Metaphysical Mind Games: Ever feel like you are always the chrysalis and never the butterfly?

Does this sound familiar?

You are bumbling along in life’s daily routine and something happens that makes you stop and take a quick look at your situation. The something may be big or small (our own perspective), but it causes us to reflect on where we are in life. If you are an Alchemist fan, you say to ourselves something like, I wonder if this is my trip across the desert or my time at the pyramids, to try and gauge how much more we have to ‘take’ of our situation before the END. Or, choose a metaphysical metaphor that suits your reading interest. We all do it! We all try and judge our progress by fictional characters we have identified with from authors who have resonated with us.

The problem is how we define the END. I have been listening to quite a bit of Alan Watts lately and he talks extensively about the myth of the GOODY. The something that is supposed to appear in our lives that is the equivalent of heaven on earth. I began to realize that most metaphysical books also propose this. I have read the Alchemist dozens of times and gleaned much from it, but The Alchemist’s hero does receive both his physical and love treasure at the end of his journey. But is life really a journey? With an END (before death)?

Is not the idea of a GOODY also at the heart of virtually all religions? Which is really a bit of a scam when you think about it. If the ‘reward’ for following a bunch of dogmas is not realized till after you die…and the only proof is from listening to some dogma leader that is benefiting from you following those dogmas…

Butterflies: Through both formal and informal learning I have studied and tried to understand many of the main thought and belief systems around the globe. This included an extensive look into Native omens and animal spirits a few decades ago. Here are some insights about butterflies:

• It is the mind, and the ability to know the mind or to change it. It is the art of transformation.
• Butterfly card spread: matter follows vision and spirit. It is the law.
• EGG: nucleus or seed of idea
• LARVA: are the energies enough to overcome the obstacles — what needs to be done?
• COCOON: when the highest transformation takes place
• MANIFESTATION: what rewards will be gained?

The idea is to try and help the reader/seeker to grasp which of the four stages your current project / life scenario is at? Thus the reason for the title of this article. I usually think I am right on the cusp of a major transformation…..that never seems to manifest itself into the GOODY I was expecting. Does the mention of a ‘reward to be gained’ also buy into Watts GOODY concept? It might, except for the follow statement right out of the book “….If you look closely at what butterfly is trying to teach, you will realize that it is the never ending cycle of self transformation.” A never ending cycle of self transformation? Really? No, this is enough? No Payoff? No GOODY?

Maybe we need to think about it like this: if we are always open to learning new things then we will always be growing. The only way to grow is overcoming new challenges. Thus we are always transforming. In a few lectures, Watts proposes we should view life not as a journey, but as a piece of music or a dance that is to be enjoyed. A musical piece, you see, is much like the butterfly cycle. We have hundreds or thousands of songs on or phones these days, and even make playlists that are like a mini butterfly cycle.

So what is the point Jeff? As long as we keep looking for a GODDY that will probably never come…we will never enjoy life — today! Planning for the future is great, but maybe only those who can enjoy life today (regardless of circumstances) are able to manifest their future.