"Recently I released two Monarchs that I raised on my porch garden. I watched them swell into hefty caterpillars as they devoured the milkweed leaves on my tiny plants. Then without warning they attached themselves with silk like threads to the top of the butterfly house. Hanging in a “J” formation I watched them shed their skin revealing an emerald chrysalis that was to be their new abode for approximately 16 days. Their tiny chrysalis was exquisite and embellished with specks of gold!
As the days passed the chrysalis’s turned darker as the orange and black, of the developing wings, was observable through the thin veil...Nature’s version of stain glass. Anastasia was the first to emerge and it happened so quickly! Her wings were small, wet, and weak. She moved her wings to pump the blood thru them and by the end of the day they had dried and grown to full size. She was stunning!!!!
I decided to wait a day before releasing her because of the high winds and cool air that had been sent our way from the recent hurricane off the coast. The following day, after the sun had risen high in the sky, I took her to my neighbors garden for her maiden flight. In the past the Monarchs I released had lingered and stayed on my hand for a while before they took flight. But not Anastasia! Oh my goodness!! She was off like a rocket!! Up Up Up she flew till she was out of sight never hesitating or looking back. This was a girl on a mission!!!
Have you ever noticed how Nature can reflect the situations that are going on in your life?
At the moment I’m in a stage of transformation with much uncertainty. So many emotions swirl around and thru me and at times I am frozen. I feel circumstance closing in all around me and the darkness is stifling. My world, as I have known it for some time, is being readjusted much like the caterpillar inside its chrysalis. A new canvas of my life is being painted and I’m trusting that the Universe’s brush strokes will create a more abundant and life giving reality for me.
If I hadn’t know about the life cycle of the Monarch I would have thought the caterpillar was dying as it hung lifeless from a tiny thread. I could have never imagined such a beautiful creature emerging after so many days had passed…completely transformed from what it was! And that it would have the strength to fly 100’s of miles to Mexico?!
Monarch’s cycle of life inspires me to believe that I too will emerge from this time of darkness into the light with beauty and grace… that I will have the strength to stand against the elements as I go thru this difficult but necessary transformation. I WILL arrive at my new destination in spite of my fears! Fly butterfly! Fly!!" Love, Sophia