metamorphosis

this morning, i saw in 6 atala butterflies that had just hatched, hanging from a countie plant. on that same plant several caterpillars where in the process of undergoing metamorphosis. i could see a few chrysalids very close to ending the metamorphosis process while some had just begun it. i could also see old, empty and dried chrysalids hanging from different leaves, more butterflies had hatched recently. i was amazed!! what is the ecological footprint of a butterfly and how many butterflies can one coontie plant sustain? A LOT!!! i was especially surprised because coontie plants are not big plants (in size) and this one plant is average size. i am loving the coontie plant everyday a little more, plus it's pretty cool that it's a living fossil, being on the earth since the dinosaurs' time. talk about adapting to your environment, changing and shifting while leaving your legacy behind.

 i went back a couple of hours later with some people and 4 of the 6 butterflies had already flown away. we stayed there for a few minutes and then we saw one atala butterfly, as it took flight for the first time and began it's new life, after metamorphosis.

so much to learn from nature... what comes after the quiet stage of the chrysalid? it seems as if nothing is happening, when a deep change is happening within and behind the naked eye. suddenly the caterpillar is totally transformed, breaks its shell and the butterfly emerges and takes flight for the first time.

i believe metamorphosis in my life happens in that same way. every once in a while, moments of silence, quiet, restoration and contemplation lead to deep transformations within that transform everything in my life from the emotional to the physical. so beautiful to be able to grow and transform, to go with cycles, because it leads to something greater that no rational mind can explain. life is beautiful! the world is so much bigger than me and there is so much to learn from everything around, harmony and peace resonates in natural systems.