Collection: Butterfly Maiden

(Bula'kya)

In its short life butterfly (Bula'kya) transforms from a tiny egg to a crawling caterpillar, then becomes an outwardly still cocoon until a winged creature emerges. Butterfly medicine shows us the significance of each stage of transformation.

Butterfly dances on flowers, tastes nectar and flowers through its feet, sees the hidden spectrum of ultraviolet, and gracefully flies on invisible atmospheric currents, displaying balance and poise. Although butterfly looks delicate some varieties tenaciously migrate incredible distances of up to 3,000 miles.
Butterfly's element is the air, symbolic of mental realms. Our minds can go in any direction and our thoughts can take any form. Butterfly navigates this positive transformation with ease and brings powerful beauty to the world.  

Corn Maiden (A:dow e:washdok'i): In the Zuni Pueblo the three stages of woman are recognized as:

• Maiden, symbolizing potential
• Mother, the life giver
• Grandmother, the wise elder

Usually the maiden fetish will be emerging from corn (the corn maiden) or she will have whorls of hair on the side of her head, signifying that she has not had a child. The mother fetish also can be emerging from the corn (the corn mother) and she will have children with her or look pregnant. The grandmother usually has a shawl over her head and no corn represented on her body.