When you see a blue butterfly, like an Eastern-Tailed Blue or Pipevine Swallowtail, you might wonder if there is a meaning behind what you’re seeing. Read on to learn more about blue, which is the most popular color in the world, and what it could mean when a blue butterfly crosses your path.
Spiritual Meaning of Blue
For many, blue butterflies have a spiritual meaning. After all, azure skies and cerulean water evoke a sense of peace and receptiveness. Large areas of blue are calming, as they offer spiritual depth and open us up to life’s flow of energy.
Blue plants and animals are fairly uncommon and often stand out from their surroundings, so it’s tempting to ascribe them with special spiritual meanings. For instance, forget-me-nots and violets have long been symbols of faithfulness, while bluebirds are a sign of joy and freedom.
The Dependability of Blue
Navy blue is a reliable, stable color, often used in official capacities to signal confidence and peace. Blue is used in logos to project a sense of expertise, truth, and calm. Blue is also popular for police uniforms because it is a non-threatening color yet associated with authority.
Feeling Blue
Although blue skies are happy skies, the day turns to blue twilight sooner or later. Calmness can give way to sadness, and peace becomes tinged with dreamy melancholy. For many, blue is an especially sad and wistful color. Just think of Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period, when he began to paint monochrome portraits of the poor and destitute after learning of his friend’s death and falling into a depression. These paintings did not sell well during his time. Today, blue continues to resonate as an especially emotional color.
History of Blue
Throughout history, blue has been held in high esteem. Egyptians were the first to manufacture the color blue, which was popular for symbolizing the heavens, and the river Nile with its patterns of birth and rebirth. Fertility or protection amulets were often blue, and gods were sometimes depicted as having blue skin.
In the early Middle Ages, ordinary people wore blue clothes made using poor-quality dyes. But the status of the color blue changed after the Saint-Denis Basilica was built in the 12th century. Its renowned blue stained glass helped elevate the status of this color. Over time, blue became the color of wealth, and in certain eras, France and Italy allowed only noble families to wear the color. Eventually, indigo dye made it possible for the masses to wear blue, leading eventually to the blue jeans popular today.
In the history of painting, blue paint rarely came cheap. At one point, the ultramarine pigment was more expensive than gold. For that reason, it was often reserved for special subjects. For instance, it was widely used to depict the Virgin Mary’s robes, which led to connotations of holiness, virtue, and humility.
Blue Butterfly Symbolism
It can be hard to miss a blue butterfly — the hue often stands out from its surroundings, as if a piece of the sky has taken flight. If you’re wondering how to interpret seeing a blue butterfly cross your path, you have a few options to consider.
Blue butterflies have many positive associations. They can be a reminder to be at peace with your life, and to feel calm and joy in your situation. As a precious color, a blue butterfly could be a sign to look for the value in your life. At the same time, a blue butterfly could suggest birth and rebirth, as you cycle through a new phase in your journey.
Blue butterflies could also point to faithfulness and reliability. Perhaps you play that role for others in your life, and the butterfly reaffirms that you are doing the right thing.
