In episode 180 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby continue their series on animal oracles with the octopus and the dolphin. They begin with the eight-limbed octopus, a creature known as the sea alien. As a symbol of the strange, not only can the octopus alter the color and texture of its body on command, but it also uses tools, solves puzzles, and can escape from seemingly impossible spaces. Like the octopus, the dolphin is a liminal being, moving between shallow waters and deep, oceanic depths. Dolphins are considered our ‘brothers of the sea,’ delivering messengers of joy, friendship, and creation.

Sources & Shoutouts:

“The Mind of an Octopus,” Scientific American

“A Dictionary of Symbols,” J. E. Cirlot

“Octopus Legends and Urban Myths,” PBS

“Breverton’s Phantasmagoria: A Compendium Of Monsters, Myths And Legends,” Terry Breverton

“Sea monsters and their inspiration: Serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more,” Natural History Museum

Dolphin Communication Project

Dolphins in Ancient Mythology, PBS

“The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images,” Taschen

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