Your Hangout message:


"Dear Sir, 

"Hi Sir! I would just like to ask you about moths as harbingers of death. 

"An aunt who is a Salesian nun was assigned in the early 2000’s in Vietnam. One day, while she was praying in her room, she saw a moth flying near her bed. She is not the superstitious kind but that made her pause for a while. The day after, she received a call from my father, telling her their brother died that day. 

"In 2007, I was a teaching in a Catholic school. It was my advisory class’ retreat in Tagaytay and with me was the discipline officer. I will call him Sir Rey. 

"That night, Sir Rey led the the closing talk. It was about how important it is to express our love to our loved ones because life is short. He went ahead sharing his problem at that time, his aunt who took care of him like a son has breast cancer and is very ill. As he was speaking, a moth entered through the window beside him and fluttered above his head. Sir Rey stared at the moth who flew above him for a few minutes. He became teary eyed. And as I was looking at him, I also saw fear in his eyes. The whole class became quiet. 

"Sir Rey abruptly ended the session and dismissed the class to their rooms . The next day, after morning prayer, he announced to everybody that he had to leave. He had to go back to Manila because his aunt died the night before. The whole time he was speaking to us, his siblings were texting and calling him non-stop on his cellphone which he left in his room. They were already informing him that their aunt died. 

"The reason I asked is that some nights ago, a big moth entered my bedroom window… It was fluttering the whole night. That was the first time it happened since my room is on the ninth floor of the building. I just opened my door and  waited for it to fly outside my room to the living room. 

"The next evening, as I was getting ready to sleep. A shadow was again fluttering above my head. I looked up and saw another moth. With a different design this time, flying above me. I did not give it much thought and again, I let it fly outside my room. 

"The next day, I checked my Facebook account and saw a post from one of my former students in my first job as a counsellor. The husband of the owner of that small school, died that day. It affected me so much since that was my first job. Another reason is that I got to know the owner of the school and her family well. When I was accepted for the job, we found out that their family were friends with my Mom’s family when they were living in Makati in the 50’s and 60’s.       
How is this possible Sir? Do spirits control these moths? Are they being subconsciously sent by the dying person?

"I also remember that throughout college, I would know if something good will happen to me that day or that week If I see white or yellow butterflies fluttering in front of me. Sometimes I encounter them in unpredictable places. For example, inside the classroom or while passing by a garbage bin.

"The day I was accepted in my first job I was mentioning earlier, a swarm of white butterflies were flying in front of me as I was walking towards the village gate, as if they were escorting me outside the village. 

"Sadly I don't experience this now. Also wondering why.

"I am sorry Sir for the long message. Thank you for your precious time. 

"Always, 

"________"


My reply:

Hello ______!

You are correct.

Spirits will communicate using visual imagery that you understand, and, therefore, will do so within the context of your culture. Butterflies and moths--but in particular atlas moths--indicate the presence of spirits. This is most prevalent in our country. After the big 1990 earthquake in Baguio I was invited to do a Spirit Quest at the ruins of the Hyatt Terraces. Upon my arrival in the city, while I stood outside a cafe waiting for my family to finish up with their meal, more than a dozen yellow butterflies arrived out of nowhere, covered the front of the jacket I was wearing, and stayed there for a quarter of an hour. I wish I had a camera at the time.

I must clarify something, though. The butterfly/moth is NOT the spirit, neither is the spirit INSIDE the butterfly/moth. The winged creatures are mere harbingers. Spirits are like artists who wield astral paintbrushes like wands, bidding the winged creatures to do as they ask.

That you no longer experience this simply means that the spirits of the recently deceased do not consider it necessary to relay messages to you.