 |
| The Elfin Butterfly (photo from Clint Pogue) |
Blessed Spring! For us here in Del Norte County, we have been enjoying springtime weather early since February. This is unusual because here in redwood country it rains for a good portion of the year. In the last 5 years, we have not received the typical downpour that we are accustomed to. Mind you, I am not complaining because as an avid gardener, I have more days to be on the land and with our plant and critter relatives. Thus building better relations with them. Despite not having to battle with the huge slug population we have here (which is a great relief), I am concerned.
The slugs are part of our ecosystem, and though they are a nuisance; they are part and parcel of our cycle of life. Living in Del Norte and Humboldt, two of the far northern counties of Northern California, we get the most rainfall in the entire state of California. The entire state of California would be a desert without our redwoods and the rain we endure.
The reality is, the world is changing. Many folks do not acknowledge that our planet is going through climate change, especially when there is no agreement on this phenomenon amongst our leaders in the United States. I wasn’t on either fence until I found a YouTube video on Liberace. For some of you who are not familiar with Liberace, he was an acclaimed, popular pianist and entertainer. He was a headliner in Las Vegas for many years and lived there. In the early 1970s, he bought a home in Palm Springs and moved in. He was so thrilled with his purchase that he appeared on multiple TV programs to discuss his relocation. In one of his presentations in 1972 he states that the average temperature in Palm Springs was between the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit year-round. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APqjit_19Jo. As of 2026, according to the weather spark in Palm Springs, the average day temperature in the winter, December to January, is approximately 70 degrees. The average temperature in the spring is 85-95 degrees. The average temperature in the summer is approximately 105 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Palm springs if they are lucky, receives one day out of the entire year of rainfall. The specific location in Palm Springs also determines these temperature figures. Here in Crescent City, the Del Norte Airport on the coast, gauges our weather temperature. Whereas we live on the outskirts of Crescent City proper, close to the redwood forest, where the weather is warmer. Thus, the weather posted online is not entirely accurate. Regardless, the difference in the year round temperature that Liberace quoted is at least a 10 degree difference since 1972.
So why am I addressing this phenomenon? Well, we are venturing into a new cycle of life, and each cyclical cycle changes whether we like it or not. We have to be reminded what we do in our world makes a big impact on the whole. Regardless, the earth keeps moving, growing and changing with us on for the ride. So we either flow with her and work to adjust and support her with the changes and learn to develop a relationship with our Mother Earth while we are here. Or we can refuse to know what is really going on and unconsciously keep doing what we are unconsciously doing.
My focus on this blog is to learn to honor and respect the process of metamorphosis as Mother Earth and her presentation of this spring season starts. As we know, each year is different, and so is each seasonal experience. There is an expectation, but also the trepidation of the unknown. How life will unfold is a mystery, and for most of us, we can enjoy a mystery. The mystery makes life interesting and many times exciting.
When we allow ourselves to be a part of this dance of life on earth, we learn the experience of metamorphosis.
We humans have many sides to our humanity. As we move amongst our fellow civilized citizens in our society, mostly, we have chosen a particular side of ourselves that we feel comfortable to support our lifestyle functionality within it.
There are other sides to our being, but there is usually another big part of ourselves that is not adhering completely to the social world we find ourselves. I believe, speaking from an indigenous woman’s perspective, observing my social relations and their struggles with the structure of the colonial paradigm, I find we are far removed from our natural selves and also from nature itself.
The Medicine Wheel guides us through life’s cycles that present humans with opportunities for personal change and growth. There are the primary examples of moving from an infant to a toddler, then to a child, an adolescent, a young adult, an adult, to middle age, and to the final chapters of our lives. We are gifted with amazing experiences when we make moves into these pathways. However, we usually have no individual consent to do so. Beguiling but miraculous biological inclinations leaves most of us struggling, as we are never prepared. However, as we move into it, we learn to accept the shifts in life and work through the living trials. It’s like when a couple is “thinking” of having a child, and whether they are ready for a baby in their lives. Or when marriage was a major step in past generations, folks had to really think about such a change in their lives. However, in our life journy, we learn we are never prepared; we learn to go with the process.
Though we cannot avoid biological progression as human beings, life offers us other opportunities that encourage us to change. Previously I mentioned our different sides to our humanity. Especially the one that struggles with colonial social constructs. That hidden part pops out now and then, during at times, inappropriate occasions. That part of ourselves wants to be integrated. However, fear and many times shame will invade our thoughts and suppress the urge to awaken to it in the light of day. Our society gives us intellectual guidelines to adjust to our biological changes. Unfortunately, in our society today, there are no honoring celebrations to acknowledge that each change will offer new and marvelous opportunities to explore more and to grow in knowledge. We can perceive the sacredness and magnitude of each life change if our community appreciates it, or if we are insightful enough to reflect on it.
Fortunately, to awaken and allow that part of ourselves to emerge without suppressing it out of the daylight world we live in, is the major gift. Unlike the biological changes that take over our lives without a choice, we have the choice to allow the integration of our more natural and individual essence of ourselves to emerge. When I say natural, that is the absolute reality.
Mother Earth and all her seasons offer this to us with absolute support. Within indigenous societies, there are monumental ceremonies across our planet during all her seasons, but the springtime season is the one that allows us to show up, to come out into the light, and be.
All of nature is summoned. Birds are singing, waters flowing, and the birth of all our relations come forth.
A relative, whom I believe is a grand Elder teacher to us humans in this process of metamorphosis, is the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Not only are they examples of the mysterious and magical biological process of transformation, but they also give us an understanding that their consciousness is far beyond what we will ever understand as human-beings.
Indigenous peoples have always honored our Earth and relatives because they have all come before us; they have prepared our Earth’s environment to make a home for us humans. If they have been here on Mother Earth for millions of years, they are our Elder relatives, and have wisdom far beyond our comprehension.
Surrender is the principle of the Lepidoptera. After crawling around voraciously eating almost anything insight, Lepidoptera become engorged caterpillars. However, once filled out to the fullest, Lepidoptera accepts the time of change as they had made themselves ready from one state of consciousness to another. As they seclude themselves away from the active world and envelope themselves into the darkness of an inner womb they again have made for themselves. Inside this chrysalis, the pupa imagines (through imaginal cells) and digests its old self, and all parts of its being change within, towards how and where they need to be for its ultimate version of the butterfly. At its final stage of maturity, the butterfly takes to flight, never to crawl again, and freely finds a mate. Together they lay their eggs to once again start the eternal life cycle of the butterfly.
Many of us humans today eat voraciously, never being satisfied. Humans today hunger not only for food but for any desire available in our society. For the butterfly, the feeding frenzy supports the time when it will stop eating entirely for nearly a month. Some do not even go Ito the pupa stage and live through the winter without food.
There are few of us that take a month of solitude and isolation to go within and detach from all that one knows and does. Few of us spend the time to reflect, to learn to know ourselves in order for what is truly real, to be powerful enough to overtake the vices that are truly not ours. This process releases (or with wisdom digests) the unwanted residual past defects, allowing the true essential nature to come forth.
Most of all, most of us are never whole enough, and ready to respectfully join with a mate. Most humans in society today only join with others briefly because of need, addictions or hedonism. The consciousness of meaningful purpose, and the joy of sharing purposeful connections rarely exist. It's a paradox, because we have such trepidation when we think seriously about stepping into change, but when we don't think about it we jump in recklessly. Many times beauty comes forth but many times in our current society, chaos reigns.
So I ask us all this spring to consciously step into this season, full of wonder for the amazing earth home we live in. We’re only here for a short time, and this is our opportunity to be with true and profound magic.
Recently, a very wise woman and friend, shared how we can regain wonder. And that is to let go of thinking we know everything or that we have to know everything, so that we can step into the world with curiosity and be astounded by its magnificent beauty.
PS: I am honored to host a presentation through LUTEA. It is called Elfin Magic, presented by Clint Pogue, from NABA (North American Butterfly Association) on April 18, 2026. If you are in the area can join us, please contact us.
If you cannot, please contact NABA (North American Butterfly Association) for information on their many events, field trips, garden certification programs, and memberships.
Clint is the president of our local Redwood Chapter. Email: nabaredwood@gmail.com
Diveena Marcus, Phd is the executive founder and director of LUTEA a nonprofit charitable organization supporting indigenous life ways and consciousness. She is a citizen of FIGR of Tamalko/Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo indigenous nations. Diveena facilitates indigenous based wellness workshops and support circles in Del Norte County California. She is also an avid gardener utilizing ancient Indigenous methodolgies specifically of the Huron First Nations for support of regional enviroments.
No comments:
Post a Comment