postcards from paradise mariposa

 

dear mariposa,

most ephemeral of all creatures,

gorgeous, winged and fragile.

your delicate presence 

inspires from earliest childhood sightings,

throughout the gardens of our entire lives.

you

perfect embodiment of

resurrection, transformation,

the winged hope of willingness, acceptance, perseverance, fortitude.

monarch from the beach of  elizabeth bunsen at

 be dream play

you are the quientisential sojourner

gliding on airstreams

in a 3,000 mile migration each spring and fall,  

a life cycle taking several generations to complete.

 

dear mariposa,

living fully one fleeting day at a time,

i want to be your guardian.

i want to inspire anyone you have ever delighted with 

your painted charmed wings;

to be a part of your epic journey.

your survival depends on these bright blossoms of hope, 

and each nurturing leaf of

Asclepias

spread across the entire length of your migration corridor.

milkweed,

once immeasurable

gorgeous swaths blanketing whole continents,

perfect nurseries for your chrysalis miracles to emerge and feast.

photo generously shared from

somepinkflowers

your decline now linked directly

to the demise of this perfect hospitable plant.

in the cycle of Asclepias,

our milkweed stands like silent luminous candles preparing

to dry like so many rattles of autumn before bursting their seed wishes free.

 

be dream play

 

 

it is almost time to collect the seeds of the Asclepias

that will best thrive in your native area.

time to dream and plan 

a generous swath of hope in your spring garden

so you too can be a part of the monarchs

beautiful and hopeful life.

please join me by  planting

one more way station of survival for the monarchs.

soon monarchs will arrive by the millions to winter in the

oyamel forests of 

Michoacan, Mexico

as they have for thousands of years.

the indigenous of mexico believe butterflies are the returning souls of their

ancestors,

their arrival perfectly coinciding with dia de los muertos.

a special thanks to eb and bonnie

for sharing so generously their beautiful images as credited above.

may the majesty of the monarch 

inspire you to cultivate Asclepias in your garden

providing necessary sustenance for survival,

offering safe harbors of compassion for

her epic journey.

 

love monarchs?

please share this post/link and spread the inspiration to 

guardian the monarch!

 

and where my friends has paradise taken you?

 

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Comments

[Stephanie]

and oh my dear how the monarch and all it's myth, lore and magic has me in it's grip.

x..x

[gemma]

Honoring this post I will share a Monarch postcard this week as well.
xx

[Cheryl's Excellent Adventure]

Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, California has a monarch migratory way station. I stood underneath the trees and looked up at millions of wings fluttering. It was amazing.

[gayle]

Our Monarchs all seem to have left us for the year......must be on their way to you. I can't even imagine their journey. Their arrival must be an amazing sight. One was left behind in our garden. I have gently scooped it up to cherish.

[Magical Mystical Teacher]

Viva la mariposa!

[Carol]

Wonderful, magical and loving post ~ Wow ~ Beautiful photography! ~ (A Creative Harbor)

[Noelle]

Rebecca this is phenomenally beautiful and such a tribute and a clarion call to take action to protect and continue this beloved species. The butterfly was the totem for our cohort when I was at Pacifica. It is the essential archetype for transformation, and in Greek mythology, as you well know, Psyche(soul) is always represented in the form of a butterfly. I don't have a garden but I wholeheartedly support your efforts and will pass this on. We have monarchs that visit Santa Barbara once a year in droves and hang from the trees like leaves during their migration. We go to the woods to see them. It is quite beautiful and they are very much a part of our lives here.
xoxoxo,
Noelle

[deb taylor]

I have so much to say about this right now....but I can hardly see thru my tears of JOY...come see why!!

[Ana]

what a beautiful journey Rebecca.

[Lea]

My best friend and neighbor grows milk weed in her garden for just this very reason... it is time for me to plant some... and I will with the seeds of inspiration that you, sweet eb, and lovey somepinkflowers have gifted us with... I have been very close to this place in Michoacan... and in San Juan Capistrano... but have never seen this wonder... I hope it is there still one day, for me and others to be amazed by...

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

What an inspiring post with words and images of butterflies, flowers and mystical art. Thanks, as always, for hosting us.

[Tracy]

Indeed, viva la mariposa!! This celebrations brings tears to my heart, gladness in my heart...thank you, Rebecca :o) ((HUGS))

[Brianne]

this is beautiful, i especially love "be dream play" and the wispy photos by those words...

[Andrea thompson]

I didn't see this when you posted it but that same day i was admiring these same butterflies... I got a lovely video of one to add to one of my next art videos! Beautiful post!