White butterflies are often seen as symbols of purity, innocence, and new beginnings. All-white walls may seem blank and sterile, but seeing a white butterfly in your garden doesn’t feel that way. But what is the meaning of white butterflies mean?
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Like a Cabbage White or a Checkered White, a white butterfly is likely to stand out from its surroundings and be pleasing to your eye. When you see such a striking sight, it makes sense to wonder what that white butterfly might symbolize for you. It may be a sign that you are on the right path in life. It might be a message from your loved ones in spirit, letting you know that they are with you and they love you.
What a White Butterfly Means in Religion
The color white has long been a significant color for many religions. In ancient Rome, priestesses dressed in white linen to show their purity and loyalty, and over time Christianity borrowed both this color and its meanings.
In Catholicism today, white is worn by the Pope and used explicitly to refer to purity and innocence and virginity and birth or rebirth. Not surprisingly, it is the liturgical color used for Christmas and Easter, while the lamb of God is nearly always a white lamb. In Islam, white is known as a pure color and is often worn for Friday prayers. It is worn by Shinto priests as well, with similar associations.
White’s Associations with the Afterlife
What butterfly symbolizes death? It may very well be a white one. White brings up the idea of angels wearing white in heaven of white clouds. In several Hollywood movies, using a completely white room suggests the idea of the afterlife.
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More seriously, in Eastern cultures white is traditionally linked to mourning and funerals. It was also a mourning color in Western cultures in medieval times and well into the 1800s. Many paintings of royalty from across the centuries show figureheads wearing white in mourning.
White’s Sense of Innocence and Cleanliness
In the Victorian era, white became the popular bridal color and remains popular today. White suggests the bride’s innocence, goodness, and perfection.
Similarly, white is a childlike color — used for christenings. It was historically popular for children’s clothes (because it was easily bleached), and continues to have appealing simplicity as a fashion choice.
Perhaps because of these connotations, white has been considered the color of cleanliness, both literally and figuratively — hence the idea of meticulously clean and careful “white glove” service.
Meaning of Your White Butterfly
If you see a white butterfly, you might consider several potential meanings. Consider spiritual or religious possibilities, particularly if you are looking for a visit from an angel. The idea of spiritual rebirth may also be meaningful to you.
Similarly, your white butterfly could symbolize a new start. It may be time to look at the world with a more childlike innocence or perhaps with the hopefulness of a new bride – it’s up to you what to do with it.
Think, too, about the “white flag of surrender.” Seeing the butterfly may suggest that it’s time to surrender a fight you’ve been having, whether internal or external, and find a way to achieve peace.
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
