Have you ever encountered an unusual animal? Maybe it's elusive, or you saw it in an unexpected context. Or perhaps it’s an animal you see so frequently that you start to wonder if there’s a deeper message behind those encounters.
If you’ve ever pondered this, I invite you to keep reading as we explore what these encounters might signify.
Some time ago, a friend asked me:
“What animals have you been encountering lately?”
That question sparked a deep conversation about how the animals that cross our paths can mirror what we are experiencing. Animals can help us navigate certain situations, reveal what we need to incorporate into our lives, and sometimes act as our allies or power animals. As our conversation evolved, we delved into the spiritual significance of these encounters, sharing insights on animal behavior and the contexts in which they appear.
What is an "Omen"?
An "omen" has historically been seen as a sign of what’s to come, something extraordinary and full of symbolism. In many ancient cultures, omens were perceived as divine manifestations, though they didn’t always predict the future directly. Rather, an omen could be a response to an unusual event whose meaning needed to be interpreted.
Omens can appear in various forms: from astrological phenomena to weather events or unexpected animal encounters. These signs invite us to connect with the divine and interpret the messages that nature is sending us. It’s not something we consciously seek; the omen arrives as a signal from the universe, and it is up to us to discern its meaning.
As Burkert (1996) notes, an omen is “an event that disrupts the ordinary, marked as extraordinary by its rarity or uniqueness.” In antiquity, such events were recorded as keys to understanding divine will and how gods communicated with humans.
My Encounter with a Crayfish
About a month and a half ago, while strolling through a park in Berlin, I came across a crayfish out of the water—something I certainly didn’t expect. As a tarot reader, the first thing that came to mind was the Moon card in the Tarot, which also depicts a crayfish emerging from the depths. To me, this encounter felt like a cosmic nudge: “Pay attention to this!” While I didn’t fully grasp its significance at the time, it gradually began to make sense. Sometimes, messages need time to mature before they become clear.
In ancient Mesopotamia, animal-related omens were considered divine manifestations. As Beaulieu (2003) explains, “an omen was a means by which gods communicated with humans, suggesting that extraordinary events captured divine interest and contained warnings or guidance.”
The first two images are the ones I took; yes, I’m aware the quality isn’t great. To the right, you can see a more detailed zoom.
The Moon Card in Tarot
The Moon card in Tarot symbolizes the subconscious, dreams, and hidden emotions. In the illustration (Tarot de Marseille on the left and Rider-Waite-Smith on the right), the crayfish emerges from deep waters, representing those parts of ourselves that remain in the shadows, outside of our everyday awareness. This journey from water to land symbolizes the internal struggle between instinct and reason, represented by the wolf and the dog on the card.
The Moon challenges us to explore the unknown, to tread paths of uncertainty, and to trust our intuition for guidance. The moonlight is dim and deceptive, casting shadows and reflections that can disorient us. Therefore, the Moon reminds us that not all answers are immediately clear; sometimes we must wait for the truth to unfold.
After my encounter with the crayfish, I delved deeper into the animal and discovered that crayfish have the ability to purify water, making them “ecosystem engineers.” This symbolic aspect highlights the importance of cleansing our emotional and energetic environments. Moreover, the crayfish’s molting process, where it sheds its shell to grow, serves as a powerful metaphor for personal transformation and renewal.
The Moon also reminds us of cycles, constant change, and the need to let go of what no longer serves us. Just as the crayfish must molt to continue growing, we too must shed our “old skins” and embrace change, knowing that we will emerge stronger on the other side.
Divination: A Connection with the Divine
Divination is more than a tool for predicting the future. It is a sacred process through which humans seek to connect with the divine, allowing the universe or gods to manifest through signs and symbols. This process creates a dialogue between the visible and invisible worlds, where signs become messages to be interpreted.
As Kelsey (2017) states, “divination is a process by which humans seek to connect with the divine, an art that not only attempts to predict future events but also to interpret the will of the gods.”
What I learned from this encounter
My encounter with the crayfish was a reminder of the importance of paying attention to the signs the universe sends us, even when we don’t initially understand them. Sometimes, messages need time to reveal themselves, and our task is to stay open to their meaning when the right moment arrives.
What about you? Have you encountered any animals recently?
Remember, it doesn’t always have to be something extraordinary. Sometimes, simply seeing an animal repeatedly can be a sign.
Share your encounters in the comments, and together we can interpret what these animals have to tell us! See you in the comments.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to connecting with you again soon.
Felicitas Sidders
TRINUM
Bibliography
Kelsey, M. A. (2017). Divination and Prediction in Early Modern Europe. Routledge.
Beaulieu, P.-A. (2003). The Pantheon of Uruk during the Neo-Babylonian Period. Eisenbrauns.
Burkert, W. (1996). Creation of the Sacred: Tracks of Biology in Early Religions. Harvard University Press.
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