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;void(0)) One of the things that I like most about Spring time is the wonderful explosion of life all around us after what seems to have been an endless cold and dreary Winter. So many aspects of our cultural and religious practices point to the symbols reflected in the reawakening or rebirth of life itself at this time of the year: Easter, Passover, Mardi Gras, Caribbean Carnivals, etc. What is most fascinating to me are the changes that some animals go through in reaction to seasonal changes. Some of us, especially those of us from the Northern part of the country, actually go through what is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a form of depression that seems to be related to the shortened hours of sunlight and colder weather. Some researchers liken it to a mild form of hibernation that some mammals go through during the Winter months. One of my favorite creatures at this time of the year is the Monarch butterfly that we see so much of in the Southeast at this time of the year. Its beautiful multicolored wings can be seen wherever there is a proliferation of bright colored flowers. Looking at this noble creature as it glides about from one flower to the next it is hard to believe that at some point in time it was once an ugly, unsightly caterpillar slithering about on its stomach. However, indeed, like most butterflies, the Monarch was once a caterpillar. It wandered about crawling on the floor or up the side of a building. It is probably in human nature to deplore creatures that crawl. The snake or wormlike being is vilified in most cultures. It has to live through stealth and cunning because its unfortunate anatomical makeup renders it unable to carry itself with some semblance of “poise”, if you will. However, nature has blessed the caterpillar with the strange ability to transform itself. At some point in its development it will find a spot in its environment to become steadfast. During this period of time it will spew forth a secretion that will eventually envelope its entire body. This secretion will harden into what we call a cocoon. The caterpillar will remain inside this cocoon until the time is ripe for it to break out. When it breaks out of the cocoon we see one of nature’s most fantastic spectacles. What once was a crawling caterpillar now emerges as a most majestic creature. The Monarch spreads it broad wings and flies off dancing about light as a feather. No longer hiding from the light this butterfly seeks the sunshine and seems to be drawn to the most colorful flower gardens. We all get mildly depressed or go through difficult times. Like most illnesses we must allow it to run its natural course. Sometimes there is some wisdom that can be culled from the experience. Caterpillars do not know that they are these hideous entities that offend people, or that they will one day have this expensive “makeover” and laud it over everybody that used to make fun of them when they were young. Most creatures just live according to their instincts. As conscious, reasoning humans we do have choices and make decisions. For most of us, there is a cognizance of problems, and the desire to feel better. We search around and seek relief through external forces. However, nature tells the caterpillar to go within. It crawls up in a corner, secretes its own chemicals and, over a period of time, transforms itself. We have the ability to transform ourselves psychologically. We have an advantage over the Monarch in that we are able to transform ourselves more than once. That’s why humans are able to survive under all kinds of conditions. Life seems to consist of no end of challenges. Like the caterpillar we often find ourselves slowing down to a crawl, feeling stepped on and even feeling somewhat despicable under certain circumstances. We have the ability to build our own symbolic cocoon. This can be a quiet place or a circle of good friends with whom we can commiserate. Instant gratification is the norm of our time. This is what leads many of us to be fooled into the promises of the modern day “Snake Oil Salesman” and his promise of instant results. Sometimes it’s best to allow nature to take its course. The Eastern philosophers say that sometimes doing “nothing” is a good option in times of stress. When we meditate we are building an invisible protective layer around us. Like the caterpillar in the cocoon we suspend action, drawing on the spiritual resources that surround us. This spiritual resuscitation transforms us into the rebirth that we need to sprout psychological wings and rise above the mundane weight that so often slows us down to a crawl. With meditation we achieve the “makeover” that lifts our psyches to new heights and allows us to --- you guessed it, “Float like a butterfly”. Newsletter Directory The Aton Project - Home Page Tony VanSluytman info Tony VanSluytman - the Author | Return Home | The BOOK DOCTOR | The BANYON NETWORK | The Banyon Buzz Newsletters | The Aton Project Newsletters | Contact Us | |
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