What It Means If You Keep Seeing White Butterflies Everywhere + What To Do

Butterflies are most commonly associated with the process of transformation and rebirth. From caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, the process of metamorphosis has long inspired and amazed people.

As ecotherapist Anna Cariad-Barrett, DMin, M.S., MFT, previously explained to mbg, "Butterflies show us how we can go within ourselves to dissolve old forms and morph, rebuilding and evolving ourselves." They're a reminder of the importance of surrender and trust, as well, "as part of the essential process of growth and renewal," she adds.

White butterflies, like any butterfly, do have to do with themes of transformation, though according to animal spiritualist Jordana Van, there are some distinctions. "White is correlated with Heaven or however we picture the afterlife; with the infinite; and with fresh beginnings—new life after death," she says, adding, "We associate it with angel wings, lightness, and freedom from burdens."

When it comes to interpreting messages from the universe or your guides, it's important to keep in mind any personal associations you have with certain animals.

As Van explains, "If you already have something in particular that comes to mind when you see a white butterfly, then that is the first thing you should consider when asking yourself what it might mean. Messages are often extremely personal to the recipient, so a symbol that has a general meaning that may apply to most other people may not apply to you at all."

White butterflies can often be a simple message of comfort to someone, particularly if they're mourning. According to Van, "Signs like this are a wonderful balm to the loneliness we so often feel after losing a loved one. They tell us that though it may appear otherwise, we aren't alone."

Just as white butterflies go through a transformation to become their most evolved form, so too must we. Van notes they can often symbolize healing, whether it be physical or spiritual, and can even be the universe encouraging us that healing is possible.

White is, in actuality, the absence of color. As Van tells mbg, sometimes white butterflies can be telling us that our lives feel colorless, like we're going through the motions. "Butterflies feed on nectar, which is sugary, and so sometimes white butterfly tells us that we need to add some sweetness back into our lives," she explains.

Depending on how you interpret the message you're getting from white butterflies, you may wish to take some different courses of action. If the butterfly is offering you a sense of comfort, for example, there really isn't anything you have to do upon seeing it.

However, if you've been going through a time of hardship, sorrow, etc., Van explains that white butterflies can be encouraging you to face your darkness. "Facing it, feeling it, being in it so it no longer frightens us and holds us back is generally the scariest freaking thing we will ever do, but it's where our 'treasure' lies. It's how we heal," she says.

And thinking about the themes of transformation and creation, of course, white butterflies may also be pushing you to level up or evolve, particularly in terms of your spirituality.

On a more practical level, if you keep seeing white butterflies in your garden and they're wreaking havoc on your vegetables, Van explains that this can actually be an opportunity to problem-solve in a creative way, figuring out a solution to benefit both your garden and the butterflies. "Plant nasturtium in the same bed as your cabbage, kale, etc. It adds an aesthetic element to your garden, but it also grows quickly, and cabbage butterfly caterpillars love it—[which] means they'll tend to eat the nasturtium and leave your veggies alone," she notes.

Going back to Van's aforementioned point about understanding your own personal interpretations with certain animals or symbols, that idea still applies in your dreams.

As Van previously explained to mbg, "Dreams are much more personal than we realize, in which case, the symbol is supposed to get us to look at what is going on in our life and ask ourselves if it mirrors what happened in our lives the last time we experienced that animal in the aforementioned fashion. If so, what issues from that time might still need to be resolved?"