Journal Entry #17: Moth Symbolism and Meaning -

This last week my best friend texted me that a moth showed up for her, and then one showed up for me right after! And then another a day later. All three moths were different species.

The first moth showed up in the hallway, it was tiny with patches of brown and tan on its wings. And a very interesting wavy pattern across the wings.

I saw the second moth on the front glass door. It was tiny, green, and had a white wavy line across its wings. There was a white fringe running along the edge of its wings.

I spent some time looking these two moths up on this website and discovered they were the Meal Moth and the White-fringed Emerald Moth, the best that I can identify.

I chose the Moth as the newsletter Spirit Animal for today and looked up moth symbolism and meaning to see what message it was bringing to me.

Moth Symbolism and Meanings:

Moths are known to be attracted to bright light at night and often are attracted to porch and street lights, but also light that is harmful, like a candle flame or a campfire. They do have an internal guidance system that draws them to moonlight, but get fooled by other lights in our environment.

Moth can teach us to listen to our own internal guidance system which is our intuition. If we stray from it and are attracted to the brighter shiny lights, it could be to our demise. The light we are searching for is inside of us, not outside. We need to turn inward to our own inner light, our intuition that will guide us on our journey.

Moth’s message is don’t be distracted by things that take you away from your own inner light. Those “artificial lights” will pull you away from your true light.

Being nocturnal, Moth can represent the darker side of change or transformation, such as a loss or an ending relationship. But life is a cycle, and although there is loss, there is rebirth and the opportunities that fill the void. The past falls away as new doors open and just as the caterpillar goes through a tremendous change, it emerges from the cocoon transformed.

Moth Symbolism and Meanings:

Shadow work
Intuition
The Divine feminine
Moon energy
Yin energy
Psychic abilities
Transformation
Inner knowledge
Discovery of higher self
Moving past false beliefs
Independence
Meditation and introspection

Moth teaches us to turn inward for the answers we are looking for. When you are struggling with something, the first person to look for answers is yourself. If there is fear or trauma within, and the light is hidden in its shadows, it is time to face the darker side of yourself and move past the limiting beliefs that hold you back. We all have darkness and shadows we journey through as we search for our inner light that will guide us.

The physical changes a moth goes through from a caterpillar to a beautiful colored winged insect parallels our own metamorphosis as we work with our dark shadows and life changes, and emerge into the light with our own wings of transformation.

Watch this video to see the full life cycle of a beautiful Chinese Luna Moth. As you watch the changes this moth goes through, think of your own life struggles and changes. The concept of your own transformation becomes more clear as you watch this beautiful caterpillar transform into a new being. Same as you as you grow through life!

Watch This Caterpillar Turn Into A Chinese Luna Moth | The Dodo

Here’s my attempt to draw the White-fringed Emerald Moth. I thought this moth was really pretty. I drew it with pen and made it too wide, but oh well, it was just a quick sketch and I’m still working on drawing quick sketches.