Helping Others Flourish
A Process Theology of Butterflies
Some of my favorite priests are butterflies. I like human priests, too, but butterflies are priests as well. They remind us that we humans are called to enjoy intensity of experience in the moment at hand, flitting around as best we can, and to help other things grow. Helping other things grow is part of the joy of flitting. Of course there is danger, too, We may be eaten by spiders and birds. But the flitting is part of the beauty of life, and it is especially beautiful when we help others flourish.
Reincarnation
This page is a potpourri of reflections on butterflies, sparked by a book by artist-theologian Cara Hochhalter and by the dedicated efforts of my wife, Kathy McDaniel, a master gardener who cultivates a local butterfly garden. Additionally, these reflections are inspired by a personal experience: a monarch butterfly that appeared in a local park years ago when my mother passed away. In that moment, I couldn't help but feel that the butterfly was my mother herself, momentarily reincarnated to tell me, "Don't worry." The butterfly then flew away to another region of the mysterious space-time continuum we call Life. These experiences lead me to think that Pollination, understood spiritually as well as biologically, might be a good metaphor for our human calling and that butterflies, understood as pollinators but also as subject of their own lives, might be our teachers.
Prehensions
Individual butterflies can be perceived in two ways: as objects of importance to others and as subjects of their own lives. As objects, they are pollinators that help plants reproduce and sources of food for other organisms, such as birds and spiders. As subjects of their own lives, butterflies have their own unique way of experiencing the world: visually, sonically, olfactorily, tactilely, and proprioceptively. Visually, butterflies can see a range of colors, including ultraviolet light, which helps them locate nectar-rich flowers. Sonically, although butterflies don't have ears like humans, they can sense vibrations through their bodies, aiding in detecting predators or mates. Olfactorily, butterflies use their antennae to detect pheromones and the scent of flowers, helping them navigate their environment and find food. Tactilely, butterflies use sensory hairs on their bodies and wings to detect changes in air pressure and wind currents, which assist them in navigating and stabilizing their flight. Proprioceptively, butterflies seem to have an internal gyroscopic sense, helping them maintain balance and orientation in flight.
These various ways of sensing their world are what process philosopher and theologians call "prehensions." They are "prehending" or "feeling" their worlds visually, sonically, olfactorily, tactilely, and proprioceptively.
Subjective Aims
Every individual butterfly has a past buried in its own unconscious memories, a personal unconscious, as it were. Its past includes the experiences of its time as a caterpillar, the transformative period of metamorphosis within the chrysalis, and the myriad interactions with its environment once it emerges as an adult butterfly. In the terminology of process philosophy, these experiences constitute its "past actual world." These past experiences shape its responses and behaviors, even if they are not consciously recalled.
In process philosophy and theology, all of these ways of experiencing their worlds are examples of what process philosophers mean by prehension or feeling. They are ways that butterflies feel their worlds, consciously or unconsciously. Amid these feelings, butterflies have subjective aims: that is, consciously and unconsciously felt goals to which they are drawn. The primary goal is to enjoy some amount of intensity in the act of experiencing: a sense of vitality. This intensity is not simply a means to an end; it is an end in itself. As a subject of its own immediate experience, a butterfly is more than an object for others, of use to its surroundings. In the immediacy of its experience, a butterfly is an end in itself. They seek to survive with satisfaction relative to the circumstances of their lives by escaping predators and finding food themselves. They have aims and purposes of their own that cannot be reduced to how they are useful to others. We humans are like this, too. We have importance for others and we have importance for ourselves: instrumental value and intrinsic value.
An Actual Occasion
Imagine a single moment in the life of a butterfly: an "actual occasion" of her own experience. I speak of her as a "she," because I want to avoid the objectifying language of "it." Butterflies have sexes, male and female. Please recognize that "he" and "she" would both be appropriate.
A monarch butterfly flits through a sunlit meadow, its vibrant orange and black wings catching the light as it navigates the air. The butterfly's compound eyes take in a kaleidoscope of colors, including ultraviolet patterns invisible to the human eye, guiding it towards a cluster of milkweed flowers. As she approaches, she uses her antennae to sense the sweet scent of nectar and the pheromones from other butterflies.
The butterfly hovers momentarily, her wings beating gently, creating minute vibrations felt through its body, which help she stabilize in the soft breeze. She lands delicately on a flower, the sensory hairs on her legs and feet detecting the texture and surface of the petals. She extends her proboscis to sip nectar, tasting the sweetness that fuels her energy.
In this moment, the butterfly is fully immersed in her experience, driven by an unconscious aim to survive and thrive. Her past experiences—the memory of its transformation from a caterpillar and the countless interactions with its environment—inform its behavior, ensuring it avoids predators and finds sustenance. This single moment encapsulates the butterfly's intrinsic value and its role in the larger ecosystem, exemplifying the interconnectedness of life as understood in process philosophy and theology.
Unconscious Experience
Butterflies, like all living beings, emerge from a past actual world. Each butterfly has a personal and collective unconscious.
The personal unconscious of the butterfly is the individual butterfly's particular history as an individual. It is a rich mosaic woven from its metamorphic journey, encompassing the caterpillar and chrysalis stages. As a caterpillar, she was driven by an instinctual urge to consume and grow, navigating a world of leaves and branches. This stage is marked by an intense focus on survival and growth, symbolizing the raw, primal aspects of its psyche. As the caterpillar spun its chrysalis, she entered a period of profound transformation and introspection. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body underwent a radical metamorphosis, dissolving into a primordial soup before reorganizing into a butterfly. This transformative phase, deeply embedded in the personal unconscious, reflects a process of change and renewal, embodying the notion of death and rebirth.
The collective unconscious of the butterfly, shared with all its kind, encompasses the archetypal journey of metamorphosis. This journey is encoded in her genetic memory, guiding each butterfly through its life cycle with a sense of purpose and destiny. The chrysalis stage, a universal symbol of transformation and potential, connects the butterfly to a timeless pattern of change and emergence found in nature. As it emerges from the chrysalis, the butterfly embodies the archetype of resurrection and transcendence, resonating with collective themes of renewal and hope. This shared unconscious knowledge, passed down through generations, ensures the continuation of the species and its role in the broader ecological mosaic. Through its metamorphic journey, the butterfly not only navigates its individual path but also contributes to the collective wisdom and harmony of the natural world.
God
Imagine that the universe itself has a soul, a consciousness, that feels the feelings of each occasion of experience undergone or undertaken by every living being on earth or in the heavens. This soul is not separate from the universe but is the living whole of the universe, akin to the way a human person is the living whole of his or her body: the mind into which cells in the body and brain feed. Let this soul of the universe be God. The universe is the body of God.
In this vision, God experiences every moment of existence as it happens, from the fluttering of a butterfly's wings in a sunlit meadow to the distant dance of galaxies in the vast expanse of space. Each event, each feeling, and each being contributes to the ongoing life of divine consciousness. The sensory experiences of the butterfly—her feelings of the vibrant colors, her smell of nectar, her feeling of beating wings—are felt and known by God, integrated into the living whole.
God's consciousness is thus both one and many. God is one in God's unified feeling of everything that happens, and God is many in that everything that happens becomes part of God's ongoing life. The joys and sorrows, the struggles and triumphs of every creature are part of the divine soul,
Imagine also that God is inside each creature as a dimension of its own soul. God is within each creature as its own inwardly felt desire to survive with satisfaction relative to the situation at hand. God is within the butterfly as her own desire to live. And God is also within the spider as it might seek to catch and eat the butterfly.
In short, God not as a distant, detached entity, but as an intimate participant in the life of the cosmos, intertwined with every aspect of existence. The divine consciousness encompasses the totality of experiences, guiding the universe towards greater harmony and understanding. In this way, the soul of the universe reflects the interconnectedness and intrinsic value of all life, embodying the principles of process philosophy and theology.
Spirituality
The late Thomas Berry is well-known for proposing that "the universe is a communion of subjects and not simply a collection of objects." We in the process community agree. We believe that there is something like "subjectivity"—that is, interiority and feeling—all the way down into the depths of matter and all the way out into the far reaches of the heavens. Wherever things are affected by other things, they "feel" the influences of those things. The feelings at issue may or may not be conscious, but it is feeling—it is subjectivity. And we believe that subjectivity always includes what we call a "subjective aim"—namely, an aim to live with satisfaction relative to the situation at hand. Insects of all types, butterflies in this case, obviously have such aims. They are subjects of their own lives and not simply objects for others. They deserve our respect as kindred creatures in the web of life.
We also recognize that their subjectivity includes what we call a "mental pole" of experience: a side of experience that weaves together what is physically felt with goals, purposes, and ideas, however primally felt. Buddhists tell us that all beings have the Buddha nature. Let "the Buddha nature" be a name for the subjectivity that all beings possess and also a name for the various forms of enlightenment they may possess, unique to their species and type. Butterflies and other creatures may well embody forms of enlightenment that are beyond our understanding, but radiant nonetheless. In their mystery, they are our mentors.
Love
Many in the process community believe that there is a Love who embraces the universe. This Love is the cosmic consciousness mentioned above. This Love is not an object among objects in a spatial field or in the mind's eye. It is not a thing, physical or conceptual. It is more like a pure subjectivity, a pure consciousness that is everywhere at once. It is more than the universe but inclusive of it: feeling the life of each and every creature, butterflies included, with, as the philosopher Whitehead puts it, "a tender care that nothing be lost."
This Love, this Tenderness, is not outside the universe as an external observer. The Love is the living whole of the universe, a deep You in whose life the universe unfolds, not unlike embryos unfolding within a womb. Many people address the You as God. I am among them. Other names may be preferable: the cosmic You. for example. In feeling the feelings of each and every living being, this loving presence—You —is affected by all that is felt. The feelings of all living beings, and indeed the living beings themselves, become part of You. This means that the You is many as well as one, a multiplicity as well as a unity: a Life whose very life consists of a countless number of lives, reaching back into the beginningless history of a universe with no beginning, and beyond into a universe with no end, but gathering all into the unity of an unfolding whole. When we reach out to God in prayer, we are addressing the God of butterflies, too. Without their flapping wings, without their open eyes, without their poignancy and beauty, without their changing forms, God would not be God.
Danger
While butterflies are attractive creatures, many other insects are dangerous and frightening, such as cockroaches, tarantulas, centipedes, scorpions, hornets, bedbugs, and fire ants. It is important to be consistent here. They, too, help God be God. The Love in whose life the universe unfolds is tender to each and all. And as they endanger us, and we them, there is a kind of pain in God, or a certain kind of tragedy. The beauty of the universe is not one of pure peace. Death, decay, conflict, and struggle are real; any avoidance of this side of life is naive and wishful, but not honest. Whitehead put it this say: Life is Robbery. In seeking to escape predators, the butterfly understands this, and so ought we.
Many people use parental metaphors to understand the You of the universe: God is like a "father" or a "mother" or a "grandmother" or a "grandfather." These can be very helpful. What must be added, though, is that the grandmother is herself conflicted by the conflicts, pained by the pain. She is, to quote Whitehead, "a fellow sufferer who understands." The world's suffering is her own.
We do not know how much conflict, if any, is willed by the cosmic You. Are predator-prey relations part of a larger plan to lure the world into heightened forms of sentience, or is such conflict a falling away from God's deepest intentions and hopes. What we know is that butterflies seek to escape their predators. They are eaten by birds, spiders, lizards, frogs, bats, dragonflies, wasps, and ants. Their subjectivity includes fright and flight. Our subjectivity does, too. In fear as well as creativity, we are kin.
Peace
The hope carried by process theologians is that, in some deep way, all the pain is transformed in God's ongoing life into a certain kind of peace, a harmony of harmonies, that can be felt amid, not apart from, the decay. A peace that surpasses understanding. This peace is not static; it is not fixed. It is changing at all time, but deep and rich and hopeful. It is in perpetual metamorphosis, yet constant in its love, Who knows? it may visit us, from time to time and in surprising ways, freeing our minds and hearts from worry, so that we may be channels of the tenderness. Like a monarch butterfly in a local park.
Pollination
Pollination is more than just a biological process; it is a spiritual calling for butterflies and humans alike. Needless to say, butterflies play a crucial role as pollinators, facilitating the reproduction of plants and ensuring the health of ecosystems. But pollination is not just an ecological service> it is also a metaphor for the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living beings.
For butterflies, the journey from flower to flower, collecting nectar and transferring pollen, is a testament to their purpose and place in the world. Yes, they aim at subjetive intensity in the moment. But they also aim to pollinate. This task, seemingly simple, is vital for the survival of countless plant species and, by extension, the animals and humans that depend on these plants for food and shelter. In this way, butterflies embody a form of service that transcends their individual existence, contributing to the greater good of the environment.
Humans, too, are called to be pollinators in their own right. Just as butterflies bring life and vitality to plants, humans have the potential to spread ideas, kindness, and love, nurturing the growth and flourishing of communities. This spiritual calling asks us to be mindful of our actions and the impact they have on others and the world around us. By engaging in acts of compassion, creativity, and stewardship, we can foster a culture of care and interconnectedness. Our actions, however small, have the potential to create ripples of change and growth. Embracing this calling encourages us to live with purpose, recognizing the intrinsic value of every being and the importance of our contributions to the collective well-being.
In the flutter of a butterfly's wings and the gestures of a compassionate heart, we find a shared mission. Pollination, in its many forms, becomes a sacred act, a reminder of our place in the web of life and our responsibility to nurture and sustain it.
- Jay McDaniel
Reincarnation
This page is a potpourri of reflections on butterflies, sparked by a book by artist-theologian Cara Hochhalter and by the dedicated efforts of my wife, Kathy McDaniel, a master gardener who cultivates a local butterfly garden. Additionally, these reflections are inspired by a personal experience: a monarch butterfly that appeared in a local park years ago when my mother passed away. In that moment, I couldn't help but feel that the butterfly was my mother herself, momentarily reincarnated to tell me, "Don't worry." The butterfly then flew away to another region of the mysterious space-time continuum we call Life. These experiences lead me to think that Pollination, understood spiritually as well as biologically, might be a good metaphor for our human calling and that butterflies, understood as pollinators but also as subject of their own lives, might be our teachers.
Prehensions
Individual butterflies can be perceived in two ways: as objects of importance to others and as subjects of their own lives. As objects, they are pollinators that help plants reproduce and sources of food for other organisms, such as birds and spiders. As subjects of their own lives, butterflies have their own unique way of experiencing the world: visually, sonically, olfactorily, tactilely, and proprioceptively. Visually, butterflies can see a range of colors, including ultraviolet light, which helps them locate nectar-rich flowers. Sonically, although butterflies don't have ears like humans, they can sense vibrations through their bodies, aiding in detecting predators or mates. Olfactorily, butterflies use their antennae to detect pheromones and the scent of flowers, helping them navigate their environment and find food. Tactilely, butterflies use sensory hairs on their bodies and wings to detect changes in air pressure and wind currents, which assist them in navigating and stabilizing their flight. Proprioceptively, butterflies seem to have an internal gyroscopic sense, helping them maintain balance and orientation in flight.
These various ways of sensing their world are what process philosopher and theologians call "prehensions." They are "prehending" or "feeling" their worlds visually, sonically, olfactorily, tactilely, and proprioceptively.
Subjective Aims
Every individual butterfly has a past buried in its own unconscious memories, a personal unconscious, as it were. Its past includes the experiences of its time as a caterpillar, the transformative period of metamorphosis within the chrysalis, and the myriad interactions with its environment once it emerges as an adult butterfly. In the terminology of process philosophy, these experiences constitute its "past actual world." These past experiences shape its responses and behaviors, even if they are not consciously recalled.
In process philosophy and theology, all of these ways of experiencing their worlds are examples of what process philosophers mean by prehension or feeling. They are ways that butterflies feel their worlds, consciously or unconsciously. Amid these feelings, butterflies have subjective aims: that is, consciously and unconsciously felt goals to which they are drawn. The primary goal is to enjoy some amount of intensity in the act of experiencing: a sense of vitality. This intensity is not simply a means to an end; it is an end in itself. As a subject of its own immediate experience, a butterfly is more than an object for others, of use to its surroundings. In the immediacy of its experience, a butterfly is an end in itself. They seek to survive with satisfaction relative to the circumstances of their lives by escaping predators and finding food themselves. They have aims and purposes of their own that cannot be reduced to how they are useful to others. We humans are like this, too. We have importance for others and we have importance for ourselves: instrumental value and intrinsic value.
An Actual Occasion
Imagine a single moment in the life of a butterfly: an "actual occasion" of her own experience. I speak of her as a "she," because I want to avoid the objectifying language of "it." Butterflies have sexes, male and female. Please recognize that "he" and "she" would both be appropriate.
A monarch butterfly flits through a sunlit meadow, its vibrant orange and black wings catching the light as it navigates the air. The butterfly's compound eyes take in a kaleidoscope of colors, including ultraviolet patterns invisible to the human eye, guiding it towards a cluster of milkweed flowers. As she approaches, she uses her antennae to sense the sweet scent of nectar and the pheromones from other butterflies.
The butterfly hovers momentarily, her wings beating gently, creating minute vibrations felt through its body, which help she stabilize in the soft breeze. She lands delicately on a flower, the sensory hairs on her legs and feet detecting the texture and surface of the petals. She extends her proboscis to sip nectar, tasting the sweetness that fuels her energy.
In this moment, the butterfly is fully immersed in her experience, driven by an unconscious aim to survive and thrive. Her past experiences—the memory of its transformation from a caterpillar and the countless interactions with its environment—inform its behavior, ensuring it avoids predators and finds sustenance. This single moment encapsulates the butterfly's intrinsic value and its role in the larger ecosystem, exemplifying the interconnectedness of life as understood in process philosophy and theology.
Unconscious Experience
Butterflies, like all living beings, emerge from a past actual world. Each butterfly has a personal and collective unconscious.
The personal unconscious of the butterfly is the individual butterfly's particular history as an individual. It is a rich mosaic woven from its metamorphic journey, encompassing the caterpillar and chrysalis stages. As a caterpillar, she was driven by an instinctual urge to consume and grow, navigating a world of leaves and branches. This stage is marked by an intense focus on survival and growth, symbolizing the raw, primal aspects of its psyche. As the caterpillar spun its chrysalis, she entered a period of profound transformation and introspection. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body underwent a radical metamorphosis, dissolving into a primordial soup before reorganizing into a butterfly. This transformative phase, deeply embedded in the personal unconscious, reflects a process of change and renewal, embodying the notion of death and rebirth.
The collective unconscious of the butterfly, shared with all its kind, encompasses the archetypal journey of metamorphosis. This journey is encoded in her genetic memory, guiding each butterfly through its life cycle with a sense of purpose and destiny. The chrysalis stage, a universal symbol of transformation and potential, connects the butterfly to a timeless pattern of change and emergence found in nature. As it emerges from the chrysalis, the butterfly embodies the archetype of resurrection and transcendence, resonating with collective themes of renewal and hope. This shared unconscious knowledge, passed down through generations, ensures the continuation of the species and its role in the broader ecological mosaic. Through its metamorphic journey, the butterfly not only navigates its individual path but also contributes to the collective wisdom and harmony of the natural world.
God
Imagine that the universe itself has a soul, a consciousness, that feels the feelings of each occasion of experience undergone or undertaken by every living being on earth or in the heavens. This soul is not separate from the universe but is the living whole of the universe, akin to the way a human person is the living whole of his or her body: the mind into which cells in the body and brain feed. Let this soul of the universe be God. The universe is the body of God.
In this vision, God experiences every moment of existence as it happens, from the fluttering of a butterfly's wings in a sunlit meadow to the distant dance of galaxies in the vast expanse of space. Each event, each feeling, and each being contributes to the ongoing life of divine consciousness. The sensory experiences of the butterfly—her feelings of the vibrant colors, her smell of nectar, her feeling of beating wings—are felt and known by God, integrated into the living whole.
God's consciousness is thus both one and many. God is one in God's unified feeling of everything that happens, and God is many in that everything that happens becomes part of God's ongoing life. The joys and sorrows, the struggles and triumphs of every creature are part of the divine soul,
Imagine also that God is inside each creature as a dimension of its own soul. God is within each creature as its own inwardly felt desire to survive with satisfaction relative to the situation at hand. God is within the butterfly as her own desire to live. And God is also within the spider as it might seek to catch and eat the butterfly.
In short, God not as a distant, detached entity, but as an intimate participant in the life of the cosmos, intertwined with every aspect of existence. The divine consciousness encompasses the totality of experiences, guiding the universe towards greater harmony and understanding. In this way, the soul of the universe reflects the interconnectedness and intrinsic value of all life, embodying the principles of process philosophy and theology.
Spirituality
The late Thomas Berry is well-known for proposing that "the universe is a communion of subjects and not simply a collection of objects." We in the process community agree. We believe that there is something like "subjectivity"—that is, interiority and feeling—all the way down into the depths of matter and all the way out into the far reaches of the heavens. Wherever things are affected by other things, they "feel" the influences of those things. The feelings at issue may or may not be conscious, but it is feeling—it is subjectivity. And we believe that subjectivity always includes what we call a "subjective aim"—namely, an aim to live with satisfaction relative to the situation at hand. Insects of all types, butterflies in this case, obviously have such aims. They are subjects of their own lives and not simply objects for others. They deserve our respect as kindred creatures in the web of life.
We also recognize that their subjectivity includes what we call a "mental pole" of experience: a side of experience that weaves together what is physically felt with goals, purposes, and ideas, however primally felt. Buddhists tell us that all beings have the Buddha nature. Let "the Buddha nature" be a name for the subjectivity that all beings possess and also a name for the various forms of enlightenment they may possess, unique to their species and type. Butterflies and other creatures may well embody forms of enlightenment that are beyond our understanding, but radiant nonetheless. In their mystery, they are our mentors.
Love
Many in the process community believe that there is a Love who embraces the universe. This Love is the cosmic consciousness mentioned above. This Love is not an object among objects in a spatial field or in the mind's eye. It is not a thing, physical or conceptual. It is more like a pure subjectivity, a pure consciousness that is everywhere at once. It is more than the universe but inclusive of it: feeling the life of each and every creature, butterflies included, with, as the philosopher Whitehead puts it, "a tender care that nothing be lost."
This Love, this Tenderness, is not outside the universe as an external observer. The Love is the living whole of the universe, a deep You in whose life the universe unfolds, not unlike embryos unfolding within a womb. Many people address the You as God. I am among them. Other names may be preferable: the cosmic You. for example. In feeling the feelings of each and every living being, this loving presence—You —is affected by all that is felt. The feelings of all living beings, and indeed the living beings themselves, become part of You. This means that the You is many as well as one, a multiplicity as well as a unity: a Life whose very life consists of a countless number of lives, reaching back into the beginningless history of a universe with no beginning, and beyond into a universe with no end, but gathering all into the unity of an unfolding whole. When we reach out to God in prayer, we are addressing the God of butterflies, too. Without their flapping wings, without their open eyes, without their poignancy and beauty, without their changing forms, God would not be God.
Danger
While butterflies are attractive creatures, many other insects are dangerous and frightening, such as cockroaches, tarantulas, centipedes, scorpions, hornets, bedbugs, and fire ants. It is important to be consistent here. They, too, help God be God. The Love in whose life the universe unfolds is tender to each and all. And as they endanger us, and we them, there is a kind of pain in God, or a certain kind of tragedy. The beauty of the universe is not one of pure peace. Death, decay, conflict, and struggle are real; any avoidance of this side of life is naive and wishful, but not honest. Whitehead put it this say: Life is Robbery. In seeking to escape predators, the butterfly understands this, and so ought we.
Many people use parental metaphors to understand the You of the universe: God is like a "father" or a "mother" or a "grandmother" or a "grandfather." These can be very helpful. What must be added, though, is that the grandmother is herself conflicted by the conflicts, pained by the pain. She is, to quote Whitehead, "a fellow sufferer who understands." The world's suffering is her own.
We do not know how much conflict, if any, is willed by the cosmic You. Are predator-prey relations part of a larger plan to lure the world into heightened forms of sentience, or is such conflict a falling away from God's deepest intentions and hopes. What we know is that butterflies seek to escape their predators. They are eaten by birds, spiders, lizards, frogs, bats, dragonflies, wasps, and ants. Their subjectivity includes fright and flight. Our subjectivity does, too. In fear as well as creativity, we are kin.
Peace
The hope carried by process theologians is that, in some deep way, all the pain is transformed in God's ongoing life into a certain kind of peace, a harmony of harmonies, that can be felt amid, not apart from, the decay. A peace that surpasses understanding. This peace is not static; it is not fixed. It is changing at all time, but deep and rich and hopeful. It is in perpetual metamorphosis, yet constant in its love, Who knows? it may visit us, from time to time and in surprising ways, freeing our minds and hearts from worry, so that we may be channels of the tenderness. Like a monarch butterfly in a local park.
Pollination
Pollination is more than just a biological process; it is a spiritual calling for butterflies and humans alike. Needless to say, butterflies play a crucial role as pollinators, facilitating the reproduction of plants and ensuring the health of ecosystems. But pollination is not just an ecological service> it is also a metaphor for the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living beings.
For butterflies, the journey from flower to flower, collecting nectar and transferring pollen, is a testament to their purpose and place in the world. Yes, they aim at subjetive intensity in the moment. But they also aim to pollinate. This task, seemingly simple, is vital for the survival of countless plant species and, by extension, the animals and humans that depend on these plants for food and shelter. In this way, butterflies embody a form of service that transcends their individual existence, contributing to the greater good of the environment.
Humans, too, are called to be pollinators in their own right. Just as butterflies bring life and vitality to plants, humans have the potential to spread ideas, kindness, and love, nurturing the growth and flourishing of communities. This spiritual calling asks us to be mindful of our actions and the impact they have on others and the world around us. By engaging in acts of compassion, creativity, and stewardship, we can foster a culture of care and interconnectedness. Our actions, however small, have the potential to create ripples of change and growth. Embracing this calling encourages us to live with purpose, recognizing the intrinsic value of every being and the importance of our contributions to the collective well-being.
In the flutter of a butterfly's wings and the gestures of a compassionate heart, we find a shared mission. Pollination, in its many forms, becomes a sacred act, a reminder of our place in the web of life and our responsibility to nurture and sustain it.
- Jay McDaniel
Seven Ways to Pollinate
- Model Empathy and Inclusion:
- Actively listen to others and practice empathy in your interactions. Make an effort to include diverse perspectives and voices in conversations and community activities, ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard.
- Engage in Community Service:
- Volunteer your time and skills to support local initiatives that promote social justice, environmental sustainability, and compassion. This could include working at a food bank, participating in environmental clean-ups, or mentoring disadvantaged youth.
- Educate and Inspire:
- Share your knowledge and experiences related to spirituality, sustainability, and social justice through workshops, blogs, social media, or public speaking. Use your platform to educate and inspire others to take positive actions in their own lives and communities.
- Support Ethical and Local Businesses:
- Choose to buy from and promote businesses that prioritize ethical practices, fair wages, and sustainable production. Encourage others to do the same by sharing your experiences and the benefits of supporting such businesses.
- Create Safe and Inclusive Spaces:
- Organize or participate in community events that foster a sense of belonging and mutual support. This could include hosting interfaith dialogues, cultural festivals, or support groups that provide a safe space for people to share and grow together.
- Advocate for Positive Change:
- Get involved in advocacy efforts that promote policies and practices aligned with justice, sustainability, and compassion. This can involve signing petitions, attending rallies, engaging with local government, and encouraging others to join these efforts.
- Practice Sustainable Living:
- Lead by example by adopting sustainable practices in your own life. Reduce waste, conserve energy, support renewable energy sources, and promote a lifestyle that minimizes harm to the environment. Share your journey and tips with others to inspire them to make similar changes.
Butterfly Art
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"Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? and Other Pollinator Ponderings" by Cara Hochhalter begins with her reflections on observing a garden and the many visiting insects, particularly bees.
This curiosity led her to read about these remarkable "neighbors" in her yard. Inspired by this, she incorporated pollinators into her artwork, which includes watercolors, block prints, and photographs. Additionally, the book contains art activities for readers to enjoy.
The subsequent pages feature stories about pollinators, emphasizing the importance of protecting them and cultivating plants that support their survival. The introduction highlights our interconnectedness within the natural web of relationships, encouraging readers to enjoy the content and insights provided. To order the book contact her at: [email protected].
This curiosity led her to read about these remarkable "neighbors" in her yard. Inspired by this, she incorporated pollinators into her artwork, which includes watercolors, block prints, and photographs. Additionally, the book contains art activities for readers to enjoy.
The subsequent pages feature stories about pollinators, emphasizing the importance of protecting them and cultivating plants that support their survival. The introduction highlights our interconnectedness within the natural web of relationships, encouraging readers to enjoy the content and insights provided. To order the book contact her at: [email protected].
Buddhist Butterflies
Process theology takes many forms: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist, for example. Here are some ways that butterflies help teach Process Buddhism.
1. Transformation and Becoming
1. Transformation and Becoming
- Metamorphosis: The life cycle of a butterfly—from egg to larva (caterpillar), to pupa (chrysalis), and finally to adult butterfly—illustrates the concept of becoming, a core idea in Process Buddhism. This ongoing transformation reflects the Buddhist understanding that all beings are in a constant state of flux, evolving and changing in response to their surroundings and internal processes.
- Spiritual Growth: Just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, individuals undergo spiritual growth and transformation. This metaphor can be applied to the process of enlightenment, where one evolves from a state of ignorance to one of awakened understanding.
- Ecosystem Role: Butterflies are integral parts of their ecosystems, involved in pollination and serving as food for other species. This highlights the interconnectedness of all life forms, a fundamental concept in Process Buddhism. Everything is relational and interconnected, and the actions of one being can affect the entire ecosystem.
- Relational Becomings: The butterfly’s interactions with flowers, plants, and other creatures illustrate how beings are not isolated but are constituted by their relationships. In Process Buddhism, entities are seen as events or processes that emerge through their relationships with others.
- Short Lifespan: The ephemeral nature of a butterfly’s life underscores the Buddhist teaching of impermanence. This transient existence serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in the present moment, fully embracing each phase of existence.
- Momentary Existence: Each stage of a butterfly’s life is temporary and yet essential to its overall journey. This aligns with the process thought that every moment is a transient yet vital part of the ongoing process of becoming.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The brief, vibrant beauty of butterflies encapsulates the idea that beauty and joy are often fleeting. This encourages an appreciation for the present moment and a deeper awareness of the transient nature of all experiences.
- Momentary Perfection: The butterfly’s fleeting moments of perfect beauty can be seen as a metaphor for the Buddhist idea of capturing the essence of the moment, understanding that perfection is transient and momentary.
- Adaptation: Butterflies adapt to their environments, changing and evolving to survive. This reflects the processual understanding that beings must continually adapt and respond to their circumstances. This adaptability is a form of wisdom, embodying the Buddhist principle of skillful means (upaya).
- Overcoming Challenges: The transformation from caterpillar to butterfly involves overcoming significant challenges. This process can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual journey, where individuals must navigate and transcend various difficulties to reach a higher state of being.
- Letting Go: The process of metamorphosis involves shedding old forms and embracing new ones. This can be seen as a lesson in non-attachment, encouraging individuals to let go of old identities and embrace change and growth.
- Cycle of Life: Butterflies go through cycles of birth, growth, death, and rebirth. This cyclical nature reflects the Buddhist concept of samsara, the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and the aim of transcending this cycle through enlightenment.
- Emergence: The emergence of a butterfly from its chrysalis can symbolize the moment of enlightenment, where an individual breaks free from the confines of ignorance and experiences a new, liberated state of being.
- Lightness and Freedom: Butterflies, with their light and graceful flight, can symbolize the freedom and lightness that come with spiritual awakening and the shedding of worldly burdens.
Butterfly Gardens:
What, When, and Where
What: Butterfly gardens are specially designed spaces intended to attract and support butterflies by providing them with their preferred plants and environment. These gardens typically feature a variety of nectar-producing flowers, host plants for caterpillars, water sources, and sheltered areas. Common plants found in butterfly gardens include milkweed, butterfly bush, coneflowers, asters, and lantana.
When: Butterfly gardens can be created at any time of the year, but the best time to start is in early spring or fall. Planting during these seasons gives the plants time to establish before the extreme temperatures of summer or winter. Maintaining the garden throughout the year ensures continuous support for butterflies during their active months, which typically span from spring through early fall.
Where: Butterfly gardens can be created in a variety of locations, including:
Creating a butterfly garden involves choosing a sunny spot, as butterflies thrive in warm, sunny environments. The garden should also be protected from strong winds and provide some shaded areas. By carefully selecting and arranging plants that cater to the needs of butterflies, people can create beautiful, functional gardens that support butterfly populations and contribute to the overall health of local ecosystems.
When: Butterfly gardens can be created at any time of the year, but the best time to start is in early spring or fall. Planting during these seasons gives the plants time to establish before the extreme temperatures of summer or winter. Maintaining the garden throughout the year ensures continuous support for butterflies during their active months, which typically span from spring through early fall.
Where: Butterfly gardens can be created in a variety of locations, including:
- Home Gardens: Residential backyards and front yards are common places for butterfly gardens. Homeowners can dedicate a section of their yard to create a haven for butterflies.
- Public Parks: Many communities establish butterfly gardens in public parks to provide educational opportunities and enhance local biodiversity.
- Schools: Educational institutions often create butterfly gardens as part of their science curriculum to teach students about ecology, life cycles, and conservation.
- Community Gardens: Shared spaces in neighborhoods or urban areas can include butterfly gardens, fostering community involvement in conservation efforts.
- Nature Reserves and Botanical Gardens: These locations frequently feature butterfly gardens as part of their broader mission to promote biodiversity and environmental education.
Creating a butterfly garden involves choosing a sunny spot, as butterflies thrive in warm, sunny environments. The garden should also be protected from strong winds and provide some shaded areas. By carefully selecting and arranging plants that cater to the needs of butterflies, people can create beautiful, functional gardens that support butterfly populations and contribute to the overall health of local ecosystems.
Famous Butterfly Gardens
- Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara Parks, Canada: Home to over 2,000 butterflies of 45 different species, this conservatory is a popular tourist destination.
- Butterfly Wonderland, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA: One of the largest butterfly conservatories in the United States, featuring thousands of butterflies from around the globe.
- Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, Sentosa, Singapore: A tropical habitat with a variety of butterfly species, providing an educational experience about insects.
- Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park, Malaysia: One of the largest butterfly parks in the world, it houses over 5,000 butterflies and is designed to mimic their natural rainforest habitat.
- Butterfly Garden, Dubai Miracle Garden, UAE: This garden is home to thousands of butterflies and is part of the larger Dubai Miracle Garden, known for its elaborate floral displays.
- Penang Butterfly Farm, Malaysia: Also known as Entopia, this farm combines nature and education, with a focus on butterfly conservation and education.
- Monteverde Butterfly Garden, Costa Rica: Located in the cloud forests of Monteverde, this garden features a variety of native butterfly species and offers guided tours.
Arkansas Butterflies
Go to Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, or Costa Rica and you'll find butterfly gardens. Indeed, you'll also find them where I live, in a small state of the United States called Arkansas. As I write this my wife Kathy, a master gardener, is away from home, helping cultivate a local butterfly (and other pollinators) garden that will be frequented by visitors of all ages who come to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature. Kathy is trimming the spirea and black-eyed Susans, pulling weeds, and working on the irrigation system. The garden, Legacy Gardens, is a collaborative effort by local volunteers and enthusiasts like Kathy, designed to attract a wide variety of butterfly species native to the region. It features an array of nectar-rich flowers, host plants for caterpillars, and sheltered areas where butterflies can rest and lay their eggs.
I learn from research that the garden is home to thirteen different kinds of butterflies, including Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, and Giant Swallowtails. The butterfly garden also serves as an educational resource, offering guided tours and workshops for schools, gardening clubs, and community groups. These programs aim to teach visitors about the life cycle of butterflies, the importance of pollinators in our ecosystems, and how to create their own butterfly-friendly habitats at home.
- Jay McDaniel