Photo: christina conti / Shutterstock
Butterflies are a sign of change to come.
By Maatie Kalokoh — Written on Aug 23, 2021
There’s no doubt that butterflies are very special insects that are meaningful to see or dream about.
Whether or not you are either a spiritual or religious person, there's a good chance you've wondered what it means when you see a butterfly pass by or land near you.
Butterfly Symbolism and Meaning
Butterflies are often seen as symbols of change, transformation and rebirth. Some say they are omens of good luck and bring messages of light hailing new beginnings.
The more specific meaning behind seeing these beautiful insects may be interpreted in different ways depending on circumstances and various cultural or spiritual perspectives, but it's important to pay attention when a butterfly visits you.
What is the spiritual meaning of seeing butterflies?
It is believed that seeing butterflies may be a call from the Universe that you are in the midst of or about to enter the kind of incredible journey a caterpillar goes through in order to shed it's Earth-bound skin and grow wings.
A caterpillar (or larva) grows larger, molts, hangs upside down and spins ts silk cocoon (if it's going to become a moth) or chrysalis (if it's going to become a butterfly), where it essentially digests itself and dissolves, being reborn into a beautiful flying creature like no other.
Butterflies teach us the importance of change and that, in order to become something great, you must be patient and have faith.
Because they experience a form of resurrection, in many cultures butterflies represent the soul undergoing spiritual transformation.
What It Means to See Butterflies of Different Colors and Types
While there are a wide variety of butterfly species across the globe with varying colors, the most memorable trait of any butterfly is arguably its remarkable wings.
So it shouldn't be much of a surprise that seeing butterflies with wings of different colors comes with a variety of more specific meanings.
White Butterfly Meaning: Purity, spiritual transformation, communication from deceased loved ones, good luck and peace.
Yellow Butterfly Meaning: Joy and creativity, as well as a sign of a good summer.
Red Butterfly Meaning: Supernatural creatures, possibly witches, which could be an omen of danger.
Black Butterfly Meaning: Death, the dark before the light, and renewal.
Blue Butterfly Meaning: A good omen of joy and luck, as well as honor and nobility.
Green Butterfly Meaning: A good omen related to love or wealth.
Monarch Butterfly Meaning: Strength, endurance, trust, and sign you are on the right path.
What it Means if a Butterfly Visits You
If you're seeing butterflies, it's a sign of positive change.
You may want to ask yourself what changes you need to make to live more in alignment with your true, authentic self. Or, if you're already experiencing change and transformation in your life, a butterfly may be appearing to remind you it's all going to be OK.
Butterflies are also thought to represent a spiritual journey. An important aspect of life is learning how to let things go and develop into your higher self, no matter what's happening around you, as this is a key factor in your personal growth.
Meaning Of Butterfly Dreams
Dreaming of a butterfly is a sign of change. This meaning is synonymous with the idea of the butterfly’s transformation.
The process of a caterpillar's transformation into its form as a butterfly is drastic, but all works out well in the end.
The difficult journey is a necessary part of the caterpillar's life cycle. Like the caterpillar building its cocoon and waiting to spread its wings, you're seeing butterflies in your dreams because you've got some important growing to do.
The special thing about change is that it has to happen, whether we like it or not. Embrace the changes in your life, because there's so much greatness ahead.
Butterflies as Messages from Deceased Loved Ones or Angels
In some cultures, butterflies are seen as signs that your deceased loved ones are reaching out to you.
If a butterfly comes across your path and does something to draw attention to itself, like by landing on you, you may be getting a long-distance touch from someone you're missing. And because of their transient nature, they may be gone before you realize someone you love just reached out to you.
They may have a special message to share, or they may just want you to know they're watching you and they love you.
These beautiful insects are already tiny heavenly messengers, so it's no stretch to ask: are butterflies angels?
Many cultures and people believe that butterflies carry messages from heaven. Some Native American tribes even believed that butterflies would carry their wishes to the Great Spirit, ensuring their fervent prayers and needs were heard and came true.
So, the next time you see a butterfly, consider that it could be a tiny angelic messenger, either appearing as a protective spirit with a message for you or to take your message to the spiritual realm.
Butterflies have such a magical presence and quality that it's easy to see why so much symbolism surrounds them. Many people believe that seeing a butterfly is indicative of there being a message that needs to be transmitted.
For these reasons, in certain religions and cultures, butterflies are sometimes seen as angels carrying messages between the spiritual and physical planes.
While these butterflies may never carry an explicit message, if you see a butterfly, take note of what needs to be addressed in your life. It could be one of your spiritual protectors reaching out to you.
They may even be a reminder to do something you’ve been putting off or to mend a broken relationship.
Butterfly Meanings In Different Cultures
Butterfly Spirit Animal Meaning In Native American Cultures
People of many different cultures believe animals have special powers given to them from a greater source, such as the Divine or Mother Earth.
Different Native American tribes ascribe different meanings to butterflies, but generally speaking, most tribes view butterflies as "a positive symbol and believed they should typically be thought of as comforting."
Blackfoot Butterfly Meaning: The Blackfeet associate butterflies with sleep and dreaming, believing butterflies deliver their dreams.
Hopi Butterfly Meaning: For the Hopi tribe, butterflies are representative of gratitude for freedom, a good harvest, and beauty.
Pueblo Butterfly Meaning: Pueblo legend holds that butterflies were a gift to children from the Creator, who felt sorry "when he realized that their destiny was to grow old and become wrinkled, fat, blind, and weak."
Christian Butterfly Symbolism
Butterfly symbolism in Christianity is tied largely to the cocoon state and the butterfly's emergence, which is viewed as a parallel to the Biblical story of Jesus's death and resurrection.
Celtic Butterfly Symbolism
Celtic butterfly symbolism is synonymous with rebirth; they're believed to represent the soul and are indicative of being a significant change you need to embrace in life.
The Irish have an old saying that "Butterflies are souls of the dead waiting to pass through Purgatory," and are therefore symbolic of crossing to the Otherworld.
Chinese Butterfly Symbolism
In Chinese culture, butterflies symbolize "freedom, conjugal love, beauty and soul but at the same time death, vulnerability of life, female vanity and transient joy."
They believe seeing butterflies is a good sign that you're in for something positive if you know how to embrace it.
They also believe that seeing two butterflies together may indicate you'll live a long life. If you see a pair of butterflies flying together, it's considered an emblem of love, which might mean that you'll also find love soon or that the one you love is coming to see you.
Butterfly Tattoo Meaning
Butterflies are considered a symbol of good luck because they signify creativity, freedom, love, and the concept of turning inward and growing as a person, as though you've built your own cocoon and are about to emerge with your wings.
This is likely why many people choose the butterfly as their "power animal," and even get butterfly tattoos.
Since butterflies are synonymous with renewal and rebirth, they can signify shifting from one phase of life into another, as you let go of the past and the things that don't serve you.
Butterfly tattoos exist across many different cultures, but they tend to be used in the same context: as a symbol of freedom for those who get them inked into their skin.
The next time you see a butterfly, let it be a reminder to use these great qualities to embark on your journey of growth.
Implement these powers in your everyday life to start your brand-new transformation.
More for You:
Maatie Kalokoh is a writer who covers astrology, spirituality, love, and relationship topics.