The Butterfly: Guardian of Nature and Spirit

The intersection of environmental balance and spiritual transformation

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun,
and find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness and riches today,
tomorrow and beyond.
(old Irish blessing)

A few days ago, my husband, Gerhard, and I were eating breakfast in our rewilded garden, which is currently filled with blooming purple loosestrife, white angelica, and lilac water mint flowers. From our outdoor dining table, we happened to see a beautiful peacock butterfly land in a patch of water mint, so Gerhard grabbed his camera and took some photos, including the one above.

According to Ireland’s National Biodiversity Data Centre, butterflies play a key role in biodiversity. As they flit from one flower to another, their bodies collect pollen and carry it to other plants. Because the majority of plants—including fruits and vegetables—need pollinators to reproduce, butterflies and other pollinators like bees play a crucial role in the human food chain.

Butterflies also act as a food source for birds, bats, spiders, lizards, mice and other animals. This is why a garden that attracts butterflies will also attract a variety of other plants, birds, animals and micro-organisms, thereby increasing overall biodiversity.

It is important to understand, however, that although adult butterflies can feed on many different plants, both native and non-native, caterpillars will only feed on native plants. This is why it is so crucial to ensure we have an abundance of native plants in our gardens, fields and wild spaces to support them.

While looking at Gerhard’s picture, I was reminded of an event that occurred the spring my twin sister and I turned 16. It was a beautiful Saturday, so we decided to go on a hike with our boyfriends.

Our destination was Hyalite Canyon, which is a heavily forested region in the mountains just outside of Bozeman, Montana (US). We had been hiking for a while when we came to a sunny clearing that made a perfect spot for a rest.

As we were sitting and talking, we suddenly became aware of numerous white butterflies flying all around us. Looking around in amazement, we soon located the source: a bush just behind me that was covered with hundreds of chrysalises. Looking more carefully, we saw that small white butterflies had recently emerged, almost at the same time. After resting in the sun for a bit, they were beginning to take flight enmasse.

It was a magical sight that I had never seen before—nor have I ever seen its like since.

It’s easy to understand why these delicate creatures, with their kaleidoscope of colors and ethereal wings, are not only treasured as important members of the ecosystem, but also as symbols of transformation and spiritual rebirth. This is easy to comprehend because the butterfly’s lifecycle—from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult—parallels the human experience of change, growth, death and renewal.

I decided to do a bit of research on how cultures around the world have traditionally viewed butterflies and found the following:

Celtic Ireland

In Ireland, the ancient Celts believed that when human beings died, their souls would transform into butterflies so that they could journey to the Otherworld (also known as the Land of the Sidhe, or fairy folk). In some stories, butterflies were seen as fairies in disguise; in others, they were believed to be omens or messengers from the Otherworld. White butterflies in particular were thought to be the souls of deceased loved ones who were watching over the lives of their living relatives.

Greek Mythology

In ancient Greek, the word for both butterfly and for soul is Psyche. Psyche is also a famous Greek myth in which the beauty of a mortal woman, Psyche, rivals that of the goddess Aphrodite. Psyche’s beauty enrages Aphrodite, so she forces her to go through a series of trials. After overcoming these trials, Psyche eventually transforms herself and unites with Eros (Cupid). Psyche is often depicted with butterfly wings, symbolizing that the soul, like a butterfly, must undergo significant transformation to reach its true potential.

Native American Teachings

There are many Native American teachings about butterflies, who were viewed as symbols of transformation, renewal, beauty and the soul. Similar to the Celts, butterflies were often believed to be the souls of the departed and seen as a sign that a loved one was near, watching over the living.

The Hopi people hold a ceremonial dance called the Butterfly Dance, which is performed by young girls and symbolizes the renewal of life and the arrival of rain, which is vital for their crops. The dance celebrates the beauty of nature and the transformative power of butterflies. It is also a way to honor and pray for the continuation of life and the well-being of the community.

The Zuni people revere the Butterfly Maiden, a kachina (spirit) who symbolizes fertility, transformation, the renewal of life and the beauty of nature. She is often depicted with butterfly wings and is believed to bring the blessings of abundant crops and fertility.

I particularly like a story from the Tohono O'odham (Papago) tribe, which says that the creator I'itoi made butterflies to bring joy to the world. After creating the world and seeing that people were sad, I'itoi gathered various colors from nature—flowers, sunsets and the sky—to create butterflies. The butterflies brought happiness and lightness to the hearts of the people, who saw them as symbols of joy and the beauty of creation.

Taoism

In Taoism, embracing change and understanding the natural cycles of life are key aspects of living in harmony with the Tao, which is the fundamental nature of the universe.

Because butterflies move with grace and ease, they embody the Taoist ideal of moving through life in a way that aligns with the natural flow of the universe without forceful intervention.

One of the most famous parables in Taoist philosophy is the story of Zhuangzi's Dream, which is attributed to Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), a prominent Taoist philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE.

The story goes that Zhuangzi had a dream in which he was a butterfly, flitting about in the garden, enjoying the freedom and lightness of flight. In this dream, he was absorbed in the life of the butterfly, feeling the joy and simplicity of its existence and completely unaware of his human self and the world he had left behind.

Upon awakening, Zhuangzi found himself back in his human form and began to reflect on his experience. He realized that he had been so immersed in his dream as a butterfly that he had lost all sense of his human identity. This led him to wonder whether he was a man who had dreamed he was a butterfly or if he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man.

How can I distinguish between the two states? he wondered. What is the nature of reality and identity?

This story emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the notion that rigid distinctions are ultimately illusions. By recognizing the fluid nature of reality, it teaches, one can achieve a deeper understanding of the Tao, the fundamental principle that underlies the universe.

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I love all of these stories and teachings. On a practical level, it is crucial that human beings ensure that butterflies (and all of their relatives) have an environment in which they can not only grow but thrive. Maybe by appreciating the deeper meaning that butterflies have, more of us will be moved to take action.

But fundamentally, seeing butterflies in my garden just makes me feel happy, joyful and full of gratitude.

The Butterfly

I hold you at last in my hand,
Exquisite child of the air.
Can I ever understand
How you grew to be so fair?

You came to my linden tree
To taste its delicious sweet,
I sitting here in the shadow and shine
Playing around its feet.

Now I hold you fast in my hand,
You marvelous butterfly,
Till you help me to understand
The eternal mystery.

From that creeping thing in the dust
To this shining bliss in the blue!
God give me courage to trust
I can break my chrysalis too!

—Alice Freeman Palmer

Small tortoiseshell butterfly on water mint. Photo by Gerhard Sommer.