I am sitting among butterflies.
The waterfall hisses in the background, green leaves surround my bench.
All the light from the sky, a gray cloudy day, pours into my eyes.
My eyes are electric.
The butterflies flash floating wings, and flutter is the name for their movement.
They wear their colors without vanity, without arrogance, without the stain of ego.
A butterfly is the soul of not-being, while being alive.
The floaty-float of a butterfly’s wings defy gravity.
The butterfly carries only particles of gravity and spacetime on its wings, nothing else.
The absence of heat silences a butterfly.
It sits perfectly still, the mark of color on the green leaf of a plant or on the yellow pebbled surface of stone.
The butterfly’s entire life is spent in search of food and in search of the sun.
Heat and light are a butterfly’s friend.
Dark and cold are the dousers of a butterfly’s light.
The butterfly is a soft-sharp bright cousin to the moth.
open-close-open-close
The wings of the butterfly – mariposa – feed my imagination.
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Cockrell Butterfly Center by elaine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Have you ever been inside a butterfly center? I wrote this meditation inside the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston, Texas, where I was visiting a long-time friend last weekend. It was a cool day and rain was pouring down outside, so the usually sunny interior was a bit on the chilly side for the butterflies, who were less active than usual (we were told). Nevertheless, it was such a unique experience, especially when you look up, up, up, into the top of the glass-cone tower overhead, where you spot butterflies of all types and colors flitting, against the glass and about the tall large-leaf plants and shrubs. Seattle has a butterfly garden (at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo), where you walk in and among the butterflies. Such a treat.
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Without realizing it, I filled this post with all the small details from sitting on a bench among butterflies and large green plants inside the glass tower of the butterfly center. … and, then I thought, this week I’m focusing on attention to details in my #beingthemoment project. Hmmm … I’m not usually that good at relaxing by noting small details. Are you? Where do you go when you want to enjoy small details?
Theresa, the poem is beautiful. I have been to a butterfly garden in Montreal, and one in somewhere else. I got my travels mixed up, sometimes!
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In Montreal, Miriam? I did not know there were butterfly gardens around the world. When my friend suggested we go to the butterfly center at the Houston Science Museum, I was enthralled. Good to know! I hope to get to Montreal one day!
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I think all the butterfly gardens are temperature regulated, and have plants, trees that butterfly like. I bought a magnet for myself and a string of butterflies for my daughter.
There is one in Toronto by Niagara fall. I think that was the one we went. We also went to one in Australia.
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/10-beautiful-butterfly-houses-from-around-the-world/
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Oh! So wonderful. I thought about all the design and maintenance that has to go into planning and keeping a butterfly garden. Ours here in Seattle only has one species – it’s a study site – but the one in Houston had all kinds of types and used them to help promote local trade in the countries where they procure them … at least, according to their signs and placards. 🙂 Thx, Miriam, and have a WONDERFUL day! I know you will!
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Thank you! It’s sunny. I just saw two orange butterflies flying by!! Have a nice day to you!
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how prescient! (big smile)
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Too bad I didn’t have a camera!
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yeah! 🙂
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Well, I usually see one, this morning I saw two. They must be a different pair!
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They are greeting you (oops! misspelling on the first time around!)
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I’m happy,.
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This was an enjoyable read today.Did you know, there is a gorgeous butterfly house in Niagara Falls, Ontario? My husband and I stayed on the Canadian side when we went up to see Niagara Falls. They have a garden and butterfly house about two miles up from the falls that are both worth seeing. I have some pictures I’ll share in today’s blog entry so you can see them too!
I love watching them. Thank you for reminding me of the visit and the experience.
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Hi Lyn, no, I did not know about the Niagara Falls butterfly house – how fun! I would love to see your photos – heading over to your blog now! Thanks for reading and for letting me know about this!
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“A butterfly is the soul of not-being, while being alive.” – this line, yes! Lovely poem, it triggered memories in fluttery little flashes of every butterfly I think that I’ve ever seen. 🙂
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I know, they are such flashes, aren’t they? Thank you for letting me know you liked this line. (warm smile)
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What a magnificent picture you’ve painted with your words! Butterflies are beautiful. I think that it’s their grace that makes them lovely so even the ones without bright colors are pretty.
Come to think of it, I don’t know if I see details, or if I pay attention. I guess it depends. As an Accountant, I am into details. 🙂
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LOL, yes you are into details! But I agree, it’s the butterflies’ grace that really captures my heart. 🙂 They seem so fleeting, too. Like a lost moment.
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Oh yeah, it does give off the feeling. 😊💖
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