Painted Lady Migration

A unique winter of above average precipitation blessed the Southern California deserts with abundant vegetation which fueled a huge population of painted ladies to spawn.  This is a blog post of my experience with the butterfly migration and how it relates to my own personal journey.

Signs of this epic winter are the lingering glacial snowpacks that still cling to the rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range.  Growing up in these sacred mountains I experienced many of these crazy winters during my childhood.  I shoveled more snow than I ever want to again. After my time at University I realized I had the opportunity to escape the winters by getting off the hill.  By exploring new places like Hawaii, new Zealand, and Costa Rica that have always interested me.  This winter was different than any other before it.  I had applications in to teach yoga at a surf camp in Sri Lanka, or a to be brand intern in Portugal but instead I chose the path that was laid in front of me.  An opportunity to spend time exploring my own backyard of awesome winter surf along the coastline of California.  I embarked on a 5 month solo van life journey starting off with a couple weeks of solo time exploring the remote Big Sur coastline.  From there I spent 3 months on the Central Coast between Morro bay and Pismo beach spending as much time as I could in the water.  When I wasn’t in the water I was working on my book project, crafting driftwood art, or picking up trash on the beach as a form of karma yoga.

One day in February I was out exploring the remote parts of Montana De Oro State Park when a million Painted Lady Butterflies darkened the sky as they fluttered by.  The butterfly migration lasted for more than 2 weeks. It was directly correlated to the amount of precipitation we received this winter that lead to an influx of vegetation which created an abundance of resources that lead to a larger than normal painted lady population.  After the main rush they were few and far between and I missed their presence as they floated easily by.  Time went by and I remembered the vast number of butterflies and wondered where they had all gone.

The spring solstice landed on a powerful full moon in Taurus during a time of deep personal mind exploration through meditation.  The importance of taking time off to listen to what the body wants, to do the things that make you happy, or to learn a new skill is critical to a peaceful existence.  The more that I give myself the time and space to truly listen to my heart to guide me to a decision that is best for me the better I get at it.  I decided I would head back to Truckee this summer and take advantage of a great opportunity learning the business practice and practical skills or a landscaping mentor of mine.  Meditation has helped me in more ways than I can describe in this blog post, so I urge you all to give it a try.  There are some awesome apps and videos out there but one of my favorite is the The Waking Up app by Sam Harris.

The month of April was absolutely beautiful as I made my way south along the coast.  Wildflowers, good waves, and good weather I soaked up each and every day of life along the ocean.  The first week of May came and I began feeling the pull North.  I left a house sitting opportunity along the central coast and headed north.  it took me almost a week before I finally crossed the great California valley and began the climb up the mountains.  At about 4,000 ft elevation I began seeing my old friends, the painted lady butterflies that had come all the way from northern Mexico to the mountain of my hometown.  I remembered the first time I learned exactly what a painted lady was.  It was during a conversation I had with an old hiking friend as we were on the summit of Mt. Lola.  She was describing the way that the mountain ranges from mexico to Canada actually appear as large caterpillars when viewed from space.  The discussion continued and we examined that the butterflies actually use the mountain range as a compass that they use on their migration north during the summer and south for the winters. I remember this hike very well as it made me look at the whole system of our planet and how many of the plants, animals, people and places we love have a direct connection to each other and this planet.

This sparked a vision as I continued to drive the winding highway 80 through the granite golliaths, roaring waterfalls of the spring snowmelt, and the evergreen pine forests that stretch as far as the eyes can see!  I felt a part of my back between my shoulder blades and spine become activated almost as if wings had popped out of this space.  I imagined the orange, black and white intricate lacings of the wings as they floated effortlessly behind me.  I felt as if I had completed my own migration which also included a transformation in myself.  I gained a valuable tool this winter in the form of deepening my mediation practice.  This allowed me to tap into my truest self, listen to my body, trust my intuition, and to be happy as my own special and unique self.  An inspiring friend I met in the ocean and had described the connection my zodiak sign Leo and the importance of taking care of my body but in particular my back.  This was the exact space that I felt the base of my wings growing from.  This intense feeling of being exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing, was exemplified in this vision of myself turning into one of these painted ladies.  Trusting the path of their great lifetime migration. Being fearless in the unknown and brave enough to take the step out of my comfort zone.  Going through life riding the warm northern breeze, taking the effort out of controlling the outcome, trusting your own intuition, feeling the support and abundance of this planet we call home all while making sure to enjoy the ride. A valuable lesson to always remember the spring migrations of the painted lady butterflies.

A tear came to my eye as I was blown away by the shear beauty I saw in the snow capped mountains.  I found a spot to pull over with a view of this amazing granite hillside that had a snowmelt river tumbling down this steep forested boulder slope that turned into one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen.  This is when the tears really came! I let lose all the emotions and feelings I had for returning to my mountain home after my winter off the hill.  A painted lady flies by and I imagine myself fearless and unafraid as I ride the cool Sierra Nevada breeze. I count my blessings and continue on the road home.  Looking forward to a the challenge of a new job, planting a garden, spending time with loved ones and enjoying the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains.