Ah, the wonder
of
BUtterflies
and the lessons that they teach us
Transformation
10/01/10
Hello October, my time flies... Morning is not yet awake, the darkness is quiet here, the littles are still sleeping as I silently type my thoughts for this day... Yesterday the sun was bright and the day gifted me with a most beautiful butterfly... she danced and danced, performing for me for the longest time... reminding me of the transformation with each graceful dip and swoop across the plants and then high up to the trees; and back for me to admire. I love butterflies ...
That reminds me of a story~ and I HOPE it will fill your heart today ~
Many, many years ago back when the Earth was still quite new, there once lived a beautiful butterfly who lost her mate in battle.
To show her grief, she took off her beautiful wings and wrapped herself in a ashen cocoon. In her sadness, she could not sleep, she could not eat and her relatives kept coming to her lodge to see if she about her. She grew weary of them asking, she didn't want to be a burden on her people so she gathered her wings and her medicine bundle and went away on a long journey.
She wandered about for many days and months, until she had gone all around the world. On her journey she kept her eyes downcast and stepped on each stone she came to as she crossed fields and creeks and streams. There came a time, one day as she was looking down, she happened to notice the stone beneath her feet, and it was so beautiful that it healed her sorrow, almost as if something "clicked" within her right at that moment in time.
She then cast aside her dark cocoon, shook the dust from her wings, and donned them once more.
She was so happy she began to dance to give thanks ~ wadoh~ for another chance to begin her life anew. Then she went home and told The People about her long journey, where she had been, the things at the creek, how it had "clicked" and how it felt to fly differently now with her wings once again, and how it had healed her.
The Legend Continues To This Day...
To this day,The People dance the "Fancy Shawl Dance" as an expression of renewal, transformation and to give thanks for new seasons, new life, and new beginnings.
The shawl in the Fancy Shawl Dance represents the butterfly's wings, the fancy steps and twirls represent the butterfly's style of flight. This is another reason you will sometimes hear the Fancy Shawl Competition Dance referred to as "the butterfly dance", and it is most beautiful to watch and to participate in.
As we approach the dark months, many feel the urge to cocoon now, to den for others like the North American Black Bears... but "click" in a moment, you may want to fold your blanket neatly (cocoon of modern times) and STOMP... be a butterfly and dance, to the sounds of life, the drum of your heart beat and rejoice in the great gratitude that you are alive today...
"The caterpillar dies so the butterfly could be born. And, yet, the caterpillar lives in the butterfly and they are but one. So, when I die, it will be that I have been transformed from the caterpillar of earth to the butterfly of the universe."
{John Harricharan}
The fire is burning brightly with thoughts on the wind for all in our prayer bowl ... and all who gather here, please hold those up in thoughts that you see and know from the names posted here on Sundays' just because you can and choose to ...
For that I give thanks, and so it is !
Walk In Beauty,
DRSES
author of
Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life
http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/
4 comments:
Good morning Sherry, all readers, and good morning OCTOBER 1st ! I, too, feel the change in light, dark, temp. and mood. Our healing group of many moons ago, spoke of this time of year. It is difficult to resist falling into the hibernation mode. I practice mind exercises to force outside time, deep breathing, looking around and UP, sunlight, strengths all available to me, mine for the taking. To quote Ms. Sherry: "too blessed to be stressed" Blessed Friday everyone !
Off to the races and staying FIRM
LOVE THE LIGHT AND MOURN THE SHORTENING DAYS AND THE LONG WINTER NIGHTS TO COME!
Don't want to miss the fall and winter gifts but am working on wrapping my head around how to accomplish that. STOMP. Will forge a new path.
Dorothy
Another beautiful story. Ive heard your "clicks" and have experienced some of my own in the past few days. You helped me to see them and to hear them. How great is that? I definitely am not a winter person and have to fight the urge to "den" myself.With the proper tools and a sense of self worth, perhaps this will be one that i master :-) I like your quote --too blessed to be stressed----i shall have to "borrow" it for my daily chant-- repeat and breathe deep, repeat and breathe deep. sandra
Beautiful photo of you and the magnificant butterfly. What a smile, now that will light up the night. Hope everyone is well and has a lovely weekend. Thank you for the legend of the Fanc Shawl Dance. What an awesome story with perfect visuals.
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