Cocoons and Growth!

…the hidden stage where the Magic happens

What if…we are all born as Caterpillars…live our life in this cocoon called life…and die to become free and beautiful like Butterflies…

I sure hope so…but until then, ponder this…

I was watching a very interesting video of how a Caterpillar turns into a Butterfly. There is a process and it takes time. When you look at the Caterpillar at first, there is no way that you can imagine that it will turn into a beautiful butterfly eventually. What was striking in the video is that, the caterpillar already has all the necessary physical attributes which is needed to form the butterfly. It is not like it is magically transformed inside the cocoon in the butterfly. It is not like the caterpillar disappears and the butterfly appears, like an act from a Penn & Teller show. Everything that the Butterfly needs to be, is already in the Caterpillar.

In the Butterfly life story. Everyone is so fascinated with and focuses mainly on the Butterfly and the Caterpillar. But many people overlook where all the magic happens, the Cocoon, the importance of the cocoon and purpose of the cocoon.

The butterfly is non-existent if not for the cocoon. What if the caterpillar does not weave itself a cocoon. What if one Caterpillar decides that it is too cool for the cocoon. I mean, here it is, wriggling about on the trees and branches and leaves. Some of these caterpillars have nice gold markings and look all bling. So why in the world would it want to weave itself into a cocoon where it can’t see anything, hear anything (if caterpillars can hear), and its probably dark and claustrophobic too. Also, in the case (no pun intended), that the Caterpillar is an attractive one, no one will see it either. So there might be many a reason for a caterpillar to say, fuck this shit.

Metamorphosis is a very complex process which I also updated myself about for the sake of this article. But the gist of it is that, the Caterpillar consumed itself from the inside-out once it has shut itself inside the Chrysalis (the protective Cocoon shell). So essentially, the Caterpillar has to Die, in order for the Butterfly to be born.

I believe that all of us are also born as caterpillars…with all the physical, mental and spiritual attributes to one day become butterflies. But in order to become all the gloriousness that we are destined to be, we need to completely isolate ourselves for some time like the caterpillar, inside a virtual (and sometimes physical), cocoon. I believe that it is in this ‘Cocoon period’ that we really transform and grow. When we are alone and spend a lot of time with ourselves, we learn about our selves and also bring out the best and worst in ourselves. The Angels and the Demons.

This is when we shed the notion of who are, who we think we are and who other people think we are (just like how all the others who see the caterpillar think that it is just meant to be a caterpillar for the rest of its life). This is when we bring out all the talents hidden inside of us all this time, and give ourselves the love, care and attention that is needed to understand who we really are and learn to accept ourselves for who we really are.

So, the next time you feel like the Walls are closing-in around you, and there is a nasty feeling in your tummy. Don’t fear, its just life slowly pushing you into your cocoon so that you can re-invent yourself, and sometimes even be reborn as we whole new version of your self…the person that you were always meant to be. But it takes some time on your own and it might mean that you will have to kill certain aspect of you, so that you can make way for the new thoughts and world views to occupy your consciousness. Let them Die…and let the Glorious and Beautiful new you be born.

Happy Flying!