symbolic meaning of the seahorse

Symbolic Meaning of the Seahorse

Last Updated on May 24, 2021 by Avia

Sensational Symbolic Meaning of the Seahorse

Lots of cultures consider the seahorse to be extremely magical and lucky. Much of this has to do with the unique symbolic meaning of the seahorse. It has an odd way of living, and let’s face it – these creatures are kinda funky looking too. This article explores more about the special symbolism of the seahorse.

The symbolic meaning of seahorse is quite intricate and diverse as this little creature itself is full of surprises. The seahorse is quite a unique creature, and thought to have mystical significance among the Ancient Greeks, European (alchemists) and Asians.

The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god Neptune/Poseidon and as such, the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power.

Furthermore, the ancient Europeans believed that the seahorse carried the souls of deceased sailors to the underworld – giving them safe passage and protection until they met their soul’s destination.

Chinese cultures believed that the seahorse was a type of sea dragon, and as such they were revered for their power and thought to be symbols of good luck.

Sailors have long viewed the seahorse as a good luck charm too.

Symbolic meaning of Seahorses carry the following significances…

Symbolic Seahorse Meaning

  • Patience
  • Protection
  • Perspective
  • Inflexibility
  • Persistence
  • Friendliness
  • Contentment
  • High-Perception
  • Generosity/Sharing
symbolic meaning of the seahorse
symbolic meaning of the seahorse

“The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.”

~Kate Chopin

A relatively calm, and mild-mannered creature, the seahorse is seemingly content to roam the seas. Their bodies are geared for ambling-type motion – not for speed. Thus, they are symbolic of patience and contentment – they are happy with being where they are, and are in no hurry for advancement.

Further testimony to these attributes is the lack of evolution of the seahorse’s body style. They have remained with this body style without change since their inception. Content to be who they are, and not feeling the need to change – these are a few profound lessons the seahorse provides us.

However, along with a resistance to change, and a carefree approach to progress, the seahorse can be a symbol of inflexibility or stubbornness. To wit, the seahorse wraps its tail around the nearest object in order to anchor itself in turbulent waters. This is a lesson to be persistent in our goals, but be mindful that we are not too inflexible or stubborn in our achieving them.

symbolic meaning of the seahorse
symbolic meaning of the seahorse

A unique aspect of the seahorse is that the male is impregnated by the female and carries the offspring to term. This is a message of sharing the load in the home, and gaining perspective of both sides (genders) of an argument or situation.

The seahorse has a boney exoskeleton which is a message of protection. Often when the seahorse comes to us it is a sign that we either need protection from our external circumstances, or we are building walls that aren’t needed. Their armor-bodies are a sign that sometimes we might need to let our guard down – or perhaps we are leaving ourselves too open to get hurt.

Lastly among the long list of the symbolic meaning of the seahorse and its lessons is the idea of perception. The eyesight of the seahorse is incredibly sharp, and each eye moves independently. We take this as a symbolic message of perception and awareness of those around us and our situations. When we are lost or confused, the seahorse asks us to take a good look around – not just with our physical eyes but with our spiritual eyes in order to get a better perspective of the situations.

Take Away Tips About Symbolic Meaning of the Seahorse

symbolic meaning of the seahorse

Gender bender.
Meaning of the seahorse deals a lot with gender roles. Why? Because the male gets pregnant and carries babies to term! Crazy, right? That’s really rare in the animal kingdom – and it’s symbolic of re-evaluating male/female roles in families and society.

symbolic meaning of the seahorse

Enjoy the journey!
When the seahorse comes to our awareness, it might be a message of being present and enjoying the ride. Seahorses are not built for speed. They are happy to just amble along, calmly poking around in the water. -No rushing, no hurrying, no stress. In this way, the seahorse is a great teacher of appreciating our path, and taking time to enjoy the moment.

symbolic meaning of the seahorse

Hold on tight!
During rocky waters, the seahorse curls its tail around an anchor (like a plant or piece of coral) so they won’t get washed away in a tumultuous tide. The seahorse reminds us that when storms come, it’s good to grab hold of whatever it is that anchors us. Maybe that’s faith for you, or may family – holding tight to that which supports and grounds you is key to getting through the tough times.

Thus concludes this summary on the symbolic meaning of the seahorse. Check out the links at the end of this page for more symbolic meanings for cool creatures. Thanks for reading!

Mighty brightly,

© Copyrighted. All Rights Reserved.

octopus meaning

Symbolic Meaning of Water Creatures

By observing and being open to water totems and meanings of water creatures, we learn the ways of simpler, more positive paths of thought, thus replacing the hidden negative ones. Get a whole list of water animals and their meanings here.

Celtic zodiac sign seahorse meaning

Symbolic Meaning of the Seahorse in the Celtic Zodiac

If you were born between May 13th and June 9th, your Celtic zodiac sign is the seahorse. This article explores your connection with the seahorse and talks about your personality traits in terms of your Celtic zodiac sign connection. Get more about the Celtic zodiac sign of the seahorse here.

Whats-Your-Sign.com (WYS) is a trusted Etsy affiliate & Amazon Associate. We also promote certain products we've tested and approved. As such, the website features sponsored products for Amazon or Etsy or other afiliates. Should you make a purchase from a link on this website, WYS may receive a small commission. This website also hosts advertisements. Please see our policy page for further information. Thank you for your purchases, as it contributes to keeping this website online and running.