SEA HORSE

What Do Horses Sea? by Manitu Okahas

What do horses sea
Where the shallows be
To find a new perspective
Of balance and equality
We see the role reversal
In a creature that is mystical

Mystical and magical seahorses are found in tropical and temperate shallow coastal waters around the world.  There are close to 50 species of this unusual fish.  Among the smallest of these is the pygmy seahorse at about 1/2 inch tall.  The Australian big bellied seahorse is among the tallest at about 12 inches tall.  They prefer to live in the sea grass beds, coral reefs, and around the mangrove roots where they feed on tiny crustaceans and plankton.  In these waters, they anchor themselves to the available vegetation with their tails.

Possibly the most unusual characteristic of this fish is its method of procreation.  After a pair has mated, the female lays her eggs, up to several hundred, in a pouch on the male.  Once the eggs are placed in this brood pouch, the male fertilizes them and carries the eggs until they hatch.  This gestation time can be anywhere from 14 to 45 days depending on the species.  Once hatched, the young seahorses are released to the sea.

The wide spread but sparsely distribution of seahorses has sparked myths and legends around the world.  In Mexico, they are symbols of money and prosperity.  The Chinese see them as medicine.  According to the Maori and some other Polynesian descendant cultures, seahorses are the guardians between worlds and facilitate the travel between those worlds.  According to the Greeks and Romans, seahorses pulled the chariots of Poseidon and Neptune.  Capricorn may have been inspired by the seahorse.

Symbolically, the seahorse challenges our ideas of strict roles based upon gender or other characteristics of the body.  In most animals on Earth, the female gives birth and cares for the young.  However, as we see with the seahorse, this is not always the case.  As a symbol and a lesson, the seahorse asks us to question our assumptions and find a new perspective of balance and equality.

There are a number of other meanings given to the seahorse.  They are seen as a symbol of strength, perseverance, and power.  Some see them as good luck and the bringer of opportunity and prosperity.  Our ancestors often equated them with ingenuity, creativity, and alchemy.

These creatures of the shallow seas are often seen as holding power in the watery realms.  They hold authority over emotion and intuition.  They are believed to bring the subconscious forward.  The seahorse is a creature of vision, perception, and psychic ability.  Some believe them to be the keeper of Earth's histories and a guide for those lost at sea.

No matter how you perceive the seahorse, this enigmatic creature captures the imagination.  Their charm and grace invite curiosity, creativity, and mysticism.  Exploring with the seahorse might just lead you to the depths of your subconscious.

Some of the sources used for this article are:
mationalgeographic.com
pbs.org
uniguide.com
whatismyspiritanimal.com
​projectseahorse.org