I recently had an email from a woman, whom after a great many years, discovered the octopus was her totem or guide. She asked for the symbolism of the octopus, and I respond:
Dear Cuttley:
Identifying the symbolism of the octopus can be daunting & not for reasons you’d think.
Namely because the octopus participates in the universe on many different levels. As such, it’s symbolism is vast and related discussions could potentially last forever.
As if the massive depth of the symbolism wasn’t overwhelming enough - try to getting past the visual effect the octopus has on us.
We look at the octopus and it draws us in wholly. Mesmerizing & chilling, it’s motions are hypnotizing. So I’ll start there, the symbolism of the octopus born from it’s sheer physical presence. The more ethereal symbolism’s deserve an entire book for room to expound, but I have written more about this amazing creature here.
Of its many aspects, here are just a few symbolic meanings of the octopus:
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Complexity
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Diversity
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Variability
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Intelligence
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Insight
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Vision
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Mystery
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Illusion
With eight arms, the octopus shares some symbolic meanings with the spider as well as the meanings of number eight.
Observed these eight arms circle out in motion – calling to mind the concept of spiral - this forms a symbolic bond between the octopus and the meanings of the spiral or whirlpool.
Being a creature of the sea, the octopus also shares commonalities with and symbolic meaning of fish.
Adornments like octopus medallions were worn by sailors to ward off evil. Seamen understood the eerie magic of the octopus. It’s black ink-jet expulsions and other-worldly appearance struck awe (and terror) in the observer. Hence, it makes an incredibly powerful totem, carrying great status – a symbol of protection and good luck.
Minoan art depicts the octopus (particularly on bowls or vases) unfurling. This is thought to be symbolic of the creating and the expanding of the universe.
Other associations of the octopus include:
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Rain
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Thunder
As a side-note, the octopus is also associated with the Priestess and Moon card in the Tarot deck.
Take the time to research more about the octopus – it will be worth the investment of your time. Meditate upon the octopus – focus your awareness on this amazing creature. You will find it an empowering agent for your growth. Consider yourself blessed.
More information on the animal symbolism of the octopus can be found on this page.
Hello, Thanks for the information on the octopus that you have posted here. I have very little experience with this type of thing, but I am looking into the subject because I recently had a very strange encounter with an octopus in some shallow water, and I am trying to find some way of making sense of it. The octopus came straight towards me, causing me to hop quickly out of the water. It continued to advance in an extremely direct and unhesitating way, up to the very very edge of the water. It stuck its head out of the water, turned one eye towards me and just looked at me for a long strange moment. Then he turned and swam away. The experience is resonating intensely in me, but I am not sure how to begin deciphering it, or if indeed it is even something that bears deciphering. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. Any insights you might have, or any direction you might point me in would be greatly appreciated! Best, Katy
Hi Katy, thank you for sharing this experience.
Most people go their whole lives without having such an intensely personal encounter like this.
The octopus is comprised of some very ancient, primal knowledge.
She speaks of secrets, motion, emotion, mystery, awe and wonder. She’s left you spellbound, has she not?
(I would be too!)
When I interpret anything, my foundational thought is about energy. The fundamental nature of energy is that it is
1. pulled to its own likeness
2. follows the path of least resistance
What does this mean to you and your octopus encounter?
1) Energy is drawn to its own kind:
There is something within you that resonates to the same frequency of the octopus – otherwise the encounter would have never happened. Do you have hidden mysteries? Keen defense systems? Powerful insight? Prophetic vision? Specialized intelligence? (all octopus-like attributes)
Who knows – only you know what is within you that draws the octopus to you. Consider your special gifts that resonate with the attributes of the octopus. Odds are you know exactly what I’m talking about. The octopus extends an invitiation for you to elaborate upon these inner gifts, allowing you to express them more openly.
2) Energy follows the path of least resistance:
It’s true with animal energy too. If you were cramped up emotionally, blocked up spiritually and a big cranky knot in general – the octopus would have never come to you – even if you did share similar energy patterns. This is because you would not have served as a clear conduit.
For experiences like these to happen we must serve as clear channels to allow the path of like energy to flow through us easily and freely.
You’ve given the octopus a window into the world of humankind – an opening for communication. In turn, the octopus has given you a gift – a mystery to be solved, a new perspective that has set you on a path of discovery. Indeed, what a precious gift that is.
Katy, these are just my impressions & beliefs. Take the parts that resonate with you & run with them. Ditch the parts that don’t jive with your soul. Fill all the gaps with your own beautiful understanding.
There are going to be people out there who tell you “it was the color of your swimming suit” or “the chemical compound of your suntan lotion” that attracted the octopus to you. There may be some truth to this. But who is to say the essential energy of the octopus did not call to you prior to the experience and assist you in choosing that swimming suit in the first place?
There are wonders and mysteries pertaining to the communicative nature of energy that none of us understand completely.
One fact remains, however. YOU were chosen.
In the end, only you can determine the meaning of this powerful experience.
One final thought (which should have been my first point of reference): ask the octopus.
Become still, meditative, open, contemplative, and open a channel of communication with the octopus. Nature is vastly willing to converse with us – we’ve just got to learn their language on their terms.
Ask the octopus, and she will reveal herself to you…guaranteed.
I make jewelry and I use silver, primarily wire, and have fashioned, years ago, ala Calder… animals. Recently I was useing the leftover/mistaken silver to make charms, balling it up with a hot torch and attaching closures for hanging. I was free forming the metal and adding wire here and there..suddenly I realised that there was a form there . I twisted the extentions from the center and POOF, it WAS an OCTOPUS…With eight arms complete with an arm above it’s head for hanging .
I paint as well and have had some things come out that are not from me but this…making a sculpture or a piece of jewelry takes some planning, this seemed to have just occured, with out me there.
So, of course I had to try it on. As I do with everything I make.
When i saw myself in it it was Scarry Good. I felt as though it would never go without notice. That it was friendly and fiercesome, with it’s arms extending for an embraceful warning.
Do octopus send mixed signals?…Where do these Muses come from? Why me? I do enjoy and understand the symbolism though.
—Mark
Hi Mark,
Fascinating! What a marvelous expression.
And such is the way of the octopus – it chooses to reveal itself to us in its own unique methods.
Does the octopus send mixed signals? This creature is diverse, complex and immense in its variations of meaning – but I don’t know if its signals are mixed, or if we as humans mix up the meanings she is conveying.
Thank you for sharing this experience…it has prompted me to elaborate on the symbolism of the octopus here.
I hope after reading this additional information you are able to more precisely fit the symbolism of the octopus into your philosophical puzzling.
Thanks again for sharing your insight.
Well, I am also having an exchange with the octopus world…
A few days ago I felt a very strong feeling I had to eat grilled octopus, something beyond my control. I left work and walked to a restaurant I thought would serve it – or used to do so. I sat down asked for it and unfortunately it wasn’t available any longer. I left the place. I walked thinking about options on where to go… after awhile I decided to go to a place on Washington Street. I decided to seat there and just let it be since there was no grilled octopus on the menu. The waiter came for me to place the order. He crouched and said: Before I would like to tell you the specials for tonight – GRILLED OCTOPUS ON A BED OF GREENS- I was paralyzed of joy… That octopus took me over as if it were occupying my entire body… last night having dinner with friends- We saw at a distance a couple having a romantic moment- sharing one octupus’ arm… and kissing after- I have to understand this…
Hi Margarth,
Have you read my other page on the Symbolism of the Octopus here? The thoughts and ideas I’ve listed on that page may help you further glean meaning from your experience.
I understand what you are saying here:
This will happen when we consume the body of an animal (or a plant, for that matter).
Our ancestors knew it – they knew that energy patterns are inscribed in physical matter. This principle is why the whale liver is eaten by the Inuit, why the buffalo heart is eaten by the Plains’ tribes, why the jaguar blood is drunk by the Mayan.
Matter holds within itself energy patterns that are reminiscent of its original form.
The octopus is wholly consuming in its nature, ergo, I’m not surprised it reciprocated in this fashion with your consumption of it.
I’d say the octopus is certainly making an effort to get your attention. It’s message is your responsibility to decode. Animal communications are unique to each of us.
Enjoy the journey of discovering the meanings intended for you.
Namaste,
A.
Thank you for your reply.
energy patterns are inscribed in physical matter— yes
Interesting- seeing the video, it made me recall, I used to carry in my writing box a cutout from a magazine with the image of an octopus, I was around 12 years old…
Will let you know if something special comes across…
Best,
M.
Someone from the future or something from above gave me a vision of the “template of my mind.” the first part was an octopus with dark gray/black clouds, the second part was a brillant sun; then with white clouds, the third part was a fire and white/gray smoke breathing dragon covered in scales with a tiny rainbow in each scale. Octopus!
This is fun! I have a symbolic meaning too.
The MIND is like an octopus. mysterious, multidimensional, variable, unpredictable, primordial, unfathomable
I had a vision of an octopus underwater early this morning. It was quick but I beheld this amazing sea creature. This is my first dream of seeing an Octopus.