Hello

I always think of caterpillars to butterflies as transformation and tadpoles to frogs as transmutation.

Each are changing forms from one to another, transubstantiation, but the processes are very different.

With the butterfly the caterpillar goes into a suspended animation state wherein the change takes place within the cocoon.  The consciousness of the caterpillar shifts within that time from crawling, leaf eating caterpillar to winged, flying, nectar eating butterfly – transforming focus, mode of transportation,  and shifting paradigm of self.

The tadpole changes as it develops so the tadpole consciousness must also be letting go of the old paradigm while shifting into the new one from swimmer to jumper.  Truly fascinating.

I think our process of development is more similar to that of the tadpole we shift over time and develop into an  in-between state before we settle on our final form.

I think this is true of us from a spiritual, psychological, and cognitive perspective too.  We transition out of a way of being and then into a neutral state and then into a new perspective.  We can have immediate, aha, shifts like the one’s we experience with figure/ground recognition but usually for our self-perception there is a changing-space in-time before we embrace fully our new self.

Snakes that shed their skins to shift into their new bodies incorporate aspects of both of these forms.

Transitions are opportunities for transforming and transmutation we can change in response to and with our environment and our experiences.

The new year, the new moon, anniversaries and birthdays are all transition times when one can consciously transition and make an intention about transformation and transmutation.  Because they are opportunities to observe what has gone before and what we want to bring into or create in the future, these times offer a space-in-between to review and assess our form.

Are we acting in ways that are congruent with what we say matters to us?

Do we allow for space for growth and honestly work toward our own well-being and happiness?

Are we holding onto an old structure or unforgiveness that we need to shed?

Do we repair the world, our emotional and physical environment, and our relationships in a dynamic and ongoing way?

These are important questions at these space-time shifts to help with our dynamic, ever-changing transformation and transmutation, our personal evolution.

So whether you are faced with an unexpected transition or one that you are consciously creating, embrace the transformation process through observation, acceptance, allowing, and letting go to smoothly flow into your transformed self.

You may discover that you are not an ugly duckling but a beautiful swan gliding through your environment…  and how cool is that?

See you tomorrow.

Beth