I was so pleased and touched by some of the comments left regarding this post about the butterfly necklace Carolyn made for me. Butterflies have a tremendous significance for me, and it appears they do for others as well. Here are some of the comments that touched me.
This one from Paula at Little Scraps of Magic:
Butterflies hold a special place in my heart. As my mother lay dying of breast cancer, we asked her to send us a sign that she was okay. My sister asked her to send a butterfly. As we carried out her coffin, the air was filled with hundreds of butterflies. It was magical.Since then, mom has come to us in butterflies...a butterfly in January in PA is a rare sight. She's perched on my dad's finger, and she's lit down on the wing of an airplane to calm my sister. She's even played jokes.Your butterfly is beautiful!
And this one from Sara Williams:
Following a dose of chemo, I couldn't sleep and was awake most of the night it seemed. At about 3.30am I saw a vibrant blue butterfly before me, it turned into a flame then disappeared. I asked my friend what it meant and she told me it was healing sent with love xx
The similarity and the significance is that all three of us have been touched by breast cancer. There is something that we cannot explain about how this mystery with butterflies works but in truth, we really don't need the explanation. It's enough that we believe.
While scrolling around through blogs, I came across this one by Kathryn, Secrets of a Butterfly. I left a comment on Kathryn's blog and then Kathryn came to visit my blog. She left this beautiful comment:
i particularly got alot from this post and from the comments left by your lovely friends and readers about the significance of butterflies to them.
i have an affinity to butterflies too for freedom and transformation. because i spent 10 years in bed ill,through my twenties, which was like a cocoon, as i wasnt able to leave the room or be outside during that time.when my health improved a few years ago, you can imagine how wonderful even the smallest day to day things, and smallest bits of experiencing nature felt like, after so long!
maybe thats the joy a butterfly feels when it gets its wings and leaves the chrysalis.thats why my blog is called secrets of a butterfly.
Once again, I am taken with the impact and the significance that butterflies have brought to someone's life. And I'm reminded about the close affinity we share with nature, that everything is connected by ways and means that are invisible to our eyes, but are there nonetheless.
There is something wonderful about being reminded how the everyday in our lives has such value. The life of a butterfly is short. After a difficult struggle to emerge, it knows instinctively how to make the most of what little time it has.
*photograph originally uploaded to flickr by NaPix -- Hmong Life May 2008
11 comments:
I adore your butterfly necklace! Butterflies are very meaniful to me too. They tie in with not only being in our backyard the last couple of years and landing on my right shoulder every year as I sit or walk around out back, but also the passing of my dad. A bit of a long story to share here. Butterflies are one of natures truly amazing creatures. Sending you many blessings your way today! xoxo
Sometimes I feel like a caterpillar, eating myself full of life's bounties in order to get ready for the change...Sometimes I feel like the pupa in the cocoon, hiding out in safety, growing, changing, under the influence of outside forces changing me and influenced too by my own inner need to grow new wings...Sometimes I feel vulnerable yet in awe of my own beauty, like the butterfly newly emerged, staring at the wonder of my new wings in all their magnificent yet fragile detail. And some days, on those glorious days, I feel like the butterfly, flying freely from one beauty to another, rejoicing in life'a abundance and spreading the love and joy I have just for being alive...
Butterflies are free to fly, and so are you and I , beautiful friend.
Happy Monday !
Making the most of what time you have...I like that. And it resonates with me, a feeling I have had for a couple of years that has made me urgent in strange ways. Enjoy this holiday, I hope you have some sunshine and butterflies.
To be able to see, feel and experience such magic, wonder, spirituality and beauty in our lives is a miracle – one of many.
I was so touched reading this post.
Beautiful necklace!
Nicole C. Mullen has a song entitled "Butterfly." It's got great lyrics - a mother talking to her young daughter, telling her to spread her wings and fly, never forgetting the women who came before her and cleared the way.
You might enjoy it.
those were beautiful, thanks for posting them. I have the same affinity for dragonflies, they live under ground or under water (?) for a few years then emerge and transform into what we know and see. I see them & think carpe diem, they do what they need to do and they also seem to have such a passion within their life. The dragonfly is my butterfly.
I love seeing Olivia and Harlow 9the two little fur babies) out chasing the butterlfies around our back yard....they never hurt them but just enjoy frockling about chasing them. There is just something magical about Butterflies to me.
I hope you are having a wonderful Monday my lovely friend!
LuLu~*xoxo
Hi Sherry
First time visiting and was reading some of your other posts and saw the one on "The Guernsey Literary Society...". I too couldn't put it down and was enthralled by the interplay of the characters. I wanted to meet them all!
While teaching I don't usually get much chance to read - this was a big bonus.
Do you know the story about what happened when the child helped the butterfly out of its cocoon? It came out stunted. It had needed the struggle to develop fully and be able to fly. I thought that an amazing story - one we can relate to.
A good thing that has come out of this fight with cancer is the ability to see nature and appreciate it in a way I never did before. A butterfly is so pretty and free, like a Robin (special to me for other reasons). I hope I will never have my eyes clouded again x
I have thought and it seems we are like butterflies in many ways - if their life was slowed down to ours - then yes , it`s a growth like ours ,going through the transformation in the crysalis ( mothers womb ? ) emerging into something we were meant to be , feeding and finding a mate , and trying to use the precious time we have to the fullest .
I watched a great TV programme yesterday - if i can get the link - i`ll email it to you - there were butterflies in that .
Wow! These comments are amazing. I love the first one from Paula.
I don't have the same awareness about butterflies as you all do. But I can believe it.
Post a Comment