Is the Devil you know better than the Devil you don’t? Conventional wisdom would answer with a loud yes. Why? Because the local devil is the one that we know; and the foreign devil is the one that we don’t. When it comes to the latter, we haven’t the slightest clue what we’re dealing with and we’ve signed up for.
Or do we?
Squids have long been a symbol among storytellers to depict the existence of an unknown danger. The threat that we feel may be a conscious one. On the other hand, we may also be grappling with a threat that is buried deep within our subconscious due to memories that are ancient, outdated or no longer within the realm of working memory; that is, memories that are needed for our survival as a species.
The Deep Subconscious
Giant squids represent the deep subconscious. This imaginary or real monster evokes fear, dread and even horror. In storytelling traditions, the squid represents the necessity to explore the unknown or forgotten terrains of our memory. This is why misunderstandings, misinterpretations and even misnomers are possible. You could even say that they are likely to occur.
Why? Oh why, oh why?
Are there personal emotional issues that have been avoided and projected outwards? Do we not realise that there is no danger? Do we avoid our own emotional issues only to later project them onto other people and new circumstances? If the answer is yes, then, we end up destroying and even devouring many good opportunities that could have taken us further.
Whenever we are about to make an important decision where there are many unknown factors, we have to ask ourselves; are we actually seeing things clearly? Is there clear transparency or are there many unknown factors?
A squid symbolises that you may not be seeing all the facts just before you make a crucial choice. It is a likely a choice that you will make over and over again without quite knowing why. Our ability to make the best decision based on our choices will be impaired if we are emotional or subjective and make fear-based decisions.
The squid symbolises someone in your life who is acting with disregard towards you. The worst part is that you may not even realise it. Why haven’t you realised it?
Remember how I said earlier that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t? How many times do we choose the devil we know when there is a better opportunity that has presented itself?
Goodbye, Sayonara, Farewell
When threatened, squids shoot out a cloud of luminous mucus or black ink. This serves as a decoy and provides the squid with the opportunity to escape. The ink is a suspension of melanin particles. It quickly disperses to form a dark cloud that obscures the escape manoeuvres of the squid. Some predatory fish are also deterred by the alkaloid nature of the discharge as it interferes with their chemoreceptors.
How does the squid actually make its escape? By fast-jetting. It doesn’t think, it doesn’t contemplate, it doesn’t allow itself to fear. During the squid’s exit procedure, it exits the water in a similar way to flying fish. They glide through the air and in the process occasionally end up on the decks of ships.
While a squid symbolises the perilous, ultimately, the squid is able to get out of a situation effectively and secure its own safety. It should, ideally, lead to a resolution that is peaceful and balanced for all parties involved.
The squid reminds us that in the event that we find ourselves in a situation that is not in our favour, we are perfectly capable of executing an escape strategy.
The Kraken
The legend of the Kraken is said to have originated from sightings of giant squid: which may grow to between 12–15 metres in length. The Kraken has inspired many artists, writers, and filmmakers, who have portrayed the creature in various forms and contexts. The Kraken may well be the largest monster ever imagined by mankind.
The Kraken is a symbol of the mysteries of a new and unchartered environment. It has a particularly strong connotation with voyagers; foreigners and foreign lands. In ages past, we primarily travelled by water.
The Kraken symbolises our deepest subconscious desires. When we truly desire someone or something, our emotions can loom large and feel monstrous. They can take on epic proportions. However, the emotion must grow large enough to become all-consuming. Our longings and desires then begin to feel like a hunger we must satisfy.
The mythological Kraken represents the part of our subconscious that propels us through the waves of emotions, as we grasp and reach for what we desire. When the Kraken appears, the time has come to no longer stifle your emotions. Instead, we should let ourselves be carried by our emotions to where we need to go.
Kraken can give you a gift. Some accounts describe the Kraken as having the ability to change colours to match their surroundings. Water’s gift is its ability to adapt and to morph depending on what is going on around it. Dreams of the Kraken can be symbolic of a great summoning. We are called to face our subconscious desires.
But first, you have to discern–do you even know where they come from?
