Metamorphosis

“Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness and still become something beautiful.”

Contrary to popular belief, the wings of butterflies are completely transparent and the colours (that we see) are merely a reflection of light on their miniscule scales (chitin) on their wings. Butterflies can also see beyond the ultraviolet spectrum (invisible to the human eye) and their eyes consist a total 6000 lenses.

Are these harmless and charming creatures (that usually symbolize innocence, purity, peace and love) perhaps more powerful than we give them credit for? For such a magnificent creature to emerge from a mere worm, requires the digestion of old thoughts to be manifested into a new way of being. The caterpillar (much like us), needs to meet parts of himself that he has been at war with for his whole (short) life. Similarly, we all undergo periods where we are forced to reckon with our demons; to be shaken to our cores by our fears, doubts, hurt and insecurities. This season can be a dark and depressing period, like being ensorcelled in a tight cocoon. There is beauty in this darkness, where we have no option but to embrace a chrysalis of experiences and evolve into the best version of ourselves. This metamorphosis slowly spreads from her core, crushing the outer shell of her past identity, as she blossoms into the unshakable force that she was destined to be. All of the hours of pain and hardship result in a character congruent to her beauty.

I always imagined butterflies to be a little bit like a self-propelled flower. They have an innate ability to move from one state, perspective, embracing catacombs of change.

Metamorphosis is the magic that insects can teach us. Change welcomes growth.

Butterfly is the power of air, the ability to float upon a breeze. It is known for its darting flight; thus, it represents the mind and our ability to change it when necessary. Butterfly represents the never-ending cycle of life; the clarity of mind needed before self-transformation.

Butterflies appear to dance as they flitter among the flowers. They remind us to renew our faith and seek sanctuaries of renewal. They display a re-emergence of life, by arcane strength. They burst with deliverance and defy gravity’s dead weight. They are far from the battered caterpillar in that magical cocoon.

Much like an “underdog”, butterflies rank low on the food chain, with many predators on the radar. However, butterflies stand tall like a “David against Goliath” with their defence mechanisms. Some butterflies fold their wings, using camouflage to render themselves all but invisible to predators. Others try the opposite strategy, wearing vibrant colours and patterns that boldly announce their presence. Bright coloured insects often have toxic chemicals on their frames. Some butterflies aren’t toxic at all, but pattern themselves after other species known for their toxicity. By mimicking their foul-tasting cousins, they repel predators. Their confidence and lack of fear is almost foolish to say the least. We can learn such valuable lessons from this feisty, brave creature; she harvests seeds of pain into flowers of joy.

My message to you:

Your soul is urging you to quest deeper, to transcend above the hurt, to rid yourself of that that no longer serves you, to guard your energy daily, to receive the criticism gracefully, to become the master of your thoughts, to forgive yourself, to own who you are, to embody a fortress of peace, to honour your body for the temple that it is….. All in order to thrive and resonate like a wild flower in this moment.

Yours truly

Kitty xx

Sociopath Neuron Spark

Is it possible that Sociopaths (and Asperger’s and “APD” and even psychopaths) are scientifically the happiest individuals in society?? The mesolimbic pathway, sometimes referred to as the reward pathway, is a dopaminergic pathway in the brain. Sociopaths tend to experience super sensitivity so it is quite easy for them to reach an ecstasy based on external stimulus, food, music or imagery. Is this ability to self-induce ecstasy due to a socio’s dopamine levels taking them on a trip? Or is it merely a one more side benefit of the large degree of control that Sociopaths have over their mind and emotions? Autism has also been linked with excessive amounts of dopamine in the brain and these behaviours are minimized with dopamine inhibitors. If sociopathy is on the autism spectrum, along with Asperger syndrome, then sociopaths may also have elevated amounts of dopamine, although not high enough to hamper social functioning.

It seems that Sociopaths (and all mentioned above) appear to have a obsession with reward — to the “dangling carrot” — so much so that it overrules all sense of risk or concern about the “stick.” It’s not just that they don’t appreciate the potential threat, but the anticipation or motivation for reward trumps those concerns. This hyper-reactive dopamine reward system might very well be the foundation for some of the most problematic behaviours associated with sociopathy, such as violence, substance abuse, reckless sex, stealing and deceit. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the LACKING skills (i.e. fear, empathy, interpersonal skills) that shape a sociopath, but rather their ABUNDANCE of impulsivity, heightened attraction to rewards and risk taking.

From what I have studied from sociopaths (and “APD”) in the past few years (and recently been in a romantic relationship with one), I can predict the rationale behind their actions. They say these things and embody these behaviours:

“Why be physically abusive? It’s far too easy and predictable…. I need more of a challenge. More “fun”. Anyone can physically FORCE someone do something… But oh… now manipulating them into WANTING to do it…. far, far more satisfying.”
They have the fake accent. A soft British/Yorkshire blended accent seems to instantly set people at ease. “He’s just a sweet boy.” Hear the consonants roll off his tongue. Is this fake accent due to “chameleon” abilities or is there some other underlying mental process that causes a change in speech?
The “sharp tooth”. Wow. Such precision, on the mark. Likely due to “sensation seeking”. They live their lives constantly searching for some sort of stimulation, so for a brief moment they can have “peace”, “Feel”……”Normal”?
Confessions of a Sociopath: “I have delved into BDSM for quite a while now. Yes, surprise-surprise, I’m a Dom. Choking, pain, asphyxiation; all can certainly be “fun”. Knives are “fun” as well.”
Socio says, “I’ve had two stalkers in the last 8 years who didn’t take kindly to me just cutting them from my life. Of course what really happened was I got bored, manipulated them into going bat-shit crazy and doing things there was no coming back from. That cost/benefit graph can be a bitch sometimes. Mostly for others. But oh well…. I don’t care.”
In this violent and sarcastic day and age, I rather just speak the truth now…. At worst, I have a slightly “off” or “dark” brand of humor. People think I’m joking. “What are you thinking?”, she asks. “I’m imagining what kind of noises you’d make if I held you down and carved a chunk out of your shapely ass.” She laughs. ….. I was telling the truth….

One of the most powerful manipulation tactics a Sociopath uses are “tells” about who they really are. They master in playing mind games with others and can easily confuse their targets by these “tells”. There are 3 forms of these “tells”:

1 – projections

2 – truthful remarks

3 – statements that are the exact of the truth.
Projection
When sociopaths project, they are giving their targets camouflaged clues. They talk about how other people cheat or lie or hurt others, as if they abhor such behavior, when in fact they are describing themselves. And during the devalue phase of their “relationships,” they often project this negativity on to their targets, in an effort to make their victims doubt themselves. It also has the effect of making targets feel as if they are going crazy.

The Truth
Sociopaths tell their targets exactly who they are, but they do it in such a way that it is impossible for victims to understand the consequences of the horrible statements. Targets might hear comments like, “You shouldn’t be with me” or “I’ve never had a good relationship” or “I wanted to hurt someone.” Sociopaths turn these declarations into pity plays and feel secretly justified in exploiting victims when they do not realize the statements are real.

The Opposite of the Truth
Sociopaths convince their targets that they will never lie or cheat and that they love them so much. They also promise that they will never do anything to hurt their victims. They regularly mislead targets by making claims that are precisely the opposite of the truth.

“It isn’t true that sociopaths never change…. They change their mask and their target.”

So then how do I find myself to be my safest, most secure and happiest around him??? Am I stuck in these “tells” too? Does he know what he does to me? Or is this my fate? To be another forgotten game. Another quest…. Shhhhhh, don’t tell me…. let me ride this wave in oblivion…. Nothing matters….. I’m stuck in this web…. Oh darling, spin me your silver cocoon…

Much love,

Kitty xxx

The Psychic Owl

An empath is much like an owl. She is a protector, a mentor, a goddess of wisdom that fosters a voice of counsel and omniscient vision…. She is almost psychic, making carefully calculated guesses of her neighbours state of mind. Yet, she has dual symbolic meanings: one of a bad omen and one of a wise goddess. Does this not perhaps ring in unison of empaths who typically feel misunderstood? Empaths can gain powerful supremacy with the combination of their sensitivity, compassion, their extrasensory intuition and strategic disposition. Empaths have the aptness to embody a goddess or demon, dependent on the motives for their allure and compassion.

The owl (much like an empath) has a supernatural capacity to see beyond lies and deceit with their scrupulous vision…. Empaths too are defenders of truth and seem to have an innate ability to tune into an intuitive realm that sees the reality behind the illusion. Owls are known to symbolise the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena; with a distinct strategy that she guards as sacred within her omniscient soul. With the help of the owl, Athena is able to see the whole truth, even from her blind sides. Empaths possess clairaudient abilities… the ability to hear the hidden meaning of what others are not saying, yet is conveyed in their silence.

The owl calls us to learn to trust our instincts about others. Owl empowers you to hear the silent whispers, to interpret subtle facial micro-expressions of liars… the words not spoken, yet conveyed between the breath of words. Owls blink like humans do, but they also have a “third eyelid” that sweeps from side to side to help clean and lubricate their eyes. Micro-expressions occur in 1/25 of a second, so only unerring perception will detect these movements. The human brain cannot process information received fast enough to fake the desired expressions. During this “crisis of indecision” in our minds, our expression flickers our candid emotion. Empaths are notorious for having this flair…. To penetrate minds, read verbal and non-verbal cues and to telepathically immerse oneself in the emotions of others…. Orchestrating a scenario so palpable that it resonates inside of them. Empaths have this paranormal ability…. To embody the circumstances of others and internalise them as one’s own…. To feel another’s anger, fear, sadness, joy, despair, grief…. To feel it pulsate through your veins and reverberate through your bones….. An empath’s soul is naked, raw, unapologetic….

“A wise old owl lived in an oak; the more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he saw. Why can’t we all be like this bird?” – Edward Hersey Richards

An empath’s ability to be so cognizant of other’s “vibrations” is an enchanting tool that can be conspired to either manipulate or uplift. These psychic powers can be fabricated to be of an authentic nature, behind an innocent façade, to control others. Is there perhaps a dark side to the charming, sympathetic and selfless Empath?? Some see the owl as one who is allied with bad spirits and occultists due to its clairvoyant and fortune-telling tendencies. Does this “Empath owl” live nocturnally in society with the intent of swooping down to capitalise their innocent prey with psychic mind games? Personal intent is the crux of the matter.

An element of “deception” and mystery is unveiled in an Owl when he hunts. He sits and watches from heights of canopy of forest, awaiting the perfect moment… And in complete silence he swoops down to dominate his prey…. Watching an owl in his magnificent conquest leaves one with a sense of reverence, mystery and perhaps fear mixed with awe. An empath manifests this enigma and secrecy. Like an owl, an empath will meditate in solitude, envisaging a goal, engrossed in her core, striking when the moment presents itself. An empath (as an owl) has an unshakeable self-awareness of herself… This is why being grounded in meditation is the compass of an empath’s being.

The Owl totem is an old soul, a guarder of ancient wisdom, a gatekeeper to the Akashic realm. He peers through the secrets and agendas of others, is a prophet and can see, hear and behold events before they even transpire. Empaths are also often counselors and have an inherent desire to “fix” other’s despair and anguish…. The emotional intelligence and sacred knowledge of an empath quenches the thirst of society for such transparency. The owl is emblematic of a empath who fosters a deep connection with wisdom and intuition. The Feather of an owl is said to help you to find out the secrets of a sleeping person.

The darker side of the Owl is associated with the announcement of death and that the “spirit animal” would bear the souls of the departed to the underworld. The demon goddess Lilith is represented throughout history as an owl (in Jewish lore) and is the most popular topic in feminist literature related to ancient mythology. Lilith was also believed to be the first wife of Adam (and also the wife of Satan). In short, Lilith confronts both Adam and God: she defies patriarchy, submission and marriage altogether. Lilith means “the night”, and she embodies the spiritual aspects of darkness: terror, sensuality and unbridled freedom.

However, in modern mythology, Lilith has transformed into a symbol to many feminists of a independent woman, who refuses to submit to the control of men. The tale of “Lilith the demon”, who fled to a place of liberation, became a celebrated paradigm. Celtic belief is that the owl is a reminder that death represents a new beginning, a new life. Once a source of fear, Lilith has been transformed into an icon of freedom. Lilith’s character is believed to have grown out of repression of her sexuality, free impulse and defiant pride. As modern Jews have many more direct questions about sex, freedom and choice, Lilith becomes a complex representation of our own desires. The debate of this “Owl demon” persists…. goddess or demon? Is an empath’s strong will, defiant nature and integrity sometimes misconstrued as rebellion? Like an owl, an empath is multifaceted and the complex fibres of her soul is continually misunderstood. Empaths, like Owls, are somewhat outcasts of society…. Simultaneously being labelled as a bad omen and a goddess.

Some species of owls are endangered and are suffering a loss of habitat. People also hunt and kill them in the mistaken belief that they are “pests.” However, the hunting ability of owls actually helps exterminate rodents, thus they have an important role to play in the ecosystem. Just like the owl, an empath tends to take on the figurative “pests” in others’ lives, often to her own detriment…. Empath’s pure hearts are so often squandered by narcissists who use them for their benefit. The empath is naturally a nurturer, sensitive and has a zest for life and contagious presence. Those who see empath’s social intelligence, can easily manoeuvre an empath’s affections into a vicious destructive cycle. So empaths, in turn, also become endangered, due to their loss of hope in the world…. They turn the switch …. They choose not to feel.

The Owl and the Empath encompass such kaleidoscopic traits that merge into a phenomena of colours….. It is both exhilarating and exhausting to exist in such a schizoaffective mind….. Such vulnerability, yet such knowledge, vision and wisdom. Empathy is after all about finding echoes of another person in yourself…. And so the owl hoots its call…. and so it echoes on and on…..

“You have been gifted with a unique perspective, turn your gaze inward, your answers lie within.” – Southern Hemisphere Pagan