What is the spiritual or symbolic significance of a moth to you?

[BlueIris]

Just curious. I know that our posters who hail from Native American origins probably have some interesting thoughts about this. By way of explanation, there are moths all over my house at the moment, and they keep showing up in the strangest places.

[stellanoir]

1. Well I'm just speculating here. . .

"Like a moth before a flame. . ."

That's sort of a self destructive impulse or is it instead going out in a blaze of glory ??? You can look it either way.

Otherwise, a moth's transformational process is remarkably similar to that of a butterfly and that is cool. OTOH, many are destructive to dried goods and clothing.(especially wool). So I'd guess taht they are sort of symbolic of dualism, transformative although potentially destructive.

I'm not pretending to have researched this matter at all.

It reminds me of when everyone was into power animals or totem animals. I used to joke that mine were lemmings and flounders. Sometimes my jokes have more than an element of truth to them.

Oh well. Just make sure they aren't wrecking your food or clothing though. There are good traps for those.

[BlueIris]

2. Ooooh, interesting. I'd been asking for signs to indicate what my

totem animals were or are.

[Helga Scow Stern]

3. A clairvoyant friend

once dreamed a big moth was in my house when I was under psychic attack.

[Cleita]

29. Aha. I know they are up to no good. n/t

[Matariki]

4. I've been told they represent Ancestors

by a Vodou initiate

[MorningGlow]

5. I am air element

Moths and butterflies and especially dragonflies are some of my totem animals. so seeing one of these is a comfort to me--very heartening--reminds me there are other forces keeping an eye on me every day.

BlueIris, I think we're living parallel lives--yesterday I noticed butterflies ALL OVER the place, which was unusual after a summer of seeing hardly any. Made me very happy!

[BlueIris]

11. Oh, that's right, you're my alter idem. Which is curious because...

I was just thinking about you again the other day. Nothing significant (I don't think) just about the boss you have who resisted your attempts to contribute to the office via telecommuting instead of at your desk. Hope you're not going to be having more trouble with him.

[MorningGlow]

14. Bwahahhaaaa you are spot on!

Too good, BlueIris! I'm just sorry you're picking up on this employment mess I'm in! You should be tuning in to more sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows--happy things that affect your own life! In any case, thanks for thinking of me! And yep, things are still rocky.

I mentioned this in another thread, but if you didn't see that, in a nutshell...I happened to chat with a "get it done" great (and need I say female) manager who is my boss' peer and told her what was going on and how frustrated I've been. After weeks of ignoring my "what am I doing in the coming months" query, only hours after I chatted with her, weenieboss an e-mail--"We should talk about this. Can we meet on Monday?" And the VP was included on the e-mail (and presumably the meeting) as well. I just KNOW she grabbed weenieboss by the ear and gave him grief. Huzzah for her!

Alas, I came in to work on Monday to find an e-mail from weenieboss saying "I'm sorry--I have to go home." No explanation. (It would not surprise me if he invented a crisis--or even actually made himself sick--specifically to avoid actually having to face me.) "Can we reschedule for Tuesday or Wednesday?" And, true to form, he avoided me all yesterday and today is filled with other meetings.

I'm trying not to dwell on it--if it were up to him, we'd delay this meeting indefinitely, so I could go completely gray fretting while I waited--but I must admit I was getting myself worked up as I got ready for work this morning, having an invented conversation in my head where I vented my spleen to weenie. (Which I never do in reality, of course. I'm just so "nice" and "compliant" :puke: )

So we shall see what the new day brings.

And how's YOUR work sitch?

[BlueIris]

15. My work/housing situation is a little precarious at the moment.

Something weird is going on in my workplace. I feel that they can't exactly fire me...yet, but I need to find another job ASAP (which, of course, I want to do anyway because this one is EVIL) because if I don't quit I will be fired as soon as they can hire another person. The deranged, abusive assistant manager for my department who happens to have the highest sales rate of anyone doesn't like me and she's more important to the place than I am. Plus, I think I was only hired in their minds as a temporary worker anyway, despite what they claimed. Sigh. I hate retail. It's a sad, broken, barely-functioning little world. Disturbing how much of the economy depends on it, too.

At least this job motivated me to sit down and think about how I got into this situation, though, and forced me to look at some lingering emotional issues that are still messing with me and preventing me from moving forward. I was just about to start a thread about some of the steps I'm taking to clear out the old crap, actually. The really tricky part of all of this is trying to dodge the negativity my psychotic roommates (and EVERYONE else around me) continue to direct at me. I swear, that isn't a persecution complex talking--I really am surrounded by jerks. I have a lot of shielding materials around me, but right now it feels as if they only work about half the time.

[MorningGlow]

16. Aw, I'm sorry to hear that

Good that you recognize the work and roommate stuff as an opportunity to do some soul-searching. Your spirit guides don't have to bash you over the head the way they do some of their denser human charges (cougMEcough).

I hear you about retail. I worked in bookstores for years pre- mid- and post-grad school and I know it can be as great or as awful as management makes it. I had a mixed bag, myself. But dang, when it's awful, it's AWFUL.

Anyway, sounds like you are being pushed to the next phase of your life. Go willingly, or you will be dragged! :) Sounds like you're ready to go willingly, though!

Me, I think I want to be fired now. I'm learning to let go of this place bit by bit (not that it ever really "held" me like other jobs I've had), and I think when I've finally reached equilibrium--the Zen-like neutrality of "keep me, fire me, who cares", I will be released like Sam from a Quantum Leap scenario. I'm HOPING that's soon!

In the meantime, as always, white light and :hug: --hang in there!

[LaurenG]

6. I found this online regarding the moth

Moth
The power of the whirlwind ~ Ease of movement in darkness/shadow ~ Transformation ~ Ability to confuse enemies ~ Ability to find light in darkness

http://home.insightbb.com/~kizla/animals/m.htm#m19

[BlueIris]

10. Nice. Thanks so much.

That is AWESOME and makes almost as much sense as the other insightful replies here.

[LaurenG]

7. Picture courtesy of Digit

Digit can't post at the moment but sent this to share

From Digit:

"They have these down here in NC and they are gorgeous!
I found these pics in Google videos..check them out!"

[BlueIris]

12. Aw, that's pretty. Our Oregon moths are mostly brown and white,

sometimes yellow or yellow-green. We had a giant one in the kitchen today who made a lovely illustration of various Darwinian principles. He was a huge, woodland moth, brown with mottled, bark-like coloring, who had attached himself to one of our maple-colored cabinet doors. My roommate said, "He knows right where he belongs."

[hippiechick]

8. I'm guessing it's the time of year ...

... and also perhaps the crop of whatever bugs eat moth eggs/larvae in your area was perhaps impaired this summer ...

:shrug:

Noticing a ton of more butterflies than normal around Central Indiana this summer, too ... and preparing for the annual fall onslaught of about-to-die ladybugs.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Have you ever seen "The Mothman Prophecies?"

I thought it was a great movie and it was based on a true story. I think the mothman had something to do with prophecy or a warning of some kind.

[BlueIris]

13. Yep. I even own that on DVD. I've read the book it was "based on," too.

Just FYI, the book is considered rightest propaganda intended to disprove the existence of governmental interference in the lives of especially rural American families during the late cold war years by some folks (read: me and some other sane liberals). Read it for yourself if you haven't already. The author's non-argument that there are no governmental conspiracies, only ghosts, spirits and demons who occupy our world via another dimension is well, crap. Yes, I know many believe in this other dimension, which is fine, I don't not believe, but it doesn't negate the reality of our nefarious right-leaning security state and how it has messed with our lives for god knows how many decades now.

Incidentally, IIRC, the mothman was supposed to be representative of a translator and guide meant to help a city that was about to undergo tragedy understand that they didn't need to be afraid of their final transition. The actual harbingers of the actual tragedy (this was more heavily emphasized in the text than the film) were large birds, which, well, we've had a lot of that on our property lately, too--some of whom probably ate Mr. Cheeps.

[Matariki]

22. the NEW JERSEY mothman?

a "representative of a translator and guide"? Glad I didn't see that movie. I grew up near New Jersey and the myth of the mothman was a scary one - not nice or spiritually friendly at all. I think the author took a lot of liberties with a local legend.

[BlueIris]

23. Well, the "mothman" archetype appears in lots of communities' lore...

the mothman/men addressed in 'The Mothman Prophecies' (the book at least, and part of the film) was taken from an incident in Point Pleasant, WV in the early...sixties, I think. Might have been late sixties.

[Dora]

17. I've noticed them much more of late.

I take it personally. :)

Moths and butterflies... they have become my totem (I think) over the past year, an idea that's cemented over the summer. It seems that whenever I ask to see one, or whenever I have a question pestering me, a moth (or other fluttery creature) will appear. It all began when I asked a butterfly to land on my finger so that I could show it to my son, and it did. Their presence has been pretty constant since then. Outdoors only, though. Never indoors.

I've never before felt a particular attraction or affinity to these creatures, so I am surprised but accepting. It's nice to have them around.

[Crowdance]

18. Moth and butterfly medicine are about embracing change, IMHO

Maybe even learning to embrace change joyfully. When moth shows up, opportunities to transform are usually accompanying it. Transformation, of course, involves the tremendous risk of giving up what is for whatever will be next--and that remains a mystery until it arrives. Moth is there to tell you to go for it; all change is good. So, perhaps, you might approach the coming changes lightly, as a moth does, and move, dancing on air, from the darkness into the light.

Just my 2 cents...

[BlueIris]

19. Ah, Crowdance, there you are.

I almost addressed this thread straight to you, actually. Yes, I feel that the moths are meant as reminders to me to move forward...although I find it curious that they're all clustered in my house. I can't tell if I'm trying to escape my house tomorrow, in six months, nine months, what...timing is everything in my situation. But yeah, "bring on the change" is probably the best explanation for the appearance of all the moths. Still, why do they have to be moths? Why can't they be butterflies, like MorningGlow gets?

[Crowdance]

20. Oh, how I love a butterfly's beauty!

Last month, I was walking on a woods' path and a butterfly worked very hard to get my attention. It was so lovely there in front of me, and I thought I could hear it ask me so sweetly to follow it. Follow it I did, to a lovely spot, where the sun poured into the circle like through a cathedral window. As I sat very, very still, butterflies from all around came to enjoy that spot with me. It was a beautiful afternoon.

Moths---not so beautiful. I've never exclaimed with delight on finding a moth; it's usually "Ugh!! A moth!" I've never been led to ethereal beauty by a moth. Change is like that too. Sometimes it's alluring and lovely and we plunge into it willingly. Sometimes it's not so pretty; and sometimes the not so pretty change is what leads to true transformation.

My cancer was like that. I was horrified by it; it was like finding my entire life was covered in moths. And yet, my cancer led me back to Spirit. The next time I die (because in facing death we do, indeed, die), I'll be dying with Spirit in my heart and my soul restored to me. I'll die with less fear, embracing that very huge moth, and abale to engage in the transformation that change will bring. Knowing that can give me a measure of peace in this life that I've never had before. Those moments of peace are bliss.

I trust that Moth is accompanying a change far easier for you; you are not such a lughead as I was--you're already listening to Spirit. My heart is right behind you in that change, urging you to dance it, not fight it.

[I Have A Dream]

24. What a beautiful post. n/t

[Crowdance]

27. what a nice thing to say to me.

Thank you.:hug:

[MorningGlow]

21. LOL! I almost didn't re-click on this thread--glad I did!

I think moths are beautiful in their own right ('course, that could be my air magic talking--never met a flying thing I didn't like!) and perhaps the fact that you're seeing moths instead of butterflies is another message--perhaps to look at all opportunities, even the ones that might not be so attractive on the surface, because one of those could turn out to be really great and exactly what you need? (Am I reaching?) :)

[BlueIris]

25. Actually, I don't think you're reaching...

that seems to be the theme for my life this year. Sorta. It's not so much "Stay open to even unattractive situations," as "Stay open to all opportunities, even if you consider them frivolous or unimportant." In fact, it was my mistaken belief that I was "supposed" to probe the potential of really ugly situations to promote material and spiritual change that prompted me to take the hell job I am currently trying to escape from without being pre-emptively fired, and...well, that hasn't exactly been the best experience. I just hope the next opportunity I pursue, especially if I choose it based on the "dubious at first, but gut reactions agree" doesn't result in a disaster the way this one (sort of has). I get that I was supposed to learn a lesson from it and...I'm pretty sure I learned it. Learning opportunities are nice, but...I think I've learned a lot of what I need for a while. Still--good thoughts. You're pretty much spot on.

[MorningGlow]

26. From one writer to another

Do you think you'd be able to use your terrible experience at your present lesson-learning job in some future fiction?

One of my favorite T-shirts:



(I REALLY must buy that someday soon!)

:evilgrin:

[BlueIris]

28. Oh, yeah. The piece it inspired is well on its way to being complete.

Heh. And it's good work, too. Probably will be published under a pseudonym to avoid liability issues, (no matter how small they might be in this case) but no matter. :-) My ego is so much less important to me in this new phase.

[Cleita]

30. I personally really dislike them.

I have avoided this thread for a while because of that, but I just had one of the monsters fly into my eye right now and I am pissed. It seems like there is always one that has to fly into my food my drink or die around my light bulb.

I have seen one or two really attractive ones who don't do those things and I rescue them. However, I cleaned all the spider webs around my house today and sure enough they were around enough to get in my face. I was in a cleaning mode. The webs usually catch the moths and other flying pests so sometimes I indulge the spiders, but I really don't want them in my house either.

I love all flying butterflies that hang around outside my house. I even plant things that they like. The key with me is that they have to stay out of my house.