butterfly

Learn to Be Still. Can Butterfly Teach Us This?

8 x 8 Mixed Media Collage

It seemed contradictory. To name this Butterfly piece, Be Still.

A birthday gift for my sister’s 60th birthday I knew I wanted to create a butterfly, though when the message that kept coming was be still, I wasn’t so sure.

But animals have a way at times of making us work for our wisdom.

It’s oh-so-lovely to be a butterfly – owning your total beingness and those glorious gorgeous wings as they flutter out into the world enjoying the sweet and nourishing nectar of plants and flowers. How everyone marvels in awe when they see a butterfly!

But how do we get to this magnificent stage? Ah yes, I understand, dear Butterfly. We must embrace being still.

It’s reminding me of a conversation during a monthly astrology group I’m part of. Butterfly and the concept of transformation comes up often. How as a collective we are all going through a significant metamorphosis.

Though, how often it is that some get stuck being a caterpillar, as a member said in exasperation! Not that there is anything wrong with a caterpillar! And I’m not saying this is the case for my sister.

But we all can learn to be still in some aspect of our lives. Even though this was something I craved when I left the corporate world many moons ago, and in many ways wrapped stillness around me with great pleasure, there are times it being still can feel uncomfortable.

Something I continue to lean into is that when we resist stillness it’s is a clue. A very valuable clue. It’s niggling at us to go within, listen, and observe. What is needing your attention right now? What part of you really wants to become that butterfly? What part of you is in protection mode not wanting to expand our of fear?

I know for myself, coming into my sixties two years ago, I felt something changing within me. I wanted even more stillness. I wanted to really appreciate everything around me even more. I want to drop deeper into my being. Though a part of me was scared – and still is at times, because of all those years of doing, doing, doing can sometimes be hard to let go of.

I reflect on my parents, now in their early eighties, both with some health challenges. My husband inching his way toward not working as much. Each navigating stillness in their own way. And me observing this and taking the cues as lessons for myself.

To Be Still is a gift if we can change our perspective and look through a different lens. When we do, we just may find a part of ourself that wants to be seen and know it is loved, and that all is going to be okay.

xo

Barb

May 2022 – Animal Wisdom Reading: Butterfly & Navigating Uncertainty

Photo credit

Happy May!

This month we are looking at exploring uncertainty. Sure seems to be an ongoing theme, right? No need to worry as it’s just another opportunity to help us grow in learning to stay grounded during these times that can feel like we are on a rollercoaster.

Butterfly gracefully invites us to view change in a positive way so that we can transform and evolve far beyond our wildest dreams!

Click here or below to listen…

I’d welcome hearing if this resonated with you. Feel free to leave a comment here on my blog or on Youtube.

Take good care.

XO

Barb

                  

Honor Your Growls and Flutters

Honor Your Growl and Flutters

I was so excited to catch this butterfly hanging out on my sedum plant outside my writing cottage. I see the bumblebees and honey bees aren’t the only ones who love this sweet plant.

How can you not smile when you see a beautiful butterfly, right? It reminds me of the short story Kathleen Kelly (played my Meg Ryan in the movie You’ve Got Mail) talks about as she observes a butterfly in NYC riding the subway…and how the butterfly gets off the train and Kathleen is quite sure the butterfly was headed downtown to buy a hat.  That just tickles my inside every time I watch the movie and hear that line as I try to imagine what sort of hat that butterfly will buy!  Oh! I must watch the movie again.

I also found this quote that I simply loved from author S.C. Lourie which I feel speaks so much to the many sides of the feminine, if we allow it to be.

Please don’t mistake my softened heart. I haven’t fluttered my whole way here. I’ve roared my way here too. I am tiger as much as I am butterfly. Honour your growls as much as your flutters. We need them both in this life. ~S.C. Lourie

And indeed, I think we need them both in this life, at this time, more than any other. So growl and flutter! Growl and flutter.

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