The ladybird emerged from her pupa
A day she’d awaited so long
The day she would finally take her place
In the family to which she belonged
Four stages of transformation
paved the way for this day:
Egg into larva, larva to pupa
Now her spots were on their way
She came from an eight-spotted family
Her mum and her grandma and all those before
Had shiny black spots, four for each wing
She expected no less and no more
With growing anticipation
She emerged from her shiny shell
Searching for spots, where she saw they were not
She worried if all was well
Her mum said, “no need to panic
What will be will be in its own good time
Spots or not, you are truly a wonder
Don’t doubt the divine of your design
Time went by and the ladybird’s shell
Matured to the deepest of reds
But not a spot was got, whether she liked it or not
Dread faded away to acceptance instead
But it hurt that the other ladybirds
Always gave her the widest of berths
With no spots to denote her family
They couldn’t see her worth
But the ladybird held her mother’s words
Cherished them close as she grew
She was made by design of the lady divine
To trust in the path was all she could do
As the ladybird learned to accept herself
So the others accepted her too
And it turned out she had a way with words
That helped them to see their way through
In a world where it seemed that spots
mattered more than the lady inside
To find one who could see things clearly
Was a wonder that none could deny
So she spread a little peace in her corner
Helped others see past the spots where they’d hide
Each lady now walks the path of her truth
Allowing her wisdom to guide
Thanks for joining me for this very special Sunday rhyme time.
Did you know that ladybirds undergo four distinct stages of metamorphosis? Egg, larvae, pupa and adult. I didn’t until I first wrote this poem back in 2022, but their amazing transformation journey is equal to that of a caterpillar to butterfly.
I’ve reworked this poem a little for today’s post, you can read the original here if you’re curious. But what I’m finding utterly fascinating about the ladybird, is her insistence on delivering meaning.
The original post saw me being stalked by a ladybird who eventually found her way into my hair in the city of York to insist I write about her, which I did.
The other night I was sitting on my bed reflecting on my first life coaching call (and finding myself lacking) when a ladybird landed on my arm (in my bedroom, at night, with no windows open). Curious. It got me thinking about what the ladybird might mean, and when I revisited the rhyme I’d written, it felt like she was giving me encouragement.
A few days later a whole group of ladybird’s appeared in my bedroom, and I found myself pondering their meaning again. I’ve written before about how I believe we create our meaning, and later that day my friend Melanie commented on my blog, quoting some of my own words about meaning back to me! (Strange coincidence, or does it mean something?)
That evening, I read Melanie’s recent inspirational Substack about the divine feminine (which you can read by clicking here), and though I know very little about the divine feminine, it seems to appear in my original ladybird poem. Huh? Or rather, HUH?!
I left the windows open and the ladybird’s disappeared from my bedroom, but as I sat down to write this post this morning, they reappeared. It feels like magic people; beautiful, rich, meaning-laden, awe-inspiring, I-haven’t-got-a-clue-but-I-like-it threads of magic. I also found a pretty cool one-liner I wrote, and in an effort to claim my voice as per Dr. Gladys McGarey’s advice in my last post, I’m going to quote myself:
We create the meaning, but from that meaning we create.
Photo by Katii Bishop on Pexels.com
You won’t hear from me next week as I’m on retreat, but I’ll fill you in on my return. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on meaning and synchronicities? Do we get signs from the Universe? Is it all chaotically random and we see meaning where there is none? Does it matter?
Rae Cod’s Writing 
I seek the meaning of those little events too, Rae.
I used to believe it was all random, coincidences. But, as I’ve become more open to the possibility that I have no clue what the true nature of reality is….I have to say I see so much meaning all around me.
It’s gotten to the point where I often simply let fate pick my books, a random browse through the bookstore will gift me exactly what I didn’t know I needed to hear. Or I’ll open the page and my favorite quote, will be quoted there.
It feels like I’m being guided. I definitely feel there are messages “in the ladybirds”. 🙂
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I so agree, I love the idea of being guided to books and finding what you need to hear.
I just read your comment after I’d found and highlighted a particularly meaningful passage in a fiction book I’m reading, yay for the messages from the books and the ladybirds 📚 🥳 🐞
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Perhaps I just choose to believe that ladybirds are magical little creatures that never fail to bring messages of hope, comfort and encouragement. This has always been the case for me; ladybirds have appeared inside the house when I was most in need of these messages, including when I had a rather bad case of Covid. And now I’m inspired to eventually write a blog about them too! Thanks, friend!
But listen Rae, the other weird synchronicity is that there were 2 of your quotes I found in my journal and the other one was: “Never doubt the divine in your design.”! I don’t even remember if I was following you yet when your first ladybird poem came out, or if you’ve used that line since. 🤷🏻♀️ But I was surprised and excited when I saw it here today.
And it IS an amazing poem about the divine feminine! “She was made by design of the lady divine.” I love that so much!
I ponder those 3 excellent questions you ask too. I find the Universe to be intelligent, generous and often benevolent. I don’t know how it all works, but why would humans wonder about and seek meaning if it wasn’t important? We have obviously evolved to this place where meaning matters tremendously to many, if not all of us!
It makes life SO much richer and WAY more fun and turns mundane moments into sacred and divine encounters, so why wouldn’t we ascribe meaning to lovely ladybugs and every other touching and unexpected encounter with nature?
Does it matter? It matters very much to me.🐞❤️
Will miss you next week but have a wonderful retreat. Can’t wait to hear all about it. And thank you for your lovely words and the link to my blog! You have magic in your soul, dear budding Life Coach. 🌱 🧚♀️ 🌷
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The HUH has been replaced with a WHOA! 😮 That’s so crazy that the other quote you had was the exact one from the original ladybird poem 🐞
It really is all coming in with the ladybirds and thank you for telling the meaning they hold for you too, it seems they’re little rays of red-hued light making their way into our hearts when we need them (one was in my van today which I haven’t driven for weeks & another crossed right in front of me on the pavement 🐞)
You asked “why would humans wonder about and seek meaning if it wasn’t important? “ I’ve never thought about it that way before but now you’ve said it, it makes total sense and it really does bring so much more to life when we notice it.
Thanks for all your support Melanie, looking forward to catching up with you in a couple of weeks ☺️
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As the ladybird learned to accept herself
So the others accepted her too
And it turned out she had a way with words
That helped them to see their way through
I like that stanza. Good advice that seems timeless.
Do I believe the Universe talks to us? Yes, but you have to pay attention to what’s going on around and within you. It’s not like the Universe is Wile E. Coyote holding up a sign in front of you. That’d be too easy.
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Thanks Ally, I like that one too.
You definitely have to pay attention, I suppose the meaning we receive from that attention is our reward for giving it! (& maybe every once in a while Wile E. Coyote shows up, but not too often I hope!)
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Your poem is so lovely! I guess I learned about the 4 stages back in school, but I’d kind of forgotten about it. It really is amazing how much they go through!
I hope you have a nice time on your retreat!
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Thanks so much Michelle ☺️
I don’t remember ever knowing the 4 stages, there’s so much I never learned (& forgot!) but I suppose it’s never too late.
Thank you. Hope all is well with you and catch up with you when I get back.
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I’ve never heard these called ladybirds before. We always call them ladybugs. And they have taken over my home… haha lovely poem though!
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You have them moving in too, amazing 🤩 I like the word ladybugs, it sounds soft & snuggly, but it’s always been ladybirds in the UK, not sure why as they look nothing like birds! Glad you enjoyed the poem ☺️
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