The Meaning of Butterflies...

Because it evolves from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and then emerges in its full glory from an inert cocoon, the primary symbolism of a butterfly is that of the soul, transformation and rebirth—the creation of life from apparent death. To the Chinese, the butterfly is an emblem of immortality. Conversely, because of its flight behavior, the Japanese regard it as a symbol of fickleness and compare it with vain women; a pair of butterflies, however, signifies marital happiness, and a white butterfly represents the spirit of the dead. Christian tradition accepts the butterfly as an emblem of resurrection (the caterpillar signifying life and the cocoon death), but has additionally considered it a symbol of vanity and transience because it lives for such a short time. In Ancient Greece, Psyche was represented as a butterfly because both shared the same name. In dream analysis, the butterfly denotes new beginnings.