The Story Behind Blue Butterfly.
How Blue butterfly counselling got it's name.
Butterflies have always held a special symbology for me and the history of how Blue Butterfly Counselling was created holds a special story behind it's creation.
"Feeling Blue" is an idiom or phrase that has been around since the late 1300's to describe someone who is feeling sad, melancholy or depressed. Sadness is an emotion that can be caused by loss, disappointment, grief or despair - many of the same reasons why someone comes into counselling.
The Butterfly has many symbolic meanings:
- Transformation: the metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly represents the journey of self-discovery and the ability to change and evolve.
- Hope: Butterflies are often seen as a symbol of hope, recovery, and new beginnings.
- Freedom: Butterflies symbolise freedom, lightness, and joy, reminding us to let go of burdens and embrace a sense of liberation.
- Human Soul/Spirit: in many cultures, seeing a butterfly is interpreted as a sign that a loved one who has passed is watching over you.
I lost my Son Ryan to suicide in March 2019, he was a beautiful soul who had been caught in a cycle of perpetual torment following sexual abuse as a child. He was unable to face his trauma and turned to addiction to try and help to mask his pain and block out the memories. His mental health deteriorated greatly as a result and he developed psychosis and ultimately took his own life to escape his unbearable suffering.
Following his death I adopted the Blue Butterfly as a symbol of remembrance for him (along with daffodil's as they remind me of his dancing spirit and beaming smile).
When thinking of a name for my counselling practice I could think of no better way to honour his memory than by using his symbol and incorporating it into my business as a gentle nod to the legacy he leaves behind to the world. Because of Ryan I chose to pursue a path in counselling and work in the specialised fields that I do.
The Blue Butterfly now brings a symbol of hope and recovery to many people who have stories similar to Ryan. Because of his wings of flight others have an opportunity to heal!
