Messages from the Caterpillar

This past week, as we spent time on the deck with family and friends, we experienced an unexpected guest.  Under the table, where bare feet encircled, was a fuzzy caterpillar. This very big, fuzzy friend seemed to make its way to one guest in particular over numerous evenings. No matter where she moved, the caterpillar was still found close by her toes. We decided the caterpillar was bringing her a message and promptly retrieved my Animal-Wise book by Ted Andrews so we could look up what caterpillar medicine might be bringing to us. As it turned out, it clearly was meant for the guest who continuously was crossing paths with the caterpillar. The message was meaningful.  I thought I would share it today in the hopes of reminding you to be aware of your environment and the messages you can receive from our nature friends.

Caterpillar

Caterpillars are associated with good luck and new birth.  In the second stage of metamorphosis the caterpillar feeds to gain strength and build a foundation before the cocooning stage begins.  This stage is when we give birth to new ideas and new creativity which hones the foundation to allow a new expression of life. The caterpillar represents new birth and new foundation and is a symbol of good luck in the early phase of new actions. 

Caterpillars usually signify a need for gentle and quiet approaches to our activities and endeavors. They can also signal a surprise or gift about to be offered to us, or that can be beneficial to our future if we take advantage of it. Caterpillars herald a time of good news, new birth, and creative inspiration, signaling a time to get ready to start a new project or initiate a new endeavors. 

The appearance of the caterpillar reminds us to be cautious in starting our new endeavors.  We should protect and disguise them as much as possible as we pursue them. If we do so, we will see rapid growth and we will experience the birth of a new foundation.

Caterpillars can also indicate obstacles within our path. They may even indicate that a person or persons are blocking our growth or serve as a reminder that we must look at things and people around us realistically at this time. Failure to do so will slow down our progress.  

And caterpillar also reminds us that new growth cannot occur unless the old is shed as the caterpillar grows quickly and must replace its skills with some caterpillars shedding their skins every few days to make room for a bigger body. A caterpillar showing up may indicate that we are refusing to shed the old that we have outgrown.  (Andrews, 1999)

The medicine of caterpillar offered my friend a lot of information and was very fitting to what she had going on in her life. It was a good reminder that animal and insect medicine can give us information if we are aware of our surroundings and choose to look at the characteristics that the insect or animal brings to us. This allows the medicine we receive from the sighting to speak to us on a spiritual level and gifts us with guidance and support. This week spend time being aware of nature and the signs that are sent your way.  Enjoy the gifts that communing with nature can bring to you. 
Works Cited

Andrews, T. (1999). Animal-Wise. Jackson: Dragonhawk Publishing .