my two thoughts:

ive actually been thinking a similar thing about a lot of different animals... not that we ARE those animals, but they symoblize us...for example a lot of scientists are obsessed with insects, and that's because, whether we like it or not we are a lot like insects... like ants. you ever study the behavior of ants? its so much like that of humans. they work all day, even if they don't know why they are. they work together. they talk. they grow underground farms. they raise aphids as livestock. they take care of and teach their children. they engineer and plan. its creepy really...

the way i like to think of it is, they share a part of our consciousness, if that makes any sense to you... someone who does nothing but work all day, only for the good of his community, sort of has an ant conscioussness... i think this applies to a lot of beings, but ants really jump out at me

this probably belongs on the spirituality board

oh, my other thought... ive noticed most people are not more beautiful once they reach adulthood. to me a child is like a butterfly and an adult is like a caterpillar