Ulysses butterfly
Butterflies are symbols of the soul; in many cultures they represent the cycle of birth, death and transformation. They are a spiritual affirmation if they appear in your life.
In a well-known Dreaming about Butterfly[1], as caterpillar she goes off in search for the meaning of death. The other creatures laugh at her quest because she is so small and insignificant. She returns as the first glorious butterfly, with much wisdom about death and life.
The unfolding of a butterfly’s wings is said to be capable of causing an earthquake on the other side of the world, (the Chaos theory.) Seeing results in seemingly chaotic situations make hindsight clearer. With the fluttering of Butterfly’s wings, a good opportunity is presented to look at the patterns in your life and the seemingly haphazard events that resulted in the most profound and significant changes in your path. Similar changes to these will be gently fanned into your life – unless this action is what tips the scales and a full-force cyclone is unleashed! There is a pattern to chaos; it may be random yet predictable; a paradox and a challenge for you to look ahead at your direction or goals and where Life seems to be pushing you.
Ulysses butterfly in spider web
With such power attributed to something so gentle, Butterfly is easy to crush, so fragile. This paradox, powerful yet weak, is a symbol of life. Every action, no matter how large or small, will bring a counter-action. Butterfly reminds you to be aware of consequences and to see those disparate aspects within yourself, which are poles apart, yet create balance and unity in your foundation.
If Butterfly flutters by into your life, she brings a spiritual affirmation of growth, transformation and deeper understanding. Butterfly is a symbol that seeks to clarify the connection we all have in the web of life, especially if she is sighted trapped in Spider’s web. Or Butterfly may need to fly directly into your face to get the message across. If so, do you automatically cringe from the expected contact? Is this how you react to any surprise elements in your life? Butterflies dancing an intricate mating dance and weaving around each other, are lovely reminders of love in relationship as well as the other aspects of compromise and co-operation needed to achieve harmony. Wherever and whenever, with Butterfly it’s easy to say, “It’s a beauty!”
Take notice of what colour Butterfly is and link these colours and their meaning for you to your own journey in life. Also, is Butterfly drawn to any flowers – what colour are they? Are they native plants, or not?
Enjoy the metamorphosis of Butterfly:
[1] Ramsay Smith, W. “Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals.” Similar versions in Ellis, Jean A. “This is the Dreaming.” and Reed, A.W. “Aboriginal Myths, Legends & Fables.” also H. Rule & S. Goodman, compiled by. “Gulpilil’s Stories of the Dreamtime”