Butterflies DO Land On People
Back in 2004, I wrote an entry about butterflies and how I had never had one land on me.
I talked about Hawthorne’s quotation:
“Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne
I had decided it was baloney and challenged my readers to post in the comments if they had ever had a butterfly “alight” on them.
“If you have ever once had a butterfly alight on you, I want you to leave a message. In all of my days of staying still and waiting for them, I have never once had a bloody butterfly land on me. Ladybugs? Yes. Flys? Hell, yes! Butterflies? Not once.”
Every summer since, I have received new comments from people talking about the butterflies that have landed on them. Just today, Leslie commented:
“Last Thursday I had a monarch butterfly land on my hand of its own accord while I was getting ready to leave work. The butterfly first flew past me and then turned around and landed on my hand. It was relatively windy that day, and the butterfly had to hold on tightly (which is did). It stayed on my hand for 20 minutes or more! I even put a picture of it up on flickr and called it My Numinous Experience.“
“It was awesome! One of my first thoughts was that it was my Dad’s spirit coming to visit, and that filled me with happiness! Yes, I too will remember this magical time forever!!”
Here is the picture she is talking about:
Since I wrote that piece, I HAVE had many butterflies alight upon me. It’s not because of some mystical occurence, however. Mike and I went to the butterfly exhibit at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park last spring. With that many butterflies in such an enclosed space, it’s no wonder I had a couple land on me.
Mike even got a picture:
It’s funny how entries that I wrote so long ago have almost found a life of their own. Rereading it was like reading it for the first time. I was so unhappy back then that I didn’t believe that butterflies ever landed on people. With so many lovely comments from people all over the world, my faith in the beauty of the world has been restored.
Laura,
I don’t know if I’ve had a butterfly land on me, but I did rescue a butterfly once and it was a very moving experience for me at the time.
Comment by Braidwood — 9/8/2006 @ 9:37 am
I have been searching for such a thing….For the last 4 years, every year, I can go out to my garden and have this type of black butterfly with a white trim land on my hand at request…
I stand there and summon them or him or her, whatever.
I have about 4 differant types of butterflies all the time. The only one that will flirt and land on me is this black type. I have had only one time for about 5 months that I couldn’t or they wouldn’t come near me and that was in I was in a relasionship. Or it was winter and they weren’t there…I am not certain because I wasn’t home a lot. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, i AM PERPLEXED. When I stand out in the garden in a certain place, I am mentally calling them.. My cat seems to “hear” me and it affectionate and come to me thinking I am summoning him…? Help me understand if you can?
Thanks and best regards…
Heather
Comment by Heather — 9/17/2006 @ 10:59 pm
As a child, I had butterflies land on me each summer from age 9-17 (in VA). I would stand in the same vicinity (at the end of my driveway — same residency for all years) each summer and hold my arms out with my palms up. They were always active around dusk (4-6 PM). Many times they would land on the pavement, but would always land on me at least 5-10 times during a 30 minute interval. My younger sister, parents, friends would all try “the method” but no one but me seemed to have success — I’ve always found it perplexing. Maybe a certain body scent? Anyway, I’m still unsure what kind of butterfly (or potentially moth) it was, however it closely resembles a monarch with the brown/orange coloring — more brown, less orange with distinctive spots at the tips of wings. A wonderful childhood memory. I saw the same butterfly here in Chicago yesterday and today — I held my hand out — no luck as of yet, but they’re fluttering close! Very exciting.
Comment by Julie — 5/8/2007 @ 4:59 pm
I have never seen as many butterflies as I have this year, and the funny thing is they constantly land on me, proposing the question “does this mean I will have lots of good luck.” I really hope so, and help with this question would be greatly appreciated
Comment by Heather Richmond — 9/9/2007 @ 6:19 pm
The butterfly
It is the 3rd of October 2007
at 12:07 AM.
My wife and son were finishing eating our steak sandwich at a most famous Philadelphia landmark and tradition, Pat’s steaks – on 9th and Federal street, or there about – next to Ginos in South Philly.
The most beautiful monarch butterfly few between all,
the masked souls eating their steaks and fries, it gracefully guided through the air and landed, then tranquilly gazed into my eyes after landing upon my arm.
We locked in a union that seem to last forever
sharing everything that life has to offer – more after life has gone.
The momentary trance ended abruptly, the butterfly guided away in a rainbow like spiral.
Leaving me confused, empty, but so very special
as Prometheus watching his skin healing.
I thought of poetry
of life,
its comings and goings
of beauty.
To all, all that have touched me
or I have touched.
thank you
Mark
Comment by Marl — 10/3/2007 @ 12:07 am
01/25/08 This happened the spring and summer before this one. Everytime I walked out the front or back door I was covered in butterflies! My mother always loved them- and so do I . She’s not been able to live on her own lately, and had to be in assisted living; but was pretty healthy; I kept thinking the butterflies were a hint of something to come. I photographed them and did watercolor paintings to send to her in a journal scrapbook as a gift to her. Everytime I walked my dogs in the woods I’d have butterflies stuck in my hair and all over my sweater. She died Christmas week. I still believe the butterflies were there to help prepare me. Now, every morning and afternoon, there are two doves waiting in the tree in my front yard. Call it coincedence? Maybe. And maybe, your turn will come and you’ll change your mind…until then…thanks for letting me share!
C.
Comment by Colleen — 1/25/2008 @ 1:50 pm
I jut love butterflies. How amazing to have been that close to them.
Comment by Jan — 1/30/2008 @ 2:51 pm
My brother Matthew had a butterfly land on his figer, just like your picture.. he walk from out side all the way inside the house to show me, after 3 minutes of being on his finger it flew away. I took a picture but my cell was stolen. it was unbeleivable
Comment by Irma — 5/17/2008 @ 11:50 am
May 27th 2008
Today a black monarch with white trim landed on my hand and stayed there for several minutes. I have been talking to it for several weeks now and it landed on me while I was swimming last week. It flies right to me on my lounge chair and sits there and then back and forth to a leaf on the hedge. Since I have been aware of it, I know it knows of me and thats why today when I saw it I said “come here pretty butterfly and put out my hand, it immediately went there. I was thrilled. This happened one other time but about 6 years ago and only for a second.
I find it interesting that its the same type described by others. My Mom also passed recently and believed she sent it to communicate with me.
Its so nice to share this knowing that others have had this wonderful experience. I guess we are so busy in our everyday lives that we don’t realize that nature is waiting for us to notice and has many gifts to share in the miracle
of life.
Blessings to All
Dj Drea
Comment by Dj Drea — 5/27/2008 @ 9:35 pm
I’ve always had a relationship with butterflies since I was a little girl. My Sister and I would play in our backyard, and each Spring/Summer, a large Yellow and Black, or Brown winged with yellow trim would come and land on each of us, and stay several minutes…then, years later when singing at an outdoors Church camp the song about “butterfly kisses” ( a Dad signing about his little girl growing up), several butterflies came under a packed revival tent, and landed on my hand during the entire song…it was unbelivable, and witnessed by about 100 people – we were all blessed!, and even now, as a 50 year old woman, back in the Family home, after my Parents have passed, and my Sister’s passed, my Teenaged Son watches in awe as I go out to the same back yard, and I put out my hand, and call to the butterflies, and they come to me, and stay awhile. He is amazed, as he watches it happen over and over again…I read today, that the in Japanese culture, the butterfly represent’s a person’s spirit or soul…I feel as if I’m being blessed by loved ones that have passed before, or simply by one of the most beautiful creations God has provided us…I feel as if Heaven must be full of thee beautiful creations just to bless us and remind us that we are loved by God! –I am so glad I found this site….and see others have had these same visitations.
Comment by Janet Hitchcock — 6/10/2008 @ 2:53 pm
Just yesterday [[6-21-08, first day of Summer]], I was outside in my backyard by our pool. I just got out side and it was like super warm outside. I was walking around on our deck when this big brown butterfly circled around me a couple times, and then just landed right on my arm for no apparent reason. It was holding on pretty tightly… And it stayed there for a couple minutes, just looking at me and walking around on my arm. Then my brother opened the sliding door and the butterfly flew away.
It was really quite odd… I mean, last year, I would stay out in our flower garden where all the butterflies hang out, and I would stick my finger out next to them on a flower, and gradually, I earned their trust and they would just fly right up onto my finger and walk around there until another butterfly would come and shove it off. :]
I’ve heard that if a butterfly lands on you that it’s good luck… I hope that I get lots of good luck for upcoming highschool next fall!!! =)
Comment by Michelle — 6/22/2008 @ 11:12 am
This morning I went outside with my cup of coffee. On the bench where I was gonna sit was a butterfly. I reached down slowly with my fingertip and it crawled on. I couldnt believe it. I went inside and woke my wife up just to show her and ask what it meant. She said she believed it meant good luck so i googled “What does it mean to have a butterfly on you?” and found this place. I held the butterfly for about a minute before i took it back out side to the bench and let it go and then watched it flutter away. Amazing.
Comment by Sean — 6/29/2008 @ 8:25 am
a coulple of weeks ago i was sitting on the deck with a special man admiring the work he had done and wishing that i could be a part of his world there was a white butterfly that went around me once and then landed on my chest, now thats good luck everything has been fantastic ever since….i am a firm beleiver they do bring good luck…and peace to a person
Comment by susan — 7/5/2008 @ 8:37 am
I have had butterflies land on me on several occasions, usually when I’m outside reading or writing a book. In fact, just a few minutes ago I had a butterfly that REPEATEDLY laned on my toes and I couldn’t get it to go away.
Comment by Amy — 7/16/2008 @ 11:04 am
Today I went outside for a smoke and a yellowish butterfly lander on my arm and tonight while I was in the garden a white one flew around me and landed in the same place. I’m eargerly awaiting the lottery results lol
Comment by pete — 7/16/2008 @ 3:55 pm
Wow. Awesome storeis. I guess I’m not alone. Interesting. Over a month ago, a brown butterfly landed on my knee. It left and then returned to exactly the same spot. I thought it odd that it returned to exactly the same spot after flying far away somewhere. Then, I did something to my back and have been suffering with back pain. I dreamt that a butterly landed above my right eye, left, returned to the same spot. Only it was red with a black circle on it. I relayed this dream to my acupuncturist who said it was a message for her. She gave me a specific treatment because of the “message” in my dream. My back is getting much better. For three days in a row, since I’ve been getting better, a brown butterfly has been visiting me, landing on my right toe, as I sit on my deck. It is the exact same one. He is brown with white and yellow spots. He is not one of the most beautiful butterflies I’ve seen, but I feel as though he is my friend. He sits on my toe for 15 minutes. My husband came out, and it flew away. I had white sneakers on one day, and barefoot the next, yet he lands exactly on the same spot. One time he fluttered off the toe and landed on my right arm for a few minutes. I don’t know what it all means, but that is why I googled the internet about this. What is the odds of the exact same butterfly landing on the same spot three days in a row? Is he the same one who visited me about a month ago, before my back ailment? Other butterflies pass through my yard, but none have landed on me as this guy did. It is just bizzarre. It really puts you in a “zen” state of mind when it happens three days in a row. I am leaving on vacation tomorrow morning, and I must say, I am going to miss my “friend.” I wonder if he will be there when I get back.
Comment by Monica — 8/12/2008 @ 2:20 pm
My boyfriend and I was sitting on the porch, out of nowhere a beautiful monarch lands on his pant leg..I was excited saying “look” then it flew off him and landed on my stomach, The weird thing about this is that I think i’m pregnant, 20 weeks to be exact, but since my tubes been tied for 8yrs now doctors think I’m crazy! but that made me think, god works in mysterious ways, maybe thats a sign..
Comment by Celeste — 8/24/2008 @ 5:08 pm
I’ve had the pleasure of having the same butterfly come visit me for the past 18 days, it has been an amazing experience !
I’ve taken numerous pictures. It comes at the same time and leaves at around the same time also…it is really neat !!
Comment by Martha — 10/1/2008 @ 8:13 am
I don’t know what it is but, butterflies follow me all the time. In the spring and summer when they are out of course. It happens in front of people who are looking at me in disbelief! My friends cant believe it because we could all be sitting down outside and butterflies start to come out of nowhere and they start to flock me! I swear its really bizarre! If i get up to shoo them away they come back and follow me. Its butterflies of all kinds and white moths.What does this mean??
My friends will laugh cause I swear its really strange. I mean people are like a foot away from me and the butterflies totally skip them and just come directly to me and there is nothing i can do to get them to go away! Eventually I have to get up and go inside cause they try to get in my clothes.I dont wear any special lotion or anything that could be attracting them so I don’t know what it is. Does any one know what it could be?? Is this a good or bad omen?
Comment by Guisella — 4/13/2009 @ 11:55 am
I just wanted you to know that a friend sent me this web page. I have been sending pictures of butterflies I meet in the wild. They will land on me and I photograph them. I just met two more yesterday. I have lots of stories to tell. Last year over a 1 1/2 period I kept going back to this same spot in the woods at the same time. There were two different butterflies that couldn’t wait for me to show up and they would land on me immediately.
Comment by Patrick Crone — 6/13/2009 @ 7:49 pm
Penguin Dicitonary of Symbols reads that a butterfly landing on a person presages a visitor or death in the family. My father had a Cabbage White rest on his chest the day before he went over to the Other Side.
Comment by fran — 8/8/2009 @ 7:13 am
I’ve had many people tell me different things about what it means for a butterfly to land on me…I’ve had at least 25 butterflys land on me….One today it was a big monarch…If you have any insite on why email me..But all I know is that I dont even have to be still they find me..And the weird thing is I hate insects spider’s anything that crawls I jump when it gets on me.But never have I once swatted or even flinched when I notice it on me…I have to shoe it off me most of the time so I don’t hurt it..
Comment by Joseph Taylor — 9/27/2009 @ 4:23 pm
At my grandparents I’ve had a white butterfly land on my hand. And a butterfly land on my eyelashes. Unaware what had landed on me I screamed and a butterfly flew away. And at a park with my friends a dragonfly landed on my eyelashes I screamed again. My friend said a dragonfly landed on me and they all started to laugh. I do not understand why either the two should land on my eye lashes since I was moving and laughing loudly. So far I know no one in my family to die. Though dragonfly’s still fly at me. Butterfly’s I now seldom see.
Comment by Ailis — 10/18/2009 @ 5:18 pm
I have always been envious of those who have had butterflies land on them and never been successful with them myself. Maybe I am too impatient. However, this morning I had my first butterfly encounter. I have suffered with depression my whole life, More so even after the death of my mother several years ago. Today I was more down than usual feeling quite lonely and despondent during a morning walk. I took a seat in a sunny spot on a bench and a butterfly flew past, turned around and allighted on my sneaker. I was enjoying the small common-looking brown/black spotted fellow, slowly moving my hand toward him, when he accepted my invite and crawled up my arm. I felt blesssed. What a great lift to my day. I could not help but wonder why after so many years of loving the little creatures from afar, one would be so accepting. He looked old, maybe a little battered, like me, although I am not quite 50. Thank you Lord..
Comment by judi — 10/31/2009 @ 12:34 pm
was eating lunch enjoying a young girl laughing as a man parked his hog. She said “rum rum rum” as if she was on her imaginatory bike too. Suddenly an orange butterfly landed on my finger – ’signs and wonders.’ I’m certainly not going to let that one slip by me. Needless to say, when the biker left McDonalds, the sweet child (once again) got on her imaginatory bike and clapped her hands. What moments to be seized!
Comment by Tamala — 11/5/2009 @ 1:58 pm
When my second son was a baby we went swimming at a lake in ohio, I was sitting by the edge of the water with him when a huge monarch butterfly landed on the back of my hand. I couldnt believe it! It just sat there for a minute or so before flying off. I was so amazed by this I even tatooed a butterfly on the edge of my hand!
Comment by Kristi Wilson — 4/6/2010 @ 9:51 pm
Yesterday while walking in my backyard looking at my garden, a beautiful butterfly (brown,Orange and yellow) landed on my shoulder at first it scared me to death and I jumped. It flew away. But it kept coming back, flying all around me. Back and forth. It landed on me four times. I called my son to bring me the camera. When it landed on the ground I took lots of pictures of it. One time I had the camera and it landed on my shoulder again! I turned the camera around and took the best picture I could. I feel lucky and special. I also feel that this is a good sign, that I am a good person and that good things will come my way.
Comment by Kelly Warren — 5/21/2010 @ 6:48 pm
Several weeks ago, my husband and I noticed a smallish brown butterfly land on a table on my deck. Then we were surprised to see that it came back almost every day in the early evening, perching on a deck post or this same table. A couple of weeks ago, I was bent over checking my tomato planter and the butterfly came around and landed on my backside! I called it Goldie and it is now my routine to go out each evening and stand near that table to visit with my friend. Twice now is has fluttered by me quickly and then returned to sit a while on my shoulder. Once in a while it has a buddy that flits by and picks it up – they go off on their wild flight but my friend always returns to me or the table. I feel so blessed to have these sweet moments! I will be sad when it no longer comes by.
Comment by Barb — 7/1/2010 @ 7:50 pm
Just within the last week, I’ve had two different butterflies land on me. One was on my foot for several minutes, I put my hand closer. Then the butterfly sat on my hand for several minutes, that was a few days ago. Today I was coming out of Wal-Mart and once again a butterfly landed on my leg, so I put my hand closer to it and then it was on my arm for several minutes. Before this week, I can’t ever remember this happening. I felt like I was in a cartoon, just kidding. I was so cool, does it mean anything?
Comment by Teresa — 7/13/2010 @ 11:16 pm
Today while my wife and I were walking through WalMart I had a strange feeling someone was watching me. I turned my head to the right to look behind me and there it was, a butterfly. It was sitting on my shoulder with not a care in the world. My wife used a sheet of paper to remove it from my shoulder. We then placed the butterfly on a shelf. It was the most beautiful butterfly I have ever seen. What does it mean? If anything. I thought it was cool and starting searching the net for explanations. Some say it will bring luck others say it is a dead relative and some say that it just liked the color of my clothes. What ever it means I thought it was great.
Comment by Ken — 7/17/2010 @ 4:49 pm
I’ve felt so happy reading the comments here. I have had many butterflies land on me over the years, mostly just for a few moments. Then last weekend I was gardening and my husband called to me to say: ‘there’s a butterfly on the back of your arm, Sheila, it’s been there for about five minutes’. As he said this and I stood upright and turned to look, it flitted from the back of my right arm to my right hand; a brown winged butterfly with lighter amber markings. I froze and just gazed at it, not wanting to frighten it away. It stayed another several minutes, until I said: ‘well, how am I to do any more planting with you on my hand, little butterfly?’ As if in response, it flitted straight over to my left arm. I went on gardening, my husband stood transfixed.
In all it must have stayed on my arm (I’ve only ever had them land on clothing before, not my skin) for at least twenty minutes. Then I held up my arm and told it: ‘I have to go in now’ and again as if in response, it flew away. What a magical experience!
Comment by Sheila — 7/23/2010 @ 9:44 am
I knew as soon as the butterfly landed on my arm it was a beautiful and rare thing!x
Comment by joy — 8/12/2010 @ 3:04 am
Today, August 15th 2010 – Finally a butterfly was on my sundeck. I slowly approach this beautiful butterfly, my boxer (Baby) was with me. First my boxer saw it on the rail of the sundeck and approached quietly and touched it with the tip of her nose. It did not fly away and just walk down a short distance. My husband came out to see what we were doing, I crept closer and I swear this beautiful, colorful butterfly let me pet it a least for 30 seconds and it flew away. My husband said he had never seen or heard anyone petting a butterfly or even a dog coming in contact with a butterfly. Now I can tell you all, I felt so special for having that experience, that love when all over me, my boxer looked at me with love in her eyes as I was looking at her. I will never forget this.
Comment by Joan Hanson Taylor — 8/15/2010 @ 4:28 pm
Today, I was on my front porch busy cleaning on something, and I noticed a monarch fluttering all around me, so I stood very still hoping it would land on me. I really didn’t think it would because I’ve had butterflies fly all around me but they never have actually landed on me. I guess it was my lucky day. It landed on me several times. It would flutter around then land and it continued to do this all over my shirt! I’m taking it as a sign of good things to come. As of late, things have not been so great. My husbands job had been very slow, and I have been very worried about our situation. The past few weeks my husband has been working steady, and things are going better. No matter how small it may seem for a butterfly to land on me,I’m taking it as one more reason to stay positive about my life!
Comment by Michelle Hampton — 8/16/2010 @ 9:14 am
I’ve had a mysterious re-occurrence of butterflies landing on me. There is really nothing that links the breed, but so far I’ve had an albino butterfly on me, a monarch orange black and blue, then finally a meadow colored butterfly with white flecks. It started last year sometime and since then they land naturally on me. I can try to remove them carefully so not to damage their wings and they come back. I’ve even had them on me while trying to find rest. I’ve tried looking up the meaning behind it, but all I can seem to do is find they mean good luck. Well don’t know if it helped, but figured I’d contribute my experience.
Comment by Lindsay — 8/16/2010 @ 1:28 pm
Yesterday I was standing at the gas pump when a butterfly came at me it began flying around me landing in my hair and flying all around the car and then landing on my right shoulder. It was a beautiful butterfly with bright colors of Red, Brown, Yellow, black and more….
Comment by Cee Cee — 8/17/2010 @ 10:20 am
Yesterday i was sitting on the grass with my girlfriend. We had had a pretty serious row, well nearly
two days of rowing – she was upset at something i did and i was equally upset as i thought she was over reacting and blaming me in the wrong. Anyway we were
making peace with each other and as we started to get close and affectionate butterflies started landing on
me. It was a warm sunny day and there were a good few around. But it has been a long time since i have had
a butterflies landing on me like that. I feel it was a good sign and it added to the good feeling of making up to my girlfriend. Maybe these creatures can sense things like my spirit being at ease and so
feel it is safe to alight. I love my girlfriend and i love butterflies. Right now as i sit at my computer on a Monday afternoon at work there has been
a housefly landing on me. I wonder what that means
Comment by Patrick — 8/23/2010 @ 9:16 am
I didn’t know where to go to find out. I have seen the same butterfly, well i think the same butterfly everyday. It is a beautiful black and blue one. I have seen it since Monday outside my work when i go out for a break it fly’s around me and lands beside me never on me. Today when i left for work i say one that looked exactly the same. what does this mean if anything.
Comment by Amanda — 8/26/2010 @ 2:00 pm