Beauty and the Moth
It’s often the things we fear or find repellent that hold the key to our transformation.
As I was walking home the other day, something fell from the sky right in front of me, landing with a loud pock. A couple walking towards me immediately crossed to the other side of the street, and I wondered why. Then I saw it: a dead pigeon. It had fallen mid-flight, lifeless, right there!
The sight didn’t shock me—death is part of life—but I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at the bird. The very thought of its still body unsettled me, and I walked on without really acknowledging it. But that reaction stayed with me. Why couldn’t I look at the pigeon? What made it so frightening that I instinctively looked away? Why was it acceptable to see it moments earlier, full of life, but not now, lying lifeless on the ground?
This sparked a deeper reflection. If we all come from the same source, what makes some things more beautiful or lovable than others? I set the intention to find beauty in all things, even in those we might consider ugly or repulsive.
My opportunity to explore this idea came soon, in the form of a fairy-tale-themed dream that reflected back to me my journey towards replacing fear with love.
I’m in a room where my beloved pet rests. I call it by the name of one of my childhood cats, and it responds as my cat used to. However, this is no cat—it’s a large moth. Although its form is strange, I feel the same deep love for it, and the creature follows me around like a loyal companion. We walk outside into a garden, and the moth moves on the ground like a cat, not flying. I worry for its safety as there are obstacles in the path, and to my surprise, we communicate telepathically, discussing the best route to take.
We reach my house, but my feelings of love for the moth begin to mix with discomfort as it comes closer to me. I realize how much I dislike insects, and moths are no exception. Part of me feels disgusted by this creature’s form, even though I still love it deeply. As it approaches me, I begin to back away, afraid of its touch. It then lifts into the air and spreads its wings, which reflect the colors of a rainbow. “Oh no, it’s going to touch me!” My panic rises, and yet, at the same time, I’m terrified of accidentally hurting it. Torn between love and repulsion, I start running, and the moth chases me relentlessly, wanting to be near me.
I woke up with my heart racing. So much for seeing beauty in everything! But even though the dream didn’t end the way I had hoped, it showed clear progress. In many of my previous dreams, when confronted by creatures that repulsed me, my instinct was always to destroy them. But this time, I felt conflicted—caught between love and fear, torn between running away and staying connected.
The idea of confronting an "ugly" or unlovable creature is one of the oldest and most universal themes in fairy tales. From Beauty and the Beast to The Frog Prince, these stories teach us that true beauty lies beneath the surface, and that it’s often the things we fear or find repellent that hold the key to our transformation. It’s a lesson we all know well, but fully living it is a different story.
What makes this dream especially powerful is that the creature wasn’t just anything—it was a moth. Moths are deeply symbolic, representing transformation, change, and the journey towards the light. The dream didn’t just ask me to love beyond my fear; it signaled that this very transformation is what I need to go through, to evolve on my path. But I suspect I’ll need a few more dreams before I’m ready to kiss the moth!
So, dear reader, what “moths” do you have in your life that seem unlovable at first glance? Perhaps, with a little love, you’ll find that they hold the key to your transformation.