Transformation

The monarch butterfly is one of God’s most beautiful creations - its colors, its elegance and its fragility.  Hard to believe that the beautiful monarch butterfly was once a lonely less-than-beautiful caterpillar!   Wow - how does this happen? The biological term is “metamorphoses” otherwise called transformation.  There comes a time in the caterpillar’s life when the transformation shift begins to happen and the new cells of the butterfly begin to develop inside. Initially, the caterpillar sees these new cells as being foreign and detrimental so it mounts an all-out immune attack on them.  Temporarily, the caterpillar wins and destroys these new cells of the butterfly.  As time goes on, the determination to evolve and change into the butterfly  outweighs the fear of change in the caterpillar.  The new cells of the butterfly take over and emerge as a new entity.
 
This process of transformation is not unique to the monarch butterfly. In fact, it happens within us humans as well. We all possess the potential of transformation as well. We are all born into a programmed way of thinking, being and patterns of doing things. These were gifted to us from our parents, society, our past experiences and our own limited beliefs.  This shapes our identity, our self or at least our ego-self. It is who we know ourselves to be. To consider ourselves as anything different would seem well…..different.  
 
As our life goes on, as we do our own inner work to heal our old wounds and expose ourselves to new thoughts and upgrades in perceptions eventually our new, authentic, selves begin to emerge. Initially this new self will seem different and perhaps even a threat to our old self.  Much like the caterpillar we may do things to attack this new   being that is emerging.  We may revert to old habits or thoughts that destroy the new budding butterfly inside.  Unfortunately, many of us do this for the rest of our lives.  We live settled inside the old, comfortable ways, living as the caterpillar scared of change and becoming someone new.  
 
Some of us, who place our focus and energy on our shift, who nurture change and who learn new things will allow and  support their butterfly to emerge.  The process of transformation, just as it is for the caterpillar, can be and is often scary, and sometimes is uncomfortable. More  importantly than the fear, consider the wonderful results and growth you can experience when you step forward.  
 
Know that each time you are adjusted, each time you read an uplifting book, each time you take a workshop to listen to a new speaker you are placing energy in your emerging butterfly.  Be gentle with yourself, just as the monarch butterfly is gentle and precious - so is the new you!  I encourage you to continue your journey, be brave and see the  wonderful potential within!  Go for it!


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~ Come to the Edge ~ 
“Come to the edge,” he said. 
They said: “We are afraid.” 
“Come to the edge,” he said. 
They came. 
He pushed them and they flew.

-Guillaume Apollinaire (French Poet)

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