“Butterflies Are Free to Fly” (Elton John)



This guy is not free to fly.

The chaos theory is a field of study in mathematics that has applications to physics (and several other disciplines).  I used the metaphor of the the butterfly effect, which is based on the chaos theory, in the prelude of Heart Root. A brief and inadequate synopsis of the theory is that small differences in initial conditions yield widely diverging outcomes for some dynamical systems (based on Newtonian mechanics).  An example would be a mathematical model describing the number of fish each spring in a lake.  Small changes in the conditions can cause deviations in the otherwise natural number of fish.  

What brought this to mind today is a butterfly seemingly peering out my kitchen window.  Keep in mind that I live in Michigan and the outside thermometer reads 28 degrees (F). The tiny insect perched on the window sash is perhaps instinctively longing for the warmth of light.  So am I - but there is no sunshine today.  As you can see in my terrible photograph, the deck railing is snow covered and the sky grey and bleak. 
I am not sure what natural system I disrupted by transporting this delicate Lepidoptera.  A possibility could be my recent purchase of  flowers, hoping the warmth of the orange color could help brighten my mood.  I also purchased a fragrant bouquet of fresh basil.  Perhaps the butterfly was nestled in the aromatic fumes of the fresh herbs, of course, with no knowledge that he was headed for demise. 

Measuring from the tip of the wing to the head (minus antennae), it is 2.5 centimeters.  The color is a green with yellow undertones and the entire wing and underbody are streaked with a thin mist (like overspray) of dark, ink color reminding of a minute piece of art detailed in pointillism. I encouraged the tiny visitor (or captive – not the same as guest) to open his wings.  Although fluttering wildly, I can see that the wings are white/yellow with distinct black circular markings, each wing identical and edged in black.  Using binoculars designed for insect study, I view that his body is covered in delicate, pale-yellow fuzz.   His head is more punk rock – a spiking of black and yellow covering from which two slender antenna extend.  His macro appearance reminds me of an Elton John costume from his flamboyant early concerts.  This butterfly is not free to fly –  fly away bye bye.  He is going to die.  But then, we are all dying – from our conception in the womb, there is that predetermined finality.

Recently, I have been reading work by Amit Goswami PhD (Quantum Physicist).  He states that our consciousness does matter in how we experience life.  Well, I am not sure if life is a projected hologram from my mind or not.  I can imagine that there is the possibility.  What I do know is this:  I believe in the chaos theory.  And, the butterfly in my kitchen will most certainly die soon...not because of me (I have no plans to speed up his last hours) but, because that is how life goes.  What has been disrupted by its capture...I’m not sure.



Excerpt from Prelude (Heart Root):  My mind’s eye works like a camera...through the lens I consider a tree falling in slow motion, the focus automatically sharpening on a nearby squirrel as it scurries away.  In the distance, a doe lifts her head twitching her ears forward as a fawn peers out from beneath her.  Audio wave lengths interact with my ear drum – a screeching crow takes flight at the tremor of cracking wood; the large bird powerfully moves its wings disturbing the air into a wind...whoosh...whoosh.  Canadian geese take off from an unfrozen pond creating ripples, tiny waves that slap the edge of the shoreline.  This energy gust creates a steam of air that picks up speed as it travels close to the ground, through a neighborhood, swirling under a poplar tree and continuing over frost covered blades of grass to the back door of a brick house causing the loose metal weather stripping to hum.