The Beast of Power: Octopus - a teacher of disguise, survival and an adviser to thinking outside the box

Octopuses are extraordinary looking sea creatures. They move with extraordinary grace along the ocean floor, almost silently. The unique physical characteristics of octopuses have given them an endless list of symbols as well as spiritual attributes. This sea creature is a master of dress-up. He comes to us to teach us about survival, fitness and flexibility.

Octopuses belong to the group of cephalopods, such a group belongs to the type of eight-legged molluscs. These creatures can be found in almost all water bodies. Their population extends from the tropics to the poles. They inhabit coral reefs as well as shelf sands. Modern octopuses are a diverse group into which about 300 species are classified. The smallest individuals weigh only 3 decagrams, and the largest relative, called the giant octopus, approaches 2 meters. The variety doesn't end with the size. Some cephalopods have a mantle between their shoulders, while others have very long and movable arms out of proportion to their head. Octopuses have joined hands and have no skeleton, making them agile, fast and able to deform their bodies into the most exquisite forms. The unusual arms of molluscs are equipped with hundreds of suckers, and each such tentacle has distinct mobility and taste buds. In addition, cephalopods have as many as three hearts and blue blood. Also noteworthy is their ability to disguise. Like no other marine animal, octopuses can camouflage themselves in the blink of an eye. Sometimes they take the form of coral, sometimes algae, shells or look like a sandy seabed.

Some of the octopuses crawl on the sand, shuffle through the waves or through the silt. They swim only when they want to change their place of residence or escape from a predator. Others, on the contrary, are carried away by the currents and travel with them through the depths of the oceans.

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Octopus in culture and traditions

Cephalopods were generally viewed as deep-sea monsters with extraordinary abilities. There are many stories and legends about this unusual creature, as well as paintings and stories. In Greek mythology, we can find the legend of jellyfish whose appearance and behavior were influenced by these sea creatures. Off the coast of Norway, a myth arose about a huge octopus, known to this day as the Kraken. On the other hand, the Hawaiians used to tell their children a story about a creature from outer space, which is an octopus. In general, for the inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea, cephalopods were creatures that deserved respect and worship.

The meaning and symbolism of the underwater creature

The water and its movement, along with the combination of the octopuses' unusual physical properties, create a mysterious aura. Although cephalopods are in constant motion, they remain at the bottom of the ocean. This means that despite the changing world, they are always grounded. It is that they symbolize the need to move smoothly through our emotional states. These creatures, due to their physical characteristics, also have the flexibility needed to survive in everyday life. Like other animals inhabiting the underwater kingdom, octopuses symbolize not only purity, but also creativity. Thanks to their intelligence and strategic thinking, clams have become symbols of logic, reason, strategy, focus, knowledge, and unpredictability.

People whose totem is an octopus have the intellectual ability to get out of oppression alive. Thanks to the help of cephalopods, they can recognize boundaries, they know perfectly well what task they can handle. They are aware of their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, these people think outside the box, perfectly manage their own time, which helps them to carry out several plans at the same time.

When an octopus crawls into our lives

When a mollusk appears in our life, he wants us to relax, loosen up and streamline our own thoughts. At the same time, he admonishes us to keep our eyes on the intended goal. He wants us to give one-sided attention to all plans and actions. It reminds us of what we really need, it shows clearly that we need to get rid of old fashioned beliefs. When this happens, we usually find ourselves in an unsettling situation that we cannot resolve on our own. At this time, the octopus gives us strength, instills a balance of time and brings us the direction we need at the moment. Thanks to this, we can concentrate on several tasks at the same time and complete them with complete success. The spiritual animal that is the octopus also reminds us that we need to take care of our physical body, spirituality and psyche. He commands caution and admonishes us not to let other people exploit us. Because when it does, it reassures us that we've come a long way.

When the octopus appears, he wants to make us aware that we may have extraordinary intuition and be a spiritual being, but nevertheless we are a person with a tangible form that we must temper. Creeping into our lives, it can also push us to develop the perfect escape plan, as the octopus totem teaches you how to smoothly, quietly move away from awkward situations and blend in with your surroundings. Due to the absence of a skeleton, the mollusk saves its own life, getting out of oppression without the slightest injury. Perhaps he encourages us to abandon the collision and move forward, restoring our strength. He wants to pass on his knowledge and skills in the field of camouflage. Through this transformation, we will be able to merge and adapt to any situation that arises.

So if we're stuck in a sand rut, we're having trouble dealing with a particular situation, or we're unable to handle a huge amount of tasks, we can turn to the octopus. Our world is changing and we are constantly changing. Cephalopods, that is, this unusual animal, will help us to adapt correctly, indicate the ideal path and teach us a lesson in survival.

Aniela Frank