What do you need to die to?

So I had an experience the other night… I was sitting on my back deck with my friend as it was growing dark. We were talking about how our outer world is often a reflection of our inner world. I was saying how in my front yard, my crape myrtle was diseased and dying, and I had suffered a reaction to poison ivy that was hiding in my hedges. I wondered aloud to her if this was a warning that I was diseased. She laughed and said, “No. It is probably about something you need to die to or let go of, maybe something poisonous in your life.” That seemed to ring true, and just then a butterfly landed on the table in front of me. If unfolded its wings before me. Instead of flying away when I drew near, it tried to walk but seemed to limp. We soon realized something was wrong with it. And then it died. It died!

Okay, God, I am paying attention now. What do I need to die to or let go of so that I can begin a new life cycle? The book I happened to be reading and journaling on, started talking about limiting beliefs and past dreams that we had for our lives. I realized many beliefs I had been holding onto were keeping me blocked and stagnant. It was time to let go of them.

Now this is what I want to ask of you today. As you see the leaves, plants, and insects dying around you as the weather turns colder, examine what is dying inside of you now. What “leaves” are you still holding onto that need to fall to the ground? They need to fall so that you don’t use up any more of your vital energy on them. This is a time for letting go.

What stage of your life cycle do you feel like you are in right now? As you examine the cycle of the moon and butterflies…you can see there are the times when you are just beginning, needing to be fed, and then growing full. After the crysalis grows full, the creature inside has transformed into a completely new being. As the full moon ends, it slowly seems to disappear. In the new moon phase, you can’t even see it in the sky anymore. There is a time when it seems like nothing is there. The caterpillar has disappeared. The moon has disappeared. But a wonderful new beginning is starting even if you can’t see it yet. So where are you right now in your journey? Naming it can be empowering and help you to see your life with a new perspective.

About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for people to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences and curiosities with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.