Winged Messengers...

Dearest All,

Decided to walk home for lunch and on the way, first one and then later another butterfly landed on the path right in front of me. I was delighted with the message. After expressing my appreciation, I sent them Love and continued on my way.  They were Buckeyes and I will have to contemplate their message a bit more before I share. To Be continued...   

Oh my, time to go back to class! Talk to you soon...

September 08, 2012

Back again, with some info on the symbolism of the beautiful eye-flower called a butterfly. The English probably called them butterflies because their most common species is called the Yellow Brimstone, and as you can see in the picture below - they are a brilliant butter yellow. The English name then carried over to this country.

In Welsh, one name for the butterfly is glöyn byw. It is pronounced glow-in bi-u. Gloyn is coal or ember and Byw is the word for life or alive, so it roughly translates into glowing life or shining essence. 

Psyche or soul, is the ancient Greek name for the butterfly and a number of cultures believed that when we die, we travel to heaven as butterflies. Psyche, the soul, and Eros, love, are forever linked in Greek mythology.

Naturally, butterflies are a symbol for rebirth because of the dramatic change that takes place when they emerge from the chrysalis. 

Chrysalis is a Greek word that means golden sheath, and it is created by the caterpillar to protect itself while it transmutates into a completely new form. Few transformations in nature are as dramatic as the simple, earthbound caterpillar emerging as an iridescent winged jewel that can take to the skies.

The soul being freed from the body at death is also a very dramatic transition and is it any wonder that the butterfly has come to symbolize that bittersweet process that has been called the "ultimate  healing" by some. 

The butterfly is a symbol for faith, the resurrection of Christ and the eternal nature of the soul. They used to be carved on christian tombs.

Beyond that, butterflies symbolize joy, seeking out the nectar of life and celebrating its sweetness. They represent the refinement of the soul into ever more expansive realms growth and awareness.

Some Native tribes saw the butterfly as pieces of rainbow flitting amongst the wildflowers. The Sioux saw the butterfly as guardian of the East, home of the Rising Sun and gateway to the Great Mystery.

Living in and finding the joy of the now moment is also symbolized by the butterfly, because most butterflies only live for anywhere from a week to a month. Only a few live as long as nine months. They must enjoy life while they can!

Blue-Butterfly Day by Robert Frost

It is blue-butterfly day here in spring,

And with these sky-flakes down in flurry on flurry

There is more unmixed color on the wing

Than flowers will show for days unless they hurry.

But these are flowers that fly and all but sing:

And now from having ridden out desire

They lie closed over in the wind and cling
Where wheels have freshly sliced the April mire.

Chuang Tzu And The Butterfly by Li Po

Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly,
And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking.
Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ?
Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things?
The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea
Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream.

Verses On A Butterfly by Joseph Warton

Fair Child of Sun and Summer! we behold
With eager eyes thy wings bedropp'd with gold;

The purple spots that o'er thy mantle spread,

The sapphire's lively blue, the ruby's red.

Ten thousand various blended tints surprise,

Beyond the rainbow's hues or peacock's eyes:

Not Judah's king in eastern pomp array'd,

Whose charms allur'd from far the Sheban maid.

High on his glitt'ring throne, like you could shine

(Nature's completest miniature divine):

For thee the rose her balmy buds renews,

And silver lilies fill their cups with dews.

Flora for thee the laughing fields perfumes,

For thee Pomona sheds her choicest blooms,

Soft Zephyr wafts thee on his gentlest gales

O'er Hackwood's sunny hill and verdant vales.

For thee, gay queen of insects! do we rove

From walk to walk, from beauteous grove to grove;

And let the critics know, whose pedant pride

And awkward jests our sprightly sport deride:

That all who honours, fame, or wealth pursue,

Change but the name of things--they hunt for you.

the butterfly and the rose by W. Jude Aher

i walk the dream
where the street
breathes in the shadow
of moon-light,
the lovers night.

oh, sweet love
long time coming
longer time whispering
us free.

i sing your eyes
as willows
stretching into
the ever passing winds

i speak the words of my heart
i sing the songs of my dreams
i see in the water
your image
and it’s true...

as i ride the butterfly,
i offer the rose.