Butterfly Maiden
Butterfly
Maiden - American Indian Goddess
© Sharon George 2004
“Butterfly Maiden sees herself in the
world.
She is aware of herself as a microcosm
within the macrocosm.
She seeks her truth adorned with the
vibrant colors of Gaia,
sharing her beauty with no conceit as
she joyfully dances through the day.”
Shared with
permission
Introduction
This
project is a reflection of what I have been going through in my life. Butterfly Maiden has fluttered into my life
via gifts, visions and waking experiences.
Close friends and family have presented me with many cards and gifts
depicting the symbol of the butterfly showing me that they understand the
changes that I am going through. When I
completed Level I GrannyMoon presented me with a few small gifts and my
initiation cord. One of these gifts was
a tiny paper butterfly. I was profoundly
touched by this gift, as it was recognition of the stage that I was in. My struggle with grief from the loss of my
16-year-old son and the flight of my two older children leaving home to create
their own lives, brought me to the sudden ending of my day-to-day mothering
role. I am also in the midst of
perimenopause. At first Butterfly Maiden
seemed to me a goddess for young womyn about to enter adulthood. I came to realize that this Goddess offers
much more. In my journey I have found
that to me she represents the triple Goddess and Spirit. She is the Egg ~
Maiden, Pupae ~ Mother, Cocoon~ Crone, and Butterfly ~ the synthesis of all
three. In each of the three stages there
is a period of pause when the change is upon us and we must allow the
transformation and transmutation of our mind, body, and spirit occur before we
can experience the great joy and freedom that we seek to experience. Sometimes these changes are emotionally
difficult and layers of pain and memories must be reexamined and integrated into
a new way of living. When we observe the
butterfly we can see the process of evolution occur in one lifetime. How does a creeping larvae transform into an
incredibly beautiful winged creature?
This is the mystery and magic of the butterfly for all to see. Ultimately Butterfly Maiden brings us Light,
Joy, and the Wisdom to enjoy each day no matter what has happened to us in our
lives. I
believe that Butterfly Maiden is a powerful Goddess to call upon for any kind of
deep personal transformation or metamorphosis.
Butterfly
She comes to you unexpectedly with her
wings of change…
Fluttering, coaxing, joyfully showing
the way out of
the dark cocoon of
introspection…
yes change is
here
It is in my face
The lines of age telling their
stories
My body…
My thoughts…
My heart…
Transmuting into the arms of the
Goddess
Butterfly, flutter bye, my muse and
role model
She dances and floats in the
air
She persistently tells me that yes
change is here to stay
Now is the time to allow the winds of
change to carry me to where I need to go
Her power is with me
now
It is time to let the light
in
By
Lavanee
Butterfly
Maiden Mandala
Created
by Anita Endresse
Shared
with permission
“Butterflies
are so symbolic, regenerative, and transformative, and of the earth and air.
They
are "inward" at their pupa stage and "outward" at their butterfly
stage.
Really marvelous creatures…”
Anita
http://www.hanksville.org/storytellers/anita/index.html
Keywords: Hope, Taking Action, Self-transformation,
Transmutation (to change into a higher form), Metamorphosis, Shape-shifter,
Light, Joy, Renewal, Re-birth, Beauty, Sexuality, Understanding Change, Motion,
Newness, Graceful, Emerging, Healer, Intelligent, Creative, Exotic, Visionary,
Bridging, Magical, Dreaming, Spirit Guide, Communication with the
dead…
Colors: All bright colors ~ Butterfly maiden reminds
us to work with all of our Chakras for balance, healing, and clarity. Pay attention to the colors that you are
drawn to as they may be exactly what you need.
Elements
& Symbols: Butterflies, Soul, Sun, Children, Dreams,
Dance of Joy, Abundance, A gift from spirit, Flight, Nature spirits, Lightness,
Rain water, Rainbows, Brightly colored flowers, Green leaves, Spring, Mating,
Sexuality, Conjugal Bliss, Wings, Flight, Doorway to the Unseen Realms,
Butterflies are the first to leave a dying eco system.
In
cultures around the world the butterfly is associated as
follows:
Christianity
~ the soul
Celtic
~ nature spirits
China
~ conjugal bliss and joy
Shadow work:
Earth, Darkness, Introspection, Rest, Rejuvenation, Cocooning,
Depression, Grief, Death, Dying, Pain, Procrastination, Indecision, Abyss,
Sexual Healing and Transformation, Regeneration, Evolution, Connecting to
Goddess-spirit within
Hopi
Butterfly Maiden Kachina
http://www.native-languages.org/kachinas.htm
History
and Background
Butterfly
Maiden’s story is woven intricately within the myths of the North American
Peoples. Many tribes hold the butterfly
as a special symbol. Sacred artists of
the Hopi and Zuni people carved Kachinas that captured butterfly maiden’s spirit
to share with their people. Selected Kachina men danced the sacred Butterfly
dance and presented the carved Kachina to the women and children of the tribe to
share the butterfly spirit. The Hopi believed the spirit of the butterfly taught
the people about renewal, joy, abundance, fertility and springtime. Unmarried
girls wore their hair in a special style in the shape of a
butterfly.
The
Navaho people also held the butterfly as sacred and have similar myths and
symbolism around the butterfly. The Nez
Pierce peoples said that their children could call butterflies to them with
their joy reminding the adults to not take things too seriously. The Blackfoot tribe painted a symbol similar
to the maltese cross on their dwellings representing the butterfly. They believed that the butterfly brought
sleep and dreams. Blackfoot mothers
would tie a piece of buckskin embroidered with a cross to represent the
butterfly in their child’s hair to bring sleep and pleasant dreams.
To
some of the South American people the butterfly and moth represent balance and
sexuality. Many of us have gone through
painful growth and change and sometimes that involves coming to terms with our
own sexuality. Butterfly Maiden can help
those going through these deeply personal turmoil’s.
The Aztec people believe that the butterfly is a departed loved one come to bring a message of eternal life and happiness.
© Tom
Kidd
The
Native People of the Pacific Northwest also hold the butterfly sacred. I have received permission to share the
following story with you.
Johnny
Moses is a Nootka/Spokane Indian from the remote village of Ohiat on the west
coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. He is a traditional
storyteller and healer, who speaks eight Northwest Coast Indian languages. His
Native name is Whis-stem-men-nee (Walking Medicine Robe).
Here
is a condensed version of a story told in Skagit/Lushootseed and English by
Johnny Moses at his Aunt Vi Hilbert's birthday party, January 20, 1996, at a
gathering at Tulalip. Vi Hilbert is an instructor of Lushootseed at the
University of Washington. Lushootseed was spoken from near Olympia, Washington,
to just south of Bellingham, Washington, on Puget Sound.
The
Butterfly Story
By
Johnny Moses
http://www.migrations.com/storytelling.html
A
long time ago! There was an old lady and
her granddaughter, Caterpillar Lady. She
was told, "What is the matter with you, why don't you go and look for a man who
will become your husband?!" So she
crawled away--looking for a husband.
Butterfly maiden saw a possible candidate--threw the love powder over him--he fell in love with her--she kissed him--he died! "Grandmother, I need another love potion." Grandmother made it.
Butterfly
maiden crawled on in her search for a husband--saw a likely fellow, threw her
love medicine over him--he fell in love with her--she kissed him--he died!
Butterfly
maiden found four possible husband candidates, threw her potion, patiently made
by Grandmother; she threw the powder over each man, kissed him and he died.
She
was widowed four times and as she grieved, her sorrow and grief covered her with
many layers of grief. She climbed high into the mountains, stood there and cried
out her sorrow.
The
compassionate Creator heard and saw her problem.
Creator
touched her--suddenly the layers and layers of grief peeled away and out of this
cocoon emerged the most beautiful of creatures we now call
butterfly
Watercolor
by Lavanee
Transformation
Ritual
By
Lavanee
You
will need
Rain
water, fresh flowers, colorful scarf or shawl, yellow candle, incense of a sweet
flower scent such as jasmine or honeysuckle, journal, and an icon or symbol to
represent the butterfly
Clear a space upon the floor in front of the altar where you will have room to lie down and later spin and dance.
Bring
your journal and shawl with you and open your ritual
space.
Lie gently onto the floor by the altar and allow yourself to reflect upon the changes that are happening in your life. Think about your body, your mindset, and the circumstances that are now playing out in your life and how you feel about it all. Breathe slowly and deeply. Examine what stage you are in your life and allow yourself to contemplate how you truly feel. If you are having difficulty with any changes ask Butterfly Maiden to help you transform and integrate these changes into positive action. Allow these thoughts to sink into your subconscious. Wrap yourself with the shawl until you feel completely cocooned and
Chant
“Hail
Butterfly Maiden
Bring
me resolve
Bring
me courage
Take
me to my core
I
accept the change that is in my life
I
am patiently allowing my spirit to show me all that I can be in my dreams and
visions”
I
let go of all restrictions to my growth”
“I
welcome the light of my renewed spirit”
Drop
the shawl and dance clockwise until you feel grounded and
joyful.
End
the ritual by taking drops of rainwater to anoint each chakra from the crown to
root whilst saying
“I
accept my transmutation for the good of all”
Allow
yourself time to write about your ritual in your journal before
closing.
In the morning light,
You have known may
forms
Before you
e’ere took flight”
(Medicine Cards by
Jaime Sams & David Carson)
Sources:
http://www.insects.org/ced4/mythology.html
http://www.fantasy-goddess-art.com/links.html
http://www.migrations.com/storytelling.html
365
Goddess – A Daily Guide of the Magick and Inspiration of the
Goddess
by Patricia Telesco
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by Ted Andrews
Medicine
Cards
by Jamie Sams and David Carson