Mermaid Symbolism & Meaning (+ Spirit, Totem & Omens)

Are you interested in the Mermaid Spirit Animal? Then this guide is for you!

Mermaids symbolize life and fertility within the ocean. Myths from many cultures around the globe indicate that mermaids are generally good-natured.

It’s only when one encounters an evil mermaid – a siren – that one’s life could be threatened.

When the mermaid spirit animal comes into your life, it wants you to get out of your cocoon to discover what the Universe has in store for you.

What’s the Mermaid Meaning and Symbolism?

Life and Fertility

In myths, the mermaid illustrates the fertility and life that exists within the ocean. This spirit animal urges you to be productive.

It reminds you to use your resources to achieve your goals and dreams.

Insight and Wisdom

Mermaids have the power of telepathy and clairvoyance. They can sense people with good hearts and kind intentions, and these are the people they approach.

This spirit animal calls on you to tap into your intuition and inner wisdom to have a better understanding of your world.

Feminine Energy

Mermaids are often shown to be sacred females capable of executing incredible feats. They use their feminine energy to attract male sailors and other seafarers.

Evil mermaids use sweet feminine songs to lure unsuspecting men to their death.

Transformation and Renewal

Mermaids spend most of their time in the water. Should they come out, it is only for brief moments because they are afraid of the hot sun and fire.

Since water is associated with transformation and renewal, the mermaid spirit animal is urging you to embrace these two qualities.

Good Luck and Fortune

In many cultures, mermaids are said to bless every place they pass through, especially if they are seen by people.

Having a one-on-one with a mermaid is guaranteed to bring you untold wealth and riches.

Symbolic Meaning of Mermaid Spirit Animal in Various Cultures

Mermaid Symbolism in Christian Culture

Mermaids don’t score very well on the Christian scorecard. This is because they are thought to be evil spirits that tempt men with pleasures of the flesh.

To Christians, the mermaid was responsible for making men commit lust, one of the seven deadly sins.

In Christendom, evil mermaids (sirens) have been known to wreak a lot of havoc. They use enchanting songs to lure innocent men to their death.

Sirens also use hypnosis to control captains of ships and cause shipwrecks.

In one of his many voyages, Christopher Columbus reported that they encountered sirens, which almost made them lose a number of ships in his fleet.

It is only the intervention of a priest on board that saved the situation by praying fervently.

Stories about mermaids remind Christians about the teachings of Jesus not to pay too much attention to outer beauty.

Christ taught his followers that true beauty lies within, and is best seen in what someone does rather than how they look or what they say.

Mermaid Symbolism in African Culture

According to African myths, mermaids carried the souls of those who had died out at sea or in any body of water.

It was believed that after roaming the oceans for a lifetime, the mermaid would deliver the soul to the ‘Islands of the Blessed’.

Legend has it that it is on this island where the soul would be reunited with the other ancestors, after which it would be able to play an active role in the lives of the living.

It is for this reason that special ceremonies were held for someone who had died by drowning. Special dirges were sung to encourage this person’s soul for the lifetime it would spend roaming the seas.

Being the souls of their dead ancestors, mermaids were said to be benevolent. They often came to the rescue of fishermen and sailors caught up in storms.

According to myths from some Tanzanian and Mozambican tribes, it was taboo to get intimately involved with a mermaid.

Mermaid Symbolism in Native American Culture

Judging by the many myths and legends available, Native Americans had long interactions with mermaids.

Although some myths depict these creatures as friendly, they were regarded with a lot of mistrust and suspicion by many Natives.

Young girls were told that they would turn into mermaids if they misbehaved, especially if they got themselves involved in intimate affairs before marriage.

According to legend, mermaids could shapeshift and visit homes disguised as travelers.

If the homeowners were kind and offered the mermaid food and shelter, she would bless them with good health, fertility, and long life.

However, if the homeowners were unkind and mean, calamity was sure to befall the entire family.

Such myths enhanced moral values and encouraged the people to be kinder, more generous, and considerate to one another.

Mermaid Symbolism in Celtic Culture

The Celts regarded the mermaids as not only magical and mystical, but also mysterious. The Celtic mermaid was feminine – just like all the others.

She was closely associated with the goddess Sheela-Na-Gig. This association indicates that mermaids were thought to be highly immoral.

Legend has it that if a mermaid fancied a man, she would kiss him making him lose himself. She would then drag him to the bottom of the sea and have her way with him.

This would go on for months and even years. The mermaid would then kill the man, or return him back to land.

Someone that had disappeared for long was thought to have been captured by a mermaid.

All the same, Celtic myths indicate that mermaids also did some benevolent acts. For example, these creatures often came to the rescue of shipwrecked sailors.

This is quite controversial because the very same mermaids could have been responsible for the shipwreck.

It was believed that mermaids were responsible for the many storms that sailors had to contend with at sea.

To appease these spirits, special prayers and sacrifices would be offered to the goddess Sheela, who’d talk to the mermaids not to hurt the seafarers.

Mermaid Symbolism in Eastern Culture

In India, mermaids were thought to be the ultimate symbol of fertility, motherhood, and femininity.

This magical creature is depicted as having soft, succulent lips, big breasts, and well-rounded hips. The mermaid projected an image of a lady ripe to give birth and nurture children.

It was believed that mermaids often came at night to comfort orphaned children.

In China, mermaids are said to have the ability to cry pearls. These creatures cried tears on very rare occasions, and usually far away from humans.

According to Chinese folklore, a mermaid tear was invaluable as it could cure every ailment known to man.

The tear also had life-giving qualities. Drinking a mixture of mermaid tears and garlic was thought to make one immortal.

This concoction was even thought to reverse old age and give one eternal youth. This legend prompted many treasure hunters to spend countless days and lots of wealth looking for mermaids’ tears.

When the Mermaid is Your Spirit Animal

The mermaid spirit animal swims into your life because it wants you to handle your emotions. Seemingly, you have been keeping some of your feelings hidden even from yourself.

This spirit guide urges you to unearth these feelings and face them squarely.

The mermaid spirit animal will swim with you when you need to get in touch with your inner being. You need to be secure about who you are before you can face the world.

The journey to self-discovery is not always an easy one. But, you can rest assured that your mermaid animal helper will give you the love and support you need to excel.

When this spirit guide comes into your life, it wants you to go through the process of healing and renewal.

Mermaid medicine is a powerful elixir for dealing with past pains and hurts.

The Mermaid Power Animal

Call on the mermaid power animal when you want to calm your emotions. If you have been reeling under the weight of past pains and hurts, this power guide will heal you.

The mermaid power animal wants to help you with your life goals. It will inspire you to see the opportunities and possibilities in your life.

With the mermaid on your side, you’ll see that things are not as bad as you thought them. There’s always a way out of your predicament.

The mermaid power animal helps you re-ignite the passion and romance you once enjoyed in your relationship.

If you are single and searching, this power guide motivates you to look for a suitable partner in the right places.

The Mermaid Totem Animal

If you were born with the mermaid totem, you have a powerful helper on your side. The mermaid totem will help you create a strong relationship with nature.

This totem wants you to realize that you live in a beautiful world. If you quiet your life long enough, you will realize there’s a lot you have been missing.

The mermaid totem encourages you to replace negative emotions with positive ones. This totem will constantly send you positive vibes to make the right decisions concerning your life.

The mermaid totem has a powerful message of love and romance. Your animal helper wants you to have a strong, healthy love relationship.

This should inspire you to work closely with your partner to create the kind of relationship you both want.

Mermaid Encounters and Omens

You may encounter a mermaid in a number of ways. Even if you don’t see this creature physically, it may visit you in your dreams.

You may also encounter it in a movie, TV show, or magazine.

An encounter with a mermaid encourages you to get in touch with your feminine side. This is your cue to use soft power to achieve your goals.

This encounter reminds you that you don’t always have to push your way through issues. At times, a little tact and diplomacy are all you need to achieve your objectives.

Seeing a mermaid encourages you to focus on the future. The mermaid spirit animal is urging you to allow the past to remain where it belongs.

Your focus should be on what’s happening today and what you are expecting tomorrow.

Mermaid Tattoo Meaning

Wearing a mermaid tattoo indicates you appreciate your inner beauty. You are confident about who you are and what you stand for.

A mermaid tattoo tells the world you are in touch with your feminine side. You are sensual, and you respond to love and romance well.

Having a mermaid tattoo indicates you are self-reliant. Although you are keen to collaborate with others, you don’t dump all your problems on them.

People with the mermaid tattoo are quite productive. True to the mermaid spirit, your focus should be on doing the best with the resources at your disposal.

Wearing a mermaid tattoo shows your determination to take charge of your life. In particular, you want to create the right inner balance by putting your emotions under control.

Final Thoughts…

Mermaids have featured prominently in folklore from many cultures across the globe.

If you are attracted to this magical and mythical creature, you may want to closely study what it symbolizes.

You’ll discover it has an important message concerning your life’s direction.