Metamorphosis

Gavin captured a few caterpillars that were destroying our garden with their voracious appetites. He made a bug house out of a little kit and fed them a few of our dill leaves and parsley, their favorite. Within a few days, one of the three he captured, had spun a beautiful chrysalis in just hours overnight. Caterpillar kept his work secret and waited for darkness. In the morning a bright, green thorny looking chrysalis hung by a few thin threads of silk from the bug house. I took this as an opportunity to teach Gavin how this metamorphosis happens. Within 8-10 days the caterpillar turns to liquid within his chrysalis and within days transforms back into a solid and colorful butterfly. Such an amazing transformation and we have it all within viewing distance. As the books said, within 8 days, and once again in the shadows of darkness, the chrysalis turned from light green to dark green. By the following morning, the chrysalis was now transparent in color and the butterflies wings were in view, this one black with yellow spots. We left that morning to go to the store thinking we still had a day or so left before the emergence of the butterfly from it's home, but just 45 minutes at the grocery store and we come home to find the butterfly had escaped. Once again, it was able to find privacy to release itself from hiding. It even got out of the bug house on it's own, like a magician, and crawled around on Gavin while drying his wings for flight. Gavin gently held him with his legs, arms, hands, and face as the butterfly climbed all around him. When it was ready, it spread its wings and flew away. Gavin was joyful, when he took flight, like he was the butterflies mother. It was such a beautiful thing to capture. Who couldn't believe there is a God when you watch the smallest details of nature up close As I watched this process with him, the evolution of a sweet caterpillar into a majestic butterfly, I discover that yoga is metamorphosis. One being evolving over time. Day after day we make the effort through hard work, dedication, and rest. It is a life long process to blossom into something spectacularly beautiful. And with practice, when the change comes, we will be ready to dust ourselves off and fly into the sunset.