Moths

I know I've seen nocturnal magic thrown around a time or two in the group. And what better creature to represent the night than our Moth friends?!

Moths don't always get the credit they deserve. There are some truly beautiful and incredible species that exist in the world. And even the ones with duller colors, have a lot of magic to bring to our lives. Moths are gentle, they do not sting or bite, and they pose no threat to humans.

Moths are the butterflies of the night sky - reigning supreme under the moonlight.

**THE SCIENCE OF MOTHS**

Moths are in the insect Order Lepidoptera. They share this Order with Butterflies. There are some 160,000 species of moths in the world, compared to 17,500 species of butterflies. In the United States, there are nearly 11,000 species of moths.

Moths can usually be distinguished from butterflies by their antennae, which are typically threadlike or feathery; in contrast, butterflies have club-tipped antennae.

**MOTHS ARE BEAUTIFUL**

Although moths have for the most part relatively dull wing colors, there are many species with spectacular colors and patterns.

**DID YOU KNOW MOTHS MIGRATE?**

Migration in the Lepidoptera is not limited to butterflies such as the Monarch. There are many migratory moths, including the day flying Hummingbird Hawkmoth, which migrates from southern parts to northern parts of Europe as temperatures rise in early summer.

**MOTHS ARE VALUABLE POLLINATORS**

Moths live and pollinate on every continent in the world except for Antarctica. Moths are nocturnal, feasting on the nectar of flowering plants, “accidentally” transferring pollen from one flower to the next as they go. They work at night, and just like other pollinators, they help to ensure the continual growth of the plants and medicines of the region they live in.

**MOTHS PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE**

Adult moths and their caterpillars are important sources of food for many creatures, including a wide range of birds and their hatchlings as well as lizards, toads, shrews, hedgehogs, bats, frogs and other insects.

**MOTHS PROVIDE EARLY ECOLOGICAL WARNINGS**

Moths also play a vital role in telling us about the health of our environment, like the canary in the coalmine. Since they are so widespread and found in so many different habitats, and are so sensitive to changes, moths are particularly useful as indicator species. Monitoring their numbers and ranges can give scientists vital clues to changes in our own environment, such as the effects of new farming practices, pesticides, air pollution and climate change.

And now onto the magic of moths...

**THE MAGIC OF MOTHS**

Metaphysically, moths are considered magical creatures - bringers of messages from other worlds and reminders of our spiritual nature. It is believed that moths show themselves to us when we’re at a crossroads of important change, emotional growth or expansion.

*Transformation and the former self*

Just like butterflies, they start as larvae and build a safe space for themselves to grow in. While in their cocoon, they also undergo dramatic change, emerging as very different beings than they once were - yet still themselves. Like butterflies, moths also retain memory. They don't begin as fresh life forms, but have the capacity to recall information from their previous phase on the ground. As complex living beings, we need this ability too. Without the capacity to recall our past, we may have trouble growing or healing from it. It's often painful, but necessary just the same. Moths reveal to us this process in a way that is transformative, carrying pieces of the past but evolving beyond them just the same.

*Healing and recovery*

Often associated with death, moths feed on carrion and rotting fruit, transforming what was once dead or dying into part of their living being. Moths are fortified for the cold depths of night. Their soft fur keeps them warm, and their weight keeps them safe from the elements. They are made with a gentle armor, reborn wearing it when it's finally needed.

Perhaps like the moth, we need time in a safe space to heal and recover. This can take time, and that's okay. No healing process is the same, and this is our opportunity to honor our unique individual selves even in times of pain and grief. During these moments, we can acknowledge our suffering as ours, and ours alone. We may require some extra layers of shelter while we navigate the pain of darkness.

*Adaptation*

Moths are masters of disguise in the animal kingdom. They can camouflage in order to hide from predators. We can learn something from Moth when it comes to camouflage. Also protecting oneself and our loved ones in our environment and personal space. In this way, moths teach us adjustability and adaptability to our surroundings.

And in turn, as symbols of concealment and masters of disguise, the moth could represent something you are hiding or have kept hidden. You may be disguising your emotions, or keeping your true, authentic self hidden from others. Our hearts are our ultimate guide and the moth reminds us that we should not disguise or deny it.

*Vulnerability*

Moths crash into lights inside your house or on your porch. When they're on, they tirelessly flit around and about. Looking on, it seems exhausting. Why does this happen? There’s no clear explanation, but scientifically there is a hypothesis which states that the moth uses a technology known as transverse orientation. This means that moths usually follow the light of the stars, the moon, and the sun. By maintaining a constant angular relationship to a bright celestial light, such as the moon, they can fly in a straight line. If the moth focuses on an object that is lit up they naturally become fixated.

Such is Moth's vulnerability and why moths can be associated with our own vulnerabilities. With light, you can easily trick one. Once they become fixated, it can put them in danger if it is the wrong light source - exposing themselves to predators, exhaustion, and ultimately death. Moths are our reminder that we as humans are not without our vulnerabilities. Where are you most vulnerable?

*Nocturnal Magic*

Nocturnal creatures have nighttime inclinations and tendencies that have specific spiritual and philosophical meanings themselves. Because they conduct their life-sustaining activities and practices in complete darkness, they are highly reliant on sensory perception. They navigate their world by using their awareness and inner-knowing.

Moths hold wisdom of the other world, of knowledge and clairvoyance. Moths help us to utilize our own instincts and intuition - rather than relying solely on the concrete things that we can see in the daylight. Moths call us to pay attention to the symbolism in our dreams - interpreting the information and applying it to our lives, specifically during dark and difficult times.

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In conclusion, the moth symbolizes determination, attraction, psychic abilities and awareness, faith, intuition, attention to small details, transformation, adaptability, healing, recovery, growth and also fragility and vulnerability.

Have you noticed Moth before? Have you worked with Moth? Has Moth called to you? Do you incorporate Moth Magic into your life?