The Word is Maggots - wondaboysays

TW: The characteristics of maggots are discussed throughout this piece. If you are sensitive to such content, I suggest you not continue.

The theme of the week is maggots. Yes, those disgusting larval parasites that grow and feed in warm, decayed environments including humans (myiasis). 

According to an informative Brittanica post by Anna Dubey, this form is several stages in the development of flies where they have nothing but grubby little bodies and hooks for mouths to ingest decaying organic matter, after hatching from eggs (2025). Subtypes of maggots consume a variety of different dead cells from plants to animal feces, or interchangeably both, and are even found to fester within untreated open wounds in humans/animals (2025).

Anyways... I bring this info to you because all this week the topic of maggots has been constantly coming up in discussion and media around me, while simultaneously undergoing multiple transitions like leaving my job, recognizing my bias for sexual relationships, and the death of a friend. What could it all mean? What does it mean to you, Reader?

The physiology of maggots is a developmental stage of flies, but when researched online the spiritual meaning, it symbolizes death, transformation, and discovering cycles buried within the self. As I see it in my personal situation, it clarifies itself as a massive uprooting of my subconscious beliefs and behaviors that I've utilized coming into consciousness. I left the job that I had for over a year and was so mentally, emotionally and financially dependent upon even though it was depriving me from progressing in my career path. The day before my leaving, I learned of the death of a good friend through social media that gave me the haunting realization, that at any moment I could lose a close friend. I'm still reeling from the reality of that and it's close to the feeling I have for my mother. Finally, the conception of habitually prioritizing sexual relationships over platonic, familial, and romantic relationships. Maybe I'm tearing myself down for no reason, but I think for too often in my past relationships I was pining for a sex instead of a genuine mental/emotional connection and searched for male attention when out with friends or loved ones. Writing it out, it seems harmless to have this behavior sometimes but it's a thought that goes overboard way too much for me. (I’ll write a post about this specifically later).

All in all, I believe that I'm on the right path right now in life especially after moving on to another place of work. I feel affirmed in that. But I've been feeling the weight of these transitions and it's slowing me down. Making me remember to take life slowly and not rush or put debilitating expectations on myself to accomplishing prodigious goals, as if I'm not permitted to take baby steps.

Maggots feed on what is dead to grow like scavengers. They can be parasitic and spread disease, but can also be imperative in the food chain.

Science to me is both revolting and fascinating at the same time. A beautiful middle ground, much as all things in life. Beginning and end. The known and the unknown. 

Welp, til’ next time!

Stoney <3

Dubey, Anna. "maggot". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/science/maggot-insect-larva. Accessed 1 August 2025.