symbolic mouse meaning

Symbolic Mouse Meaning

Last Updated on September 30, 2020 by Avia

Surprising Insights and Symbolic Mouse Meaning

It’s really is true, sometimes the biggest gifts come in tiny packages. Symbolic mouse meaning is power-packed with big life lessons. Mice have also been extremely influential in history and culture. This makes mouse meaning colored with wisdom and surprising insights. Get more about symbolic meaning of mice here.

For such a small creature, there is a profusion of symbolic mouse meaning available in myth and cultural lore. For example, did you know the mouse is one of several sacred creatures to the god Apollo? Yep. In fact, in early Greece, Apollo was sometimes referred to as Apollo-Smintheus, which means Mouse-Apollo. Interesting, eh?

This connection with Apollo might be due to the mouses’ association with snakes, which were sacred in ancient Greece. Mice were considered sacred because they were food for snakes, which were thought of as holy healers by Greek physicians.

Another correlation between mice and Apollo could be due to their mass numbers. Mice are prolific, always have been. So, their was thought of as an omnipresent quality. Because the god Apollo was thought to be everywhere at all times, and so were mice – the relationship between the Greek god and mouse meaning go hand-in-hand.

Another interesting symbolic mouse meaning deals with their preferred home environment. Mice love to burrow. Our ancient ancestors observed their affinity for ground-burrowing, and likened this to mice being ‘one with the Mother’ (Mother Earth, that is). This ground-loving behavior was also seen as a connection to the Underworlds (or Otherworlds, depending upon your source of reference). This kind of connection makes the mouse a kind of mediator between physical life and recycling life (spirit energies in transition).

This Earth and Underworld connection continues in western, medieval Europe, where folk superstitions tell of mice possessing the ability to carry souls of humans who have passed from this physical life. Some tales take this soul-carrying a step further and describe mice eking out from the mouths of the deceased, scampering away with the living soul, leaving behind the corporeal remains. I think this last observation might be a reference to the plague, in which rats and mice ruled more prominently that kings and queens of the day (vermin being the number one enemy of the times due to their tendency to carry and spread the deadly plague).

symbolic mouse meaning
symbolic mouse meaning

“This universe is built on the power of polarity.

That means where there is dark, there is potential for light.

Where there is bad, there is potential to find good.

There is no monopoly on energy…

nothing is exclusively one way or another.”

~Avia

Under the pall of the plague, symbolic mouse meaning has taken on some rather dark tones. Christian symbology identifies the mouse as a creature of destruction, hypocrisy and cowardliness. Now, those of you who read my symbolic interpretations with any regularity know that I’m not too keen on negative views or nay-saying about our planet’s critters.

After all, it’s not the fault of the rat or the mouse that caused the pandemic outbreak of the black plague in the 14th century. Humans (as is often the case) hold the bag of responsibility for that. Lack of personal and social hygiene, caravans and transportation routes carrying stow-away vermin caused much of the spread too. Mostly, human ignorance is to blame, not mice or rats.

But I digress. Some suggested key words for symbolic mouse meaning include…

Symbolic Mouse Meanings

  • Resourcefulness
  • Modesty
  • Groundedness
  • Adaptability
  • Temerity (shyness)
  • Innocence
  • Fertility
  • Super-awareness
  • Voraciousness
  • Determination
  • Conservation
  • Cleanliness
symbolic mouse meanings
symbolic mouse meanings

Cleanliness? Yeah, mice and rats are blamed on a lot of issues revolving around squalor, like the plague. So, how could I possibly add ‘cleanliness’ to the symbolic mouse meaning list? Well, it’s a little known fact that many kinds of mice (deer mice, certain field mice and voles) keep themselves extremely clean and are constantly grooming themselves. See what I mean about falling into the trap of misjudging creatures by misguided rumors and superstition?

This idea of cleanliness is a symbolic trigger for me when mice come into my awareness. When I’m paid a visit by the mouse, I take a look at what needs to be cleaned, groomed or ordered within my own or my client’s life, depending for whom I’m getting the mouse-message. This is not only a tip from the squeaky-clean mouse habits, but by paradox, other types of mice (some kinds of house mice, tree mice, certain field and harvest mice) prefer a less cleanly environment. These latter types of scruffy mice remind me that clutter (both within the home, the body and the mind) is often a gateway for infiltrators. Whichever angle you look (whether they be ‘clean’ mice or dirty-rascal mice), mice are messengers for tidiness. Keep that in mind the next time the mouse comes pitter-pattering in your own awareness, and ask yourself if it’s time to clear out, clean up, and establish order in your realms.

Mice are also consummate conservers. They are one of the most ingenious and industrious hoarders of the mammal realms. This adds to the symbolic mouse meaning, because it reminds us to conserve our own resources and energy. The mouse is often a message for us to review our resources (of all kinds, energetic, financial, emotional, physical) and be a little more conscious of how we spend or distribute these resources. Interestingly, mice also have voracious appetites, and will nibble through almost anything. This may seem like a contradiction from conservation, but really, it’s about balance. When the mice pays you a visit, it’s a clear sign to take a look at what you’re consuming, how you’re consuming it, and begin paying conscious attention about resources and the idea of conservation.

symbolic mouse meaning
symbolic mouse meaning

We all know mice can be timid, appearing to be shy and nervous at the slightest twitch in their surroundings. This is symbolic of the antithesis of bravado, egotism and arrogance. When the mouse pays me a visit, it’s often a message for me to take a look at my behavior. Am I being too aggressive? Boastful? Mice always prompt me to become more soft and contemplative in my mannerisms. I discuss this kind of metamorphosis of perspective in my Tamed by the Gentle and the Small blog post, if you’re interested.

I’m not the only one who observed this. In Native North American Indian symbolism, tribes such as the Navajo established the mouse having governance over the southern quadrant of their medicine wheel, which represents a macrocosmic view of life. The southern quadrant of the medicine wheel holds sacred tenets such as new beginnings, connection with the Mother (Nature/Earth). It also represents youthfulness and innocence. Because the mouse is quite modest, and connected so closely with the Mother Earth, it has gained grained prominence in this and other branches of Native wisdom. I talk more about the mouse identity in the Native American Medicine wheel on my blog here.

Mice are incredibly prolific, as mentioned earlier, and can bear up to a dozen pups every four to six weeks. That’s a lotta mice. This is symbolic of fertility, abundance, and expansion. Do I mean that literally? No, not necessarily. For example, a mouse in your awareness could be symbolic of your ability to mass-produce new births in the form of new ideas, development, creativity, social connections – any number of opportunities are available for us to give birth often and abundantly, the mouse is a reminder of that.

These are just a few ideas about symbolic mouse meaning; there’s plenty more symbolic fodder about the mouse, and I trust you’ll continue your research independently. I also hope these thoughts offer you a broader view of the mouse, and the symbolic portent it may hold for you. Mostly, I hope this page offers you inspiration when interpreting your own mouse messages if or when this fascinating creature comes to call on your awareness.

Take Away Tips About Symbolic Mouse Meaning

symbolic mouse meaning

Tiny but mighty!
The mouse was a big status symbol in ancient Greece. In fact, the mouse was sacred to the god Apollo. As a major father god, you might think Apollo would hang out with dragons or wolves. Sometimes that happens. But the mouse was recognized as a massive influence on human life, so it was a powerful symbol to Apollo and his influence on society.

symbolic mouse meaning

Sweet and simple.
Symbolic mouse meaning is all about keeping things simple. Mice teach us we can live long, happy, full lives on bare essentials. Mice are conservative, resourceful and clever about making a little go a long way. The mouse reminds us we don’t need a Mercedes be happy.

symbolic mouse meaning

Find good wherever you go.
Don’t be too hasty to judge the mouse on distasteful ideas about plague or uncleanliness. Mice are just extremely opportunistic. They take advantage of humanity’s excesses and shortcomings. This is a great lesson. Even in the worst situations, the mouse teaches us how to survive, thrive and take advantage of bad situations.


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