Sea Urchin - Seeigel

(Echinotrix diadema)

The Sea Urchin belongs to echinoderms (echinodermatas) and there are 975 species known all over the world. Starfishes, cucumbers and sea urchins belong to this group of marine invertebrates. Their bodies are characteristically covered in spines and subdivided into five equal parts, symmetrically arranged around a central point. They have a hard endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles and a water vascular system. The Sea Urchin has two different sets of spines one has shorter and slender closed spines and can deliver a nasty sting, and the other with longer and thicker spines. It has five rows of tube feet, which are often covered with spines, the animal slips over the rocks and the seabed, to eat algae and small animals. Its mouth is located in the center and it is called "Aristotle's lantern" which is composed of five jaws made up of calcium plates. These plates are connected by muscles. Usually after eating, the animals go back to their holes in soft rocks. Sea urchins have a diameter ranging from 6 to 12 centimeters. They live in coastal areas, on the seabed where there is plenty of sunlight and also on the reefs.

Sea Urchin in mythology: As many findings in Central and Western Europe show, the petrified sea urchins have been catching people´s attention since the Stone Age. Its fossils were called snake-stones or "stone of the soul” by the Celts who also considered them very important. Petrified sea urchins are, according to many researchers, the famous egg of snake (Ovum Anguinum) of the Druids. These fossils were placed in many tombs of the Gauls. In Bohemia, these special stones were called "Duckaneck" which meant "stones of the soul". They were a symbol of the Druids teachings, according to which the death was only half of a long life.

The sea urchin in the interpretation of dreams: It helps us pay attention to our protective boundaries and it leads us to find our own space.

Sea Urchin Essence: It helps us find the right distance and proximity in our relationships. Imagine the Sea Urchin living alone on the seabed. Sea urchins are usually well protected against most predators by their strong and sharp spines. With them, they feel safe in their environment, knowing that their possible enemies avoid them. But the sea urchin feels lonely and begins to search for a partner, until it finally finds it. Now the two of them come together, enjoy the proximity and the presence of the other. When they get too close, they prick each other, so they keep some distance. Then, each one is again on a rock and feels lonely and they decide to approach each other once again... The man is a social being that has survived for centuries only in groups, clans and families. In addition, every human being longs for emotional closeness, love and affection. These are basic needs. Without social relationships, affection, understanding and emotional as well as physical love the human being is more and more impoverished and becomes lonely. Unfortunately "modern" life in a city is being increasingly absorbed by consumption. The person spends a lot of time in front of the computer, the TV or shopping. The average man of industrialized countries spends statistically less time with family, friends and the children and more and more people have the feeling of inner emptiness.

When we are fortunate to live a relationship, to have a partner or children, there always is a sensation of being moving like a pendulum with, on the one hand, the desire of fulfilling the loved one´s wishes and, on the other hand, also having our own desires and the need of our private space. If we fail to establish a balance, if possible at the beginning, relationships can suffer or even break. Every human being needs a certain level of closeness and, at the same time, has the need to be independent in certain areas. This essence helps us develop a greater understanding of ourselves and also of others.

Fears can be overcome by increasing our self- love. We feel safer and secure under the strong and sharp spines. Then, we feel more certain of ourselves and we can develop trust, which allows us to implement individual limits, which must be discussed and accepted in the relationship. We will see how it flourishes and evolves. The air we all need to live is no longer strangled by an extremely tight embrace based on fear; and so love can grow and develop. Thus, the essence helps us find the right place within a couple or another type of relationship between people. Each culture manages in a different way the distance and closeness within their relationships. It is important that as a result of our recently increased self-esteem, we develop confidence in our own protection and so we can get close to others properly and learn to fully respect each other, with all our needs. It helps us find the right balance between closeness and distance.