Seal: The Inner Voice

In the Celtic countries the idea of the human connection to animals is taken literally. Not only is it believed that animals have the power to turn themselves into human form, but that entire clans are descended from the union of these animal people and humans. Dogs, cats, and wolves are among the animals, and one of the most widespread association is with seal-people (selchies).

Whether or not we literally believe such stories they serve as a powerful suggestion that we are more closely connected to the animals than we may think, and encourage us to study more closely the nature of these connections.

Though the seal is an animal which spends much of its life in the sea it gives birth on land. This helps us to know that there are two essential ingredients to the fulfillment of our dreams and visions. They are optimally conceived in the deepest part of ourselves and given nurturance through our the strength of our ability to imagine them with all the senses. They are then most easily realized when we help to bring them to birth with the help of practical and material acts.

Often, when we create, the feeling aspect is missing. As a sea mammal, Seal is strongly symbolic of our feeling, sensual selves, and connects us to our deep inner rhythms and knowing. As animals with intellects which we believe set us apart from other animals we often resist surrendering to these deep rhythms, being fearful that we will lose what we think of as ourselves.

Seal reminds us that we can swim gracefully with the current, and that when we do so we can learn to release the worries created by our minds. This animal, so sleek and beautiful in water, also teaches us to be at home in our own bodies and to discover our inner grace.

Seal is one of the Wild Earth Animal Essences

Seal images are available in pocket totems and crystal carvings.