The ocean has been a prominent and enigmatic feature in myth and folklore across cultures worldwide. It is often depicted as a source of nourishment and life, holding immense power and mystery within its depths. In some tales, the ocean is personified as a deity or spiritual being, governing the seas and influencing the fates of sailors and adventurers. Conversely, it can also be portrayed as a fearsome, treacherous and unpredictable force, capable of unleashing devastating storms and swallowing entire ships without a trace. The prevalence of the ocean in folklore reflects humanity's awe, respect, and underlying fear of the vast and infinite expanse of the sea. One very profound way of understanding and giving meaning to the ocean in myth and folklore is to recognize it as a symbol of the unconscious.
Carving the Dragon and Crane handcrafted linocut
In the Vietnamese myth of origin, a mountain crane falls in love with a dragon who emerges out of the ocean and together they birth one hundred eggs that hatch into the Vietnamese people. Perhaps this folktale is suggesting that if we are open to engaging with and embracing what was previously hidden from us, or what lies beneath the surface of the sea of consciousness, there will be fruitful results. This is a very similar idea to the one Carl Jung advocated for with his concept of individuation. In his perspective, the Self embodies the integration of consciousness and the unconscious, suggesting that in the process of developing more self-awareness, individuals slowly acknowledge and integrate both the light and shadow aspects of the self, reaching a sense of wholeness. This idea can be extended to society as a whole in the way collectively people may not be open to new ideas that continue to remain underground that may otherwise serve everyone better.
The story’s focus on the eggs as metaphorical fruits and gifts that come from an unexpected union of opposites resembles the concept of Yin and Yang. Represented by contrasting gendered forces, both the concept of Yin and Yang and the wisdom offered by this love story highlights the interdependence and interconnectedness of these opposing energies, signifying harmony through balance between the two.
Sedna, drying the freshly printed linocut
In the Inuit tale of Sedna, a woman is deceived by her husband and betrayed by her father only to find herself drowning. In the underwater world she transforms from victim to powerful agent, becoming the goddess of the underworld and the source from whom all humans must depend for their food. Similarly to how the ocean serves as a symbol for the unconscious in the folktale of the Dragon and Crane, drowning forces Sedna to reckon with the uncomfortable and painful truth of her past, up until then her own power was a shadow, hidden just below the surface of her own awareness. It is through living in that uncomfortable place, as painful as it is, that she finds her power, her identity and her gift to others. I love how this suggests that what is hidden from us may be painful, and ugly, but also at the same time, may also be something that once realized, may help us reach our full potential. Once again, what happens above the surface of the water and below, mimics the archetype of Yin and Yang, illustrating how opposite forces are interconnected and interdependent. Through exploring folktales like Sedna and the Dragon and Crane, we gain a deeper understanding of the necessity for harmony between conflicting elements in the universe and within ourselves. By embracing the lessons of this archetype, folklore guides us towards a greater awareness of the intricacies of life and the significance of finding equilibrium amidst opposing forces.
In the Scottish/Irish tale of the Selkie, a shapeshifting seal-woman is robbed of her pelt by a human with whom she bears a child. Unable to return to her home in the sea, her skin begins to dry up and she loses her vitality. In this folktale, we learn the world that lies hidden beneath the surface of the sea is crucial to our thriving, and how we must find our skin and return to the ocean to reclaim ourselves again. I love how in this folktale it is the underwater world, the unconscious, that is our vital soulful nourishment bringing us closer to who we really are. Just as the Selkie draws strength and vitality from the ocean, individuals can look to their unconscious minds to uncover hidden beliefs, emotions, and patterns that impact their physical and mental well-being. By diving into the depths of what may have previously been hidden from us, or submerged beneath the surface of our consciousness, we can bring awareness to our emotional blockages, and cultivate a sense of inner peace and vitality, profound healing and personal growth and perhaps even finding our true selves, or skins as Selkie finally did in this folktale. Ultimately, the Selkie folktale reminds us there is a deep and vast ocean within just waiting for us to explore, we just have to reclaim it, realize that is where we can find our skin again.
In all three folktales, the ocean is great primordial saltwater womb of sorts, playing a vital role the birth of something new, or a transformation or rite-of-passage, often also involving grief, loss or pain. In the Vietnamese story, the ocean is the element from which the Dragon comes, leading to the magical coupling with a Crane which results in one hundred eggs. However, despite the heartbreak from their tragic separation in the end, there is a sense of joy that their progeny live on, a physical manifestation of the coupling of both land and sea. In the Inuit tale, Sedna’s drowning in the salt water can be symbolic of the depth to which she bravely descended into the salty tears of her own pain, and only then is she able to come to awareness of her true power and step into a more powerful and life-giving Goddess of the Underworld. In the Irish folktale, by returning to the ocean Selkie must lose her family and her only child, a heartbreaking choice she has to make in order to find herself again.
Selkie, a handmade linocut print
The ocean serves as a vast reservoir of wisdom connected to the psychic unconscious, holding mysteries and depths that mirror the complexities of the human psyche, as Carl Jung says “The sea is the favorite symbol for the unconscious, the mother of all that lives”. Just as the ocean teems with life both seen and unseen, our unconscious minds are filled with untapped potentials and hidden truths waiting to be explored. Through myth and folktales, we navigate this metaphorical ocean, finding archetypal stories and characters that resonate with our own inner struggles and desires. These tales act as guiding lights, illuminating the path to self-discovery and helping us individuate by recognizing and integrating the diverse aspects of our selves. By delving into these timeless narratives, we embark on a journey of introspection and transformation, mirroring the ebb and flow of the tides within us and forging a deeper connection to our own personhood, true authentic identity and our full potential.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Chum on Pexels
References:
Jung, Carl (1991). Psyche & Symbol. Princeton University Press; Second Printing edition.
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