Challenge
Hostess: Marilyn Wall
Title: Butterflies Are Free
Theme: Butterflies and Myth
Due date: Nov. 30, 2013
Butterflies have inspired mankind for ages, not just for
their beauty but also as spiritual beings, symbolic of metamorphosis, rebirth,
love, hope, and freedom.
I have had a love affair with butterflies that covers the
last fifty years of my life. I began planting a butterfly garden and following
their grown with photography. I have art
work of butterflies and often produce art work of my own with butterflies as my
theme.
My challenge for this month is to read about the myths that
span centuries. These myths are prevalent in almost every society in the
world. Each culture has their own adaptation; in some the meanings are the same,
some are totally different. This challenge can be represented in a realistic or
abstract manner. Please post your myth along with the fiber piece. Don’t forget, it doesn’t have to be two dimensional. How about a doll or a piece
of jewelry?
Mary Alice Monroe’s book Butterflies’ Daughter was the catalyst
for my interest in butterfly mythology. I had heard about many of the butterfly
myths but never explored their meanings. Her blog post below gives you one idea
of these myths and the special meaning to her.
Return of the Monarchs, Marilyn Wall, 30” x
40”
The local people of
Angangueo, Mexico have long believed that monarchs are the returning spirits of
their deceased relatives, mysteriously arriving at the same time each year,
coinciding with the Day of the Dead. Aztec
tradition holds that the souls of the departed will return as hummingbirds and
butterflies, this link between myth and the monarchs’ annual return spans
centuries.
Resources:
Myth and
Mystery in Mexico’s Monarch Kingdom:
Delaware /
Lenape - How the Butterfly Came to Be:
Psyche is
used also as the word for “butterfly” in Greek:
On
Wikipedia:
Maraleen
Manos-Jones has a book entitled “ The Spirit of Butterflies: Myth, Magic,
and Art”
Butterfly
and Moth Symbolism List
Goddesses
Fly Again: Butterfly Images in Mexican Myth and Textiles:
And one more
thing – have fun with this!
When I saw the mention
of butterfly mobiles I got excited and inspired. The first butterfly took
4 days. I used florist wire for the stiffening. Unfortunately, it
is not strong enough to do what I wanted. I have already made wings for 7
more butterflies. Not sure how I will handle those. For now, I hope
you can imagine the movement. Because they are so light weight, it takes
very little to set them in motion. That is my favorite LIKE about this
project.
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