I am free, I am free, I am free. My husband and I came into a small sum of surprise monies, we called a delightful house sitter and headed to the hills of western Massachusetts. We had never seen such colors of leaves in our whole lives, the burnt orange, totally red orange and soft peach colors were abundant coupled in masses with the delicious wine reds and outrageous yellows. It is difficult to drive and see all of it, to lock it into the iris of the eye holding sacred for winter reruns. An absolute thrill to us both. We dined at the "Student Prince" restaurant in Springfield, Massachusetts the only night we were to be there, surrounded by prints of Germany, delft antique plates on the wall, waitresses dressed as old Europe, fresh white blouses with frills of lace, each bodice and skirt a different color embroidered with flowers, we were charmed with it all.
 That night at the hotel I found a coupon booklet, one said: "Magic Wings" a conservatory for 4000 butterflies. I must have read it a seventeen times, I thought it was a typo, four thousand butterflies, naw, it can't be true. We left early Sunday morning our second and last day, decided to go for the trip into the Deerfield region, more exquisite viewing, light traffic, up we went. We found it easily, it did not look from the outside very outstanding and as I entered the gift shop, the merchandise did not impress, we moved on into the ticket buying, and entered the first room. When I awoke that morning at five I had a good strong spiritual hit of joy, it lasted through reading in the bathroom, sipping tea to allow my husband to sleep later, it lasted through the downstairs view of the carbo display of food, which I bypassed, and it lasted until I went into the first room, I had that feel of not just a good day but a great portent of emotional joy, as usual I kept that to myself.
The first room had small and large glass aquarium displays. We saw the most interesting, fascinating frogs, and insects that we will ever see. They all were from other parts of the world, they were so active too, such a privilege to see them all in person instead of television, I felt I knew them all intimately.
The second room was the conservatory room. this was a huge, huge high ceiled room, plants everywhere, gardenias in bloom, orchids in bloom and most of all there they were yes, four thousand butterflies. Everywhere, anywhere, watch where you walk, flying past your nose, hitting your head, all colors, some so big you thought they were flapping bed sheets. The colors, the faces on the people, the children, the wall of over fifty pupae opening of different varieties beginning to emerge and easy to stand and watch the process. There were a large majority of burnished gold cocoons, it was like being in heaven to me.
Many years ago when my children were eight and ten years of age, with the interest of my neighbor and her son, we started to raise butterflies and moths. The first one I observed and raised was the painted lady, the most color and delight to the eyes. We moved along to the Pro moths, many of them, very large and bodies very hairy, beautiful eyes named after the Greek God Polyphemus. I moved on to Monarch butterflies, and with life always unfolding and immediate I felt I had left this behind me. I have been in the home here on the Cape now for ten years or so, I first noticed a large grouping of Milkweed plants and asked the guides if I was to go forward once again. I then noticed I felt lazy and walked away from them, the next day there she was- the female Monarch laying eggs, how charming I thought until the eggs disappeared before the next morning. Well, all right I can do this I thought, I raised twenty three that season and returned to the delightful task in subsequent seasons.
We walked slowly through this giant space it seemed never ending, it had curves, other rooms spaces to sit and on it went. A mother pointed to a tree and told me there was a giant Iguana in it. It took me a while to see what was obvious, clearly over three yards long and free to be.
One of the larger butterflies landed on my face, I did not move and waited, and waited and waited, it kept feeling me with it's tongue which was cold to the touch, people took my picture, everyone smiling so much I thought I died and went to heaven, I took in the profound happening as naturally a metaphor and waited for the message of this beautiful butterfly to hand me. The wait became longer and longer, it went down the right side of my face to my mouth slowly, putting it's tongue and or proboscis everywhere it went, even tried to get into my mouth, had a blast with my nose which was the worst tickle. An attendant asked if I wanted it removed, I told her no, later she then informed us that she could take my picture if we liked, when she did she showed us the two pictures in the camera for our approval, then delivered them into jackets with envelopes to mail, five dollars each, a bargain for this unusual happening. The butterfly went up now to the left side of my face, I had to close my eye, the corner of my eye seemed most tempting and most ticklish. More people took pictures, it was over a half hour at least. a Gentleman came along and shared his history of raising butterflies, one year over five hundred what a treat to meet another enthusiast.
My friend was still on my face. I asked the butterfly what was his/her message, the word persevere, I asked for more information, the words will come to you when when you go home. I have the book "Animal Speak" here by Ted Andrews, I looked up butterfly: Keynote: Transmutation and the dance of Joy. Oh Yes! I do relate to the dance of joy, I do it so much it is sickening if someone lived here all day I think they would shoot me to shut me up dancing and singing. I learned also that this was the "Owl butterfly", more information to come from.
"Butterflies bring color and joy with them. When butterflies come into your life look at how much or how little joy is within your life. Butterfly medicine reminds us to make changes when the opportunities present themselves. Transformation is inevitable, but butterfly will help teach you that growth and change does not have to be traumatic. It will teach you that it can occur as gently, as sweetly, and as joyfully as we wish." Ted also states that butterflies have taste receptacles on their front legs. They taste by walking on flowers.
I was joyful that I wear no makeup and at last the butterfly lifted away and I could move more. Until, back he or she came again and knew just where I would be.
Owl to me has always been the sign of immediate change, when I would hear them it has always evoked in me tremendous excitement for what is to come. I truly believe that all women must be on the road to change and evolvement, it is a driven hormonal force in us and it allows us to be free and happy.
I finally put my finger toward this butterfly it now once again seated on my face and there it stayed, tongue out and emitting a watery substance, I walked about freely to find the young attendant and asked her to look at this happening, she did not know what it meant, but would talk to the experts and find out.
I know this experience happens at time especially in that conservatory the pictures were on the outside of that room near the ticket taker but for me this once again was nature gifting me with the connection of these little messengers of joy, to give to others everywhere hope and metaphoric freedom with joy.
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Pat is listed on Bob Olson's web resource for discovering gifted psychic mediums. Bob is a psychic medium researcher, author, and advocate. He is the editor of OfSpirit Magazine, author of "Win The Battle", co-author of "Understanding Spirit", and "Understanding Yourself." You can read about his reading with Pat at BestPsychicMediums.com.
I knew previously that a moth signified change or transformation. I thought of that while I was looking at him struggling to hold on to the screen. An hour later after the storm died down, I went back to the Florida room and he was still there (probably catching his breath.) I asked him what change was coming for me..... after a few minutes he flew off, wings dried.
3 days later I lost my job, 2 days after that I got a job offer to come to Europe at twice the pay! Thanks little moth, for the warning.