Transformative Explosion.

This year, the Western Tent Caterpillar population is EXPLODING here on Southern Vancouver Island.
The fuzzy little creatures are EVERYWHERE and while I don't mind the look of just one here and there, seeing large groups of them does something to turn my stomach into a flip-flopping magic parade.
Yech.
The look of the tents in the trees is beyond ugly, but a necessary step in the caterpillar's succession into moth-hood.  Today, caterpillar images keep jumping out at me, and if I think long and hard about it, caterpillar energy has been nagging me for a few weeks.
My daughter's Grade One class is learning about the life cycle of butterflies in their Science unit, so naturally she's obsessed.  It's all she talks about, draws pictures of and collects: CATERPILLARS.
Also, when I head out for my occasional walks, camera in hand, I find sweet little photo-ops which are highly aesthetically pleasing to this artist-oriented brain.  And, so it is that I feel the necessity to find out what caterpillar energy represents on a spiritual level.  Of course, it matches up to EXACTLY where my heart and mind are dwelling right now: TRANSFORMATION.

The caterpillar totem represents transformation.  It is concerned with change and growth and moving into our full potential.  However, the transformation has elements of ugly and destruction which are important: Change can be hard, some moments on the path to personal freedom can turn ugly and destructive, but it all works together to bring about inner growth, beauty and the courage to find our wings and fly into the light.

I think I'm starting to like this caterpillar energy more and more.  There's another interesting thing about the caterpillar transformation process I'd like to note: the wee fuzzy little crawlers never go it alone.  They work together with like-minded individuals, toward the greater good for all.  It's a "We're in this together" type deal.  That, I can sit with just fine.  Just fine.