Metamorphsis

In the holistic care industry, we talk of transformation and transmutation.

Transformation is defined as a dramatic change in form or appearance; one we experience and recognize as transformational. A moment, an aha, a death, a birth. Sudden and dramatic, it imprints upon our emotional memory and produces an immediate change of some kind.

Transmutation is the process of changing into a different form. This can be fast or slow depending upon the means used. We often speak of alchemy and magic in this process, again describing a wonderous and time measured effect

In contrast, metamorphosis is the slow change of growth and learning – a natural, innate process – that takes us from one state to another over time, often measured in years and lifetimes.

Biologically, metamorphosis is the process by which a living creature physically develops after birth and matures from infant to adult. Geologically it is the process of changing the nature of something from one thing into another, usually through pressure and heat over time. The metamorphosis of spiritual growth takes place slowly, unfolding often unconsciously over time. The results may be dramatic, but we are often not aware of them until we look back.

In today’s culture of immediacy, even our spiritual work is influenced by the notion of transforming and transmuting quickly.

We want it as fast as we can, often with the least pain or struggle. (I just heard the phrase “spiritual ambition” in the context of how our egos get caught up in the pursuit of our lofty ideals.) This sense of immediacy is found in healing work as well. We search for the dramatic, the instantly transformative healing, often as a way of alleviating our mental or emotional pain or to be reassured of the veracity of our spirituality. These healings can be very wonderful, but initiating a slow process of inner, life-long healing and growth is a powerful and productive form of healing work that is often shunned. Metamorphosis comes through learning and applying spiritual tools and truths over time. These provide us with durable spiritual tools for living. Much like giving someone a pole and teaching them how to fish for themselves, the metamorphosis focused practitioner does not look for big results. They quietly provide the tools and understanding that allow a client to move out on their own and discover their own capacities.

Metamorphosis is a natural process of evolving

The unfolding of our human nature toward the light of conscious awakening and deepening that fuels steady growth, which we call healing, is a natural process over a lifetime. We may have seasons of transformation or trauma, but these are not what produce steady growth. It is the after-effects of integrating them into our lives that produce overall growth and health. A tree is not the year of drought or fire in its age rings. Nor the year of abundance. It is the culmination of the many layers of rings and how it has adapted to the differing seasons and years that produces a strong healthy tree. The continued steady metamorphosis of a soul engaged in and focused on healing as it shifts from one stage to another along the path of life leads to a strong healthy life. Metamorphosis and change are not the startling moments of transformation and transfiguration, but the days and years of integration, learning and evolving toward the light, that create the becoming we are seeking.