27 Mar 2010 – In Memory of Kelly Xuan

2010, this beautiful butterfly picture was Kelly Xuan’s last drawing. Now a loving guardian angel, she is helping her loved ones to ease their grief with her butterflies. She will be greatly missed but the memories will always stay in the heart and mind of her loved ones. May she rest in peace.

The Ancient Greek word for butterfly is ψυχή=psȳchē, which primarily means soul or mind. There are many links with butterflies in mythology from all over the world, many of which, in particular Greek mythology, link butterflies to the human soul. Butterflies are considered as the souls of those who had passed away. Many people reported receiving a sign which affirmed that their deceased family member or friend had survived physical death and continues to live in another dimension of existence, known as ADC signs. They are a relatively common type of after-death communication. Depending on their belief system, they may ask their deceased loved one to give them a sign, or they may pray to God or the universe for one.

Typical symbolic ADC include butterflies and rainbows. Whether a sign comes immediately or takes days or weeks to arrive, most people intuitively recognize their sign right away and feel it was intended just for them. These signs provide much hope to those who are grieving deeply. But because they are a symbolic form of communication, the receiver must interpret his or her own experience and assign personal meaning to it.

June 1965, there was a butterfly on my mother’s coffin lid all night while I was keeping watch. 15 June 2005 (Day 47 of my AT Thru-Hike) would have been my father’s 94th bday (he died in 1996) and there were butterflies galore around me that day. The Buddhists believe in reincarnation…  were all my ancestors keeping an eye on me during my hike?

Butterfly, butterfly Bright as can be. Fly pretty butterfly, Fly down to me!