The Butterfly Effect

The butterfly is a symbol of endurance, change, hope and life.

“Butterflies can’t see their wings. They can’t see how truly beautiful they are but everyone else can. People are like that too”

– Naya Rivera

What it meant to me playing the role of the monarch butterfly

I was able to play a character role in the Cirque Du Soleils’ show Luzia.

My character was part monarch butterfly and part tarahumara which is an ultra running marathon tribe in Mexico.

The butterfly ties the link between Canada (home of Cirque Du Soleil) and Mexico (the theme of Luzia) together as this is the migration journey of the monarch butterflies. Even though playing this character doesn’t define me as a person. It did however play a big journey in my life, and life lessons. I wanted to keep a small part of who I was, as to who I am now.

This role helped me overcome fears, taking that leap of faith, flight, resilience, metamorphosis of life, full circle moments and even today representing hope.

Monarch butterflies are the only species of butterfly that migrate.
They make two way migrations similar to birds.
Traveling as far as 3000 miles to reach their new home.
It takes 3-4 generations to complete the migration.

What can we learn from the butterfly

Butterflies are strong survivors. They live a short life but they live it to fullest and are free. We as humans should do the same: Life our lives to the fullest. Following our dreams reaching your goals. Life is too short not to.
“How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are wiling to give up being a caterpillar”

-Trina Paulus

© 2020 Shelli Epstein