Nature is such an invaluable, great teacher.
It teaches us everything we need to know about life and our own paths, always supporting us when we allow ourselves to receive its wisdom.
It teaches directly through messages or by using metaphors and analogies.
I’ve been encountering many people who are experiencing challenges at this time, as they resist the call to step into more of their greatness.
Challenges actually let us know that we’re crossing the threshold of our comfort zone – and that’s a good thing!
Many people have no idea what it actually takes for a caterpillar to become a butterfly.
To see it firsthand is quite extraordinary to say the least.
Our greatest challenges are like that… they’re opportunities for unimaginable personal growth in a very short period of time.
I’ve had the privilege of witnessing up close, every stage of growth of the magnificent monarch butterfly, as well as other species like the black swallowtail in the photograph (showcasing the very different caterpillar and butterfly forms!).
Seeing a caterpillar transform into a chrysalis was incredible in itself – it was like watching a science fiction movie.
The best way to describe it, is that after hanging upside down for a while from a chosen location, the caterpillar’s skin splits at the head and it gradually squeezes out of its little caterpillar suit, revealing a soft, wiggling chrysalis that eventually hardens into the form we see!
It’s a complete transformation, devoid of any body parts – just a squishy, little mass of divine life force energy. It’s magick at its best.
One day I discovered a chrysalis that had recently been bitten in half by something, so I was able to look inside it. What I saw was a thick liquid the colour of the chrysalis and some butterfly parts the same colour floating in it. I was amazed to witness this miracle of transformation.
I saw that the caterpillar itself goes through a death. It leaves its identity as a crawling, leaf-eating caterpillar and transforms into a casing filled with liquid. This liquid of cells magickally arranges itself into butterfly parts which eventually transform into a complete butterfly.
What appears as absolute destruction and chaos is actually a purposeful process of organization and creation. It’s a purposeful “mess”.
When this phase is complete, the chrysalis then splits open and the butterfly emerges, fully formed with a fat body and shrivelled, tiny, damp wings.
It perches upside down on the empty casing and slowly pumps the liquid from its enlarged body into the veins of its wings, letting them expand to their full size as its own body shrinks.
It patiently lets them dry for a while until they reach the perfect level of rigidity… and suddenly bursts into its first flight!
The butterflies look so elated when they take that first flight, gliding, swooping and flying at great speeds – fully enjoying their wings.
The butterfly is so transformed from when it was a caterpillar, it now even has a different way of moving and feeding. It has an acquired grace and freedom it didn’t even know was possible.
Our greatest challenges are like that. They invite us to experience something about ourselves that we didn’t even know was possible. If we can persevere, we emerge with a new or greater awareness of our abilities. Every challenge comes with a great reward.
What are you feeling invited to experience beyond your comfort zone at this time, that you might be resisting in some way?
With love and wonder-filled spirit,
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