Octopus

[sally austin]

Octopus appear in my dreams, usually showing only their tentacles.They tend to grab and pull people into the water. In the waking world, I'm drawn to their image, to me they're seriously beautiful creatures.  

There are 300 known species of octopus, with more being discovered in all the world's oceans.  They learn quickly and usually die young as reproduction often results in death. Their complex nervous system allows their arms to act independently, camouflage themselves and taste with their suckers.

Octopus primary defence is to hide or intimidate. A secondary defence may be releasing ink, removing an arm and sometimes fighting back.  The blue ring octopus has the added advantage of being venomous enough to kill a human though all octopus' have venom.

Octopus generally have keen eyesight, though colour vision varies between species. They have an excellent sense of touch but can't sense where their body parts are in relation to the rest of their body.

To me Octopus represents change, camouflage, adaptability, shapeshifting, intelligence, curiosity, cunning.

 According to to "What's your sign" the octopus symbolises

• Will, Focus.Magic, Reason, Illusion, Defense, Mystery,Strategic, Potential, Knowing, Diversity, Creativity. Flexibility, Expansion, Complexity, Intelligence, Adaptability, Insatiability, Unpredictability

In folklore octopus come in many forms.

 The Ainu, the indigenous people of Northern Japan, believed that Hokkaido's Funka bay is protected by a red/orange octopus referred to as Akkrokamui. Shintoism, a Japanese religion, has chosen to also honor this spirit as well.After hands and feet are washed, It is offered the same foods mundane octopus eat, that being fish, mollusks, and crab.

Akkrokamui and other octopus spirits, such as Nade yakush  represent healing, cleansing, and renewal.

The Hawaiian god Kanaloa is represented by octopus and squid  Kanaloa, protected those at sea, the sun when it's in the southern sky, found hidden springs, wilderness, He teaches magic,  He often works with Kane, the god of fresh water.

Kanaloa

[SunKat]

Great discussion and a good addition to our collection of totems.  Thanks Sally!