bloodteethandflame

Lately whenever I meditate or ask the Universe about my own practice/devotionals – I get visions of jellyfish.

Though I hadn’t ever looked up what jellyfish represent (as totems/spirit animals), I decided to research the symbolism of jellyfish recently.

According to the descriptions I found on several ‘what’s your spirit totem’ websites, jellyfish symbolize a need for surrender, a spiritual nudge to go with the flow and the necessity of trusting the process.

Now anyone who knows me would know why I would be both intrigued and horrified on several levels concerning that message

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I have always had an unreasonable fear of jellyfish.

I cannot even look at a picture of a jellyfish.

I will admit that I get uncomfortable just seeing them on TV (such as how they are prominently featured in that Prevagen commercial.)

In short, Jellyfish FREAK ME THE FUCK OUT.

And yet, I should not be surprised at the irony of this situation in that a creature that I’ve always taken great pains to avoid – the jellyfish – should be one that represents the exact spiritual concepts with which I have been struggling.

I imagine that the Universe must be having a good long laugh at my expense regarding this latest development as jellyfish and the necessity of surrender have combined to create a rather intense two-for-one push out of my comfort zone, eh?

 (NOTE TO SELF: DON’T LOOK NOW )

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      ( AAAAIIIIGGGGHHHH )

So, here’s a few interesting things I’ve learned in my research about jellyfish:

Despite being biologically and rather structurally ‘basic’ creatures, jellyfish have survived for millennia.

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Their diet consists of whatever food supply (small organisms) they come across while floating in the ocean, as they have very little mobility/agency of their own compared to most sea creatures. In this sense, jellyfish are more at the mercy of the tide and currents, the wind, or whatever gets in their way as they float in the ocean than most other creatures.

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Unimpeded, there’s a certain species of jellyfish that are practically immortal – the Turritopsis dohrnii – the immortal jellyfish [pictured above].  These jellyfish only die from outside influences (injury, being eaten, etc.), as this species of jellyfish can revert back to its earlier polyp form at any time. In this regard, it is easy to see why this jellyfish could symbolize infinity.

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As well, most jellyfish do not seem to have many natural predators. That’s right – there aren’t many creatures that hunt them/prefer to eat them. Therefore, the jellyfish population is primarily kept in check through misadventure/outside influences. In a sense, the jellyfish is symbolic of an organism that trusts and relies on the abundance of the Universe to exist.

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Coupled with that near immortal/infinite existence, jellyfish have come to symbolize vulnerability, trust, and surrender.

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So I take these visions to mean that – as much as I hate jellyfish – here’s another sign of the Universe asking for my SURRENDER.

Latest message: More let go…more give in.

*sigh*