The silkworm is the larva, or caterpillar, of the silk moth. The life of a silkworm begins when the moth's eggs hatch after about 14 days, releasing tiny larvae that begin to feed voraciously. As they grow, they molt four times, after which their bodies take on a yellowish hue and their skin becomes tighter. At this point, the larvae are ready to enter the pupal stage, and they spin themselves into a cocoon made of raw silk—anywhere from 300 to 900 meters long—secreted by their salivary glands. Inside this silk cocoon, the final transformation from larva to pupa takes place, a vulnerable stage where the cocoon is meant to shield them from danger.
However, for the silkworm, the very cocoon it builds for protection seals its fate. The cocoon is boiled to extract the silk, killing the silkworm inside. The heat makes the silk easier to unravel, but it also ends the silkworm's life.
Why is this story so important? The silkworm believed the cocoon it worked so hard to create would protect it from harm, yet that same cocoon becomes the reason for its demise. The silkworm toils, unaware that the very thing it thinks will keep it safe will ultimately lead to its end. Had it not built the cocoon, it might have had the chance to emerge as a moth and complete its natural cycle.
Question
What cocoons have I built for myself? What things do I rely on for protection, security, or comfort, that may, in fact, be holding me back—or even leading me toward harm?