A sad-sounding butterfly with several spiritual meanings, the mourning cloak butterfly is interesting and unique.
It’s large enough to easily see, but it has several defense mechanisms, such as camouflage, which means you might miss one even when it’s right in front of you.
Also known as Camberwell beauty (in the UK), white petticoat, and grand surprise butterfly, its name is thought to come from Ancient Greece.
Fun fact: Since 2001, the mourning cloak butterfly has been the official insect of the state of Montana, US.
Let’s now see the mourning cloak butterfly’s spiritual meaning and symbolism.
What Does a Mourning Cloak Butterfly Symbolize?
This species of butterfly is unusual and unique in many ways. Just one of them is its lifespan.
It can live for more than eleven or twelve months, which is actually a rather long time for a butterfly.
The butterfly has several other spiritual meanings and symbolisms, however… not all of them are completely positive.
Seeing a mourning cloak butterfly can be a sign of a long, healthy, and prosperous life.
Spiritual Meaning of Seeing a Mourning Cloak Butterfly
As mentioned in the name, the mourning cloak butterfly can appear before you, either in real life or in a dream, when you’re going through a period of mourning for a loved one or friend.
It could also be a sign that you are going to be in mourning at some point soon if you’re not already.
Spiritually, this butterfly species is linked to feelings of loss, sadness, and grief.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to go through a period of loss, sadness, or grief yourself.
It could be a sign that you need to be there for someone else who is in mourning – wearing their mourning cloak.
Also read the meaning of seeing a monarch butterfly.
Spiritual Meaning of a Mourning Cloak Butterfly in Dreams
Sticking with the theme of loss and grief, dreaming of mourning cloak butterflies could indicate a big sacrifice in your future.
Rather than grieving for someone, you might find yourself grieving for something, or a part of yourself instead. This can include things like:
- Quitting a favorite hobby or pastime to accommodate a partner, friend or a loved one;
- Giving up a much-loved job because it doesn’t pay enough money to cover the bills;
- Getting an injury and needing to stop something you love;
- Breaking up with someone you love because you don’t have the same views in life.
Read the meaning of seeing a black and yellow butterfly.
9 Mourning Cloak Butterfly Spiritual Meanings and Messages
The mourning cloak butterfly, also known scientifically as Nymphalis antiopa, is very often linked to sad things.
It is also a sign of good things too, however. These positive connotations are quite often overlooked.
As well as being black in color, these butterflies also have small spots, usually cream, white, or off-white.
These are a sign that not everything is lost, and not every mourning cloak butterfly carries a bad or dark spiritual message.
1) Leading You to Happiness
Seeing or dreaming of mourning cloak butterflies can be a sign that the bad times are almost over.
Whatever sad slump you have found yourself in, will soon be over. This is where the cliches come in: there really is light at the end of the tunnel!
Do you feel sad, lonely, lost, or grieving? The butterfly is telling you to hold on, carry on, and keep your chin up.
It will guide you, spiritually and forwards, to a time when the gut-wrenching pain doesn’t torture you every day. And that day does eventually come!
Read the black and yellow butterfly spiritual meaning.
2) Guiding Your Loved Ones
Passed-over people can sometimes get their spirits ‘stuck‘ down here on Earth.
They hang around in a middle point, somewhere between here and there, making noises and alerting you to their presence in what are usually the most terrifying ways possible.
Mourning cloak butterflies aren’t just guiding you to happiness; they’re also guiding your loved ones to where they need to get to, too.
This butterfly sign should be taken as a positive one.
The fluttering creature will make sure that your deceased loved one doesn’t get stuck in the middle for too long.
3) A Message from the Other Side
Have you recently lost someone close to you? If so, seeing a mourning cloak butterfly could be a little message from them.
They’re letting you know that they’re doing okay, they’re happy, and you should take some peace and comfort from that.
4) Stop Running from Change
Change is scary for all of us sometimes, but avoiding change entirely is a great way to self-sabotage.
You must embrace change and everything it brings, both good and bad, in order to evolve and move forward in life.
If you don’t change and evolve, you’ll get left behind.
If you are afraid of making a change in your life, whether it’s a big or small one, here’s some really great advice: Break it down into smaller chunks.
Instead of “get a new job” being on your to-do list, break it down into sections. These could be:
- Look for a job online;
- Fill out application forms;
- Write cover letters;
- Send off application forms.
Yes, it means you’ll have more steps on your to-do list, but the smaller, bitesize chunks make it easier to process and carry out.
Read the green butterfly spiritual meaning and symbolism.
5) It’s Time to Let Go
Your mind might immediately spring to grief, loss, and sadness, but there might be other things in your life that you need to let go of, such as:
- Bad places of employment, bad partners, bad living situations, and more.
Maybe you’ve been holding on to a grudge for so long, you barely even remember what you were angry about in the first place.
What’s the point in holding on? It’s not bringing any joy or light to your life, and it’s not doing anything to your ‘enemy’.
It’s time to let go of whatever has been plaguing you. Just let it go. (You can sing it if you want. I did.)
6) Good Luck is Coming…
… But only if you’re ready for it.
Think of the mourning cloak and accompanying good luck as a carrot on the end of a stick.
You’ll need to put in the work to get it, but when you do, it’ll be oh-so-tasty and enjoyable.
Peace, serenity, good fortune, and good luck are right there, within reach.
You just need to reach out and grab them. (Metaphorically, of course; don’t literally grab the fragile butterfly.)
7) A Sign of Transformation
A person can transform in a wide and varied mix of ways.
For some, it can be a personal transformation, losing or gaining weight, building muscle, increasing cardio for heart-health, etc.
You can also experience other transformations, such as:
- Spiritual;
- Emotional;
- Magical;
- Religious.
The mourning cloak butterfly is similar to other butterflies in that it goes through a caterpillar stage, then transforms into a butterfly.
Seeing one might be a sign that you‘re about to go through a transformation of your own.
8) You’re Being a Little Selfish (Maybe)
If thought the dog-eat-dog world was bad, wait until you’re dropped into the mourning cloak butterfly world!
As youngsters, this species is known for being incredibly selfish.
They’ll do everything in their power to get the best food, best territories, and more.
The mourning cloak will go as far as to EAT their own brothers and sisters to get ahead.
It’s time for an uncomfortable question.
- Have you been a little (or a lot) selfish lately?
- Are you thinking of being selfish in the future?
If yes, the mourning cloak is a reminder that the universe and your high power see everything.
Can you cope with that? Even when no one else is around to judge you, the universe will be… and so will your own conscience.
9) A Reminder: The Circle of Life
As Elton John sang: “It’s the circle of life“. And it is just that: a circle.
Death always feels very sad, but it should be remembered that with death comes life. With dark comes light. With evil comes good.
Going through bad times right now, regardless of what they are, doesn’t mean that you’ll always have bad times.
You have the power to get out of the slump, and there is good in your future. You just need to keep a little faith.
Read the pink butterfly spiritual meaning and symbolism.
Is Seeing a Mourning Cloak Butterfly a Good Luck Sign?
Even when the mourning cloak butterfly is a symbol of grief, loss, and death, it‘s marking the ‘end’ stages of that patch.
In short, it marks the beginning of the end, which is a good sign for you if you’ve been elbow-deep in sadness with no way of getting out.
I’m Seeing this Butterfly Every Day! Should I Be Concerned?
Seeing a spiritual symbol repeatedly is often a sign that you’re ignoring messages, signs, and guidance from the universe, a higher power, your spiritual self, or somewhere else.
How many times have you seen the butterfly?
It’s taken you that many times to start searching for a spiritual meaning, so it’s a good job the insect kept coming back, isn’t it?
The mourning cloak butterfly may also come back to you time and time again if you need it.
Maybe the first visit didn’t soothe your grief and sadness as much as it should’ve done.
Just like other types of treatment or healing, if the first set doesn’t work, a second and subsequent sets of treatments are on the cards.
Perhaps that’s why the unique butterfly keeps coming back.
Before you leave, read the meaning of butterflies in the Bible.
Final Words
Mourning cloak butterflies are a sign of new beginnings and a way for the universe to remind you to keep going.
No matter how hard your life may seem right now, things will get better. You got this! You’re stronger than you know and the universe has got your back.
Julia is a world-renowned spiritual teacher from Sweden, who quit her job at Google to pursue her dream of becoming a digital nomad. I help spiritual seekers step into their purpose and power. Passionate about astrology, meditation, nomad life and the law of attraction.