Life on Mother Earth began in the sea, the primordial ocean soup that we all have in common. Over time, some creatures evolved as sea dwellers, others came out of the sea to live on land. Whales, including dolphins, which are a part of the whale family, are ancient creatures. Like other mammals, whales once lived on land. They had arms and legs. If you look at the bone structure of a Humpback Whale’s pectoral fins it is an anatomical match to the human hand, right down to the bones in the fingers. About 50 million years ago these mysterious animals went back into the sea.
It didn’t happen overnight, but over time they adapted to life in the great oceans of the world. Their arms became pectoral fins. Their legs disappeared and became tail flukes, a non-bony structure that propels them through the sea. They are the world’s largest mammal. Rarely seen Blue Whales can be 120 feet long, weighing approximately a ton a foot. That tops the scales at nearly a quarter of a million pounds! Seafaring naturalists say that the heart of a Blue Whale is the size of a small car. Their veins are said to be the size of a man’s leg.
In spiritual terms whales are known as the record keepers of Mother Earth. They are the caretakers of the stories. Coastal shamanic cultures rely on them for a variety of reasons. Whales, in particular the Humpback Whale, are known for their beautiful songs. Different tribal cultures believe that sound holds the world together. Many indigenous peoples believe that Creation was sung into existence. If we can find our own voice in the world, our own creativity and unique sound, we can metaphorically sing ourselves into existence. Whales are a symbol of resurrection as well. They can dive down to the ocean floor, to the depths of the world, and then, with a powerful effort they can soar out of the water in a magnificent breach. If we dive deep into our own lives, have courage in the face of sometimes murky and dark waters, we too can soar into the light.
Please read Oshada’s blog post Whales, The Great Mystery, and Us.