When we see a fuzzy caterpillar it is hard to believe that someday this ugly, crawling creature will one day soar on wings as bright as any flower.

Before this change comes about, the fuzzy little worm withdraws from its caterpillar world, finds itself a place alone, and painfully, with much struggling, wraps itself tightly into a cocoon of its own making; it seals itself off from the world. Time passes, and gradually a crevice appears in its hard outer layer, and finally a new creature emerges, quite a different little creature too. It begins to flutter its wings and becomes familiar with its new surrounding, going from flower to flower gathering up strength from each and at the same time, leaves the pollen that it has gathered up from each flower it has visited.... thus enabling the flowers to make seeds and be born again.

Chemically dependents have much in common with the butterfly. Time was when we were unlovely creatures too. Then we found a program, others with the same disease. We shared with each other and gathered strength and hope. Soon we came out of that little cage into the light. We go through our growing pains and emerge very different creatures too.

We carry to others what we have found, and as we to others, we are strengthened by them, and in turn, we leave with each one some of what all the others have given us.

The butterfly is a spiritual symbol. It represents transformation, beauty, fragility, and has been described as the Kiss of God.

The butterfly surrenders to change and emerges beautiful and free. When the chemically addicted surrenders to a program, they are reborn and a butterfly emerges.... And butterflies are free.

-Anonymous