I had an extraordinary weekend recently, one that you don't get to have often... one of inspiration and creativity that propelled me into new ideas, thoughts, spaces, and rapidly fluttered right into my heart. It began with an amazing experience of a Monarch butterfly release AND being able to share it with friends, and ended with a Mandala workshop which inspired me toward what I consider a sort of rebirth.
The events offered a process that came as a surprise to me, through the power of synchronicity. I had certainly not planned on releasing butterflies and consequently connecting that to my workshop. In Jamie Sam's book, butterfly symbolizes creativity, change, inspiration in the mental. She prompts one to ask the question, what stage of the butterfly's metamorphosis are you in?
To discern your current cycle-ask these questions...
1. Egg stage: Is it just a thought or idea?
2. Larva stage: Do I need to make a decision?
3. Cocoon stage: Am I developing and doing something to make my idea a reality?
4. Birth stage: Am I sharing my completed idea?
"The caterpillars new cells are called 'imaginal cells.' They resonate at a different frequency. They are so totally different from the caterpillar cells that his immune system thinks they are enemies...and gobbles them up--Chomp! Gulp! But these new imaginal cells continue to appear. More and more of them! Pretty soon, the caterpillar's immune system cannot destroy them fast enough. More and more of the imaginal cells survive. And then an amazing thing happens! The little tiny lonely imaginal cells start to clump together, into friendly little groups. They all resonate together at the same frequency, passing information from one to another. Then, after awhile, another amazing thing happens! The clumps of imaginal cells start to cluster together!.., A long string of clumping and clustering imaginal cell, all resonating at the same frequency, all passing information from one to another there inside the chrysalis."
"A wave of Good News travels throughout the system-- Lurches and heaves...but not yet a butterfly."
"Then at some point, the entire long string of imaginal cells suddenly realizes all together that it is Something Different from the caterpillar. Something New! Something Wonderful!... and in that realization is the shout of the birth of the butterfly!"
To discern your current cycle-ask these questions...
1. Egg stage: Is it just a thought or idea?
2. Larva stage: Do I need to make a decision?
3. Cocoon stage: Am I developing and doing something to make my idea a reality?
4. Birth stage: Am I sharing my completed idea?
I have been at various stages of this cycle in both my personal and business life, as I'm sure everyone has. Each one has a reason and is necessary, although sometimes it's challenging when we're in a part of the process that challenges us.
In the egg stage, you may be frustrated with the time it is taking to manifest the thought or idea, deciding where or how to move forward with it. We have to call on patience and perhaps determination to stay the course. This is where I picture the great blue heron in my mind, at water's edge, steadfast and still, waiting for the exact moment to strike for the goods!
The larva stage teaches you to MOVE! What decisions do I need to make? Do I need more analyzing, more mental clarity around the situation, or just do it already?! Sometimes you just have to strike, using your instinct or intuition. And then sometimes we have to sit among the weeds and let them be, in order to become the flower.
What are doing to make it a reality? If you're stuck on something, developing sounds like a lot of work. But taking the smallest steps with consistency will bring your ideas and thoughts into reality, and will provide momentum. Picture the ant taking the small crumb back to its nest, and then repeating that again and again.
Finally, once you have completed the idea or process, it's time to share it! What would be the point otherwise? Do you trust yourself enough, love yourself enough, think you ARE enough - to share it? We all ask ourselves those questions, like Marianne Williamson's famous quote of our deepest fears and how we are meant to shine. Remember, the stars don't TRY to shine, they just do!
The butterfly IMAGINES what it will be, through frequency and resonance. It's true, here's the story...
"A wave of Good News travels throughout the system-- Lurches and heaves...but not yet a butterfly."
"Then at some point, the entire long string of imaginal cells suddenly realizes all together that it is Something Different from the caterpillar. Something New! Something Wonderful!... and in that realization is the shout of the birth of the butterfly!"
My mandala represents me sitting inside the egg waiting and contemplating my next steps, with excitement, the beginning of inspiration. Lightening strikes to activate my psyche into taking action. The egg transforms into the butterfly. I am feeling an evolution of mind and heart at top speed, and think this is also representative of our country and planet. So this image has become symbolic of both me and the world. I share this process for all your dreams and possibilities! And I will be sharing a soulful art experience like this at a workshop in the Fall.
See your wings, imagine, shine, share, inspire... for others to see you and become more stars, more butterflies, more love.
