Life can often seem overwhelming. It’s not always easy to navigate the challenges of daily life, especially when we can’t control our emotions and struggle to find meaning. Day after day, we are stuck in habitual  behavioral patterns inherited from our caregivers. We wish for our wildest dreams to come true, but they feel so far away. There is a way to create a future where we are in control of our emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. The ideal life is overflowing with permanent success, balance, happiness, and ultimate self acceptance. Balance and harmony are all around us but we struggle to find them within. Transformation seems so natural and effortless for other creatures here on earth. Why is it so difficult for us to be who we really want to be? Why are humans afraid of change and losing control?

METAMORPHOSIS: The key to balance and transformation.​

Unlike us, insects are way ahead when it comes to self-development and finding their missions in life. They have developed incredible technology for personal reinvention; metamorphosis: a transformation  in the form or nature of an animal, thing, or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means. 

Butterflies are powerful representations for life and transformation. The incredible short life of the butterfly closely mirrors the process of spiritual growth. They are the embodiment of beauty, strength, hope, vulnerability, and sacrifice. 

Caterpillar: the feeding and growth stage 

The butterfly larva, or caterpillar starts his life inside of an egg. Very soon, the tiny caterpillar chews its way out of the eggshell and emerges into a perplexing and wondrous world. He is very hungry and spends most of his time munching on leaves. He grows bigger and bigger, and his hunger is never satisfied. As the caterpillar grows, he splits and sheds his skin 4 to 5 times. He is making room for an improved, bigger self and stores everything consumed for later in life. 

Imaginal Disks

During the feeding and growth stage, the larva developed tiny hidden collections of cells called Imaginal Discs. These cell clusters contain the blueprint for new body structures of the adult butterfly like the wings, legs, antenna, and  mouth. The Imaginal Discs cells stayed dormant while the caterpillar grew bigger and bigger; only to be triggered by special hormones in the perfect moment of the Transition Stage. 

Pupa: The Transition Stage

At the end of the Feeding and Growth Stage, the larva finds a safe place to molt. This time he forms a tough casing made from the outermost exoskeleton, and reveals a new self called the pupa. Depending on the species, the pupa hangs upside down on a branch, hides under leaves or hides underground. Now, he waits for the biggest transformation of his life. This stage takes two weeks to several months. Soon, something incredible happens. Digestive enzymes completely break down the insides of the larval body, turning everything to a liquid soup. Only three remnants of the caterpillar stay intact during this extreme process: the trachea, hollow tubes, and part of the brain. The trachea and hollow tubes allow him to breathe even though he is liquified. Also, a part of his brain remains intact which holds past memories from his life as a larva.  The Imaginal Disc cells grow rapidly due his stored energy from feasting on leaves. Soon, the new body parts and organs will be completely grown. When the new body structures are fully formed but still soft, the pupal case splits open.

Adult: The Reproductive Stage

The newly emerged butterfly forces air and fluid into his wings to unfurl them before they harden. Not wasting any time, he searches for a female and lures her in with his sweet sweet pheromones. The female butterfly flies around searching for nectar to drink and for the perfect place to lay her eggs. Also, some form elaborate courtship flights. For most species, the life of a butterfly is short; only lasting a few weeks. However, some of them hibernate through the winter and may live for several months. 

Embracing Change

Maybe we aren’t as different from butterflies as we thought. Like the butterfly, we grow into new versions of ourselves while walking through the different stages of life. We are always hungry for more information and materialistic things.  We are never satisfied with who we are as individuals, always pushing ourselves to the limit. The lesson of the butterfly reveals that the developmental foundations of the beautiful functional adult were inside the awkward, squirmy larva all along. Being vulnerable by questioning our reality, sacrificing old limiting beliefs, bad habits, and destructive patterns is the best way to start a transformation. Sometimes, we have to fall apart before putting the pieces back together again. The Imaginal cells were always there. Just waiting for the perfect moment to be awakened. After breaking down, we can create a new reality that we choose for ourselves, not a reality that was chosen for us by our caregivers and society. We transform into a new self by choosing only the best beliefs, behaviors, emotions, and memories, from the goo that makes up our existence.