Butterfly: The Butterfly represents transformation and is a symbol of metamorphosis. The Butterfly represents a need for change and greater freedom to be ourselves … and brings us the gift of Soul Evolution. The Butterfly teaches us about the never-ending cycle and power of our own self-transformation.

It reminds us to stay in the moment and at the same time it represents courage: one requires courage to carry out the changes necessary in the process of ones own growth.

If I told a Caterpillar
that tomorrow
he would be a Butterfly
he would call me a liar!
… old Sufi Saying

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I love butterflies. If I had to pick something, an image that represented me, I would most likely pick a butterfly. They remind me of freedom, transformation, beauty, femininity, growth, change, power, grace…everything that’s in the words above and then some. Probably even more so today as those things seem to mean more to me. Subconscious goals. My internal “To Do” list…or rather my “To BE” list.

I feel like I’ve been in a cocoon (um, a chrysalis - butterflies develop chrysalis not cocoons - moths spin cocoons) for a while now, awaiting the day I punch my way out of it, unfold my weeks and find myself transformed. Personal metamorphosis. Not a “re-creating” or reinventing of myself. Simply a deeper level of being who I was intended to be, finding myself just that much closer to my soul purpose as designed by the Creator. Transformation – metamorphosis – can take place on many levels in our lives and I’m feeling it in every area. I’m ready. Ready to spread my wings and take flight.

People are always going on about why someone else doesn’t learn XYZ, why they continue to stay in dead-end jobs or bad relationships. I’ve learned that each of us has a journey and we can’t take shortcuts on that journey without stunting our growth. Reminds me of the story of the man who that he was helping the butterfly out by opening the “cocoon” before it was ready and it never really made it to that beautiful butterfly stage. Sometimes we think we’re helping people but we have to be sure that what we see as “help” is what they truly need. I think about the experiences I’ve had in my life and where I am now and I can truly be thankful for each and every one of them. THAT’s growth.

Power. How does that apply to something as delicate as a butterfly? I read somewhere that something as simple as the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings can cause a typhoon halfway around the world. That’s impactful. That’s POWERFUL.

Beauty. Femininity.

There’s a WHOLE ‘nother post in and of its self. I’m not going to delve into the details right now – it’s so deeply personal, it may never make the blog. Just know that, f or the longest time, for many reasons, I fought against my femininity. Don’t get me wrong – no matter what was going on in my life at any given moment, you would know that I was a woman. You just wouldn’t always see, to paraphrase the Sears tagline, “My softer side”. I’m done with that now. Enough is enough. It’s time to stand up, reclaim those curves, and revel in being the beautifully bold, beautifully creative, beautifully grounded, beautifully grace-filled, beautifully human person that I truly am.

Now that’s what FREEDOM is really all about.

Off to shop for a butterfly charm for my necklace. Who knows? Might end up with that butterfly tat after all. Smooches!