The Transformation of the Soul: What’s the Symbolism of a Butterfly?
January 28, 2021 | Anna Bashuk
Do you enjoy watching beautiful butterflies flying among colorful flowers on a warm spring day? But that’s not all there is to these fragile creatures. Mentions of butterflies appear in many cultures around the world, and there are also superstitions associated with them.
For example, there is a belief that they bring good luck, but they are also connected to marriage or long life. In most instances, butterfly symbolism is about transformation and rebirth.
Since this creature goes through a fascinating process of metamorphosis to become the adult butterfly we know, folks have associated it with luck, beauty, and the human soul. Let’s look more into the symbolism behind the fragile and colorful butterflies.
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The Fleeting Life of a Butterfly
Did you know that butterflies live for a very short time? After their transformation, they have a lifespan of about three-four weeks on average, although this differs between species, and some butterflies can even live for a year. But even a year is not that long if we compare its lifespan to many other living creatures.
A butterfly teaches us about the fragility of life, and this fragile nature is what makes it so much more precious. The transformation we see in the butterfly symbol undoubtedly has a lot to do with the life cycle of a butterfly.
Throughout its short life, this creature undergoes a process of metamorphosis, being born from an egg, then transforming into a caterpillar, enveloping itself in a cocoon, and finally coming into the world again, now as a beautiful butterfly.
And we can apply the different phases of a butterfly’s life to our own challenges and transformations. Think about how we all have to start somewhere to achieve something in life.
Moreover, during our lives, we also go through challenges and transformations both physically and emotionally, even if they are not as drastic as the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
The act of a butterfly’s transformation is a symbol of overcoming challenges on your path, growing spiritually, and being reborn. This creature asks us to accept the changes in our environment as something that happens naturally, so we should not be scared of them.
You can find a butterfly symbol in religions, folklore, and mythology, and it can also appear as a spirit or totem animal.
Mentions of a Butterfly in Different Cultures Around the World
Various ancient cultures around the world have mentioned butterflies. In Ancient Greece, for instance, butterflies were associated with human souls. The Greek word for soul is “psyche,” and in mythology, Psyche was also the name of the lover of Eros, the god of love.
In Aztec culture, butterflies also symbolized the souls of the dead. People believed that happy souls came to visit their living relatives in the shape of butterflies to let them know that everything was well.
Native Americans not only gave significance to butterflies, but they also attributed different symbolism to different colors of these creatures. For example, white butterflies were regarded as symbols of good luck and yellow as symbols of hope, while brown or red represented important events or news.
In Christianity, a butterfly is said to symbolize resurrection. Its life as a caterpillar represents our lives on earth, while the chrysalis is a place where resurrection happens, and the soul rises. Finally, the emergence of a beautiful butterfly symbolizes the rebirth of Christ’s spirit.
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Irish folklore also mentions butterflies as the spirits of the dead that are passing from the earthly plane into the Otherworld. And the creature’s metamorphosis symbolizes our human journeys from life to death. As you can see, many cultures attribute rich symbolism to small and fragile butterflies.
As your spirit animal guide, a butterfly symbolizes your hidden potential. When we see a caterpillar at first, there is nothing that hints at it becoming a beautiful, winged creature, apart from our knowledge of a butterfly’s lifecycle. So, it is fascinating to observe how this transformation happens in nature.
Just like the caterpillar that doesn’t seem like much at first glance, we also have the inner power to achieve what we desire in life and become the people we wish to be. And the way to reach this transformation could be through nourishing your soul with beneficial energies until it is ready to shine.
Butterflies also represent intuition and observation. Although their vision might not be superior to ours, they can see a lot of things in various directions all at once. So, as your spirit animals, they could enhance your ability to see things for what they are.
Butterfly as a Totem Animal
If your totem is a butterfly, this might be a strong symbol of change in your life. When you think about the growth of a butterfly from an egg to an adult creature, you might realize that change is a natural flow of events, and it is okay that your life does not always stay the same way.
Allow the butterfly to guide you on your path to changing yourself or your environment. There could be opportunities that are too important to miss, and a butterfly totem would be guiding you into realizing the positive nature of change.
As you might have suspected already, seeing a butterfly in your dreams could hint at some sort of transformation in your life. Think even a major change like moving houses, getting engaged, or changing your career – anything is possible.
But seeing that butterfly is also a symbol of happiness and joy, the changes coming your way are more likely to be positive, so do not be afraid of embracing them.
A butterfly emerges beautifully from its cocoon through its own effort. No one helps this creature destroy the walls surrounding it and come out into the world, now transformed. In a similar fashion, interpret a butterfly dream as a symbol of change that you have to work toward on your own.
When a butterfly appears in your dream, it also symbolized your spiritual growth. It might be a sign for you to continue working on your spiritual development in the same way you are already doing, and it could also tell you to take it slow and just let things happen – do whatever brings you the most joy.
The symbolism of a butterfly in the Contemporary World
Although nowadays we might not be paying as much attention to the symbolism of a butterfly in myths or folk tales, these creatures make for a popular design in women’s tattoos. They represent beauty, sensuality, and freedom, along with some sort of transformation in life. Butterflies in tattoos might also symbolize harmony between physical and spiritual beauty.
Finally, the word “butterfly” appears in some everyday expressions in the English language. Have you ever gotten butterflies in your stomach? Are you a social butterfly? Or, do you believe in the butterfly effect?
Butterflies are a part of nature, and they are loved for their gentle flight and colorful wings. Having a better idea of their symbolism, perhaps you will look at these beautiful creatures from a slightly different perspective when you go butterfly-watching next time.
Anna is an avid reader, writer, and photographer, a rookie yogi, and a food blogger, passionate about the esoteric world and its mysteries. Her hobby is collecting hobbies, and she strives to do what she can to make our world a little better every day. With an academic background in journalism and media, Anna truly loves what she does professionally and she is always in pursuit of new and exciting experiences.
