Emotional Metamorphosis
Inspired by the Monarch: Emotional and Behavioral Metamorphosis
The healing process can easily be compared to the metamorphosis of a butterfly. The pain and struggle must be endured as issues are uncovered and addressed. As the monarch butterfly becomes empowered through its metamorphosis, you or your child can also find freedom through reaching your full potential…emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Perhaps you identify with one of the following stages of your emotional life cycle:
- Larvae: Uncertain of who you are or how you got to where you are
- Caterpillar: Inching to grasp more from life; wondering if there is a light at the end of the tunnel; slowly getting by; struggling with low self-esteem and a desire for patience
- Chrysalis: Drawing inward; focusing on yourself; trying to identify which areas of your life you have control over and can improve; feeling stuck as you isolate yourself into depression and confusion regarding how to emerge
- Wounded Butterfly: Fearful of flying; confused about what to do or where to go; nursing a wounded wing from past hurt; hoping to fly again to rediscover lost freedom and peace
Whatever stage you find yourself in, Monarch Wellness (Monarch Therapy, LLC) can help you with the next step of your transformation. We believe that you can become unstuck and Transform, Emerge, Become… free…
Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.
-Nathaniel Hawthorne
Monarch butterflies are particularly fascinating and inspirational symbols of strength, miraculous spiritual guidance, and perseverance. Every year, the 4th generation of one particular breed travels up to 2,500 miles, about 100 miles a day, from Canada and Northern parts of the United States to the same location where their ancestors went before in Mexico, using only their internal GPS. If such small creatures can find and follow their purposeful path, so can each of us with the appropriate tools and support.
PBS aired a beautiful movie about the Monarch migration:
“The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies”
The following article from the Monarch Butterfly website also explains their adventure, strength, and determination that can teach us to pursue our goals, trust our innate instincts, never ever give up, appreciate the beauty around us, and keep the faith that there is a path and purpose for us all.
Migration of the Monarch Butterfly
Monarch Butterflies are not able to survive the cold winters of most of the United States so they migrate south and west each autumn to escape the cold weather. The monarch migration usually starts in about October of each year, but can start earlier if the weather turns cold sooner than that.
The monarch butterflies will spend their winter hibernation in Mexico and some parts of Southern California where it is warm all year long. If the monarch lives in the Eastern states, usually east of the Rocky Mountains, it will migrate to Mexico and hibernate in oyamel fir trees. If the monarch butterfly lives west of the Rocky Mountains, then it will hibernate in and around Pacific Grove, California in eucalyptus trees. Monarch butterflies use the very same trees each and every year when they migrate, which seems odd because they aren’t the same butterflies that were there last year. These are the new fourth generation of monarch butterflies, so how do they know which trees are the right ones to hibernate in? Monarch butterflies are the only insect that migrates to a warmer climate that is 2,500 miles away each year.
The Monarch butterfly migrates for 2 reasons. They can not withstand freezing weather in the northern and central continental climates in the winter. Also, the larval food plants do not grow in their winter overwintering sites, so the spring generation must fly back north to places where the plants are plentiful. Would you like to help track monarch butterfly migrations? Visit Monarchwatchfor lots of information on tracking migrations with a color map.
The monarch overwintering sites are under threat because of people cutting down their favorite trees to build roads, houses and farms. What will happen to the monarchs if they do not have their special trees to spend the winter? There are groups that collect money to save the important trees and educate people about monarch conservation. You can learn more about helping monarchs here.
Thank you to the Monarch Butterfly website for the article “The Migration of the Monarch Butterfly” and other fascinating information and photos of these creatures: http://www.Monarch-Butterfly.com.
In this world there’s a whole lot of cold
In this world there’s a whole lot of blame
In this world you’ve a soul for a compass,
And a heart for a pair of wings
There’s a star on the far horizon,
Rising bright in an azure sky
For the rest of the time that you’re given,
Why walk when you can fly?
-Mary Chapin Carpenter