Jellyfish symbolism is present all over the world as they are found in every ocean. The jellyfish is one of the oldest forms of life on earth, and there are around 2,000 jellyfish species. They are mysterious and intriguing creatures.
What Does a Jellyfish Symbolize?
- Intuition and instinct
- Regeneration and immortality
- Movement
- Survival
- Beauty
- Hidden strength
- Being in flow
Intuition and instinct
The jellyfish symbolizes intuition or instinct. While the jellyfish doesn’t have a brain, it has managed to survive on Earth for 650 million years. Since they do everything by instinct, the jellyfish is associated with the subconscious.
The jellyfish can remind us that while it’s good to use your analytical mind, sometimes it’s better to go with your gut feelings.
Regeneration and immortality
As one of the few animals that is capable of regenerating itself, jellyfish symbolism represents regeneration and immortality. When the turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish becomes injured, they can shift their cellular structure in order to revert to an earlier stage of development. They can then become a full-grown jellyfish again.
The jellyfish can also survive in areas that are full of potential and have little oxygen. These places in the ocean are known as dead zones.
Movement
Since jellyfish never stop moving, they are a symbol of movement. Throughout it’s life, the jellyfish will never remain stationary. The jellyfish can remind us to continue moving forward as we should also never stop moving or just let life happen to us.
Survival
The jellyfish is a symbol of survival. During the winter, they have to move closer to the equator. They use their tentacles to sting and catch their prey, and their translucent bodies allow them to blend into their surroundings. The simplicity of the jellyfish is what allows them to thrive. Since the jellyfish is able to survive in many kinds of conditions, they can survive in every ocean and climate.
Beauty
You can see the beauty of the jellyfish when they float through the ocean’s currents. Because of its natural bioluminescence, the jellyfish symbolism embodies beauty. The jellyfish glows as it travels through the water and reminds us that true beauty shines from within.
Hidden strength
Because the jellyfish are an underestimated creature, they are considered to be a symbol of hidden strength. While the creature is passive, they have deadly and poisonous tentacles. The jellyfish can remind us that regardless of how someone outwardly appears, they may have hidden strengths that aren’t visible to those on the outside.
Being in flow
As it moves throughout the ocean, the jellyfish is a symbol of being in flow. They are guided by the wind, ocean, and Mother Nature since they don’t choose their own path. They are also highly efficient swimmers due to their umbrella-shaped bodies that push the water away from them.
The jellyfish can remind us to go with the flow rather than try to force something different or resist. As humans, it’s good to adjust and accept changes as they come. It can help you feel less stressed and less anxious so that you can be more calm.
Jellyfish Totem Animal
The jellyfish totem animal is considered to be a helpful talisman, that embodies the positive attributes of the jellyfish. It serves as a protective symbol. The jellyfish totem animal can be a reminder to go with the flow rather than resisting the things that are out of your control.
People with the jellyfish totem animal can be laid back and go with the flow of the universe. Others aren’t able to lie to you or hide from you because you can tell. They also have a strong intuition and aren’t afraid to explore their emotions.
Jellyfish Spirit Animal
Pros of a Jellyfish Spirit Animal
- You can reinvent yourself and begin anew.
- You possess strong instincts, and you are highly intuitive and sensitive. When it comes to making important life decisions, you let your feelings and emotions guide you.
- You are viewed by others as easygoing and beautiful.
- You will always stick to your truth even if you’re facing opposition. You can handle tricky situations with ease.
- You are dedicated to your life mission and to your craft. Even if it means putting your needs aside, you will take care of the people you love.
- You enjoy the simpler things in life.
- You like to go with the flow, rather than make waves by causing disruptions.
Cons of a Jellyfish Spirit Animal
- You can have knee-jerk reactions.
- When it comes to the people you love, you can be manipulative and possessive. Because of your stubbornness, you may repeat these mistakes.
- You can be an elusive person. While you may enjoy social gatherings, if you no longer feel entertained or comfortable, you will quickly walk away or leave.
- Since you are opinionated, you don’t hesitate to tell someone how you are feeling. You will give them a piece of your mind.
- When life becomes chaotic, the small things can more easily get to you.
Are Jellyfish a Good Omen?
Jellyfish are viewed as a good and bad omen. Some believe that the jellyfish is a sign of abundance and fortune making them a good omen. Others view the jellyfish as an omen of ill fate.
Jellyfish Tattoo Meaning
While a jellyfish tattoo can be unique to each person who has one, it can show the world that you are someone who values beauty and serenity. It shows people that you stick up for your convictions and that you are highly intuitive. You let your emotions and gut feelings guide you.
Having an understanding of jellyfish symbolism, meanings, and mythology can help you get a deeper understanding of a jellyfish tattoo.
What Does Seeing a Jellyfish in Your Dreams Mean?
It’s important to remember that dream meanings and interpretations are personal to the individual who has it. To understand what a dream involving a jellyfish may mean, you should think about how you felt during the dream. The dream can reveal issues that we need to address once we are in our wakeful state.
If you dream that you are in the sea with jellyfish around you and feel like you aren’t under a threat in some way, it’s a sign that a decision you recently made what the right choice. It is also a sign that if you are unsure about a decision, you should go for it.
Dreaming of a jellyfish stinging you means that your subconscious is trying to alert you. There might be something in your life that you have been avoiding or ignoring and this needs to be addressed.
How to Interpret a Jellyfish Encounter
When you encounter a jellyfish, it could be a message that you need to be more emotionally sensitive. You should ensure you are gauging other people’s emotions so that you aren’t making a situation worse.
A jellyfish encounter can also be a sign that there is an issue in your life that you need to become aware of. Maybe you have been in denial about something that you need to confront or deal with.
What Should You Do When You See a Jellyfish?
If you cross paths with a jellyfish, you can take a moment to consider what the sighting may mean. You can think about what you were thinking when the sighting took place and what the jellyfish was doing at the time you saw it. You can also think about the meanings of Jellyfish.
Different Kinds of Jellyfish Symbolism and Spiritual Meanings
Jellyfish Symbolism in Celtic Mythology
In Celtic mythology, the jellyfish is associated with fuath, a kind of water spirit that is sometimes compared to a mermaid or a banshee. The fuath is a malevolent spirit that is capable of shapeshifting.
In one Celtic myth, a man set out to destroy a fuath that was living in a nearby stream in the man’s village. The fuath was haunting an old mill. When the man caught it, the fauth was able to get away by shapeshifting into a jellyfish.
Greek Mythology Jellyfish Symbolism
While there aren’t any known Greek myths that involve jellyfish, a full-grown jellyfish is called a medusa. It’s thought that the tentacles look like the hair the Greek monster Medusa is known for.
Once a beautiful woman who tempted the gods, Medusa was turned into a hideous monster by Athena after she became pregnant with Poseidon’s child. Just like Medusa, Jellyfish are beautiful but because of their sting, people view them as monsters.
Japanese Jellyfish Symbolism
In Japan, the jellyfish is associated with Ebisu, the Shinto deity. According to Japanese legends, Ebisu was the child of two gods Izanagi and Izanami.
Once the parents realized Edbisu was born without any arms, they threw him into the sea but Ebdisu didn’t drown. He was able to survive and he became a powerful ocean god who commands the jellyfish and the other sea creatures in the ocean.
In another Japanese story, the dragon god of the sea known as Ryūjin, commanded his servants to go and find a monkey’s heart for him to eat. Only the jellyfish agreed to help Ryūjin so the jellyfish left the ocean and ventured into the forest.
When the jellyfish met the monkey, the monkey felt like something wasn’t right. So, he told the jellyfish that his heart could be found in a jar within the forest.
Once the jellyfish found the jar, he went back to Ryūjin. When Ryūjin saw no monkey’s heart in the jar, he became angry. Mad that the jellyfish fell for the monkey’s trick, Ryūjin broke all of the bones, leading to no other jellyfish having any bones.
Jellyfish Folklore in Oceana
According to a local tale home to the Papuan village of Mawata, there is a large jellyfish goddess named Erumía. While she is a patron saint of the village, she is the mother of the small jellyfish living on a reef called Tére-múba-mádja near Gésovamúba Point.
When Erumía is happy, there is an abundance of fish to eat. She offers blessings and good luck to the people. During times when Erumía is not happy, she will sting anyone who crosses her path to the point of death.