Once a month I’ll be posting a new Spirit Animal. This is both for me to study and learn, but also to help inspire each month.

This month the animal made itself known to me within moments of moving into our new home, because they are everywhere around it.

The Butterfly.

Sure, it’s Florida. Butterflies are far more common, blah blah blah…but I mean everywhere around my house (which has no yard to speak of due to sandy soil and lots of shade, and some poison ivy)…but there is a bunch of undergrowth creeping in from the tree lines and the butterflies flock to them and dance along.

Then, as if to seal the deal, this happened—>>

That’s a red-spotted purple that was hanging out in my driveway. I held out my hand and it climbed on!  Stayed there for probably ten minutes before it fluttered away! I mean, so cool.

Anyhoo…onto the meaning.

Which, I think is fairly obvious to anyone and everyone.

The Butterfly is about transformation – metamorphosis.

Freshly planting ourselves in a new home in a new state is a huge transformation. I’ve also recently come to a big decision about my future that feels like what is supposed to happen, though the transition itself will be hard work and exhausting.

Butterflies are also about a connection to the anscestors. They’re a totem for those who are in tune with the ancestors…which honestly I feel like I’ve been struggling with since I got here.

Our transition was NOT easy, it was not all sunshine and happiness, and the deep spiritual connection I feel I’d been working to forge before I got the job down here feels rather distant and disconnected. I’m working on learning how to establish a routine working on night shift and still including all that I need to with family, home, and spirit.

In other words, though we are in Florida, in this lovely new home, and in my new job…I feel like at this point we are the mass of goo inside the cocoon. We haven’t grown our wings, we haven’t flown yet…but I feel like it’s there.  Though right now it feels like we keep saying “If this happens, then we…”

We are taking steps, though. We went to the beach. We’re going to Disney Springs. We have treated for the disgusting bugs. Hubby is putting out applications and has at least one interview set up. Things are happening to set up that final burst of transformation.

The most important lesson the butterfly has for me this month is that transformation isn’t easy. It hurts. It’s work. In the end, though? It’s totally worth it. 

Life is beautiful on the other side.

We’re seeing glimpses of it.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone – and that’s where we are. It’s time to transform.

What animal is speaking to you this month?  Do they have lessons for you?