The Mariposa Metamorphosis Metaphor

(Say that three times fast!!)

I never metaphor I didn’t like. Metaphors awaken our imagination. They provide models and patterns that can inspire us, give us insight, and hope. They can provide symbols that can lead us through dark times on the long journey to a faraway destination.

One of my favorites is that of the mariposa, or butterfly. It has returned to my attention lately since my daily practice with SATI365 this month utilizes the butterfly metamorphosis as part of the morning guided meditation.  It's such a fabulous pattern of creative imagining that helps us envision the exquisite beauty of our heart's desire.

The story of the butterfly's metamorphosis has long been used to help people have hope when undertaking a huge new goal, or heal from a serious illness or injury.  The more outlandish or impossible the dream, the more this metaphor works. 

   "We can become what we dream of if fat, furry worms can fly."      ~Jana Stanfield

The basic story we all know is that a butterfly lays eggs on milkweed plants. When the larvae emerge, they begin to eat.  During this caterpillar phase, it will eat so much that it will outgrow and shed its skin three times.

Hmm... that sounds like my last three years....

As humanoids, we go through similar changes.  As infants, we eat, grow, sleep, learn, and will outgrow all sorts of shoes and clothing. We also develop numerous identities which we outgrow as we continue to upgrade our self concept. Our bodies change over the years.

In my time, I’ve eaten and outgrown any number of outfits. First in childhood and then, alas, in adulthood as I’ve struggled with my capacity to maintain a healthy body that allows me to do all the things I want to do. I've also struggled with maintaining the identity of being a healthy person.

But I digress…

…Back to the caterpillar…  When it has almost outgrown itself the fourth time, it develops a hard outer casing we all know as a chrysalis.  What happens inside that chrysalis is absolutely amazing. While the hard outer shell will protect what goes on within, the inner world of the chrysalis completely liquefies into a nutrient-dense soup.  Among the cells in the caterpillar soup are cells that biologists have called imaginal discs. These are cells that will form the various parts of the butterfly. They are new, and the caterpillar’s immune system which is represented by other cells in that soup do not recognize these new shapes. The  immune system begins to attack these seemingly foreign invaders. The imaginal cells that are working to grow into the various parts of the caterpillar have to ward off attacks by this immune system.

Seem familiar?  It’s like when we set new goals for growth that challenge us. There is some part of us that wants to resist the change.  A life coach named Brooke Castillo has referred to this inner resistance as “obstacle thoughts.”  These obstacle thoughts can be like the caterpillar's immune system, attacking our vision of a desired outcome. 

Sometimes when we set a goal that will require us to change, there are certain things that we need to do differently. We may need to wake up earlier, or eat different foods or actually use that gym membership.   We want to introduce these elements into our lives, but some part of us doesn’t welcome the change. We have had a set way of doing things and have held a set idea of who we are.  If our goal requires us to act or think differently, some part of us will throw up roadblocks. 

We think up all the reasons why we should just give up, or not do a thing. “Why stretch or grow?”  “Am I not supposed to be able to love myself as I am?” “It’s too hard to give up my pizza or my Netflix binge, or my (fill in the blank with your favorite indulgence..)” “I’m bound to fail and I don’t want to disappoint myself.” Chances are if you have a goal in mind right now, you can begin to identify your own obstacle thoughts. 

These obstacle thoughts are strongly biased. In a desperate attempt to save us from having to change, our unconscious mind will produce all the evidence to support the reasons for just staying the same. For not attempting and failing yet again.

It seems so frustrating, yet it is something we all do. It's hardwired in all of us to consider all the possible dangers and setbacks. It's something in our very DNA that wants to save us from doing foolish and hazardous things. It's good to discern what are legitimate concerns, and which thoughts are roadblocks to our success. 

When these obstacle thoughts arise, we need to investigate them and determine whether they are warning signs or challenges. Riddles to be solved. As we overcome each obstacle, the goal moves closer to us. 

The best way to help us to overcome these obstacles and solve the riddles is a robust, fertile imagination. 

Meanwhile,  back inside the chrysalis,  the imaginal cells persevere the assaults on their creativity from the caterpillar's well-intended immune system. Eventually those imaginal cells join forces and produce a fully formed butterfly.  

The hard shell casing becomes increasingly translucent as the butterfly transforms itself from soup into a beautiful winged creature.

Similarly, think about a time you’ve taken on a lofty goal.  The way may have seemed totally unclear to you at first, and you may have had absolutely no idea how you were going to possibly see your way through high school, or college, or graduate school, or a 45 minute exercise class three times a week.  You had to start small. Whatever you accomplished, you may have noticed that the more you could see yourself actually accomplishing it in rich sensory detail, the more possible the end result seemed. The more progress you made, the more the way seemed clearer. There have been numerous studies that have shown that successful people achieve big things by really focusing on having a felt sense of what it will be like to already have the desired achievement. Using all five senses, creating a picture of what they will see, hear, feel, smell, and taste when it is done.

Wayne Dyer often spoke of this when he described his own experiences. He never questioned that he would earn his doctorate. in his mind's eye it was already done and he just went about taking all of the many steps it took to get him to the ultimate goal. It's something we can all learn to do. 

Let's get back to that butterfly now as it gets ready to emerge from its chrysalis. 

As the butterfly emerges from the now translucent chrysalis, it pulses. It looks as though it is breathing. What is really happening is that those pulsing movements are pumping fluid from the thorax into the structure of the buttterfly’s wings. As this happens,  the wings steadily take shape. Once, the wings take shape, they become solar panels. They will remain stationery, opening and closing their wings, gaining heat and energy from the sun and when the moment is right , they will take flight.

Similarly, we gather resources and elicit help and support from our environments, we experience setbacks and perhaps criticisms from without and within. We breathe our way through all of those moments, put one foot in front of the other and when the moment is right, we step out into the world and celebrate our accomplishments.

Butterflies drinking from wet, sandy soil at the river's edge

Ah, but there's more to the story.

The part that is truly inspiring happens after metamorphosis. That beautiful, graceful Monarch butterfly that emerges from a monarch caterpillar in North America will set out on an incredible journey.

Those delicate whisper-thin wings will make their way over snow-capped mountains, great lakes, deserts, and encounter all manner of birds who will want to consume them as food. 

In one generation, these monarchs will make their way from wherever their eggs were laid in North America to a place of convergence in Mexico where they will spend the winter together. It will take the following two or three generations to make their way back to where the Michoacan Monarch Mariposas found their winter resting place.

So it often is with us that as we make our individual journeys, may we find like-minded people of similar purpose who join forces with us. Together, may we be strong, and may we encourage one another.  Butterflies may look delicate, but they are not fragile. Neither should we be. Be strong. Believe in yourself. Create a powerful vision of yourself in rich sensory detail. and get support from people who want the best for you!!

May this metaphor inspire you to see your way through the darkness that will lead you to the clarity of your own goals.  

Until then, and, as I’ve heard it said by my particularly nerdy and punny friends, “Metaphors be with you.”