I have always been drawn to butterflies, so beautiful and delicate, they are joyful to watch as they spread pollen from flower to flower, propagating new life and growth. I am so aware of their short precious lifespan, with some butterflies living their adult stage as long as 13 months, while others only 24 hours.

Butterflies have mystery, symbolism, and meaning and are a seen in many cultures as representing spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope, and life. The magnificent, yet short life of the butterfly and its beautiful transformation through its four life stages from chrysalis to adult butterfly serves to remind us that life is short.

The butterfly demonstrates the cycle of life from our birth, how we grow, evolve, and at times of adversity how we grow some more. As a therapist who has worked and supported patients holistically with a cancer diagnosis, I feel the Butterfly Cycle represents the physical and spiritual growth we face in life.

When people go through a cancer diagnosis and their treatments, they can experience loss in many ways. Initially they can often be processing shock and anger at their diagnosis. They are also dealing with fear of the unknown, the now uncertain future before them.

If surgery is required, this can change a person’s perspective of themselves and be confronting while adjusting to this. For some, reconstruction surgery will be available when their treatments are completed. While this offers light at the end of a long tunnel, it can also seem a long way off.

For others that option is not always available and this can lead to resentment, anxiety, depression and in turn grief.

People can lose a sense of themselves, who they used to be and the person they were before cancer. This is not necessarily at the time they are going through surgery and treatments, it can be a year later or even longer when life is meant to be back to ‘normal’.

I have delivered reflexology, reiki and massage treatments to patients who are going through this process. The treatments have facilitated a space for stillness and relaxation, me time, allowing the patient to acknowledge their emotions and release them if they wish. Many patients have expressed how going through this difficult time has changed them for the better, it has led them to revaluate their life, their career choices and way of life.

The reality is that most people do return to a life resembling their life prior to cancer and often with a renewed perspective on life. Unfortunately, some will have experienced more radical surgery and treatments to give them the best chance of a full recovery and this can impact their daily life physically and psychologically. At times I have referred patients to a counsellor for additional support alongside their treatments.

I had a male client who was three years post cancer and physically well again. He had never received any complementary therapy treatments or counselling throughout his cancer treatments and surgery. He received Reflexology and Indian Head Treatments and almost within the first ten minutes of treatment he broke down. He explained how he just ‘got on with it’ throughout his cancer treatments and didn’t want to talk to his wife or family as he felt he was burdening them. He managed to do this until he was told he was cancer free and could get back to work. It was at this time he struggled emotionally and psychologically. He felt trapped in the cycle of fear and was still in shock at what had happened to him.

I know many therapists will recognise this cycle and will have had clients who emotionally release upon the first touch and treatment. We recognise this is the power of what we facilitate, how delivering our treatments with a gentle butterfly touch transcends words and permeates through to the very heart. For this client I recommended counselling through a cancer centre and I continued to treat him for another year. It was wonderful to watch as he acknowledged his emotions, releasing them, evolving and finding peace within.

Butterflies show us how we can go within ourselves to dissolve old forms and morph, rebuilding and evolving ourselves, noting that they show us the importance of surrender and trust “as part of the essential process of growth and renewal.”