A parable of the Butterfly & Caterpillar and symbolisms to Christianity

AND I SAW A BUTTERFLY

The Parable of the Butterfly and the Caterpillar

by Dr. Norman L Gauthier

Introduction:

Fascination with butterflies stirred my interest to begin the study of insects and related sciences. I took major collegiate courses in Zoology, Entomology, Botany, Plant Pathology and many others over time. Butterflies still awed me with their bright colored wings, flight, diversity, and agility. I could only marvel at their beauty: to wonder how did these insects develop through a development and transitional process called complete metamorphosis, undergoing four stages in their life cycle- egg, caterpillar, cocoon/pupa and adult?

Little did I know then that this interest would outline my education and ultimately my professional career. After many years of study and graduate school, I started my professional career as an Entomologist doing research and teaching. For more personal information you can access my bio webpage that is linked to this website.

Purpose for writing this article:

The reason for writing this article is to share information I have learned in my experiences about butterflies and why butterflies matter to us in so many ways. You will learn a lot of information regarding butterflies and what they symbolize. They are absolutely incredible. Hopefully this article will encourage readers to learn more about the importance of butterflies to us and our environment.

This article is written as a parable for the spiritual symbolism of the butterfly and the caterpillar regarding their important spiritual influence in our lives. We will use the butterfly (specifically the Tiger Swallowtail), as a symbol of change: life, light, transformation and ascension. The caterpillar will apply as a symbol of earthly materialism, physical satisfaction, self preservation and greed by its eating habits. Here you see the reason for my subtitle which represents the constant struggles both butterfly and humans have for not only physical but spiritual survival in life.

The Miracle of Complete Metamorphosis:

Why is it so necessary that we learn about the miracle of metamorphosis in the butterfly? This miracle of metamorphosis in nature is the basis for understanding the vital importance of the butterfly as a symbol for our own development, growth and spiritual rebirth. Further examples will be presented to explain this analogy and this symbolic significance to our Christian faith.

The Tiger Swallow Tail Butterfly-a short Life History:

The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a very large, brilliantly colored insect weighing in at 10-15 milligrams. It has a wingspan of 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 inches, depending on its sex. The female butterfly is larger than the male. The swallowtail has only a short adult lifespan of about 2 to 3 weeks. The flight habit of this species is remarkable. It has a very graceful sailing form and it loves to fly around tree tops. It gets the name "Tiger" by the stark black striping over their bright yellow wings. At the end of each hind wing is a long black swallowlike shaped tail. This butterfly belongs to the family of butterflies called Papilionidae which is a very large one globally- there are over 550 different species.

Butterfly Wings or On the Wings of a Butterfly:

I call the wings of the butterfly Miraculous Wings. Why? It is not only their beauty but how were they formed? It is truly a miracle that they even can fly. I pose the question "What would we do in a life without butterflies and their aesthetic values?” They are invaluable to us not just by observing those beautiful wings, but their presence brings joy and uplifts our spirits when they are nearby or even land on us. Wings are symbolic for changes in life such as joy, transition, resurrection and ascension. This relates to the development of hatching as the butterfly is reborn into an entirely new creation. More about those marvelous wings in the conclusion.
Butterfly wings are flexible, extremely thin and so fragile it is a wonder that they can fly as they do. The wing’s patterns and colors are made up of tiny scales of all shapes and sizes arranged into intricate patterns as if painted by a master painter onto its translucent wing membranes. Butterflies also have several veins on each wing. When hatching, some of these veins have blood flow which allows the tiny emerging wings which were tightly wrapped up within the pupal case like deflated balloons, to be inflated and expanded after the adult butterfly emerges.

The Complete Metamorphosis of the Butterfly:

There are four separate and distinct stages of metamorphosis and growth in the life cycle of all butterflies and moths.

1. EGG STAGE- Most eggs are usually laid upon the leaves of specific host feeding plants for the caterpillar to eat and feast on after hatching.

2. LARVAL OR CATERPILLAR STAGE- Several generations of caterpillars will feed and grow over a period of time. Each growth stage is called the caterpillar’s instar. There are usually five to seven of them. At their final instar, as the caterpillars have grown large, they finally stop eating.

3. PUPAL OR COCOON STAGE- The fully grown caterpillar now enters a state we call diapause or rest. The butterfly caterpillar transforms into a pupal case or chrysalis and most moth caterpillars spin a cocoon. This is dormant resting stage is how most caterpillars survive the winter until spring arrives. Then the final development will occur-remember the wings are not fully developed yet. Waiting to emerge from the pupal case could be symbolic of being in the grave only to awaken at the proper time for the new butterfly to emerge.
I will further comment on this during the conclusion.

4.ADULT STAGE: The emergence of the adult butterfly is a spectacular event. Again one might say this is a new creation. It certainly is. The new adult will now be able to fly using their miraculous wings. There are four wings, one pair of front wings and one pair of hind wings. The development of the butterfly to its adult stage which is a transition and transformation into an entirely new creature is a symbolic comparison to our human metamorphosis. In an insect, it is the caterpillar to the adult butterfly. In humans, the analogy is the symbolic caterpillar stage (spiritually dead) then rebirth into a new adult Christian believer (being born again).

Remember this all started with a single egg. All life begins with a single celled egg. We can also apply the term metamorphosis for introducing changes in our lives, which implies that many adults never get out of their caterpillar stage.
What does a caterpillar do? It continuously eats and sates itself with food (greed). The caterpillar is selfishly only concerned with material things- primarily food, shelter and self-preservation. The human “caterpillar” is also materialistic, focusing on survival, self-preservation and its physical environment-totally earth bound. Stop being a caterpillar, repent, undergo your own personal metamorphosis and be reborn. Study what a caterpillar does and reflect on how it applies personally. Think about how to develop into that new creation-can I do it?
More comments about this in the conclusions.

RECENT ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER SWALLOWTAIL AND ITS SYMBOLIC PRESENCE:

About two months ago in August, I spotted a beautiful Tiger Swallowtail flying around our flower gardens. It was very large and had brilliant colors flashing as it flew. In the first week of observation I could see it was a newly emerged adult female. This butterfly repeatedly appeared in our flower gardens for about two weeks. By the third week, I noticed its wing colors were starting to fade and saw a few small tears in her wings. There were some frayed edges on the hind wings and I noticed some areas where some of the wing scales had worn off. The flying became somewhat slowed and uneven. I realized the butterfly was weakening and would not last much longer. The life span of this species is quite short, only two to three weeks. I felt that this may be the last time I would see her.

Something quite unusual happened next as she was feeding on some clover blossoms in the grass. As I approached to take a closer look, stooping over, she was not disturbed. I thought this was a little unusual but she stopped feeding and remained on the flowers. I extended my right hand with an open palm and almost immediately the butterfly just walked right onto my palm, then stopped and rested there. I lifted her up to eye level and she felt like a feather yet I could feel her feet touching my hand.
The adult female Tiger Swallowtail’s body weight is about 13 milligrams so I could barely feel her feet touching my hand. Did you know that when a butterfly lands on you it is tasting your skin with its feet? This is how complex the sensory system of a butterfly is. Butterflies have receptors with taste sensors on the pads of their feet which tell them what they have landed on-is it a plant or animal? Is it okay to eat or lay eggs on? So the butterfly in my hand was tasting my skin for the presence of salts and mineral.


WHY BUTTERFLIES MATTER:

Here is a list of values that butterflies provide and represent in our lives- aesthetic value, intrinsic value, conservation value (a flagship species for habitat conservation-consider the plight of the monarch butterfly), education value, major insect pollinators for many plants and crops, health value, economic value, research such as the diversity of species, Integrated Pest Management programs, teaching Entomology and more.

Butterflies also can represent spiritual values, contributing to changes and improving our faith as well as boosting our spirits whenever we see them. It has been written in folklore that butterflies symbolically represent accession, resurrection, celebration, time, soul and peace.

The butterfly is a symbol of LIFE and REBIRTH.

SUMMARY-CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION-

MORAL VALUE: The great value of butterflies in our lives is exhibited by how their beauty, presence, observations and symbolism can impact it.

As we age, somehow we begin to want to reevaluate our lives and we need a guideline or model for change. Look no further. Consider the comparison of growth and change in the caterpillar to adult and if we are the caterpillar, it would be from human caterpillars to a mature adult Christians.

Throughout this article are numerous comparisons of spiritual symbolism expressed by the butterfly and conversely how it applies to humans in having spiritual rebirth is inspiring. In review, the pupal or resting stage in the butterfly is like the experience of being lost, symbolizing inactivity. Resting or being in the cocoon reflects a period of darkness, like being entombed or in the grave. It is an environment of darkness, not light. If we focus on a principle in metamorphosis for change called transformation into a new life, this will give hope for our futures.

One final note from another butterfly sighting that occurred in upstate New York in 1982. This happened on Easter Sunday morning while riding to church. On this particular Easter morning we passed by a local church. In front of this church was erected a beautiful wooden butterfly statue of a Tiger Swallowtail which was at least six feet tall and brilliantly painted. Below was a banner proclaiming HE IS RISEN. Indeed he has risen. For Bible confirmation, please read the following quotes from the Word: Bible references- Romans 8:34 and 1st Corinthians 15:Romans 8:34- “Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God” kjv

MORAL VALUES AND ENDING:

Look beyond the aesthetic value of butterflies to their spiritual ones, Consider their uplifting presence, economic benefits, symbolism, transformations they bring.

Our life spans can be very short just like the life cycle of the butterfly. Reflect on your spiritual life. Are you certain you are saved yet? The time we have left now is the time to reconsider as no one knows the hour of their death

Of all the values butterflies represent, the most important relates to introducing spiritual changes to our lives, guided by human metamorphosis.

Do not remain in the caterpillar or cocoon/pupal stage. Morph and emerge into the promise of rebirth as a new adult believer. We, from birth to childhood, are immature- acting like caterpillars as we gorge mainly eating, creeping and sleeping.
We are totally preoccupied with the physical world, feasting on a worldly diet. Some adults are so guilty of this that they remain in the caterpillar stage, acting like immature children. We tend to disregard spiritual values and spiritual food for other choices. We know that the adult butterfly is very particular about its food source. Perhaps this could be a reminder for us that all of our choices affect our spiritual lives.

Adult emergence from the cocoon or chrysalis is symbolic of Resurrection or coming out of the darkness of the tomb into the light. This assures us that there is a God. The butterfly emerging from its resting stage proves that there is new life as it implies our ascension from death to heaven as a new creation.

Lastly, the butterfly is a symbol of transformation. It impacts our lives with joy, beauty, intrinsic values, celebration, lightness, transition, love of nature, observations, providing spiritual transitions, symbolism, resurrection, Christian metamorphosis and more. Simply stated, butterflies are very important to us. The butterfly is a symbol of LIFE and LIGHT and REBIRTH.


I have seen MY butterfly and my hope is that you will see YOURS