metamorphosis Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Giant Silk Moth

What an amazing discovery! M & T discovered this Giant Silk Moth earlier today, hanging out on one of their cedar trees. Technically known (but only to its most intimate familiars) as Hyalophora Cecropia, this gorgeous creature is somewhere within its vast two week adulthood.

That’s right. The world is graced with this beauty for a grand total of two weeks. And that’s only if it’s lucky enough not to be gobbled by a squirrel or some other predator.

The reason for its startlingly short span of glory is the somewhat disturbing fact that it has neither mouthparts that work nor a digestive system. I’m guessing this is nature’s way of bringing it into balance with the rest of the ecosystem after it devoured lots of leaves during its caterpillar stages. (And yes, it goes through a couple of caterpillar stages.)

It seems our winged beauty is destined to live a brief but intense adulthood comprised of being the fairest of them all, fluttering about in the magnificence of summer, releasing pheromones that attract suitors from miles around, having lots of sex, laying hundreds of eggs…and then shedding their mortal coil. And they do all of that without a bite to eat.

It’s a life cycle that engenders some contemplation.

Giant Silk Moth – Perspective – Photo: L. Weikel

Common – Really?

In the description of our friend Cecropia, it’s said that these massive moths (the largest in North America) are common. That’s hard to believe. How could something so amazing have escaped my perception all these years if it’s ‘common?’ Surely I need to hone my observation skills if this is the case.

I think I may recognize the stage of its life in which it’s a little black caterpillar. But I can’t be sure.

I’m just delighted that this one was discovered and I got the chance to admire it. Its tremendously lovely wings are obviously designed to ward off predators that might not want to tangle with an owl or whatever creature’s eyes the moth’s wings are supposed to look like. But even its body is gorgeous in its intricate perfection – not to mention the feathery antennae so adept at picking up those irresistible pheromones the females are known to float upon the ethers. Temptresses!

But it’s interesting to consider that their greatest beauty (at least in the eyes of us humans) are the equivalent of our 15 minutes of fame. They have two weeks. Fourteen days of amazing life spent doing all the things that Giant Silk Moths do – which escapades do not include eating.

Perhaps they’re too busy anyway.

Hyalophora cecropia – Playing Peekaboo – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-145)

“Hi, I’m Gorgeous” – Photo: L. Weikel

Metamorphosis

In our wanderings around the premises of Linwood Gardens over the weekend, we were treated to a smörgåsbord of flora and fauna in varying states of development and metamorphosis.

We encountered them everywhere, from tightly closed buds to fully flowered explosions of color and luminescence. Most tantalizing were the blooms ‘on the verge,’ so filled with the promise of bursting into magnificence yet almost magically held back by the thinnest evidence of restraint. It’s difficult to look at those achingly promising buds and not viscerally feel our own urge to burst forth into the world in a dazzling expression of our own uniqueness.

With respect to the flowers, it was hard to ignore the accumulation of life force in each bud. The earlier buds, those that were obviously not going to blossom within, say, 24 hours, were tough little nuggets of prospective beauty. But there was no mistaking those buds that were begging for just another hour or day more of warmth before unleashing themselves on the world.

Can’t Hold It In Any Longer – Photo: L. Weikel

Fantastic Frogs

Of course, the classic examples of true metamorphosis are our amphibian friends, which happen to populate the premises in abundance. In each pond, pool, and fountain we found evidence of every stage of life. Indeed, there were a few times that we realized if we sat still long enough and just stared into the water, even without the aid of a microscope we were witnessing almost countless examples of life being lived at a furious and frenzied pace.

From massive tadpoles to shy froglets to adults displaying themselves in glory as they basked in the sun’s warming rays, we were treated to a veritable science exhibit on the miracle of transformation these creatures display. We take their process for granted – at least I know I do. But the process of change from tadpole to frog is astonishing.

Tadpoles – Photo: L. Weikel

Teeming Life

In some ways, it felt like we were being given an opportunity to witness evolution on a micro scale. For myself, it felt like reassurance from Mother Nature herself that even if we humans really mess stuff up – which, let’s face it, in many ways and in many places we already have in a very big way – life will find a way.

Looked at one way, this is an extremely reassuring message. In another, it’s a stark reminder of just how inconsequential we humans are.

No matter how you look at it, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe. It’s also worth pondering, for me at least, what transformation I want to continue creating in my life. Is another metamorphosis in the offing?