August 15, 2019
I was up in Blowing Rock, NC last weekend where the town and surrounding mountains never fail to calm and delight me. Main Street was abuzz with people flocking to Art in the Park and I had ventured in for brunch at the Village Café after a hike.
As I meandered through the stream of people back to my car, a yellowtail butterfly floated by and caught my attention, pulling my gaze along with it up to a nearby hanging basket. I stood still for a moment, just enjoying the flowers, butterfly and sky. That was not my first encounter of the day with such a lovely creature, many of them feeding on the abundant flowers blooming all summer long up there. I found myself wondering what one of my oft visited websites, https://www.whats-your-sign.com might have to say about the butterfly.
The author of Whats-Your-Sign.com, Avia Venefinca, mentions the obvious transformation from cocoon to full glory that a butterfly dramatically goes through in a month’s time. But what resonated with me the most today was her list of potential questions a butterfly encounter might encourage us to ask ourselves, in particular, “Do you believe in your greater good? “
I do choose to believe in my greater good and that starts with my taking action on my behalf. My first step was learning to truly care about myself and have good connections with all of my internal parts. I can remember earlier times in my life when this was not my felt experience. By default, being single for the past five years has afforded me the luxury of focusing on my own development. As a result, I’ve been able to break out of some cocoons that no longer serve me: not trusting in my capabilities, looking outside of myself for acceptance and not knowing how to genuinely love myself. In breaking down barriers from within, I can clearly see how this self-love actually originates from the connection to and guidance from the Universe (or God, if you prefer that word.) My understanding of how to flow in spirituality is in many ways what this whole blog is about.
If I’m honest, the vulnerable spot that I’m still negotiating, where I don’t have much faith in my “greater good” is in the arena of having a romantic companion. I have been stubbornly clinging to and naively hopeful about restoring the past. I have to learn to let go so that all of me can live in today.
While I can’t have a spoken conversation with a butterfly, I can still attune to her ways and take notes. As I watched my winged instructor glide from flower to flower, she reminded me to stay intent on the gardens open to me on this day, not to long for nectars I’ve enjoyed in the past nor concern myself about what other butterflies I’ve tumbled with might be doing now.
Easier said than done but I’m giving it my best whirl.
NN