The other morning I sensed a fluttering movement out of the corner of my eye while working on the computer. I turned and was amazed to find a stunning, large "red admiral" butterfly INSIDE one of the living room windows!
I was captivated by this wild visitor that one normally sees flitting about so free and uncapture-able outdoors, right there, barely 5 feet away from me in my living room!
I have been reading a new book I just purchased through Amazon.com called "Animal-Speak" by Ted Andrews which outlines the shamanic symbolism of different creatures. So (after gently releasing the beautiful caller outdoors), I ran to the book -- curious to see what Mr. Andrews had to say about the appearance of butterflies.
According to "Animal-Speak", butterflies denote "transmutation and the Dance of Joy". The author says of them:
[Butterflies] remind us not to take things so seriously within our lives. They awaken a sense of lightness and joy. They remind us that life is a dance, and dance, though powerful, is also a great pleasure... When butterflies come into your life look at how much or how little joy is within your life. Lighten up. Look for change. Don't forget that all change is good. Butterfly medicine reminds us to make changes when the opportunities present themselves. Transformation is inevitable, but butterfly will help teach you that growth and change does not have to be traumatic. It will teach you that it can occur as gently, as sweetly, and as joyfully as we wish.
He tells us to make special note of the color(s) of the totem when we encounter it and, according to the book, the colors of the red admiral (basically dark brown, orange and white) stand for "grounded, new growth", "warmth, joy, creativity" and "purity, sharing, truth".
Those of you who know the recent trials and tribulations that I've been going through with both my mother's and husband's ill health might find these descriptions of "butterfly medicine" as apt as I have...
Peace and blessings from the ole singlewide here in the wild hinterlands,
luv,
jean
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Comments: 19
It was a wonderful photo op. I need to start keeping a camera downstairs so I can get some pix of the declining number of animals and birds that show up behind the house. A construction project is going to reduce it to none in the next six months or so.
Perhaps, Nippy... ;o) That's just awful about the construction near you. I swear I think some of these "developers" (what a misnomer THAT is!) won't be happy until every last inch of California is paved or has some kind of structure built on it!
Glad to see you've got your server problems resolved. It's nice to see you around again.
I thought so, too, Susan! :o)
TANYA!!! It is a great book! I got that and a book on natal chart interpretation at the same time that I'm also enjoying very much... :o) It's SO GOOD to be BACK! Missed ya!!
Have you read anyting by Brian Aldiss (Sci-Fi), I just went back to the little bookshop and picked up every used book of his they had.
I hope both your mom and hubby are convalescing well.
I had one land on my shorts and stay there for a while, I happened to have my camera around my neck (out in my garden) and I got several good shots.
Thank you so, so much for your unwavering emotional and spiritual support, my dear, dear Gather friends: Danielle, Sheila, Robyn, Mugg (I've always thought "flutter-by" a MUCH better word!), Rose (sorry, don't know "Aldiss"... yes Hubby's foot is much better and Mom -- well... let's just say "as well as could be expected"), Sassy, Carol, ee and Heather!