Bellisima Goddess

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” -Richard Bach.

Many of us work at self-improvement and personal growth throughout our lives in order to become better human beings. The work may be physical, mental and/or spiritual. The art of “becoming” truly is a lifelong process. During the course of our lifetime, it requires an ebb and flow between deep inner and outer work and the pauses which allow us time to acknowledge how far we’ve come. The transformational process is really a beautiful dance that requires moments of simply being and appreciating along with periods of going within–sometimes digging really deep.

Long ago–and maybe not so long ago–people believed that true transformation–especially of the spiritual nature–could only be accomplished by prophets, saints, sages, and shamans. Today, more than ever before, we know that if we are willing to do the work required, we too can experience spiritual transformation. The beauty of the transformational process is that as we are transformed, the transformational process can be ignited all around us. Throughout our lives, not only are we changing but our change ripples out into the world and brings change (or the opportunity for change) to those around us.

What usually begins such a process? According to James Redfield, author of The Celestine Prophecy, it begins with restlessness. We’re no longer satisfied with the ways things are–the way WE are. This discontent we feel cannot be satisfied through our current circumstances or our ways of relating to the world. Like the caterpillar, which at some prescribed moment feels the urge to begin the process that results in its metamorphosis, we find that we can no longer ignore the yearnings for change. So this restlessness converts into a quest and, like the caterpillar, we go within. Through self-inquiry, books, work with spiritual masters or discussion with friends we are often led to a revelation which can then lead us to true transformation. Transformation is the slow, steady infusion of the vision into a reality. Transformation is moving from seeing anew to being anew. As with the butterfly which emerges from the cocoon, we emerge from the process changed. We are no longer who we were when we started the process.

The delicate butterfly emerging from the pupa shroud that claimed its former self is a beautiful symbol of our transformation. The new person we are in no way looks like our former self. The butterfly’s journey–as well as ours–represents and reflects the evolutionary process and a new life–unimaginable to the old. It also portrays the true self–which was there all along–bursting out in full glory at the appointed time.

“The inner self of every human waits patiently until we are ready to discover it; then it extends an invitation to enter the luminous mystery of existence in which all things are created, nurtured, and renewed. In the presence of this mystery, we not only heal ourselves, we heal the world.” Deepak Chopra

On this date, December 7, 2009–the first day of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference–may our transformations lead to the transformation and healing of our world and our earth.