I know I’ve been a bit obsessed with caterpillars and butterflies lately but here’s one more story about them which was written months ago as part of this One Cause series.

Also, don’t miss two new feature being premiered today: one intended to encourage more connection and conversations within this community, and a second one especially designed for young ones being premiered today.

Now, imagine a caterpillar. It spends its days munching leaves, living a life it’s perfectly suited for, never questioning its place in the world. In fact, they develop a voracious appetite. For example, a monarch caterpillar can eat 200 times its weight in milkweed leaves. Some species even gain 20% of their body weight in an hour.

Then one day, something shifts. It stops eating, forms a chrysalis, and begins a transformation so radical that it emerges as a butterfly—a creature almost unrecognizable from what it once was. This process, metamorphosis, isn’t just an extraordinary feat of nature. It’s a powerful metaphor for the moment we find ourselves in as a planet, a people, and a generation.

Right now, the world is in its chrysalis phase. The old ways of thinking, living, and being are breaking down. The stories we’ve relied on for centuries—stories of separation, domination, and consumption—are crumbling under the weight of their consequences. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s absolutely necessary.

A New Story Emerges

For centuries, we’ve lived by a story of separation—a story that says:

“I am me, and you are you. Nature is out there, and we are here. What happens to the Earth doesn’t affect me.”

It’s a story that has allowed us to clear forests, pollute rivers, and fill the skies with carbon without stopping to think about the consequences. But as the world shifts, another story is emerging—a story of connection, of interbeing.

This concept of interbeing is eloquently discussed by Charles Eisenstein, Bayo Akomolafe, and Alnoor Ladha in their trialogue, On the Cusp: A Trialogue About the Shift. They remind us that everything is connected. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat—it all ties us to the Earth and every other living being on it. For a long time, this idea might have seemed abstract, but now it’s becoming tangible. We see it in the way pollution travels across oceans, in the way climate change affects ecosystems thousands of miles apart, and in the way a single tree can support an entire web of life.

For young readers, think about the last time you planted a seed, recycled a bottle, or simply paused to notice the birds outside your window. Whether you realized it or not, you were practicing interbeing. You were part of the story of connection.

But here’s the thing about stories—they don’t just exist. They’re created, told, and retold. And every single one of us has a role in shaping this new story.

Embracing the Chrysalis

The chrysalis phase of metamorphosis is a messy, mysterious process. Inside that cocoon, the caterpillar essentially dissolves into goo before reforming as a butterfly. It’s a time of profound change, and frankly, it looks a bit chaotic.

Sound familiar?

Our world is experiencing its own chaos. The climate crisis, social inequities, political divides—it can all feel overwhelming. But what if, instead of fearing this mess, we embraced it as part of our transformation? What if we saw it as an opportunity to imagine new possibilities and let go of old ways that no longer serve us?

Eisenstein, Akomolafe, and Ladha suggest that uncertainty isn’t something to solve; it’s something to explore. When we step into the unknown, we open the door to creativity and discovery. For young readers especially, this idea might hit home.

Growing up is its own kind of chrysalis phase. You’re figuring out who you are, what you believe, and how you want to show up in the world. And just like the caterpillar, you don’t have to have it all figured out yet. The beauty of uncertainty is that it allows you to grow into someone you might never have imagined.

Crisis as Catalyst

Here’s the truth: the challenges we face are immense. The planet is warming, species are disappearing, and ecosystems are unraveling. But here’s another truth:

Crises are often the birthplace of transformation.

In nature, a forest fire can look like devastation. But in the ashes, seeds that have waited years for sunlight finally have the chance to grow. Similarly, the crises we face today can clear the way for new ideas, systems, and ways of living. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.

In their trialogue, the three thinkers explore how moments of crisis often ignite transformation. These moments create openings for rebuilding—not just to what was, but to something better. For example, during the pandemic, people around the world discovered just how interconnected we are. Communities rallied together to support one another, and cities saw cleaner air as cars sat idle. These glimpses of change remind us that even in the hardest times, there’s potential for renewal.

Your Role in the Transformation

Now, here’s the exciting part: you’re part of this transformation. Whether you’re 12 or 25, a parent or a grandparent, your actions matter. You don’t have to do everything, but you can do something. And those somethings add up.

Maybe it’s starting a compost bin in your backyard.

Maybe it’s speaking up about climate action at school or organizing a community cleanup. Or maybe it’s simply changing the way you think about your relationship with the Earth.

What do you imagine your transformation might look like? How about sharing it with our community here by leaving a comment below?

New Feature: Every legitimate comment will enter you to win an autograph copy of Rainforest Shaman (book 1 of the Eagle and the Condor series). That’s how much I value hearing from you. You deserve a reward.

The Eco-Guardian Team—Zak, Tess, Iya, and their companions—are navigating this transformation too. They’re learning to challenge old narratives and create new ones, just like you. And the Greens family shows how these ideas can play out in everyday life, from small decisions at home to bigger conversations about the future. Their stories remind us that no matter where you are or what your life looks like, you can be part of this journey.

A Butterfly in the Making

As we wrap up, let’s return to our butterfly. It doesn’t become something new overnight. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to change. But when it emerges, it carries the gift of transformation—not just for itself, but for the world it inhabits.

Our world is on the cusp of something extraordinary. And you? You’re part of that. The choices you make today, the stories you tell, and the actions you take all help shape the world we’ll emerge into.

This isn’t just a story about challenges. It’s a story about possibilities, about hope, and about the beauty of becoming something new. The chrysalis is messy, yes—but oh, the butterfly it holds.

So, what will your role be in this transformation? Let’s find out together.

Introducing: Eco-Guardian Training Camp

I’m excited to share the second new feature that’s been quietly growing behind the scenes—Eco-Guardian Training Camp, a special section written just for our younger readers. These short entries are delivered by members of Zak Bates’s Eco-Guardian Team and are designed to bring the ideas of One Cause to life in ways that are simple, soulful, and practical.

Since these will be part of the book, I thought… why wait? Why not begin sharing them here with you, my Substack family, as they emerge?

Today’s post includes the first new one: a moonlit fireside chat with Iya and Ompa on the power and mystery of transformation. I hope it speaks to your heart—and maybe even the heart of a young reader in your life. If so, please share it with them.

Eco-Guardian Training Camp with Iya, Ompa, Logan, Piper…& You?

The moonlight flickers gently through the canopy as Iya, Listener of the Forest, sits cross-legged near the glowing coals of a jungle fire. Ompa, her father and a respected shaman, adds a pinch of dried leaf to the flames. It crackles—not loudly, but with the sound of something ancient remembering itself.

Iya’s voice softens as she speaks to Logan and Piper, who sit wide-eyed beneath the stars. But the words feel like they’re meant for you, too—like a secret passed along from heart to heart.

“There is a time in every transformation,” she says, “when nothing makes sense. When the old is falling away, and the new has not yet arrived. It’s easy to feel lost then.”

Ompa nods. “The caterpillar does not become the butterfly in a day. Inside the chrysalis, it melts. It dissolves into something unrecognizable—until slowly, something new forms.”

Iya leans in closer.

“If you feel unsure or confused right now, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it right. The world is changing. And you are part of that change.”

Practice for the Path:

* Find a quiet moment this week—maybe before bed or after a walk—and draw your own “chrysalis.”

* Inside it, write or sketch how you’re growing. What old thoughts or habits are melting away? What new ideas are starting to form?

Ompa adds one last ember to the fire. The sparks rise like fireflies.

“Remember, my young friends,” he says, “you are never alone in the chrysalis. We are transforming together.”

P.S. And… please cross your fingers for me. This week I’ll be submitting a massively comprehensive book proposal for One Cause to Berrett-Koehler Publishers—an independent publisher whose mission is to connect people and ideas to create a world that works for all.

More soon… and thank you, as always, for walking this path with me.

With gratitude,Brad(Eco-Author, Grand-Dude, and Co-Creator of One Cause)

Unleashed - W. Bradford Swift & One Cause is for those who know we’re meant to live in deeper harmony with the Earth—and each other. If this vision resonates, subscribe to receive weekly reflections and bold possibilities for our shared future.

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