Butterfly Green Aventurine

BUTTERFLY

Butterfly is a beautiful symbol of transformation and rebirth. It is often used to signify the soul’s journey from the physical world to the spiritual.

Butterfly is a winged insect of the suborder Lepidoptera.  Butterflies often have large and brightly colored wings which make it one of the most beautiful of insects. It first appears in the fossil record approximately 56 million years ago during the Paleocene. It developed during the same time that flowering plants began to emerge.

It has a four stage life cycle. Eggs are laid by an adult Butterfly on the leaf of a plant that is edible. Eggs hatch into larvae called caterpillars.  When the caterpillar is fully developed, it pupates into a chrysalis where its metamorphosis will occur. The pupal skin splits open after metamorphosis; and the adult insect emerges, its wings expand out, and it flies away. The timing of life cycles differs depending on geography. In the tropics, there may be several life cycles per year while in colder climates there may be one life cycle over several years.

Monarch Butterflies are the only Butterfly known to migrate as a part of its life cycle in much the same way that birds migrate. Huge clouds of monarchs travel together to the same destination each year even though the insects that are travelling have never been to their destination. These beautiful Butterflies spend the summer breeding in cooler climes. Those born in the last life cycle of the summer then migrate south to winter and repeat the process. There are also some monarchs that do not migrate. The reason they stay in the same location is unknown, but it only occurs in areas with mild winters.

Butterfly has been important to human civilization and culture for many reasons. It has been seen both as a pest and as a helpmate agriculturally. Butterflies are important to the pollination of plants, essential to the plant’s life cycle. They are also a deterrent to some insects that destroy plants. However, some types of caterpillars can be destructive to plants. 

Butterfly has been important to human culture for at least 3500 years. Butterflies are included in ancient Egyptian painting and statues. They are associated with some of the Egyptian gods as symbols of regeneration and rebirth. They are carved into the walls of many Mesoamerican temples, including Aztec, Maya, and Zapotec structures. Butterfly appears in Roman statues. It has been widely used in many cultures in art and jewelry. A caterpillar is included in Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland. Diderot called Butterfly a symbol of the soul. Puccini wrote an opera about Madame Butterfly.

In Native American cultures, Butterfly symbolizes transformation, rebirth, and hope. Ancient Chinese culture used Butterfly as a symbol of freedom, earthly beauty, love, and the human soul. 

A Butterfly spirit animal may appear to help with personal evolution. Use it to promote positive growth and transformation to a truer self and better life.

One with a Butterfly totem is usually able to accept change easily. Travel will often be a part of everyday life. It also brings a great deal of creativity.

A Butterfly in a dream may represent the soul of the dreamer. It may signify change, rebirth, or hope. It is often a sign of good things to come with changes that need to be made.