Butterflies are very colorful and the way they softly and gently fly into the air is simply magnificent. A lot of people love butterflies and they let butterflies stay in their gardens, have preserved displays of butterflies, or for special events such as birthdays or weddings, they give butterfly favors. But apart from the beauty that the butterflies portray, their presence means something more to certain people. Different cultures and different groups may have slight differences as to what butterflies mean but their common recurring mean is that of change, transformation and a new life. Here are some of the common beliefs about butterflies and what their presence represents.
In Japan, images of butterflies are often included in the family’s crest because they believe that images carry with them the blessings of marital happiness and the invigoration of youth. In Russia and in Ireland, there is a popular belief that butterflies are actually the souls of people who passed away and is now waiting to pass purgatory. In Greek mythology, butterflies are believed to be the souls of departed loved ones. In the story of Eros, his images are always depicted with butterflies surrounding him and his human lover.
The transformation that the butterfly goes through shows a powerful symbolism and likeness to human beings. The different stages, the difficulties, and finally emerging into a beautiful and colorful butterfly which once was an unattractive crawling creature, also shows the power of human beings to surpass challenges, learn, and then eventually soar to greater heights. Just as the butterfly has to go through some not so attractive stages, a person’s life can through similar situations as well, but ultimately, in the end, reach one’s full potential and become majestic and beautiful.
The butterflies that you see in the gardens do not only keep the balance of nature, but for some people, they have a higher purpose. They are souls of departed ones who have come to give blessing, or spending time with you as they wait for their turn to pass through purgatory. So whether for gifts, favors, decorations, or releasing butterflies for special events, the presence of butterflies can invoke mystery and amazement for a lot of people. Butterflies will continue to mystify people around the world with its beauty and mystery.
Showing posts with label butterfly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label butterfly. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Suggestions on How to Preserve your Butterfly Collection
Butterflies come in various colors, designs and sizes. You can see them in gardens and in butterfly sanctuaries and they have always been a part of almost everyone’s childhood memory. You can probably never see a butterfly and not fall in love with it. Despite their size, they can always bring life, joy, and light-heartedness in any room as they flutter and softly land.
For people who want to start a collection of butterflies, here are some ways on how to do it, and how you can preserve them to make them last for many years.
Catch the butterfly of your liking or purchase them from local stores. You can also find extensive collections of butterflies online. They can ship to almost any part of the world and you can choose between exotic or rare butterflies as well. Upon catching them or upon arrival of your order, have the butterflies rest so they will look fresh again. You can do this for 12-24 hours to let some moisture seep in.
Next, pinch the butterfly’s thorax so the wings can loosen up and you then can get to spread the wings out. Be careful not to force the wings or it might break. Do not get your fingers all over the butterfly’s wings so you don’t create spots.
After spreading the wings, mount them using pins and paper strips to hold the wings. After resting, mount them on your frame and be precise when placing them on the box or frame so you do not have to move them around again if you are not satisfied with its placing. Complete your framing by assembling the rest of the box or frame.
While it may be expensive to give out butterfly collections for every occasion or as frame favors, you can make your own personal butterfly collection and have beauty flutter inside your living room. They are best hanged on walls so your visitors can immediately focus on the collection and not be distracted by other decor.
Handle your collection with care by not placing it under direct exposure to sunlight or placing them in extremely warm or extremely moist places. Placing them outdoors along with sunlight exposure may melt the colors of the butterfly, while placing them in extremely moist places like bathrooms can allow moisture and humidity to ruin the butterfly.
For people who want to start a collection of butterflies, here are some ways on how to do it, and how you can preserve them to make them last for many years.
Catch the butterfly of your liking or purchase them from local stores. You can also find extensive collections of butterflies online. They can ship to almost any part of the world and you can choose between exotic or rare butterflies as well. Upon catching them or upon arrival of your order, have the butterflies rest so they will look fresh again. You can do this for 12-24 hours to let some moisture seep in.
Next, pinch the butterfly’s thorax so the wings can loosen up and you then can get to spread the wings out. Be careful not to force the wings or it might break. Do not get your fingers all over the butterfly’s wings so you don’t create spots.
After spreading the wings, mount them using pins and paper strips to hold the wings. After resting, mount them on your frame and be precise when placing them on the box or frame so you do not have to move them around again if you are not satisfied with its placing. Complete your framing by assembling the rest of the box or frame.
While it may be expensive to give out butterfly collections for every occasion or as frame favors, you can make your own personal butterfly collection and have beauty flutter inside your living room. They are best hanged on walls so your visitors can immediately focus on the collection and not be distracted by other decor.
Handle your collection with care by not placing it under direct exposure to sunlight or placing them in extremely warm or extremely moist places. Placing them outdoors along with sunlight exposure may melt the colors of the butterfly, while placing them in extremely moist places like bathrooms can allow moisture and humidity to ruin the butterfly.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Wonder of Nature – Metamorphosis of Butterflies
A butterfly can be referred to at times representing many things – with its beautiful and colorful body it becomes a symbol of beauty that is used in various decorations, prints, or butterfly favors and gifts. With its smooth flight, it becomes a symbol of freedom. And with the different changes it undergoes within its lifetime, it becomes a symbol of change – for the good. Much like any other organism, the butterfly lets nature takes its course for it to fully live a life as an adult.
Here’s a brief look at the lifecycle that changes an ordinary egg to a majestic beauty.
A butterfly will undergo a total of 4 cycles before it becomes a full caterpillar adult. Starting as an egg, it changes to become a caterpillar, then to a pupa in preparation to the full adult life as a butterfly. In each of these stages, it undergoes many physical changes necessary for its survival.
In its first stage as an egg, it is simply much like any other egg – small and is round, oval or cylindrical in shape. These are instinctively placed near trees by the female near plants, as when it grows, the leaves in the trees become the food for the caterpillar.
Once the egg hatches, it goes on to the second stage where it becomes a caterpillar. Already eating, living and crawling, the caterpillar is the cycle where it is most expected to grow. Hence, the caterpillar spends most of its living time eating – gathering enough nutrients as it prepares for the next cycle. But while a caterpillar and continuously eating, the caterpillar cannot stretch its exoskeleton, thus, it is only able to shed skin as many times as it can during this cycle.
On the third stage, the crawling and eating caterpillar becomes a shell or a case called a pupa. While it may simply look still or uneventful, inside the pupa the caterpillar a lot of changes, including growing wings. The different parts and organs of the caterpillar still further transforms to become the parts and organ to be needed by the butterfly.
At the last and final stage, the full grown adult butterfly emerges beautifully. With its wings still folded, the pupa breaks down and slowly the butterfly comes out. The new form of the butterfly takes shape and at this stage, as it is considered to be in its adult phase, the butterfly is capable of reproducing, thus creating new eggs and repeating the cycle all over again.
Apart from its beauty, butterfly helps balance the circle of life in nature. By helping plants and maintaining the balance of other small creatures, one can say that it is truly worth the wait when you allow nature to transform a simple and ordinary egg into nature’s beauty.
Here’s a brief look at the lifecycle that changes an ordinary egg to a majestic beauty.
A butterfly will undergo a total of 4 cycles before it becomes a full caterpillar adult. Starting as an egg, it changes to become a caterpillar, then to a pupa in preparation to the full adult life as a butterfly. In each of these stages, it undergoes many physical changes necessary for its survival.
In its first stage as an egg, it is simply much like any other egg – small and is round, oval or cylindrical in shape. These are instinctively placed near trees by the female near plants, as when it grows, the leaves in the trees become the food for the caterpillar.
Once the egg hatches, it goes on to the second stage where it becomes a caterpillar. Already eating, living and crawling, the caterpillar is the cycle where it is most expected to grow. Hence, the caterpillar spends most of its living time eating – gathering enough nutrients as it prepares for the next cycle. But while a caterpillar and continuously eating, the caterpillar cannot stretch its exoskeleton, thus, it is only able to shed skin as many times as it can during this cycle.
On the third stage, the crawling and eating caterpillar becomes a shell or a case called a pupa. While it may simply look still or uneventful, inside the pupa the caterpillar a lot of changes, including growing wings. The different parts and organs of the caterpillar still further transforms to become the parts and organ to be needed by the butterfly.
At the last and final stage, the full grown adult butterfly emerges beautifully. With its wings still folded, the pupa breaks down and slowly the butterfly comes out. The new form of the butterfly takes shape and at this stage, as it is considered to be in its adult phase, the butterfly is capable of reproducing, thus creating new eggs and repeating the cycle all over again.
Apart from its beauty, butterfly helps balance the circle of life in nature. By helping plants and maintaining the balance of other small creatures, one can say that it is truly worth the wait when you allow nature to transform a simple and ordinary egg into nature’s beauty.
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