About the Monarch
A life of transformation
The brightly patterned black and orange Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) is one of the most fascinating insects in the world.
Butterflies are the perfect symbol for transformation. They begin life as an egg, then a larva, a pupa, and finally become a butterfly. The Monarch butterfly does not question whether this metamorphosis will happen. It merely transforms itself, taking only 5 days for the caterpillar to emerge as a butterfly. Then it pumps fluid into its wings and patiently waits for them to harden before taking flight. If touched or disturbed during this process, the resulting severe damage will leave the Monarch unable to fly.
These extraordinary creatures live to eat, migrate, and mate. Their life cycle is short and simple, yet their brief time upon the earth leaves a considerable impression. The mere sight of a butterfly is enough to inspire us all to want to spread our wings and fly.
Achieving distant goals, through inner guidance
Monarchs are believed to guide themselves during migration using the position of the sun and the magnetic field of the earth. Using their own inner guidance, they travel thousands of miles to Mexico, a place to which they have never been before.
Before migrating, they gather in huge numbers at departure points such a Presqu’ile Provincial Park, on a peninsula sticking out into Lake Ontario. In the spring, the eight or nine month old Monarchs reach sexual maturity, and begin migrating in a north-eastern direction to the southern U.S.
They mate all along the migratory route. Unlike their marathon journey south the previous fall, they do not complete the trip, passing this responsibility on to their offspring.
Thriving in life – thanks to robust defenses
Monarchs have evolved a special means by which to avoid being eaten by predators. The sap of the milkweed that they eat as a caterpillar contains a chemical which tastes terrible to most birds. A Monarch’s bright colors signal its bad taste to predators. In addition, Viceroy butterflies, which are unrelated to Monarchs but look almost the same, are not bad tasting to birds, but appear to have evolved to look like Monarchs to avoid being eaten.
We, too, can be butterflies
I have chosen this beautiful insect as the symbol for Monarch Life Coaching. It’s my belief that we are all similar to these amazing creatures. Life is a transformational journey created by our own inner guidance and knowledge.
As a coach, it is my privilege to share in your transformation, but not to rescue, counsel, or interfere with the perfection of who you are and where you’re going. I’m merely awaiting the beautiful sight of your wings unfolding and strengthening as you evolve and fly away into a life that has extraordinary power.