BUTTERFLY

(see Flying, bisects, Wings)

Personal growth, especially spiritual. In classical Greek and Roman philosophy, the butterfly’s transformation mirrored that of the ever evolving soul.

Esotericallv: Reincarnation, which may be literal or figurative.

If you see yourself emerging from the cocoon, this speaks of a new, beautiful beginning, and astounding positive changes.

The question of personal identity and uniqueness. In China, there is a story of the sage Hsuang Chou who dreamt of being a butterfly. During the dream, he had no awareness of Hsuang Chou, only the butterfly. WTien he awoke, this experience left him wondering. Was he really Hsuang Chou, or actually a butterfly dreaming of being Hsuang Chou?

In China, the butterflv also symbolizes a happy union, usually a marriage.

An excellent portent for any type of partnership, especially if the butterfly is formed out of jade (see Gems, Jewelry, Stones).

Missives from beyond: The Hopi Indians believe that butterflies carry the souls of the departed.

Swallowing a butterfly: In Ireland and ancient Greece, this signified pregnancy.

The ability to rebound and rejuvenate after a major setback.

If seen in its caterpillar form, it means you’re entering a stage of positive transformation.

If the creature is flying, you may soon receive news from friends afar.

For a young woman, this foretells happy love.

Although, among ancient cultures, it was the emblem of the soul and the unconscious attraction to the luminous, the butterfly is currently associated with lightness, fickleness, and imprudence. However, if you dream of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, it becomes a sign of metamorphosis, change, and regeneration. The meaning changes since this means you should trust your ability to the end, without allowing fear or despair to defeat you. In short, everything will eventually be solved. So, what at first seems negative may end up being positive. Other interpretations associate butterflies with romance, joy, freedom, and success. (See WORM, METAMORPHOSIS, and CATERPILLAR)

Chuang Chou, a Chinese thinker, raises an interesting philosophical question about a dream similar to this one. One night he dreamed he was a butterfly and the oneiric scene seemed so real that when he awoke he did not know if he was a man who had dreamed he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was a man. The Turks believe that the dead may return in the form of a butterfly and, therefore, are careful not to kill them.

To see a butterfly in your dream denotes creativity, romance, joy and spirituality. You may be undergoing a transformation or rebirth in your way of thinking. To see a beautiful colorful butterfly in your dream denotes the positive impression you hope to make at a future social gathering or in some aspect of your life. It may also indicate your love of freedom and a refusal to be tied down. For Jung, the butterfly was a symbol of the whole psyche—as it was for the Greeks, to whom the word ’psyche’ meant both butterfly and soul.

If you have recently been bereaved, you may have felt comforted by dream in which a butterfly flutters up into the sky; this may represent the soul of someone who has died, as the departing soul is traditionally said to assume the form of a butterfly. Your unconscious may have been signaling to you that your loved one’s spirit has been liberated. Remember, too, that a butterfly can represent your own soul and, if you are currently feeling overburdened in waking life, then this may be a wish-fulfillment dream.