It has long been believed that dolphins serve as our connection between the world of men, and the underwater world of the sea. This interconnectedness between the dolphin and humanity has led to great understandings and innovations, like dolphin interaction and therapy. Swimming with dolphins has helped children to cope with handicaps, overcome learning challenges and soothed the suffering of individuals with severe depression or mental anguish. It is a sought after experience for people with various problems and from different walks of life.
Our affinity with this amazing creature has spawned the tribute of dolphin tattoo designs, living breathing art that testifies to the character, traits and symbolism of the dolphin, and in some way attempts to absorb this creature’s qualities into our own bodies..
The name dolphin means “beaked”, and the species includes not only your typical dolphin, but also the orca, more popularly referred to as the killer whale. Mammals like us, these creatures are warm-blooded, intelligent and give birth to live young.
They arrange themselves into families known as pods, and have developed a very sophisticated method of communicating using clicks, screeches and sonar.
Dolphins are smart and quick creatures, with maximum speeds of 30 mph and an intelligence that is comparable (or even possibly above) that of chimps and other apes and primates.
While dolphins require air for survival just as we do, they have an impressive ability to hold their breaths for several minutes and are capable of fast and deep dives exceeding 1,000 feet!
The dolphin has been in fellowship with man for as far back as nearly anyone can remember. The Australian aborigines considered the dolphin to be a sacred animal, and it shows up often in their native arts. Sometimes it is the playful dolphin frolicking in the waves, other times the dolphin is portrayed more seriously underwater, where it must hunt, feed and protect itself and its pod from dangers.
In the realm of Native American spirituality, the dolphin spirit bears both kindness and “play energy”. It has also become a representative role as the keeper of mysteries. Dolphins are regarded as the custodians of the lost and ancient wisdoms of the world, as well as the symbolic messenger of knowledge from our unconscious minds (underwater) to our waking, logical brains (the surface). The dolphin serves as a constant reminder to us to make time to play and have fun, regardless of the heavy, burdensome situations and circumstances that surround us.
