Is There Meaning in the Moment?

“In every moment the universe is whispering to you. There are messages for you carried on the winds. There is wisdom for you in the morning songs of the birds outside your window and in the soft murmurs of an ebbing sea. Even ordinary, everyday events in your life carry communications from the realm of spirit.”

~~ Denise Linn, The Secret Language of Signs

Have you ever wondered if there is meaning behind life’s everyday occurrences? Those times when you’re outside and suddenly find yourself surrounded by butterflies. Or a groundhog makes an appearance and stays instead of shuffling off to a den or secret hiding place. Or perhaps a hawk swoops by every time you venture out.

Are these random occurrences? Is there meaning behind the appearance of these animals at this time?

Yes and no.

If you feel that there is a connection, some meaning behind these sightings then there is. If on the other hand, you barely noticed any of the animals or barely felt a connection, then probably no, not at this time.

Sometimes we pass one another randomly, other times there is meaning in the passing.

I believe those times I see an animal that isn’t usually around people or my area, or when I see an animal repeatedly, these visits are visits meant for me and the meaning of these visits is for me to divine.

Let me give you an example from my life right now. Over the past three weeks, every time I go outside or I’m looking out my kitchen window, a beautiful, large Tiger Swallowtail butterfly drifts by. And it stays as long as I do. Sometimes, it’s the yellow and black version of a Tiger Swallowtail and other times it’s the mostly black version.

At first I thought it was a wonderful sign of the vitality of summer. But as the sightings gained in frequency I began to feel a deeper connection and symbolic meaning.

According to Denise Linn in her book, The Secret Language of Signs, butterfly signals a powerful new beginning, a time of transformation, beauty and new awareness, a rebirth.

And Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak, says butterflies represent the process of transformation. Butterfly shows up when we are changing, evolving somehow.

Butterfly reminds us that life is a dance, a journey from moment to moment, flower to flower, experience to experience. The sweetness of life is experienced in the dance….or perhaps the sweetness of life is experienced in how we choose to dance.

Butterfly is a totem that has flown into my life on several occasions. The first time I recall was during my first Feng Shui training. I had a powerful dream in which a butterfly emerged from its chrysalis, spread its beautiful wings and lifted off. Initially, my sense was to name my business Emerging Butterfly, but then I realized that I was the butterfly emerging. Emerging from what I had been and lifting off, flying into what I was to become.

Butterfly showing up in my life now is also meaningful. I am at a time of change and transition in my life once again. Only this time, the transition involves my family and our relationships to one another. As we move from parent and child to adult relationships we all must release our past patterns and embrace each other as we are now: loving adults. (Course, I’ll always be the Mom!) And in this transition, I feel our space condensing, strengthening, and crystallizing.

There is such beauty and opportunity in change. I am grateful that butterfly comes to remind me and show me how fun the flight of life can be!

“Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.” ~ George Carlin

Butterfly invites you to embrace the dance!