-stages
similar to your own?
When this gracious, elegant creature appears to us, the butterfly beckons us
to ask these questions:
Potential Questions The Butterfly
Asks
What is your attitude towards change?
How does that influence your life.
Can you accept who and where you are?
- - -If not, do you believe you can change
it?
- - -If so, how will you react to the
inevitable changes to come?
Do you believe in your greater good? Can
you allow good to flow naturally into your life?
Are you willing to take the long soul's
journey to be the best you can be?
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