A Date With Butterflies

I have been thinking a lot about butterflies lately. Perhaps it’s because everywhere I look—from the card I purchased for a friend’s birthday to the cover photo of Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book, “Inspiration”—images of beautiful butterflies abound.

Butterflies also make an appearance in Julia Cameron’s newest book, “Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance.” In this third installment of the bestselling trilogy that gives readers simple tools to get the creative juices flowing, the author reflects, “The softly folding brightly colored wings, like tiny stained-glass windows….feed our inner artist, awakening a sense of wonder.” Cameron encourages all artists—whether they are writers, poets, sculptors, painters or musicians—to spend an hour or an afternoon…..with themselves. No spouses, significant others, friends, or children are allowed on an “Artist Date,” a term coined by Cameron to describe an artist’s solo journey, where the goal is to get in touch with their intuitive, spiritual selves.

On a recent late summer afternoon, after a particularly demanding week of deadlines and the sudden death of my computer monitor, I decided to heed Cameron’s advice and take myself on an Artist Date. I chose the Museum of Natural History as my destination for I knew that here, tucked among the majestic oak trees, I would find solace and serenity at the Butterflies Alive! exhibit.

My heart began to flutter as I entered the pavilion and gazed in awe at hundreds of colorful creatures flitting about. Marika, a volunteer, pointed out several species to me like the iridescent blue Pipevine Swallowtail and the Zebra Longwing, with splashes of bold yellow stripes on its wings. And of course, there was the Monarch, perhaps the most well-known of the butterfly family. Easily recognizable by its orange and black wing pattern, I noticed that several had alighted on a large plate of thinly sliced oranges and watermelon, a veritable smorgasbord to tempt the butterfly palette. Marika explained that butterflies use their proboscises like straws to sip liquid from the fruit. They also drink the nectar from a multitude of plants, such as the aptly-named butterfly bushes. During my tour, I learned that the Endangered Species Act currently protects 13 species of the California butterfly and that, in 2003, two additional species—the Hermes Copper and the Thorne’s Hairsterak—were imperiled by wildfires that devastated their habitat.

Delving further into the study of this interesting and inspiring insect, I discovered that, throughout history, the butterfly has been seen as the personification of a person’s soul. One Japanese superstition suggests that if a butterfly enters your guestroom and perches behind a bamboo screen, the person whom you love is coming to see you. In Chinese culture, two butterflies flying together are a symbol of love. In yet other cultures, the butterfly symbolizes rebirth into a new life after being inside a cocoon. And of course, there’s the proverbial “butterflies in the stomach,” which denotes nervousness or excitement. I have often heard of butterflies that have touched people’s lives by bringing a message from someone who has died or by giving a feeling of peace by the simple act of alighting on an outstretched finger.

I left the exhibit feeling more relaxed and reflective and better equipped to tackle a large writing project. As a writer, I’m continually searching for that elusive word, sentence or paragraph that will entertain as well as educate my readers. Outings such as the one to the museum allow me to replenish my supply of images and ignite my imagination. Now, when I am at a loss for words, I need only dip my quill into my inner well and a wealth of words spill forth. Like the delicate butterfly who seeks nourishment from nectar, I drink deeply from this source of inspiration and open myself up to the wonder of the world around me. I spread my wings and begin to write.

 

If you haven’t been out on the town lately, Karen suggests going out—with yourself—to the Butterflies Alive! exhibit, on display through September 30. Visit www.sbnature.org for more information and be sure to email Karen at karenleestevens@cox.net to let her know all about your date.

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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