In Julia Alvarez’ historical-fiction novel In The Time of the Butterflies, three sisters are called the mariposas. They are revolutionaries who, like butterflies, represent freedom during a repressive regime in the Dominican Republic. I couldn’t stop thinking about this connection when I saw this symbol in real life. Swarms of monarchs rested on blue gum eucalyptus and quickly fluttered away. My mom explained that in the winter months, monarch butterflies west of the Rocky Mountains travel to coastal California. While its annual migration period and population are in danger, the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove provides a microclimate for their namesake animal. When they are protected, butterflies truly are free, elusive and ethereal.
“The butterfly effect is an often misunderstood phenomenon wherein a small change in starting conditions can lead to vastly different outcomes.”